Why wouldn't some people come into my garage at my last sale?

C50 said:
Next step is taking items that don't sell and boxing them with more sellable items, and make the box affordable. That way you get rid of the trinkets for them to worry about.

Same with charity stores, you don't try and donate individual items, you donate by the box full and let them sort it.
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A Senior center in a neighboring community does this with great success. I'd like to see a "Make an offer sign". That would make me feel more comfortable right away at someone's yard sale.
 

Many years ago I stopped at a sale on my way home from work. the woman had some Avon bottles. A few were cute - like cats and the like. There was a sign, "Make an offer", so I did for one bottle - $2. She got all huffy and said something to the effect, "I wouldn't take less than $5 for those Avons."

So there you go.
 

I posted some photos of my sale on an antique chat room. Some responses were that I had nice stuff. Some replied that there was noting that they would want (that runs the gamut). One person said that unless he could get something for $1 or less and make at least $200 on it, he doesn't buy - it's not worth it to him to nickel and dime things.
 
chic said:
A Senior center in a neighboring community does this with great success. I'd like to see a "Make an offer sign". That would make me feel more comfortable right away at someone's yard sale.
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We do this. The Senior Center has a huge spring and fall rummage sale, with all the proceeds going to the center.

Years ago, we would do yard sales, but we were a lot younger then. Now, it's just easier to give everything to the Senior Center. We're not looking to make any money anyway, so why not give it away to someone who might benefit from it?

Plus, we don't really ever have enough stuff to justify a 'yard sale' anyway. Maybe 2-3 boxes of things.

I volunteered one year as a loader, helping people get their purchases to their vehicles. Never again. Total madhouse, with people insisting "It'll fit".

Ma'am, there's no way this five drawer dresser is going to fit into the hatchback of your Honda Civic. LOL
 
debodun said:
They would walk up and down looking at things in the driveway and start to leave. I would call out to them that there was more in the garage. The usual reply was, "That's okay." Are they claustrophobic, or afraid I'd attack them if they came in. Maybe they figured if there was nothing of interest in the driveway, there wouldn't be in the garage.
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Around here so many people put a table out on which to put items they wish to give away that that tge thought of paying for old stuff puts people off? Don’t know.
 
Maybe garage sales are getting too old fashioned a way to shop. With so many Internet sites to get things and the cost of gas to drive someplace where you may not find anything of interest it putting a damper on them. Years ago, you couldn't stand out in your driveway with the garage door up when someone wouldn't pull up and ask if you were having a sale. I know attendance seemed to be down this year from other years and those that did stop didn't but as much.
 
debodun said:
Maybe garage sales are getting too old fashioned a way to shop. With so many Internet sites to get things and the cost of gas to drive someplace where you may not find anything of interest it putting a damper on them. Years ago, you couldn't stand out in your driveway with the garage door up when someone wouldn't pull up and ask if you were having a sale. I know attendance seemed to be down this year from other years and those that did stop didn't but as much.
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I think you’ve hit on something here. People can go online and find items they actually want and just aren’t tempted to buy something because they drove all over town.
 
We have whats called Trash and Treasure markets every Sunday ( in the city ) , they are held at Showgrounds/ halls / old drive In sites / parklands

Where I live there’s usually one a month at the large lawned square in town ,where sellers sell anything from…bread / plants / clothing ….old wares ..you name it …
 
The senior center where I pick up meals to deliver used to have clothes racks and 3 large folding tables on which people could leave thing to give away. They used to have nice things from time to time. Once I got a nice framed picture of a lighthouse, figurines and some pressed glass. About a year ago, the former site manager retired and a new person is in charge. She did away with everything but a small card table to leave freebies. I haven seen much of interest on it lately - it usually mostly greeting cards and shoes. I don't know what her philosophy is. Last year I gave her a poster to put on the center's bulletin board about the community-wide sale, but she never put it up.

The other senior place has a large give-away table, but they've gotten very fussy on what can be left on it - no clothes, fabrics or shoes. The last 3 weeks, there's been nothing on that one.
 
debodun said:
The senior center where I pick up meals to deliver used to have clothes racks and 3 large folding tables on which people could leave thing to give away. They used to have nice things from time to time. Once I got a nice framed picture of a lighthouse, figurines and some pressed glass. About a year ago, the former site manager retired and a new person is in charge. She did away with everything but a small card table to leave freebies. I haven seen much of interest on it lately - it usually mostly greeting cards and shoes. I don't know what her philosophy is. Last year I gave her a poster to put on the center's bulletin board about the community-wide sale, but she never put it up.

The other senior place has a large give-away table, but they've gotten very fussy on what can be left on it - no clothes, fabrics or shoes. The last 3 weeks, there's been nothing on that one.
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Maybe the give-away table caused an issue and the director chose to not have one.

My friend said the senior center he goes to doesn't have give-away tables anymore, too - they're taking all donations to their new Senior Thrift Shop now. So maybe that's what's happening.
 
On top of it all, nobody came that I knew and told about the sale. What are people saving their money for? My garage sale money goes for silly things like groceries and property taxes. I didn't even make enough to pay my monthly electric bill.
 
debodun said:
On top of it all, nobody came that I knew and told about the sale. What are people saving their money for? My garage sale money goes for silly things like groceries and property taxes. I didn't even make enough to pay my monthly electric bill.
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You could probably make more using a cash back credit card. I just checked ours.
Total Cashback Bonus® earned this year as of May 26, 2025*
$134.46Total
Everywhere Else$41.51
5% Cashback Bonus$92.95 <----- was targeted for 3 months for buying silly things like groceries. And yes it is well known you fear credit cards.

Of course there is no exercise involved in using a credit card like there is setting up & taking down the same stuff year after year.
 

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