Making money out of trash
I loathe having a cluttered house, especially when it gets to the point where there is so much random stuff laying around that the apartment feels crowded after a good clean. Time for a garage sale.
I started collecting sale items a week before the sale. Unused art supplies, jazz CDs, books, clothes, a desk. The mound in the living room became so large Hubby, enemy of getting rid of things, finally asked what was going on.
"I'm having a garage sale Saturday."
"But some of my things are in there."
I assured him the contents of the pile were negotiable, but that none of the stuff had been used since we lived in our current apartment (almost two years). Hubby was especially adamant about a set of lefty clubs. He could start playing golf any weekend now, he said.
Riiiiight.
I posted an ad on Craigslist, put up a few sale signs around the neighborhood and at...
...7:30 am started hauling out my crap onto the walk. I organized everything by price. A $1 pile, $2 table, $3 collection, etc. Items more than $5 were specially marked.
Folks showed up right at 8 am and collectors cleaned out my jazz books and CDs immediately. At about 10:30 am I started dropping prices, but not enough. I thought shoppers would continue coming until 1 or 2 but at 11:30 traffic came to a dead halt. If only I had sold our used but working garbage disposal to the lady who offered $5. I wanted $8.
One customer got very mad at me. He had a pile of books that cost $4.50. But before paying me he decided to look around some more. He came back with a few more books so I started counting his pile again.
"Why are you counting? It's $4.50."
"Well it was $4.50 but you added a few more things to the pile so I am re-counting."
"Don't accuse me of being a thief!"
"Sir, I am just trying to count--"
"Then take them!"
And he shoved the books into my hand and stormed off. I wasn't desperate enough to make the sale that I would give in to his pressure. When I recounted the total came to $5.50. A fight over a dollar.
I mused under my breath that someone had his pants on too tight when another customer told me that re-sellers know how much they can pay for something and still make a profit.
Other than that the sale went well and I met a few colorful neighbors. I learned the trick is to price *very* fairly (don't expect more than $2 bucks for a used coffee maker missing a pot) and be flexible after about 10 am.
I could have sold a lot of miscellaneous stuff - now waiting to be taken to Salvation Army - if I had accepted a few dollars less. Since I'm not going to write off the donations (Hubby and I don't pass the standard deduction), having cash would be better. I may sell the remaining big ticket items on Craigslist.
My total pull: $217.50. Not bad for a few hours work. And the house is much less cluttered.
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About The Bargain Hunter
Daily News staff writer Julia Scott loves to find bargains on everything from groceries to Gucci. Her tips will help keep your hard earned cash where it belongs - in your pocket.
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THANKS JULIA. YOU GAVE ME SOME VERY GOOD IDEAS FOR MY NEXT GARAGE SALE - I.E., TO PUT ITEMS IN PILES ACCORDING TO PRICE, ADVERTISING ON CRAIGSLIST AND NOT HOLDING OUT TOO MUCH ON PRICES (ALTHOUGH I STILL HAVE A 3 CZ "RIGHT HAND RING" THAT I PAID $70 FOR THAT I ABSULUTELY REFUSE TO SELL FOR LESS THAN $20. ALL THE LADIES TRY IT ON, BUT NONE HAVE WANTED TO PAY THAT MUCH FOR IT AT THE LAST 2 SALES. THAT IS OK - I STILL WEAR IT ON OCCASSION AND WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD OUT)!
DO YOU THINK ADVERTISING ON CRAIGSLIST BROUGHT IN AS MANY CUSTOMERS AS THE LOCAL SIGNS?
I think sorting stuff by price makes it easier for shoppers to scan your items. As for the advertising, I don't know how many people saw the signs versus the Craigslist posting because I didn't ask. But I recommend doing both. Good luck with your sale. ~Julia