Garage Sale Discussion for selling stockpiles

We are having a yard sale this Saturday, and after reading this thread, I'm wondering if I should raise some of my prices. My best sellers are usually:

Toothbrushes $1
Toothpaste $1-$2 depending on size/type
Shampoo/conditioner/stylers $2
Deodorant $1

I know it depends on the area and whatnot, but are these prices too low? It's easy to throw all deodorant in a bin marked $1 each instead of individually pricing, but it would be worth pricing them if I could get more for better brands, I guess. I thought $1 was about right for toothbrushes, but some of them are almost $5 in stores! I mark the Colgate Total 4 oz $1 and then go up from there--too cheap?

I'm torn between "it was all free, so mark it to move it," and "but maybe I COULD get more for that." Any advice? TIA!

Quote from ILFDSRV : Hi, Daughter and I were searching for a GS this weekend in an area where we didnt know the streets- it was listed on CL, but we found their signs easily because they had them stuck into the ground with the cheap dollar store pinwheels attached. The spinning shiny twirls were a great eye catcher and we plan on trying them whenever we have a sale.

Reps for the awesome idea!!! I always have trouble figuring out the sign issue and don't want to spend too much money on GS signs. I'm doing this from now on.

Quote from amandapig : We are having a yard sale this Saturday, and after reading this thread, I'm wondering if I should raise some of my prices. My best sellers are usually: Toothbrushes $1 Toothpaste $1-$2 depending on size/type Shampoo/conditioner/stylers $2 Deodorant $1 I know it depends on the area and whatnot, but are these prices too low? It's easy to throw all deodorant in a bin marked $1 each instead of individually pricing, but it would be worth pricing them if I could get more for better brands, I guess. I thought $1 was about right for toothbrushes, but some of them are almost $5 in stores! I mark the Colgate Total 4 oz $1 and then go up from there--too cheap? I'm torn between "it was all free, so mark it to move it," and "but maybe I COULD get more for that." Any advice? TIA!

I am a small-timer compared to most and I live in an area that doesn't tolerate $3 body washes..... sooooo.... I also price toothbrushes at $1 (no difference in quality/brand), toothpaste at $1-$1.50 depending on size, shampoo at $2 (except for H&S) and deodorant at $2. Even after tax, I figure I'm making at least 90% profit and I don't have the storage so I just live with it. I know that I'm technically selling a $5 toothbrush for $1 but sometimes grocery stores will sell them for $2 on special, so I'd rather they buy it from me. Oh, and BTW, I used to sell all toothpaste and deodorants at $1 and raised it for the first time last weekend and all of it sold. Most thought very hard about buying it for $2 but they'd end up taking it anyway. If you see they're not selling, you could always start staying "$2 but if you buy 4, I'll give them for $1.50/ea" - - I did that after 11 AM when I wanted to start packing and it worked like a charm. I got rid of my stock and sold stuff I would've had to pack back in. HTH!

Dove mens bar soap, should I seperate for .75 each or just sell the packages for $2?? anyone have luck selling these??

Does anybody have a recommendation on what to use to tell if money is real? I want to try a flea market soon but am worried about getting funny money.

Quote from alcangelus : Does anybody have a recommendation on what to use to tell if money is real? I want to try a flea market soon but am worried about getting funny money.

I use to work in a bank and can tell you the biggest thing is the 'feel' of the bill and that the ink never dries on 'real' bills. If you take a real bill and rub it on a white piece of paper part of the ink will rub onto the paper. If it doesn't feel right I wouldn't take it.

Here's the Secret Service link for more help:
http://www.secretservice.gov/money_detect.shtml

Other links from search at Google:
http://www.google.com/#sclient=ps...79c777e7ce

Quote from Mandalina07 : So I have been thinking about becoming an official seller, I am a FT student so this would be perfect since I can do it on my own time and I am sure I could make more money than a PT job. I have done two sales at home now and have made pretty good profit on both. I am moving back to Las Vegas next week so that would be where I would sell. There is an indoor flea market, outdoor, and I will have a house to have sales at (though I am renting so it couldn't be often). What is the best option, in you opinion? EDIT: The indoor flea market is $565/mo for 10x10 (open fri, sat, sun, 10am-6pm). I would probably only open two weeks a month, seems kinda high. Do you have to claim any of this, is there a limit when it becomes a "business", I was thinking of renting a FM booth but not sure if they need a license or to report income, etc. If it's a touchy subject, please PM me. Also, is there anyone from Vegas who already does sales? There aren't anymore RA's left so I am extremely sad, it's my favorite store. Do you think it's possible to be a seller without a RA nearby? Just debating my options, any input is appreciated!

For market requirments, you would have to check your local & sate laws and the requirements of the market's owner.

From what I remember, there are several couponers here on SD that are located in vegas, which means there are a lot of lurkers too!! I can't remember if any of them sell at markets or garage sales. But searching for "stockpile" on craigslist LV, brought up several different stockpile garage sales, so my thought is that there is probably people at the markets also.

That all being said, it looks like you will have one heck of a challange on getting started there.


Now as far as rent goes, at $565 a month, that is pretty high and a 10x10 space is pretty small. You can fit about 3 table in a U-shape in a 10x10. I had a 10x10 corner spot all winter and still could only fit 3 tables. For only selling two weeks a month that makes it even more important to move a lot of product wehile you are there. In order for you to move a lot of product, you will have to be the cheapest, or at least near the cheapest, seller at the market.

Now, your pricing.
Considering the cost of coupons, maybe tax, gas, your time, for a free product is probably around 50 cents an item.
Sell that item for $1.00 and you've doubled your investment.

You will have to sell 1130 of those items to break even with the rent. Not counting the gas to get your stuff to market or business liscense costs if needed.

To be fair, some items you can get more than $1 for, But some items will also cost a little more OOP and some items sell faster and/or slower than others, so we could maybe trim that down to about 700. I wouldn't go much below that because there are always going to be items that won't sell or you have to give away.

Now, that is to break even with out considering a PT Job. Say a PT job gets about $10 per hour for a student in LV (I am guessing, could be more or less in vegas...Could be a lot more if you are very sexy). Now $10 x 25 hours = $250 less 30% in tax = $175 net, per week x 4 = $700, which means another 1400 items to break even against a part-time job.

So that is appox 2000 items per month, or 1000 items per week to sell. Which is an average of buying 500 items a week.

Now you might disagree with my base numbers, but if you look at it that way, and adjust the numbers to what you think you would actually spend and sell for, you can come up with a number that can help you make a decession.

The best selling statagy is consistant variety. There must also be lots of foot traffic at market.


To rely on couponing for your ONLY source of income is putting a heavy burden on yourself and your stock demands. I started doing this to help feed my family when I lost my job. Luckily, I had help in the form of unemployment income and my wife's income.

I still went back to work at my regular job when I had the chance. While there a people that do this as hobby, there are very few that can sustain a lifestyl on it. In fact, the couponing world would not be what it is without Stay At Home Mom's (SAHM's), who usually have another source of income coming into the household.

All this may sound like I am being a "Negative Nellie", but i don't want you to think that this is a life of riches and fun. Mostly it is just sharing and bragging of the good times.

This is only my story, NOT the bible of couponing.

Quote from alcangelus : Does anybody have a recommendation on what to use to tell if money is real? I want to try a flea market soon but am worried about getting funny money.

http://www.staples.com/Dri-Mark-C...uct_450130

Quote from amandapig : We are having a yard sale this Saturday, and after reading this thread, I'm wondering if I should raise some of my prices. My best sellers are usually: Toothbrushes $1 Toothpaste $1-$2 depending on size/type Shampoo/conditioner/stylers $2 Deodorant $1 I know it depends on the area and whatnot, but are these prices too low? It's easy to throw all deodorant in a bin marked $1 each instead of individually pricing, but it would be worth pricing them if I could get more for better brands, I guess. I thought $1 was about right for toothbrushes, but some of them are almost $5 in stores! I mark the Colgate Total 4 oz $1 and then go up from there--too cheap? I'm torn between "it was all free, so mark it to move it," and "but maybe I COULD get more for that." Any advice? TIA!

Toothbrushes $1

I do mine all at $1 since most of my customer's won't pay more than that for toothbrushes.

Toothpaste
4.0 oz $1.00
4.0 - 6 oz $1.50
over 7 + oz $1.75
Crest Toothpaste - stand up containers 1.75
Crest Toothpaste larger tubes 2.00


Shampoo/conditioner/stylers $2
Small bottles $1.75 - $2
Big Bottles $3-$4 depending on type. Head and Shoulders & Pantene 25.4 oz I always do at $4

Deodorant $1
Axe Spray or Solid Deodorant 2.50
Ban Deodorant 1.75
Blade Body Spray 1.50
Dove Deodorant - Women's 2.00
Gillette Clear Gel Deodorant 2.00
Old Spice Deodorant 1.75
Rt Guard Deodorant 2.50
Secret Deodorant 2.50
Speedstick Pro Deod. 1.50
Speedstick Women's 1.50

Quote from bigalpoulos : http://www.staples.com/Dri-Mark-C...uct_450130

I wouldn't just use a pen see this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coun...ection_pen

Counterfeit pens contain an iodine-based ink. They can be used to detect counterfeit Swiss franc, euro and United States banknotes amongst others. Typically, genuine banknotes are printed on paper based on cotton fibers, and do not contain the starches that react with iodine. When the pen is used to mark genuine bills, the mark is yellowish or clear. Counterfeit pens are most effective against notes printed on standard printer or photocopier paper.[1]

Pen manufacturers claim such pens will detect a great majority of counterfeit bills,[2] but critics suggest the effectiveness is much lower. Critics claim that professional counterfeiters use starch-free paper, making the pen unable to detect the majority of counterfeit money in circulation.[3] Magician and skeptic James Randi has written about the ineffectiveness of counterfeit pens on numerous occasions[4][5] and uses a pen as an example during his lectures.[6] Randi claims to have contacted a United States Secret Service inspector and asked whether the pen works as advertised, to which the inspector replied "it is not dependable."[4] The Secret Service does not include such pens in their guidelines for the public's detection of counterfeit US currency.[7]

US counterfeiters bleach small denominations and print more valuable bills on the resulting blank paper to evade this test,[8] although changes to the currency since 2004 have made this method easier to detect. This is one reason that many currencies use different sized notes for different denominations.

Quote from bigalpoulos : http://www.staples.com/Dri-Mark-C...uct_450130

Thank you to both who replied and repped!!

Do these prices seem fair for these products? Finally getting to pricing items for GS on June4th so might be asking for pricing help as i get to items i bought months ago

Large Dial proskin lotion-$2?
Large Olay Lotion-$3?
Olay facial wipes, facial scrub-I was thinking $2, same as my Biore items?
Ziploc and Hefty baggies -$1.50?
Almay lipstick -$1.50 or $2?
I think am going to price all my Almay mascaras at $3 and other cosmetics (eyeshadow, concealer) at $2
Purex 150 oz. $2?

Dial Nutriskin Replenishing Lotion 21 oz $2.50
Olay facial wipes, facial scrub $3

Makeup seems about right. I generally will do the ones priced $6 or under for $2-$3 and the more expensive for $3-$4 depending on the product.

I am having a sale this weekend and trying to decide what to price the 150 oz Purex at. It's 100 loads. I usually sell the 32 loads fairly steady at $3 each. I have right around $1 into each bottle and have about 25. What seems like a good price? I don't want to haul them back upstairs with me if I can avoid it. I was thinking $5, but it seems low. Anyone else have any luck with this size?

Quote from amandapig : We are having a yard sale this Saturday, and after reading this thread, I'm wondering if I should raise some of my prices. My best sellers are usually: Toothbrushes $1 Toothpaste $1-$2 depending on size/type Shampoo/conditioner/stylers $2 Deodorant $1 I know it depends on the area and whatnot, but are these prices too low? It's easy to throw all deodorant in a bin marked $1 each instead of individually pricing, but it would be worth pricing them if I could get more for better brands, I guess. I thought $1 was about right for toothbrushes, but some of them are almost $5 in stores! I mark the Colgate Total 4 oz $1 and then go up from there--too cheap? I'm torn between "it was all free, so mark it to move it," and "but maybe I COULD get more for that." Any advice? TIA!

Quote from comp199 : I am a small-timer compared to most and I live in an area that doesn't tolerate $3 body washes..... sooooo.... I also price toothbrushes at $1 (no difference in quality/brand), toothpaste at $1-$1.50 depending on size, shampoo at $2 (except for H&S) and deodorant at $2. Even after tax, I figure I'm making at least 90% profit and I don't have the storage so I just live with it. I know that I'm technically selling a $5 toothbrush for $1 but sometimes grocery stores will sell them for $2 on special, so I'd rather they buy it from me. Oh, and BTW, I used to sell all toothpaste and deodorants at $1 and raised it for the first time last weekend and all of it sold. Most thought very hard about buying it for $2 but they'd end up taking it anyway. If you see they're not selling, you could always start staying "$2 but if you buy 4, I'll give them for $1.50/ea" - - I did that after 11 AM when I wanted to start packing and it worked like a charm. I got rid of my stock and sold stuff I would've had to pack back in. HTH!

Quote from Totocare : Toothbrushes $1 I do mine all at $1 since most of my customer's won't pay more than that for toothbrushes. Toothpaste 4.0 oz $1.00 4.0 - 6 oz $1.50 over 7 + oz $1.75 Crest Toothpaste - stand up containers 1.75 Crest Toothpaste larger tubes 2.00 Shampoo/conditioner/stylers $2 Small bottles $1.75 - $2 Big Bottles $3-$4 depending on type. Head and Shoulders & Pantene 25.4 oz I always do at $4 Deodorant $1 Axe Spray or Solid Deodorant 2.50 Ban Deodorant 1.75 Blade Body Spray 1.50 Dove Deodorant - Women's 2.00 Gillette Clear Gel Deodorant 2.00 Old Spice Deodorant 1.75 Rt Guard Deodorant 2.50 Secret Deodorant 2.50 Speedstick Pro Deod. 1.50 Speedstick Women's 1.50

Thanks for the advice (repped you both)! I think I'll keep my prices the same except for the deodorant. I have a lot of the better brands like Right Guard, Secret, and Old Spice, so I probably shouldn't be letting them go for $1. Thanks again!