The townhouse community that I live in is having a neighborhood-wide yard sale day! My sister and I decided to put our stuff together and have it in my yard.
Our only problem is that we are having trouble figuring out how to price certain things. I mean, in today's economy, certain things are really expensive, and the resale price has to be at least a dollar to even make it worth our while!
For example. Books.
Trade paperbacks can go for $15 these days. I think $1 per book is a great price, but I'm afraid people coming to our sale won't think so. But, I'm truly not willing to part with them for less than that because I spent a lot of money on my books! I have lots of large paperpacks, recent releases, hardbacks, etc. I'm pricing them all for $1, except for hardbacks which will be $2.
What does everything think?
Also, my sister has 3 really pretty dresses only worn once and one of them never worn at all. What should we price those at? She probably paid $50-100 retail for these dresses. Is $5 asking too much for these brand-name, nice dresses that are in perfect condition?
Also, would selling bottled water and vitamin water at our yard sale be tacky? It's supposed to be almost 100 degrees that day, and I'm hoping that some people would love a cold drink from the cooler for $1.
Even though it seems like a lot of work now, I'm really hoping that we do well at our sale this coming Saturday. Let me know about YOUR yard/garage sales. How do you price your wares? Do you price at the lowest price you are willing to let it go for, or do you haggle with the buyers?
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Comments: 5
Bottled water is perfectly reasonable! I just hope that too many people don't get the same idea and sell them, too! :P
And $5 is totally reasonable. Depending on how old they are (I wouldn't charge more than about 10 for a 30 year old dress), I'd say you could price them HIGHER than 5, and then let people barter with you... remember, it's a garage sale- people can haggle.
I price them what I'd like to get, and mentally think of what my lowest parting price would be.... then I haggle with people. (A lot of times they'll pay more, feeling like they're getting a good deal).
I think you priced your stuff really well. I would pay those prices.
How did you sale go? Did you make what you hoped for?
I tend to overprice and let people know that they can haggle if they wish.