How do you know the right price to ask for at a garage sell

**Palooka** · 05-03-2009, 02:59 AM

Not sure where to post this at. I might be really involved with a big garage sell for the first time. I am wondering how do I go about pricing stuff and we all want some kind of profit, but sometimes getting a little back is good.

I have a baby swing hardly been touched that I paid 90 bucks for, baby and toddler clothes in great shape and most name brands, furniture, toys, video games, other clothes, and maybe some kitchen stuff that is in great shape. (not a real big kitchen gadget person)

So...how do you know what to price the items at? I was thinking the baby swing 25-30 bucks. Too much or too little? What about onesies, baby shoes, and socks never been worn hardly. 50 cents?

I know vague depending on the area one lives in. My goal is to get rid of the stuff, help someone out that needs these things, and make a few bucks for myself.

TIA

**forHISglory** · 05-03-2009, 08:04 AM

When I have a sale, I ask myself if my primary goal is profit or pitching. If pitching, then my stuff is lower priced.

Another thing I do is ask myself what I would pay for something similar at someone else's sale. If I would be unwilling to pay $30 for an item there, would someone else be willing to pay me that much?

It's a difficult line on some items as we have so many memories tied up in them. But generally the cheaper the better.

**Must-Stash** · 05-04-2009, 01:28 PM

First time garage sales are the hardest to prepare for. In addition to the great advice already given, I'd also make a mental note to determine what the very lowest priceyou are prepared to accept for any item would be.

No matter what price tag you put on your things, someone will certainly ask if you'll accept less. If you have a bottom line price in your head, you will be that much more prepared to negotiate. For those who offer an unacceptably low price, you can just ask for their name and phone number and offer to call them if the item failed to sell. That gives you all the options without the stress of making a too hasty decission. It's your choice then if you want to negotiate, sell for that lowball price or just throw away their number altogether.

**suki** · 05-04-2009, 01:58 PM

It's a tough call.

My daughter just called me this morning telling me about her great garage sale finds this weekend. She has a friend getting married and went looking for gifts (that's my frugalgirl), explaining she just couldn't afford to pay full price and get much of anything. For less than $10, she got a warming towel rack ($2, I paid over $65 for mine), a set of 2 marguerita glasses, a set of 4 wine glasses, an iron, a purse for her sister, 2 shirts for her sister and a pair of jeans for herself. All great finds and the less than $10 total spent was great for her. She simply wouldn't have bought the stuff if it had been priced higher. The warming towel rack would have been a good deal at $10 alone... but, it was even better at $2.

So, yeah, I think it's a matter of setting your goal... eliminating un-needed stuff that's taking up space and not worth anything at the moment, or making some money.

**Persimmon Lace** · 05-04-2009, 03:05 PM

I base pricing strictly on 2 criteria.

Am I just getting rid of it, which I normally am

and

How much stuff do I want to cart off to Goodwill.

It's no use to me to have to take a ton stuff to Goodwill to donate at all, I want to get rid of it.

I am one of those that remembers what I paid for stuff but I also have to remember it is now 2nd hand. The only things I don't "give" away with price are tools and antiques. But we are down to the point now that if we were getting rid of those types of things they would have to go too!

At our sales, everything is negotiable and I don't take low offers personally, but my dsis does. If I'm selling it I shouldn't be attached to it!

**mamamia** · 05-04-2009, 04:49 PM

Another thought on this is something I just read last night. It said a good rule of thumb to use in pricing, is $2-$4, for every $10 you spent on your selling item. That of course is for things in great condition.

HTHs

Theresa

**frugalwarrior** · 05-04-2009, 05:26 PM

Why don't you go to a couple? Look in the local paper under items for sale. Big furniture items like couches are often hard to sell-price cheap. Adult clothing w/o tags 2-3.00 if in good condition. 25% is usually about right. A little more if its packaged. It depends on your area. It depends if your sale is easy to get to.(do I have to go down a dirt road.) Lots of variables.