NEVER again!

[kjstrukel]

Two days to get ready and two days of garage sale later, I figure I made about $.75/hour for my time.

 I think the tax deduction for taking the stuff to Goodwill is better and I won't have to deal with the people who want a "better price" for something already marked $0.50. 

No more garage sale for me.

[falcon9]

Two days to get ready and two days of garage sale later, I figure I made about $.75/hour for my time.

 I think the tax deduction for taking the stuff to Goodwill is better and I won't have to deal with the people who want a "better price" for something already marked $0.50.  

No more garage sale for me.

Such wisdom is an emergent property of experience.  For too many, a garage sale "bargain" seems to mean 'can I have that for free?'

[catherinedwhite]

I get what you are saying-- People want to barter on something marked $.50......I've been there.
I actually enjoy putting on garage sales though.
But, yes, unless you have some big items you are not going to make much money.

I did find that pricing all clothing at .25 I sold a whole lot more.
So, I guess it depends on your goal - Just get rid of the stuff or make a little extra spending money.

[banderson5]

GARAGE SALES ARE A GREAT WAY TO GET RID OF THINGS YOU DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR IN YOUR CAR TO TAKE TO THE GOODWILL. BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THAT THE TIME YOU SPEND DOING IT MAY NOT BE WORTH WHAT YOU GET OUT OF IT. I HAVE HAD GOOD LUCK WITH THEM. I MADE ABOUT $800 AT MY LAST SALE LAST YEAR AND IT IS ABOUT TIME FOR ANOTHER ONE.

I ACTUALLY DO SO MUCH BETTER SELLING ON EBAY. I HAVE MADE CLOSE TO $2000 THIS YEAR JUST SELLING MY KIDS CLOTHES THAT THEY OUTGROW. TRY THAT... IT IS GREAT.

[ptfunds]

I find that garage sales/flea markets are one of those things that people either love to do or not.  Yes, you don't make much an hour at a yard sale if you have all low end stuff.  However, it can be a fun way to pass the day with friends and make a little pocket change.  More if you have some pricier items to sell.  My son and I did a lot of this when he was younger and had a great time doing it. We went to Flea Markets too. He still enjoys it today.  We were a great match as we have the same philosophy.  Our goal was to sell everything. There wasn't anything we were interested in bringing back inside. So we sold cheap and sold a lot.

[bbazemore]

My father passed away and I've been thinking about having a yard sale. The only thing that slows me down is thinking about all my dad's $ 300 - $ 500 suits going for as little as $ 5 - $ 10 possibly.

[cwillard1]

Garage sales are great if you have a good location where people can find you with no problems.   If  they cannot find you even with signs then no good.  Signs are a big part of it and balloons to show the street etc.  Your lucky if you live on a busy street just put out a sign and there you go.

[ljrjess69]

i like going to garage sales,,but i do dont like having them 

[pkrahmer]

I'm not crazy about yard or garage sales. They are tons of work to set up. I would rather get rid of my stuff then collect more.
There are lots of organizations local thrift shops, salvation army,homeless shelters etc that can use the items that I prefer to donate.

[jenniferhoder]

I am sorry to hear that.... I can't have garage sales out by me b/c we are out in the middle of NOWHERE and that means NO ONE would come.... I just donate and I find it less stressful! Again, sorry to hear that!!

[tigerlilly01]

I love GOING to yard sales but not so much having them.   I use to enjoy it but now it just seems like a LOT of work.  I did recently have one for two days.  It was mostly my mother in-law that wanted to have the sale ... at my home because of our location.  She did great !!  made around $400 - $500 but I only managed to get around $68.  But it was $68 more than I had before and I got to get rid of a bunch of junk in my house 

[kjstrukel]

My father passed away and I've been thinking about having a yard sale. The only thing that slows me down is thinking about all my dad's $ 300 - $ 500 suits going for as little as $ 5 - $ 10 possibly.

Or worse, someone asking if you will take $.50 for them.

[gaylasue]

I hate yard sales!  I've had two in my life and want no more.  My niece had one last year to help make money for college expenses and can you believe some old women stopped and stole things from her!  A car full pulled up and when they left, she noticed several things had been taken.

[ssmsurvey]

They seem to be more fun to shop than to host, however, the sale I had 7 weeks ago went pretty well: $130 for one day. No matter how much I donate to Goodwill it has never been enough to get any type of tax benefit. Garage sales are a hassle but hosting 1 every decade seems okay to me.

[hicaniplay]

I hate yard sales!  I've had two in my life and want no more.  My niece had one last year to help make money for college expenses and can you believe some old women stopped and stole things from her!  A car full pulled up and when they left, she noticed several things had been taken.

I've had this happen, not with a little old lady though, but with a group where one distracts you asking about price while another takes off with something. Don't realize it's gone till they are.


My mother had one too. I think she said it was a man, wanting to buy a salt and pepper shaker of cats but not pay the price. So he stole one and came back the next day to see if my mom would sell the remaining one for half price! She didn't lol and he bought that one for full price.
So no biggy, but the nerve!



So I'm generally not too keen on hosting them. I do occasionally go to them (almost always with my mom or sister, who both like to catch deals) and who I can leave any negotiating stuff to, as that's really not my thing. I'm a browser at heart.