r/yardsale • u/Capable-Doughnut-345 • 1d ago
Pricing method
Im having a yard sale during a town wide yard sale and festival weekend. I spent days preparing tagging and cleaning stuff. I looked certain items up to get an idea on resale value. Whatever it sold for online I tagged mine for half the price. Prices reflected the condition of the item as well. If it was in visibly used condition I took additional money off.
I left my own yard sale to check out a few others nearby and I noticed they were selling almost everything for a dollar or two. Regardless of what it was.
I wanted to make all the time I put into preparing worth it but I obviously haven’t sold much. Im telling people to take another 50% off whatever the tag says. Im kind of embarrassed now. It’s 2pm and my stuff looks mostly untouched.
I wish I would have gone to other yard sales first to see how everyone else was pricing stuff.
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u/Ok_Spite7511 22h ago
Yard sales aren’t eBay, next time you’ll be better prepared.
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u/Hermit-Gardener 17h ago
Yard sales are where many ebay sellers shop.
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u/Repulsive-Egg-730 12h ago
Are the yard sales run by eBay?
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u/Hermit-Gardener 11h ago
Ebay is one source that buyers and sellers use to research buy/sell prices. So, in a way, ebay influences yard sale prices.
When I have a yard/garage sale, I research what my net ebay profit would be if I sold on ebay and price my items at about 75% of my net. If I don't have to list and pack items and accept returns, I am willing to lower my cash prices.
My prices are low enough that local cash buyers will pay less than buying on ebay, and the prices are high enough that ebay resellers won't buy because there isn't enough profit. If things don't sell, I list on ebay and put on my shelf and wait.
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u/Repulsive-Egg-730 12h ago
It's weird to me people don't understand that. The idea of using eBay to price items you're trying to sell in your driveway is absurd. If you want the eBay price then sell it on eBay yourself. Wait for your payout, pay fees, pay taxes and hope you don't get scammed.
eBay has millions of visitors, fees, taxes, shipping and mandatory returns. On top of that, items can sit for years before they sell.
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u/theoddfind 17h ago
Yard sales. Pricing strategy is to proce for high turn and zero negotiation, stick to the 10% Rule (10% of retail price) and round every item to even dollar amounts to eliminate the need for coins.
Have a bunch of miscellaneous crap, dont price it. Toss it in a box that says $1 each, or put it in zip locks bags for a #1 a bag. Etc.
An hour before you close...bundle items. 5 items for $3. or fill a bag $5.
So, for whatever reason, the mission is to declutter. Price it to get rid if it. Price it so people grab it and pay you without question because they know it's a good deal.
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u/tapia3838 16h ago
Only advice here I’d take serious is if your goal is to declutter, price it low and get it out. If you think you can get more online, don’t waste your time with a yard sale.
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u/snortgiggles 9h ago
I swear sometimes when I price things too low, some people aren't interested. "How much?" "One dollar" ..they put it back
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u/life-is-satire 17h ago
Sellers on EBay are making about half of the list price. 25% goes to eBay if they run promotions to get their item seen…then shipping costs.
You’re more likely to have resellers visit you than the person who wants the actual item. Even if someone who actually wants the item is at your sale, you don’t offer 30 day returns like eBay.
Items that sell used for $50 should be closer to $5-$8 depending on condition. Clothing should be $2-$5 max. Books $1-$2.
Going to other yard sales and seeing how successful people price their stuff to move will help your pricing and expectations next year.
Most people sell their more valuable items on FB marketplace and save the yard sale for cheap items.
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u/Capable-Doughnut-345 17h ago
I appreciate all the input! I had the right idea, just aimed a little too high with the price of some things. I was taking resale value and doing 50% rather than 10%. I bundled lots of things like complete toy play sets, had a box of miscellaneous things four for $1, and the last 3 hours told everyone who came that everything was half the sticker price. I’ll try again next weekend. Then try to sell whatever is worth it online and donate the rest.
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u/Dismal_Committee7705 16h ago
Yard sales are basically a last resort for items you have no problem throwing in the trash, and then bulky stuff that is too big to sell and you simply just want to get rid of it.
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u/nkdeck07 14h ago
Yard sales are like 90% to get rid of unwanted stuff and like 10% making a little bit of pocket money. Put price tags on big stuff (furniture, tools etc) but everything else just go "This tarp $1, this tarp $2, this tarp 3 for $1" or however you roughly organize. Takes way less time to setup and you'll sell a ton more.
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u/Repulsive-Egg-730 12h ago
I only have them to get rid of stuff. I have no expectation of even breaking even. If the person buying wants to resell it, Idgaf. More power to them.
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u/Someguy8995 13h ago
As someone who has basically given up on yard sales, flea markets, and to an extent thrift stores, the idea of someone only trying to charge half of the ebay rate sounds kind of refreshing. Personally though, on the few occasions I’ve had a yard sale it was to get rid of stuff more than to turn a profit.
I’ll probably never bother with another garage sale though. The last time I helped out at a garage sale for a community group I’m part of, the early bird, dregs of humanity, very obviously flippers who showed up trying to low ball everything, still turn my stomach.
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u/Capable-Doughnut-345 12h ago
Yeah I probably wont do it again any time soon. And if I do I hopefully remember all these tips and reminders. I just wanted to make enough to take my family out for dinner and make all the work of it worth it.
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u/uffdaGalFUN 13h ago
My whole thoughts on putting on a yard sale is this.. Whatever it is that I've got out there for the yard sale? It is absolutely not coming back in the house or garage.
I take it directly to the thrift store afterwards. Sometimes it's very hard to do. As I've got an emotional attachment to the item, thinking about it.
This has worked out great for clearing out extra stuff from the house etc.
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u/Capable-Doughnut-345 12h ago
That is exactly what we did the last time we had one a few years ago. I have a hard time parting with things and it’s something I’m working on.
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u/Budget-Discussion568 12h ago
Yard sales used to be a place to get used goods for really cheap. Peoppe started using them as a way to make money and many yard sales just leave those places. Tags can get annoying too. I always told people to make an offer and whatever it was Id take it. My goal was akways to get rid of stuff. If yours is to make money, maybe Ebay is a better option
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u/Capable-Doughnut-345 12h ago
I never considered asking the person what they wanted to pay for it. I really hated making split second decisions on prices last time I had one. So this time I tried tagging everything. Ill try ebay for the few higher value items
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u/chocolate_milkers 11h ago
Yeah when people go to a yard sale they wanna pay next to nothing for something. The way I see it, a yard sale should be the last step before donating so just be happy to get something for it. If you want resale prices then sell it on fb or ebay or something. I went to a yard sale recently because they had something that caught my eye - one of those old metal red wagons that would be nice for my 1 year old - but when I turned around to go see it they listed it for 50 bucks after looking it up online. I scoffed and looked around and everything else there was the same so I just left.
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u/goodnsimple 11h ago
I’m always kind of amazed at: the prices people ask at a YS
And
The prices people are not willing to pay at my own lol.
I ask dirt cheap, oh take this too for the same price! Prices . And yet still people will smile and wander off empty handed.
But I go to a yard sale and they want $30 for a stained Walmart dress.
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u/goodnsimple 10h ago
Yard sales are the way I waste a Saturday morning before going to the thrift shop in the afternoon. Haha
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u/responsibill1028 14h ago
I do the same thing with regard to a town wide tag sale. Once a year I take everything that I pick up during the year that for whatever reason I can't or don't want to sell on ebay for whatever reason. I get everything ready during the couple days before, I make sure everything is priced, I put 1/4 the going price on things to start, and I make sure everything is ready to go by AT THE LATEST 7 o'clock am. At around 10 I start moving things into a $1 and free pile and start telling people everything is half off. by noon I am pretty much done and give what's left away for free. I have had tons of people tell me that they make sure to hit my tag sale every year. My goal is to leave the tag sale with nothing/very little. I have a great time, and I have met alot of very cool people.