A few friends and I are having a yard sale this weekend. What is the best way to sell children's clothing? The last time I had a sale, they ended up in a huge pile where one couldn't really see the items. I should probably hang the dresses but I don't have a clothes rack. Any ideas and tips?
Always how much would you pay for books. I have the Boxcar Series, Babysitters Club and a few others plus adult hard covers. TIA

By Mrse on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 06:25 pm:

If you have alot of kids clothes, you could put them in a bag, and say x amount for the bag, the clothes that are expensive sell thoses seperatley. If you have a shower curtain pole you could rig something up so the dresses could hang on that , somewhere in the yard. Even a rope strung up would work. Kids books, I would say 50 cents or a dollar. It all depends on how much you really want to get the stuff sold. Good luck with the sale

By Kaye on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 07:38 pm:

Clothes sell MUCH better hung up. You could use a pole in a ladder and a tree. As for books I pay 50 cents for paper backs and 1 dollar for hard backs.

By Mommyathome on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 08:40 pm:

I only look at kids clothes at yardsales if they are clean, pressed and hung up nicely. That shows that they've most likely been well taken care of on a regular basis. I'm even willing to pay a bit extra for the clothes if they are presented nicely. For example, I would pay $5.00 + for a nice little girls dress that was hung and pressed and clean. I wouldn't pay more than $2.00 for a dress thrown in a pile on a blanket.

Ditto Kaye on the books. Books don't really have a great resale value. It's too bad, because they sure are expensive to buy brand new!

By Karen~moderator on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 08:47 pm:

Kids clothes -
* separate boys from girls clothes
* make sure 2 piece sets are pinned, hung or bagged together
* separate infants and toddlers from older kids' clothes

Ditto Kaye on the books also......

By Children03 on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 09:06 pm:

I borrowed a clothing rack to hang my clothes on for may yard sale. I have seen where some people hang the clothes on a ladder. You could tie a rope two two trees and then hang the clothes on the line.

I would only put .50 on a paperback book. I didn't know this until I had my first yard sale and someone offered my .50 for a book that I had put 1.00 on and she informed me that paperbacks only go for .50 in a yard sale.

I would hang up nice clothes and maybe more worn clothes could be separated by sizes in boxes.

By Annie2 on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 09:31 pm:

You have been very helpful. I will call my friend tomorrow and see if we can put two ladders together to hang up the dresses and sets.

I usually do not do yard sales because of the hassle. I would rather donate my clothes , etc to the local women's shelter.

But now that I am doing this, I want to make some $ and not have it be a waste of time.

Any other tips would be helpful. Thanks!!!

By Palmbchprincess on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 02:57 am:

Amy and I used to yard sale a lot... I know we both were more inclined to buy clothes when it was like "$1.00 for a grocery bag full", or whatever price is appropriate. You could fill up a bag with clothes and pay a price per bag. Of course, anything especially nice would be hung up, or laid out on tables priced separately. I HATE when people have a HUGE box for you to dig and rummage through. It's so hard to find things, and I have other sales to go to darn it!!

By Annie2 on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 11:07 pm:

I was thinking for the clothes, which are mostly girls size 6 or so, to sign them 5 pieces for $2.00. This would be mostly for shorts, tshirts, etc. I will try to hang the cuter dresses and sun dresses.
I want the stuff to sell. I may do three paperbacks for $1.00. AS I said I usually just donate my items or give stuff to younger neighbors. So I want everything to go and make some $.
Thanks for your help! I'll let you know how things turn out!

By Mommierenee on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 07:47 pm:

Speaking of yard sales, don't you hate when youa re at a yard sale & the people start telling you what things "cost new"??? I don't really care what it cost new, i tloses value once someone USES it in their home & sell it at a YARD SALE!!!
Sorry, I just thought of that! Just like when people sell their houses, they think that the value is more because it was theirs! LOL

How did the yard sale go, by the way?

By Annie2 on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 - 08:43 pm:

I was out in the heat for four hours each day. I made about $65.00. I only had clothes and books to sell. Not bad considering I didn't have any big ticket items. I had a fun time, laughing with friends, etc.
My clothes went best when I said they were 2 for $1.00; or "take alot and make me an offer".

Kids paperbacks went for 25 cents each. My hardcover adult books took in $2.00 each.

I don't think I would do a yard sale again. It was a pain and I hated strangers rummaging through my things.

I will donate my things next time and get the tax write-off voucher.

The best time I had was giving an 11 year old girl extra things she liked because her grandparents seemed to be having a hard time with money. Her smile and good manners made my day!

By Bea on Thursday, June 24, 2004 - 12:16 am:

You could bring your things to a consignment shop, and skip the hassle of holding a yard sale. I volunteer at a military consignment shop. It's a wonderful place for folks to pass along used items, and get a bit of cash and for folks looking for ways to stretch their budgets. I not only work there but I shop and sell weekly.