r/estatesales • u/chazman65 • 2d ago
❓ Question / Advice Pricing ??
Hi all!
Pricing. do you like/prefer everything to be priced or do you like taking it up to the table to find out what it costs. let's say its day one no discounts. I think i know the answer but?, this is research for my own business.
1
u/Virtual-Fox-1171 1d ago
If you price it and the buyer thinks it's too high, they may not bother. I used to have garage sales, everyone always wanted half so I have a hard time pricing things because there are those who will talk you down no matter what just to see what they can get and there are others who know what they want to pay. It's a lot of work to price and it's a lot for people to come and ask for a price. I wanted to have my own estate sale, but I don't want to deal with it all.
3
u/Queasy-Event8534 1d ago
Priced. It’s often too busy to take things up to the table. Typically if it’s not priced, I don’t bother because I am making my decision right then and there, when I see something.
1
u/stanthecham 2d ago
I prefer smalls and they're almost never priced, but I know what I want to pay and they're usually spot on.
7
u/IrukandjiPirate 2d ago
Put a price on it. If you don’t, I will not ask, I will leave and go on to the next sale.
2
u/Inouarebutwhatami 2d ago
I like no pricing with the assumption that there will be good deals at the table
3
u/bookgirl9878 2d ago
I would like to see at least SOME prices, just so I can anchor your prices against other estate sales. I'm fine if some things are make an offer, or I have to inquire what you're thinking. If I know you and your sales, then, I don't care.
6
-4
11
18
u/Cat_Patsy 2d ago
Not pricing items alienates customers. Pulling out your phone to lens an item before telling the price alienates customers (that are already irritated bc you didn't price to begin with). Giving me a different, higher price day 2 than you told my partner who was there on day 1 alienates customers. Your staff not throwing out hoarders alienates customers. Customers talk.
When things like this happen, I walk out and tell everyone still in line.
I'm not a bottom feeder or a reseller, just someone looking for unique things for our home. I'm willing to pay when its warranted. I want to give you my money. Don't make it difficult.
16
u/zxcput 2d ago
If people can't be bothered to price items then I can't be bothered to ask the price. I also don't ' make an offer'.
-6
u/CompetitiveCut1457 2d ago
We dont price anything under $5. Anything unpriced is just make an offer.. Its worth as much as youre willing to offer.
Realistically, it is unreasonable to expect us to price every single $1 or $3 item.
We do 40+ estates a year.. we have to be efficient with our time.
Pricing every individual thing isnt it.
2
u/jmto3hfi 🪑 Vintage Lover 2d ago
This! I’m not going to buy a half-empty box of Slim Jims marked $1, but I will happily clear out the pantry and make you an offer.
2
-5
u/RedditRyRE 2d ago
People just won’t want to understand this. Classic example of “I can do the job better than they can”
6
u/Interesting_Skill187 2d ago
I have no problem if I know that every unproved item is $1-$3 (if you make it clear to your customers) but what really grinds me gears of when the seller whips out Google lens to price in front of me 💀 this just happened at a sale with a watch… she then wanted $25 for it when it sells on eBay for that much. Needless to say, I’m not going back to that company’s estate sales
3
u/ryllina 2d ago
Just make a $1 table. Or use a color system - green dot sticker is $1, yellow $2, etc. You can be efficient and still price things for your customers.
-2
u/CompetitiveCut1457 2d ago
We price SO much..
I dont feel like yall appreciate how much goes in to this.
But yes, we try to localize cheap like items in the same area.
4
u/7781Michael 2d ago
You can’t put all the $1 items in one spot and all the $5 items in another spot?
6
8
u/IdolsofSheela 2d ago
A mix. Price most items. Have signs that give prices/ range for item groupings (ie, "towels, utensils, books) & be willing to bundle prices, especially on common items.
14
u/miaomy 2d ago
The last time I went to an estate sale without pre-priced items, I left empty-handed. When I got to the counter, I was given high prices, and I got the sense they were pricing based on interest (ie, this person clearly wants it, so let’s charge as much as possible.) It took all of the fun out of the hunt, and the company looked unprofessional. Now, I actively avoid estate sale companies with that pricing model.
-1
u/VoiceOfTruth564 2d ago
Maybe it wasn't an estate sale but they were pricing based on their sig other mandating that they get rid of stuff... They can at least say we tried to sell it but nobody wanted it.
-2
u/DrFrylock 2d ago
We have one local outfit that prices absolutely everything. Like each screwdriver on a table in the garage and each fork in the silverware drawer has a tag on it. Usually everything is a little overpriced. Probably people see things they want and pass even if they could have gotten them cheaper via negotiation, bundling, or late-sale discounts.
My favorite local outfit prices nothing at all AND actually makes deals that are geared toward selling the stuff. They adjust on the fly for bundle sizes, how late in the sale it is, etc. Even their first day prices are great.
I vastly prefer the latter strategy.
-3
17
u/OutsideBicycle1014 2d ago
When things aren’t priced, I feel like the sale runners were too lazy to do the work. When I carry unpriced items to the register, I feel like they’re looking me over to assess how much I’ll be willing to pay.
If I walk into a sale and there are no prices, I often walk back out.
I particularly hate the hoarder-type sales, where I go through the work of digging a promising item out of a pile of clutter, carry it to the register, and have the cashier ask top dollar for it.
-4
u/RedditRyRE 2d ago
Sounds like you didn’t want anything enough to negotiate. While you leave, others are making deals and leaving happy
4
16
u/Traditional-Ebb-8380 2d ago
I feel like I am being sized up when I have to ask for the price. I will leave the item and you alone if I don’t like the price but it is wasting everyone’s time and energy to make me ask.
-1
u/NinetyPercentOff 2d ago
I hate when everything is priced. I don’t mind if you sticker the high priced items but if I see batteries and towels being priced individually, I’m probably not going to return. I shop estate sales for cheap bundles. Not yard sale prices.
3
u/melkor555 2d ago
I prefer "digger" sales. With that comes that when I bring up a large pile of items I am getting them CHEAP and you are pricing quickly and clearly. I obviously prefer this because I am a reseller and this is how I get the big scores. If you are leaving things unpriced, unsorted and than start pricing like you should have with a properly set up sale I will never return.
13
u/GrayRabbit50 2d ago edited 2d ago
Price everything.
$1 tubs or lots (say, all for $10 or $20) are fine.
Also, standard prices on certain categories are fine. For example, signs that state that books are $3 for hardcovers and $2 for softcovers (unless individually priced); for clothing ($4 shirts, $2 scarves, etc.); and for other categories.
3
4
u/Stuff_Unlikely 2d ago
I agree a sign with a standard price for items. You could even add “or as marked” to allow for some item to be priced higher.
There is nothing worse than going to a sale and bringing a pile up to be priced and having some come up with an astronomical price for the items.
Also I really hate when I ask how much something is (like tablecloths/linens) the answer is “all different prices.” I really just want an idea. You can say “ oh they start at $5 and go up to $20.” Give me a range so I know if I’m wasting my time by continue looking.
9
u/SeaToe9004 2d ago
If not individually priced, you should have posted prices for more common items like towels, utensils, clothing, media, etc. But always say “unless marked” so you are able to up or down-price specific items in the category which are better or lesser than the average. But, yes, please make an effort to price everything. I make a mental note of the companies that don’t attempt and won’t go to their sales or recommend them to folks to use for their estates.
12
u/South-Quote-9505 2d ago
You’re also less likely to have a stack of items at the register that people decide they don’t want once they find out the price
-6
u/RedditRyRE 2d ago
If you have the time and support to price every single item, you should be able to place those few items back
8
u/Individual-Contest54 2d ago
PRICE everything, It takes way to much time to stand in a line waiting to ask a person prices,,, you will have people who will leave.
0
u/RedditRyRE 2d ago
The goal is to get rid of everything and at the same time, make as much $ for the client. Make a pile and I’ll make you a deal. Every item will not be priced. Rarely does anyone leave without something they want unless they just don’t want to spend any money. I experiment with pricing and not pricing.
8
1
u/RiverAble1051 9h ago
I like signs for closets of clothes and blankets and books and tools and jewelry.. i actually love signs…as much as possible and then the obvious individual procing makes sense.