NationStates Jolt Archive

This is one of the most frustrating days of my life! I organized a yard sale, selling off all my old stuff I no longer need or want, in order to raise money to pay for my summer school courses. I marked everything at least 75% down from store prices, often more.

The whole sale:

A man walks by, picks something up, and inquires the cost. I say casually, "Five dollars", knowing that it costs at least $30 in a store. He says "No, but I'll buy it from your for $3." Then he takes out a five and asks for change. As he's the first customer, I have no change. Therefore he walks away without buying anything.

This sequence repeats again and again. People who are able to afford the marked prices ask for lower prices. When I'm unable to provide change, they walk away. After 3 hours of not selling anything, I pack up the stuff and go inside.

The worst part is, they thought it was ok, because I'm under 18. :headbang:

We have no yard sales in england. We have car boot sales where everyone just meets up in a big car park or field and trys to sell their shit to everyone else.

You need to advertise and get change from the bank before you set up your sale.

Or you could do it the lazy way and put it all on ebay.

This is one of the most frustrating days of my life! I organized a yard sale, selling off all my old stuff I no longer need or want, in order to raise money to pay for my summer school courses. I marked everything at least 75% down from store prices, often more.

The whole sale:

A man walks by, picks something up, and inquires the cost. I say casually, "Five dollars", knowing that it costs at least $30 in a store. He says "No, but I'll buy it from your for $3." Then he takes out a five and asks for change. As he's the first customer, I have no change. Therefore he walks away without buying anything.

This sequence repeats again and again. People who are able to afford the marked prices ask for lower prices. When I'm unable to provide change, they walk away. After 3 hours of not selling anything, I pack up the stuff and go inside.

The worst part is, they thought it was ok, because I'm under 18. :headbang:

Here's a couple suggestions:

1) You marked stuff down really far. Mark it down to about 50-60% off at most, I'd say, because people will want to haggle. 2) Get out your collection of change (we all have some huge coin jar somewhere), and change out some bills for ones and fives. This way, you avoid waiting on other people to give small amounts of cash to be used for change later. Also, did you try advertising for a day or so, all over the place?

Happened to me, too. I feel your pain.

Having to organize a huge-ass yard sale every year for my Boy Scout Troop, I understand exactly how you feel.

Thankfully...I'm no longer the Senior Patrol Leader...so it's some other poor shmucks job now!

Here's a couple suggestions:

1) You marked stuff down really far. Mark it down to about 50-60% off at most, I'd say, because people will want to haggle. 2) Get out your collection of change (we all have some huge coin jar somewhere), and change out some bills for ones and fives. This way, you avoid waiting on other people to give small amounts of cash to be used for change later. Also, did you try advertising for a day or so, all over the place?I did advertise.

And my collection of change is all going into paying for my various camp and school programs. I've used it all to buy things because my parents insist that all my quarters go to laundry, and tell me to use my own money to go shopping for things they need. I now have about $0.36 left.

And I marked things down at the suggestion of my parents. I wanted higher prices for things, but they said no-one would buy them if they were that expensive. Now I think I'll mark things a little higher than I want them, so that we can compromise on the price I really want.

[/rant]

This is one of the most frustrating days of my life! I organized a yard sale, selling off all my old stuff I no longer need or want, in order to raise money to pay for my summer school courses. I marked everything at least 75% down from store prices, often more.

The whole sale:

A man walks by, picks something up, and inquires the cost. I say casually, "Five dollars", knowing that it costs at least $30 in a store. He says "No, but I'll buy it from your for $3." Then he takes out a five and asks for change. As he's the first customer, I have no change. Therefore he walks away without buying anything.

This sequence repeats again and again. People who are able to afford the marked prices ask for lower prices. When I'm unable to provide change, they walk away. After 3 hours of not selling anything, I pack up the stuff and go inside.

The worst part is, they thought it was ok, because I'm under 18. :headbang:
It has nothing to do with your age and everything to do with how people love to haggle at yard sales. It's a way of life in some countries ... for almost everything.

We have no yard sales in england. We have car boot sales where everyone just meets up in a big car park or field and trys to sell their shit to everyone else.
That's how it should be.

It has nothing to do with your age and everything to do with how people love to haggle at yard sales. It's a way of life in some countries ... for almost everything.I suppose if I wore my karate double-black belt and spent time practicing my deadly knife throwing skills in front of the sale, they might have agreed to my prices. :rolleyes:

And if they can afford the marked prices, which are about 80% off the store prices, why do they want to pay even less? :(

I suppose if I wore my karate double-black belt and spent time practicing my deadly knife throwing skills in front of the sale, they might have agreed to my prices. :rolleyes:
Not only that, but you'd attract more people to it as well.

Not only that, but you'd attract more people to it as well.Yeah, I suppose so.

Some of the prospective buyers were Chinese and didn't speak a word of English. I tried a few words of Mandarin, but they gave me blank looks and with much difficulty pronounced "Cantonese". I have to learn to speak more languages. And my translator AI is currently under repair because it burned out when my little brother recited "Jabberwocky" into its translator setting "Unknown Language to Portuguese". :(

It has nothing to do with your age and everything to do with how people love to haggle at yard sales. It's a way of life in some countries ... for almost everything.

I agree. Also besides marking your prices so you have room for negotiation and having ability to make change, consider your attitude and expectations.

I have done quite a few of these and you just need to be mentally prepared that you'll win on some items and lose on some. Don't let yourself feel negative, it will affect your sales. It can be fun to haggle if you can see it that way and develop confidence that your profit averages out between wins and losses.

I suppose if I wore my karate double-black belt and spent time practicing my deadly knife throwing skills in front of the sale, they might have agreed to my prices. :rolleyes:

And if they can afford the marked prices, which are about 80% off the store prices, why do they want to pay even less? :(

People who come to yard sales are already looking for other peoples crap to buy, and they usually don't want to pay much for it. Haggling is in of itself an artform. You can do it all the time at car dealers, real estate, and of course yard sales. American society has been losing it's skill at this since the advent of the chain store.

Next time get a torch and some grain alcohol, and shoot freaking firebombs or whatever. Crowds love to see a freak spitting fire.

Yeah, I suppose so.

Some of the prospective buyers were Chinese and didn't speak a word of English. I tried a few words of Mandarin, but they gave me blank looks and with much difficulty pronounced "Cantonese". I have to learn to speak more languages. And my translator AI is currently under repair because it burned out when my little brother recited "Jabberwocky" into its translator setting "Unknown Language to Portuguese". :(
Sorry to hear that. I think jabberwocky means 50% off, but I'll have to check.

I agree. Also besides marking your prices so you have room for negotiation and having ability to make change, consider your attitude and expectations.

I have done quite a few of these and you just need to be mentally prepared that you'll win on some items and lose on some. Don't let yourself feel negative, it will affect your sales. It can be fun to haggle if you can see it that way and develop confidence that your profit averages out between wins and losses.I agree, but I don't make much of a profit.

I was selling a lot of books (25¢ softcover, 50¢ hardcover), as well as some more expensive books ranging from $1-$5. Someone wanted to buy 4 books -- one softcover, one hardcover, two marked at $2 and $5 respectively -- for $2.50. I suggested $5 for the group. Hey, it was a discount of $2.75.

The buyer insisted that I had unfairly marked the books and that if they were all 50¢, four of them should be $2, and the 50¢ was therefore extra for the higher prices. (He suggested that he was being very generous towards me because I was a "child".) I remarked that they were not all 50¢; some were 25¢, some were 50¢, some were $1 or more. I explained that we had bought the one we were selling at $5 for the equivalent of $30 in a bookstore in Germany and it could not be found in this country. The buyer nevertheless stuck to $2.50, and then asked for change for a five.

I said, "Sorry, I don't have any change", and walked over to the next prospective customer.

I agree, but I don't make much of a profit.

I was selling a lot of books (25¢ softcover, 50¢ hardcover), as well as some more expensive books ranging from $1-$5. Someone wanted to buy 4 books -- one softcover, one hardcover, two marked at $2 and $5 respectively -- for $2.50. I suggested $5 for the group. Hey, it was a discount of $2.75.

What were the quality of the books?

The buyer insisted that I had unfairly marked the books and that if they were all 50¢, four of them should be $2, and the 50¢ was therefore extra for the higher prices. (He suggested that he was being very generous towards me because I was a "child".) I remarked that they were not all 50¢; some were 25¢, some were 50¢, some were $1 or more. I explained that we had bought the one we were selling at $5 for the equivalent of $30 in a bookstore in Germany and it could not be found in this country. The buyer nevertheless stuck to $2.50, and then asked for change for a five.
I wouldn't have sodl that book, but if I did I would marked it higher for haggling.

I said, "Sorry, I don't have any change", and walked over to the next prospective customer.
Now, god damn it that's how it done. :D

I agree, but I don't make much of a profit.

I was selling a lot of books (25¢ softcover, 50¢ hardcover), as well as some more expensive books ranging from $1-$5. Someone wanted to buy 4 books -- one softcover, one hardcover, two marked at $2 and $5 respectively -- for $2.50. I suggested $5 for the group. Hey, it was a discount of $2.75.

The buyer insisted that I had unfairly marked the books and that if they were all 50¢, four of them should be $2, and the 50¢ was therefore extra for the higher prices. (He suggested that he was being very generous towards me because I was a "child".) I remarked that they were not all 50¢; some were 25¢, some were 50¢, some were $1 or more. I explained that we had bought the one we were selling at $5 for the equivalent of $30 in a bookstore in Germany and it could not be found in this country. The buyer nevertheless stuck to $2.50, and then asked for change for a five.

I said, "Sorry, I don't have any change", and walked over to the next prospective customer.

Yeah, sometimes you just have to draw the line.

We have no yard sales in england. We have car boot sales where everyone just meets up in a big car park or field and trys to sell their shit to everyone else.
thats Not true, I sell things in my yard all the time. like My collection of antique pumps. theres No place like home.

This is what ebay is for.

Yes. First sell it on ebay, then use the money to buy copious amounts of beer. :D

Yes. First sell it on ebay, then use the money to buy copious amounts of beer. :D

Someone has trained you well. :p

Someone has trained you well. :p
Er isnt it a little past your bedtime?
or were the streets busy last night?

I agree, but I don't make much of a profit.

I was selling a lot of books (25¢ softcover, 50¢ hardcover), as well as some more expensive books ranging from $1-$5. Someone wanted to buy 4 books -- one softcover, one hardcover, two marked at $2 and $5 respectively -- for $2.50. I suggested $5 for the group. Hey, it was a discount of $2.75.

The buyer insisted that I had unfairly marked the books and that if they were all 50¢, four of them should be $2, and the 50¢ was therefore extra for the higher prices. (He suggested that he was being very generous towards me because I was a "child".) I remarked that they were not all 50¢; some were 25¢, some were 50¢, some were $1 or more. I explained that we had bought the one we were selling at $5 for the equivalent of $30 in a bookstore in Germany and it could not be found in this country. The buyer nevertheless stuck to $2.50, and then asked for change for a five.

I said, "Sorry, I don't have any change", and walked over to the next prospective customer.
Man you were ripping those people off!
Our public library was selling off books people had not got out in a while and it was sellin a Paper back for .50 and a hardback for $1

I do feel dorry for you honest bunch tight arses the books ibought i would have been happy to pay $10 for each and yet i got them for 1/20 of that! :D

Er isnt it a little past your bedtime?
or were the streets busy last night?

Streets busy? buh? And isn't it a little past YOURS? :p

Streets busy? buh? And isn't it a little past YOURS? :p
<.< no.....

Er its 730 in the morning.
I just got up. ;)
Arent you a sex worker paying off your Uni fees? ;) :p

I did advertise.

And my collection of change is all going into paying for my various camp and school programs. I've used it all to buy things because my parents insist that all my quarters go to laundry, and tell me to use my own money to go shopping for things they need. I now have about $0.36 left.

And I marked things down at the suggestion of my parents. I wanted higher prices for things, but they said no-one would buy them if they were that expensive. Now I think I'll mark things a little higher than I want them, so that we can compromise on the price I really want.

[/rant]

Wait..you have to shop for stuff your parents need? Wtf. I understand making you pay for any camps and other courses you want to take (though I think they should, if able, pay for such courses as a way to encourage learning).

Live 'n' learn, I guess.

Arent you a sex worker paying off your Uni fees? ;) :p

Only when i'm hungry.

I suppose if I wore my karate double-black belt and spent time practicing my deadly knife throwing skills in front of the sale, they might have agreed to my prices. :rolleyes:

No, but they might have remembered to ask you if you were selling a copy of Napoleon Dynamite.

You need to advertise and get change from the bank before you set up your sale.

Or you could do it the lazy way and put it all on ebay.
and you would make more, especially if you make up a bs story

I'll give you $2.00 maybe $2.50 since I feel like being generous for the thread.

hey i feel for you man

If you convert to Drzhenism, we shoot people who don't give our members the due benefits they deserve.

I've managed to collect £5 in 1 and 2 pence coins. Next time I try to sell stuff I'll accept a lower price, hand over the stuff in exchange for the note and then slowly count out their £2.50 change in pennies. I'm guessing if I wait long enough they'll forfeit the change and just go away ;)

This is what ebay is for.

Absolutely. Now everyone, come to Ebay and buy my damn Magic cards from me. I'll give a discount to anyone from NationStates. :D

Heres what you do...
When the guy comes up to the table, you do the whole haggling thing, and accept some amount. When he pulls out his wallet to pay, you pull a gun on him and say:
"Y'know, Ive changed my mind. Thats a nice wallet. Tell ya what, Ill take that wallet for you, and I wont give you this bullet for, ohh," You open the wallet and look in it, "Sixty seven dollars, twenty six cents, an American Express card and three cough drops."
Then you shoot him in the knee and throw him in the local water source, preferably not the one that feeds to your house.