Garage / Yard Sale Signage: Have you ever...

[Love4One]

...bought the premade Sassy signs? They're available online but I'm having a tough time deciding whether to purchase them or not. Here's why:

• Con: PRICE! I hate the thought of paying $50 plus shipping for 6 signs, price tags, shopping bags, markers, and...I think that's it. Especially since I'm really trying to make money, not spend it.
• Con: signs could be "taken"/stolen so I would be out the money I've spent
• Con: Practical? this is my very first yard sale and I'm not sure I'll have "regular" sales. Two per year, at best.
• Pro: Ready-made! I have limited skills in making signs. I do have poster paper but have no idea how to get the signs staked in the ground (city ordinance bans tacking them to poles or street signs, which I'm totally fine with).
• Pro: Unique! I really like the signs and I think they'd help increase traffic to my sale (note: this is a neighborhood sale so I think traffice could be pretty good but our HOA only posts 3 signs total and I was thinking to put up more than that).

:shrug7:What do you think? I really need help on this one.

[$Saving!]

I agree with all the CON's on your list, not worth it for all the reasons you stipulated.

Since it's a community sale and you want to draw from their signs, put your posterboard signs with address and arrows in the ground with even paint sticks or if you have 1"x1" or even wooden dowel rods, hammer them into the ground (hopefully not hard but semi soft from recent rains). Use HOT color poster boards, same color so people can 'follow' the arrows easier looking for that same color.

They don't have to be high off the ground, just bold and eye catching, that's why I suggest using the retina-burning red or OH SO green ones

The yellow blends away with everything, the others stand out better, especially the reddish/pink ones. Neon color.

And no one will steal them because they have your address on them - and they should be made with black perm. markers - fat letters and fat arrows so they are easy to see from a distance.

Cheap, works, and if the weather is good, you can pull them up and use them again

[wookin]

I bought the pre made signs at home depot, black and white. There's room for date and time. We use erasable markers. Worked great. Add a balloon to the signs from the dollar store and you're in business. The signs can be used over and over and if they get stolen, no big deal. Good luck with your sale. had one last weekend and sold $700+. Had tons of stockpile not much else.

[CSchunk]

We made our own with poster board, black paint from walmart 97cents, hot glue and stakes from menards for $3.

We have gotten tons of compliments on them. and they are literally just the word sale and an arrow.

[cecaic0609]

If it is a community sale, there should be enough advirtisements. I'm guessing they probably advirtised in the paper or elsewhere. That is a neat idea you're talking about but the only way I would do it is if I was having a multi-family yard sale for a couple days and even then I would have to really think about it. You can go to any craft store and get cheap stakes or thin dowels and places like Walmart, Family Dollar, Dollar General and sometimes the Dollar Tree have cheap posterboard and big thick sharpie type markers. Oh and the Dollar Tree usually has packs of yard sale stickers too!

[blossomed]

I have to jump in on this, cause I get so frustrated when I am out saling on Saturday mornings and see BAD signs!! I just googled them and they are cute! I would probably follow those. But I would only spend the money if you are planning to do frequent yard sales.

But definately make your signs clear and consise. Agreed on the comment of all the same color. make your addy legible. and even a small attachment with the date 5/22. After chasing too many signs, I usually don't follow them anymore.

Also post on Craigslist (this is the only place I check for sales) and put as your facebook status.

Good marketing is so important.

[Love4One]

Wow, thanks to everyone for the feedback!! This is great information and I'm so glad I posted the question before spending the money for the signs. My garage sale is next week so I'll let you know how it goes.

Another quick question, what did you use for "shopping bags"? I have used Walmart bags but I don't really like the way they look once they're wrinkled up and others might feel turned off by them. Any suggestions?

[CouponSAHM]

Okay those are SUPER cute!! I wouldn't buy them for my first sale though.

[CW&M Mom]

Wow, thanks to everyone for the feedback!! This is great information and I'm so glad I posted the question before spending the money for the signs. My garage sale is next week so I'll let you know how it goes.

Another quick question, what did you use for "shopping bags"? I have used Walmart bags but I don't really like the way they look once they're wrinkled up and others might feel turned off by them. Any suggestions?

If your going to yard sales and someone actually has grocery sacks to put your stuff in...you appreciate it unless they are dirty Otherwise they won't care.

[Macaela25]

If your going to yard sales and someone actually has grocery sacks to put your stuff in...you appreciate it unless they are dirty Otherwise they won't care.

Heartily agree. Having bags at all is a nice thought. Someone being offended by a wrinkled bag? Carry your crap to the car without one then .

I bought 2 double sided signs at Staples for about $4 apiece, stake included. There's room to write in for the address, so reusable. Since I have 1-2 sales per year, $8 is a good investment.