More Yard Sale News

Our annual yard sale is part clean out, part recycle effort, part moneymaker and pure fun!

Last weekend, we had a nine family yard sale at my house. Even though this is an annual gig, we manage to put on the biggest sales event for miles around. Every year, my neighbors say, "we're not going to have that much this year," and every year they drag enough furniture out of their barn to furnish a two bedroom apartment, not to mention the authentic U.S. Army stretcher of WWII vintage. We don't know where all this stuff comes from, except that Mrs. B and I have been known to attend a sale or two ourselves. .

The sale is in the spirit of sending unwanted items out into the world for a new and useful life. Items are priced to sell, and we move a tremendous quantity of stuff. This year, I was particularly gratified to see the two dealers who always get to sales right before me, and buy the things I would by if I could only haul myself out of bed a little earlier. One of them was buying up all my purchasing mistakes for at least a dollar or two more than I paid.

The secret to having a successful sale is in the pricing. The seller has to realize that an item's present value bears only the most fleeting resemblance to its original cost. Those Abercrombie pants may have cost $30 new, but first of all, they're no longer new, and secondly, if they don't fit my son, they're not worth 25 cents to me, let alone $10. I might take a chance on them for $1, or $2, or even$3, but chances are, if I could afford to throw my tens and twenties about, I might not be clothes shopping in your garage. Equally important is having everything legibly priced. People buy more when they can pick something up, and decide on the spot if it's worth $1.50 to them. If they have to chase some one to ask the price, it may go back on the table.

It's also important to have a group of friends to help you; otherwise it's far too much work for the return. Our group has learned to match the task to the talent, which is why they never let me near the adding machine. You want someone at the cash desk who can resist the temptation to say "Duh" when one of your customers asks a really stupid question (again, not me). Most importantly, assign lunch detail to your best cook!