Garage Sale Pricing Help

Just to add to what others have said - it doesn't matter what you paid for it new. It's no longer new. The buyer knows that you want to be rid of it, or you wouldn't be having a garage sale. People go to garage sales with little money hoping for a great find. You can try selling the nicer/bigger things on craigslist first, but to my mind, that's pretty much an online garage sale. I wouldn't ask for more than $50 for the changing table and $50 for the crib (and I'd probably make a deal if someone would take both). Clothes I would sell as a lot (3-6 months, etc) and wouldn't charge more than $1/piece.

Don't think of it as recouping what you've paid; think of it as you paid for the use, and now that you're selling it to someone else you're getting a bonus! It makes going with lower prices easier. Good luck.

I follow my mom's garage sale philosophy - let people name their own price. she always said, "Do you want it gone and how much money is it worth if you give it away at the end?"
We only price "BIG" items (crib). If it is a big item price it a little high, you'll get bartered, but if it goes too low, tell them they can leave their phone # and if it doesn't sell by end of day, you'll call them. Usually they'll pay you exactly what you want if they really want it or they leave you the phone number and you call them.
The name your own price is great because as the owner, we always feel something is much more valuable than the bargain shopper at the garage sale. This way, you get it out of your house, make a little $$ and don't spend time agonizing over prices.
Good luck!

I just did a garage sale this weekend with my SIL. She was very emotional about letting the baby stuff go and it was reflected in the price. I noticed that most people that go to garage sales are looking for real bargains. If you want to make money, you would be better off bringing your items to a consignment shop. Anyway, I brought stuff to my SIL's tag sale and sold it all. I did not put prices on anything. If someone asked, I would say make me an offer, then I knew they were serious and not just browsing. Anyway, I accepted everyone's offer and sometimes even said I'll take less because it looks like it is going to a good home. It made everyone feel good. I did have a box of clothes with a $1 per piece sign.
Good luck,
C.

Just remember that whatever doesn't sell you'll be giving away for free to goodwill. So in order to make the most money, price it cheap! People expect to pay very little at garage sales. A very nice crib won't sell for over $100 at a garage sale, price it at $150 and be willing to negotiate. If the stroller is in perfect condition price it at 25% of what you paid, and be willing to negotiate. The pack and play will probably sell at $20.
Mark the nice clothes at $1, anything that doesn't fit in the "very nice" catagory mark at $0.50. The cheaper the items the more people will buy, the more successful the sale and the fewer items you have to bring to goodwill.

Well, here's what I'd be willing to pay (ballpark) if I was interested in your items:

Crib/changing table - $200, maybe $300 at most if they're in mint condition? I know that's a far cry from what you paid, but it is used, and if I'm going to buy those things used, I need to be getting a good deal, otherwise, I'll just buy new.

The Maclaren - I know what they cost new - I have a Triumph - so if it is basically unused as you said, I'd probably pay about $50 at most?

The pack-n-play, probably about $15-$20, max. They're a dime a dozen.

Clothing would depend on the amount of wear, and the brand. For example, if it's a Gymboree outfit, I'd sell each piece for a couple dollars, maybe? If it's Garanimals from Walmart, $.50 each piece?

I may be way off base, but these are just my personal opinions on what I'd be willing to pay...

Of course, the other thing to remember is that EVERYONE goes to garage sales EXPECTING to bargain with the seller. You have to be willing to negotiate if you really want to SELL items, rather then end up stuck with it and no profit. You have to remember that your last resort is to just give the stuff away, so ANYTHING you make is better than nothing. If someone makes you an offer, you have to make quick decisions about whether you'll take $20 for the Maclaren, even if you wanted $50, because you have a buyer right now who willing to pay $20 for it. Another buyer may not come along. You know what they say about a bird in the hand...

Good luck with your sale... I find garage sales fun, both selling, and buying!!

Does your newspaper ad include the extra nice crib and changing table? You may not attract people that are willing to spend that kind of money to a yard sale. I'd go super cheap on the clothes just so you dont have to take them to goodwill. What is the LOWEST you would go on that furniture? I'd ask 50 bucks more than the lowest you will go, and at the end of the day when some people might come back to see if you still have it and have lowered the price; there would be your option to get it off your hands or haul it to consignment or run an ad in the paper specifically asking for a certain amount for your crib and table..

If you really want to get rid of things, not just make a huge profit, check out Craigslist prices in your area and price just below that. That is your competition and you want to beat it. People hunting for big items like cribs will know what others are charging for used.

Every year we sell off our kids' clothes and price them all at 50c each, including big brands like Gymboree and Lands' End. We'll sell new with tags items for a couple dollars. We have the same people show up every year for the neighborhood garage sale to raid our clothes because we price to sell and have good quality items. A big tip is to organize the clothes in storage bins or boxes sorted by size (I put a big sign on the front with the size and 50c each in big bold letters, so cars driving by can see). This makes it easy for people to go through them and encourages sales.

We had a garage sale a few months ago. Many suggested "move out" pricing, but I held to pricing at 10 - 15% of the purchase or new price. My BIL went for it and he asked for what he wanted, still garage sale pricing, but they did have some nice stuff. They made $490 in one day. Have fun!

Hold onto your big stuff. Take it to the Spring Just Between Friends Sale. You will get alot more than you would at a garage sale.
www.jbfsale.com/fortworth

I agree with putting the crib, pack & play & stroller on craigs list first. Then you'll find people specifically looking for those items.
My friend recently had a garage sale & had her son's (VERY nice) jeans, shorts, shirts etc. priced at $3-5 each and she barely sold anything. People garage saling are looking for $1/pc clothing items......maybe do a "bag for $10" thing?

I would suggest taking your larger items to a resell shop. They will pay you more than someone going to a yard sale would. If you don't like the price they offer, you can walk away. Clothes are usually $1-5 max per outfit, depending on the brand.

I would try to sell the big items on craigslist this week (put them on today) b/f the garage sale. Hopefully you can sell them b/f the weekend, but if not you'll have the garage sale as your back up. You'll probably be able to get more for them on craigslist b/c you can post information about your original price and how much it was used and at a garage sale people come expecting to get a huge bargain. I know I'm unlikely to pay a couple hundred dollars for a crib at a garage sale, but I would off of craigslist. good luck. I hope you make tons of $$$$

I would definitely list on Craig's list too, make sure you post pictures. I do think you can get better prices there. If you are considering a consignment shop, the one's in NJ won't take a crib with drop sides and they won't take a carseat older than 5 years, I don't know about TX. Actually, you are not supposed to post recalled items on craig'slist either, so that may affect your crib. You can see if there is a model # somewhere on the underside of it or inside of the legs, they may have a free repair kit to make it "legal" if yours has drop sides.

I would separate any really nice items from the clothes and charge 1 to 3 dollars for those, maybe more for good coats. Otherwise, charge $1 to $5 for a garbage bag full of more well-used items. Consignment shops take very little clothing becuase so many people have clothes to get rid of.

Anything you give to goodwill/charity, get a receipt for your taxes. Good luck!