Any suggestions on how to price items that customers can't physically change by swapping stickers or move to another area with a lower designated price? I want to do this without marring the object.
By Susan Gaskell from Birmingham, AL
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Write the name of the item on the price tag. e.g. "mixer $2.00"
I really don't think that there is a way to stop someone from being dishonest. Since I'm the one who usually prices things at our yard sales, I know if someone has changed a tag or not. I usually tell them that someone must have changed the tag, what the real price is, and ask if they still want the item. If the person looks unusally needy, I sometimes just give it to them at the cheaper price. I figure "what goes around, comes around," and trust that when I need something, it will be there for me. There is one family in the neighborhood that routinely changes prices at yard sales to get things cheaper, that really isn't bad off.
Hi. I've had close to 60 yard sales over the last 20 years including some big charity fundraisers. I mark everything with 3/4 inch wide masking tape (cheapest one at Home Depot). You can just write what the item is, GF Grl $5 (George Foreman Grill), or GE PHN $2 (GE Phone). For items tape would obviously damage (ie. decorative paper storage boxes or a finely painted plaque), just pull off an extra long piece of tape and fold one third of it back on itself sticky sides together, that part is your label.
Attach remaining sticky part where it cant damage (on the inside edge of paper lid with label end hanging down to be seen). On a figurine attach to the bottom of the figure with price seen without picking up the item. I mark clothes for size and price but do not attach tape to the outside of the garment. Blouses, shirts, coats, jackets, vests and PJs are priced inside just below the collar. Slacks, shorts and skirts are taped on the rear inside of waistband. Use brand or color initials to ID item Fashion Bug (FB), LC (Liz C), RD PNT (Red Pant).
Keep your writing larger for size and dollar amount. The ID abbreviations are just an "aside" for you to know the price tag is on the correct garment. If you've been using pre-made tags this may seem like a lot of work, but for the average yard sale it's easy. I write mostly directly on the tape roll using a permanent non smear marker. I definitely would never recommend not pricing items as I know for a fact pricing items increases sales. For a 2006 AML Leukemia benefit I insisted on and personally marked every item that jam packed sixty (8' x 3') tables. This remains the most successful benefit with which I have been involved.
Good Luck with your sale.
Don't put a price on the items. Keep a price list for each item. When someone asks the price, refer to your price list that you would on your person.
Foxrun41 is only half right. People don't want to have to ask for a price though, especially at a garage sale.
So what I do is, I still put a price tag on each item. But before the sale starts, I make up a list with each and every item that is for sale and the price. I put an extra column on it to check off as each item is sold.
This solves two problems. Keeps people from switching tags, and also helps me know if something was stolen.
Make a large poster and list the prices of items alphabetically. Put the poster in a prominent place so your customers can see it. (I'd still price each item as well.)
Good luck!
It is a garage sale -- you can't expect people to pay huge prices for your "old" stuff so I'd treat each category of items - like all kitchen items one price (red sticker), all bath items one price (blue stickers), all clothing one price (green stickers)etc. Using color coded stickers with prices written on the stickers, so if someone changed the red sticker out for a blue sticker you would know it was on the wrong item.
Do keep it simple. I have used this rule. One color sticker, one price. But do like some retailers do, $1.98, if you really want $2.00. You will be surprised at how many people will say they paid a dollar for it. Always start with lots of change, but do keep just a few prices for the bulk of the items. Hope this works for you.
Have a 50 cent box, a $1.00 box or rack, etc. Put up a sign that says, Everything on this table is $1.00. People don't like to ask the price at yard sales and some people do like to bargain with you. You could put plastic shopping bags in an area of certain items and put up a sign that says, ex: Fill a bag of children's clothes for $5.00.
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