Learn garage sale do's, don'ts
DEAR HELOISE >>
Two weekends ago,
I went to a garage sale, and the lady who had items for sale didn't have a price on anything. When I asked her how much she was asking for a couple of nightstands, she said, “Make me an offer.” I did, and she flew into a rage because she felt that the offer was insultingly low.
I have a few hints on the do's and don'ts of garage sales that might avoid anger and confusion for both the seller and the customer:
• Have a price sticker on everything you're selling. The “make me an offer” approach usually makes people decide to walk away.
• Be willing to negotiate on some things. After all, if it was an item that you really loved, you probably wouldn't have put it in a garage sale.
• Make sure that everything is clean and welldisplayed. You can make a table out of a long, flat board that rests on empty boxes. Just place a sheet or tablecloth over the board. The nicer it looks, the faster it sells.
• Organize things such as kitchen items in one area, clothing in another, furniture in another, and so on. Make it easy for customers to navigate your sale.
• Have one person who takes in the cash. They should never leave the cashbox unattended. Start with about 20 $1 bills and some change. Have a sign up that says, “We won't take bills larger than $20.”
• Don't let people inside your home to use the restroom or try on clothing.
• Have a sign that says, “All sales are final. No refunds, exchanges or returns.”
• If your city requires a permit to have a garage sale, make sure you get one. The price for a permit is usually cheaper than getting fined.
— Gloria F., Deltona,
Florida
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Heloise@Heloise.com.