Large neighborhood garage sales are my favorite places for finding treasures. I love it when I can just park my car and wander up and down alleys going from sale to sale. These sales are extremely popular, so you need to get there early, about 8 am.
One of the best neighborhood sales is this weekend, May 1 - 2, in Minneapolis. It is the Bryn Mawr neighborhood sales, located west of downtown Minneapolis. I have found lots of bargains there over the years. I never miss it.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Medina Flea Market Begins May 16
The Hamel Lions Flea Market is a Sunday event you don't want to miss! It runs on Sunday mornings from 6 am until noon from May until October in the parking lot of the Medina Entertainment Center. It's twenty miles west of Minneapolis on Highway 55. It's free for buyers and $20 per vendor. Free parking. Lots of antiques, collectibles, plants, vegetables, electronics, furniture, clothing --- a little bit of everything. At capacity, in good weather, about 200 vendors may be participating, so there is a lot to look at and buy! For more details, go to the Medina Entertainment Center web site and click on the link to the Hamel Lions.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
It's Buying Time!
In Minnesota and other parts of the country, this weekend is the official beginning of garage sale season. Look for neighborhood sales and individual sales scattered about your area. It's time to buy!
When it comes to buying technique, I have several suggestions you may find helpful. If you can, be the first buyer at the sale so you get first crack at everything. This means arriving when the sale opens, usually around 8 am. But if you can't be the first one there, my second choice would be one of the last ones to arrive. Sales usually close about 4 or 5 pm. Leftover items are often greatly reduced in price and sellers are open to offers.
I also encourage shoppers to make an offer. Offer slightly below the asking price and chances are your offer will be accepted. For example, offer five dollars for an item priced at six or seven dollars. It is like having an instant coupon! And do not be afraid to make an offer. Most sellers inflate prices slightly in anticipation of offers. At worst, the seller may decline your offer, then you can decide if you want to pay the asking price.
Ask questions. That's another must for buyers. If it is an electric item, ask if it works. Plug it in, if an outlet is available. Check that the item is complete and not missing any pieces.
And the best advice I can give a buyer is that if you pick up an item and have an interest in buying it, do not set it down and walk away. Chances are someone else will already have it in their hands when you are ready to buy. If you are not sure, carry it with you until you make your decision.
Now, go find some bargains this weekend!
When it comes to buying technique, I have several suggestions you may find helpful. If you can, be the first buyer at the sale so you get first crack at everything. This means arriving when the sale opens, usually around 8 am. But if you can't be the first one there, my second choice would be one of the last ones to arrive. Sales usually close about 4 or 5 pm. Leftover items are often greatly reduced in price and sellers are open to offers.
I also encourage shoppers to make an offer. Offer slightly below the asking price and chances are your offer will be accepted. For example, offer five dollars for an item priced at six or seven dollars. It is like having an instant coupon! And do not be afraid to make an offer. Most sellers inflate prices slightly in anticipation of offers. At worst, the seller may decline your offer, then you can decide if you want to pay the asking price.
Ask questions. That's another must for buyers. If it is an electric item, ask if it works. Plug it in, if an outlet is available. Check that the item is complete and not missing any pieces.
And the best advice I can give a buyer is that if you pick up an item and have an interest in buying it, do not set it down and walk away. Chances are someone else will already have it in their hands when you are ready to buy. If you are not sure, carry it with you until you make your decision.
Now, go find some bargains this weekend!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Flea Market Alert !
One of the best signs of spring in Minnesota is the return of Prime Promotions Antique Spectacular at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. It is Saturday and Sunday, April 17-18, and hours are Saturday: 8 am to 6 pm, and Sunday: 10 am to 4 pm. General admission is six dollars. This is both an indoor and outdoor event, offering antiques, collectibles, flea market items, a bit of everything. Lots of bargains!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Garage Sale Goals
As garage sale season rapidly approaches, many people will be holding their first sale in April or early May. As you prepare, one task that I believe is important to do is to set some goals. I find goals motivational and they help me focus on achieving results.
The first goal I would suggest is putting in writing the amount of money you want to earn from your sale. How much do you want to make? Once you set this goal, you can figure out what needs to be done to achieve it. For example, if you set a goal of one hundred dollars, it might break down like this: You would need to sell 40 twenty-five cent items ($10), thirty one-dollar items ($30), six five-dollar items ($30), and three items of $10 or more, ($30).
The question then becomes, is this a reasonable goal? Do you have over forty 25-cent items, perhaps paperbacks, to sell? Have you got plenty of one dollar, five dollar, and ten dollar items to make $100 in total sales possible? Remember that many items may not sell, so you may need 15 five-dollar items in order to meet your five dollar quota. In short, do you have enough items, priced accordingly, to sell?
The second goal I suggest is to decide how you would spend your garage sale income. This goal can add fuel to your motivation. If you reach your goal, you are rewarded with perhaps, gasoline money for the money, a rent payment, purchase of a new television or appliance, the start of a vacation fund, or just money to buy groceries. Which of these goals, if any, would motivate you to reach your garage sales goal?
One last thing: Before you set your goals, get it clear in your mind why you are having this sale. It could be to make a specific amount of money, or it could be to get rid of clutter. It could be both. This decision also helps you price your items accordingly. Good luck!
The first goal I would suggest is putting in writing the amount of money you want to earn from your sale. How much do you want to make? Once you set this goal, you can figure out what needs to be done to achieve it. For example, if you set a goal of one hundred dollars, it might break down like this: You would need to sell 40 twenty-five cent items ($10), thirty one-dollar items ($30), six five-dollar items ($30), and three items of $10 or more, ($30).
The question then becomes, is this a reasonable goal? Do you have over forty 25-cent items, perhaps paperbacks, to sell? Have you got plenty of one dollar, five dollar, and ten dollar items to make $100 in total sales possible? Remember that many items may not sell, so you may need 15 five-dollar items in order to meet your five dollar quota. In short, do you have enough items, priced accordingly, to sell?
The second goal I suggest is to decide how you would spend your garage sale income. This goal can add fuel to your motivation. If you reach your goal, you are rewarded with perhaps, gasoline money for the money, a rent payment, purchase of a new television or appliance, the start of a vacation fund, or just money to buy groceries. Which of these goals, if any, would motivate you to reach your garage sales goal?
One last thing: Before you set your goals, get it clear in your mind why you are having this sale. It could be to make a specific amount of money, or it could be to get rid of clutter. It could be both. This decision also helps you price your items accordingly. Good luck!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
How To Price Items to Sell
One of the questions I am asked the most is how to price an item. Some items are easy to price, like ordinary paperback books, 25 to 50 cents each. And compact disks (CDs) sell for one to five dollars each, depending on the artist. However, when it comes to pricing, my best advice is simple: Do Your Homework and Research.
Begin by attending other garage sales. Bring along a pen and pad and actually take notes of prices being charged. This will give you a ballpark price on many common garage sale items. Also, check newspaper classified ads.
Before you set prices, decide if you are selling items to raise money, or if you are having a sale to just get rid of stuff. Price your items accordingly.
People Go To Sales Looking For Bargains. That's the key to a successful sale.
Remember that inexpensive items sell the best. Items priced at 25 cents, 50 cents and one dollar will account for most of your sales. As prices increase, selling chances decrease.
As far as antiques and collectibles go, items older than 1970 MAY be collectibles and may require research to determine price. Use the Internet or visit antique stores to look at similar items.
Leave room for bargaining. Many buyers will make you an offer, so you might want to add fifty cents to a few dollars on items in order to be able to come down on a price and accommodate an offer.
Suggestions from sales I have seen: Everything on this table one dollar each. OR Take what you want and pay what you want. OR Everything is 25 cents each. (Avoid pricing items at 10 or 15 cents).
Again, actually going to garage sales and checking out your competition is the best way to determine pricing. Best of luck on your first sale of 2010!
Begin by attending other garage sales. Bring along a pen and pad and actually take notes of prices being charged. This will give you a ballpark price on many common garage sale items. Also, check newspaper classified ads.
Before you set prices, decide if you are selling items to raise money, or if you are having a sale to just get rid of stuff. Price your items accordingly.
People Go To Sales Looking For Bargains. That's the key to a successful sale.
Remember that inexpensive items sell the best. Items priced at 25 cents, 50 cents and one dollar will account for most of your sales. As prices increase, selling chances decrease.
As far as antiques and collectibles go, items older than 1970 MAY be collectibles and may require research to determine price. Use the Internet or visit antique stores to look at similar items.
Leave room for bargaining. Many buyers will make you an offer, so you might want to add fifty cents to a few dollars on items in order to be able to come down on a price and accommodate an offer.
Suggestions from sales I have seen: Everything on this table one dollar each. OR Take what you want and pay what you want. OR Everything is 25 cents each. (Avoid pricing items at 10 or 15 cents).
Again, actually going to garage sales and checking out your competition is the best way to determine pricing. Best of luck on your first sale of 2010!
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