Garage Sale Pricing Guide Step 3: Start Pricing!

Photo by Bob n Renee. Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0).

In this Chapter: Learn garage sale pricing tips, what to ask when pricing, and see dozens of suggested prices.

First and foremost, keep saying this to yourself, “If it no longer has value to me, that is its true value (zero). Anything more is money in my pocket.” Personally, if I or a member of my family hasn’’t used or worn an item in 1 year, it is officially Garage Sale fodder.

 1. Price Range: When pricing an item, consider its condition, popularity, demand, etc. Most of your items should be priced within 10%-30% of the original price or the current retail price, depending on condition, of course. I have seen classic Parcheesi games, for example, ranging in price from $10 to over $100.

1. How do you know what the current retail price is? For your collectibles or unique items you know have value, let me introduce you to my friend, eBay. If you have the time to do some homework, take a peek at what the same item is going for on eBay.Believe it or not there are savvy shoppers in your midst who make a living at buying your low priced C.R.A.P. and turning around to sell it on eBay for a profit. Yyyep! Check the price at which an item was sold and price at 1/2 the selling price.If you want to hold out for a few more bucks, take a shot at 75% of the eBay selling price. Just remember, people want to buy your item and resell it for a profit. If you price it too high you may be selling it on eBay yourself (not a bad idea if you have the time).
2. Some would say to keep the majority of your items priced under $5 since G-Salers are programmed to buy in that price range. That’s pretty good advice, but it really depends on what you are selling. Just remember, low prices sell more quickly. When in doubt, go back to Step 1 and remind yourself WHY you are having a garage sale. Then, proceed with your pricing.Items sold for $1 sell much faster than those sold for $5 or more. For the best results, keep your prices in the $1 to $2 range. Crumbs make a cookie, so to speak, and lots of smaller sales do make for a reasonably sized G-Sale pot of gold at the end of the day.

 2. Tag Talk Time: What should you use for price tags and are they really necessary?

1. Rather than using pre-printed price tags, you can make your own price tags with fun cut-out shapes from the poster board I mentioned earlier. Using a one-hole punch, punch a hole in the tag and tie a string or rubber-band through and, voila! Instant, cheap price tags (that can’t be switched . . . as easily).
2. If you have a compulsion towards the use of labels that stick on your items, buy an inexpensive package of colored stick-on “dots” (circular stickers) at your local office supply store. Or, use blue painter’s tape. Actually, green works pretty well, too. The idea is that it doesn’t stick as well as the traditional tan colored tape and it is easier to remove if necessary. Plus, you may already have some in your cupboard or your junk drawer.
3. Did you know? Garage sale shoppers will think your items with a tag are of higher value than the stickered items.

3. Let’s get down to brass tacks. You want someone to just tell you, bottom line, what prices to put on your items. Right? Well, here ya go . . .

Media
Hard-cover Books: 50¢ – $1.50
Paperback books: 10¢ – 50¢ (or bundle – 4 for $1)
Videos: 50¢ – $1 VHS are very hard to get rid of now-a-days. Consider donating.
DVDs: $2 – $5
Music CDs (a dying breed): $1 each or bundle 10 for $5
Software CDs: $1 – $10, depending on how old it is and if it is still usable.
LPs: 50¢ – $1 Sell to record stores if no one buys. It’s a good idea to check eBay on this one since you might have a valuable classic. Vinyl is old but there are still a few fans.
Cassettes (some cars still have cassette players): 10¢ each

Children’s Clothing
Shirts: 25¢ – $1
Pants: 50¢ – $2
Jackets: $1 – $3
One plastic bag full $5

Other Clothing
Note for All Clothing: If tags are still attached, ask 50-70% of original retail price, although this might be a stretch. Brand names & condition help the asking price. When in doubt, refer to Step 1 and remember the GOAL.

Jeans: $2 – $5
T-shirts: 25¢ – 50¢
Shirts: 50¢ – $2
Sweatshirts: $1
Sweaters: $2- $5
Dresses: $2 – $5
Shoes: $1 – $3
Jewelry: 50¢ to $2
1 plastic bag full of clothing: $10

Toys & Games
Board games: $1
Action figures, dolls: 10¢ – 50¢ (check eBay – some are classics)
Stuffed animals: 50#162; to $2
Computer & Video games: $1 – $10 (check eBay)

Kitchen Stuff
Ceramic/Stoneware dinnerware: 50¢ – $1 each, China $1 – $2 each
Pots, pans, casserole dishes: $1 – $3
Glasses, mugs: 30¢ – $1
Utensils 10¢ – 50¢
Table cloths, place mat & napkin sets: 50¢ – $2 each
Small appliances: 30% of the original price (check eBay)

Bathroom
Towels: 50¢ to $1 each
Countertop Accessories: 50%#162; to $2 each

Bedroom
Sheet sets: $2 – $5
Blankets: $2 to $5
Mattresses: If less than 2 years old, you might get 30-50% of what you paid. Otherwise, many people don’t buy old mattresses. I sure wouldn’t.

Electronics
Analog TV sets: $10 – $100, depending on how old and how large.
VCRs: $5 – $20, depending on vintage and options. Try throwing in some free VHS tapes.
Radios, boom-boxes: $1 – $5
CD Players, Alarm Clocks, Radios: $2 – $4
DVD Players: $20 – $40 bundle with your DVDs
Desktop Computers (depends on age and software): $50- $75

Home Decor
Rugs: $1 – $5 (depending on size & condition). For large area rugs, you might get 30% of what you paid, depending on condition. High-end rugs are a different story and you probably won’t be selling them at a garage sale.
Framed art: $2 – $10
Faux plants: $1 – $5
Lamps: $2 – $5

Furniture
Up to 30% of retail, depending on condition. It pays to check used furniture stores or classifieds for price comparisons. Also, it’s a good idea to keep tags, original paper work, pictures, or even cut-out pictures of the item from ads. This shows your buyer the deal they’re getting and may deter haggling too low.

Final Thought: Your prices should be at least half, i.e., no more than half, of what you might find at thrift stores. Here is a handy resource:http://www.salvationarmysouth.org/valueguide.htm

Get the book now. It’s “pay what you want!”