Would You Consider a Few Extra Bucks as a Profit?
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
United States
September 19, 2010 2:47pm CST
Having recently moved I found that over the years I collected quite a few things. Some of the items I used quite frequently and others not so. While unpacking everything it was decided to get rid of 95% of the items I had collected over the years.
My sister, niece, and sister-in-law all decided to join me for a tag sale aka yard sale. We started setting everything up at 7:00 a.m. and ran the sale through 3:00. The day was wonderfully warm and sunny. Although it started out quite cool it warmed gradually.
There was a good flow of traffic during the day. We managed to sell some, but not as much as we had hoped. At the end of the day we were giving things away. A few people gave us a few bucks for the items if they truly wanted them. Others were delighted to receive a free gift.
At the days end we counted our profits. I did manage to sell $75 worth of my junk. We had to all split the cost of the advertisement for the local paper but that was only $7 per person.
The remaining items were boxed and taken to the local Goodwill Store. Our van was filled to capacity! I am certain that those items will find a good home. Another box of new items was put together to donate to a local charity for use as prizes for their bingo games.
All in all it was a good day. We shared a lot of laughs. Met some great people. Met some grumps. Yes it was a lot of work, but it was fun. No, we didn't get rich off the sale, but even a dollar over the cost of the ad was a profit.
How much would you need to profit for a sale such as this to be worthwile venture?
8 people like this
15 responses
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
19 Sep 10
I'm glad u were pleased w/your sale. It is alot of hard work to have a sale . I USE TO DOTAG SALES FOR PEOPLE SO I KNOW WHAT U MEAN. I have alot of antiques in my house so if i was to have a sale here i would at least like to get my money back & make a profit if i could.
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Sep 10
I believe that a lot of people were looking for something for next to nothing. How much can you go on an item that is 25 cents?
2 people like this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
19 Sep 10
pEOPLE CAN BE SOOOO rude & aggravating. I worked in the public for 47 years, i know how they act. I don't see how they had the nerve to ask u to come off the 25 cents but know they do.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
19 Sep 10
I really dislike having yard sales, so I do not do it. I give things away all of the time, though, and try to not bring home more. If I were to have a yard sale I would like it to be like yours, full of good fellowship and fun. That is an intangible profit for your day. Another profit is the additional space you acquired by rehoming all of that stuff. Yes, the margin of profit you had would be enough for me.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Sep 10
I have already started to organize my rooms. Love having more space.
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
20 Sep 10
Glad you were able to make a little. When I have a sale, it is to make a little extra money, but not as much as just getting rid of things. I don't let anything back in the house when I take it out either. Anything we make is just extra for us.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
20 Sep 10
I would be happy with what you got. I've ranged from having no sales to over a hundred dollars. For one day, if that's what you did was just one day, that's pretty good. We usually run our sales two or three days. People get paid on Thursdays and Fridays here, but some go yardsaling on Saturday, too. So we do Friday and Saturday or Thursday, Fri. and Sat. We used to do Saturday and Sunday, but soooo many people are anti-Sunday that we don't bother doing it that day any more. Now many people get their unemployment on Wednesday, so I've seem people have their sale Wed to Fri.
We have to have a huge amount of stuff for people to even stop. So it ends up being a lot of work.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
21 Sep 10
We had intended to have the sale 2 days in a row. But, my honey works on Sunday and decided that it was more important to spend the time together rather than to have the sale for a second day.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
21 Sep 10
That is a definite consideration. So you did well for one day and you had time with your honey the next day. Good going!
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
20 Sep 10
Congratulations!It sounds like you a had fun, earned some money and helped charities. Of course I would do it - especially as I was robbed 2 weeks ago - almost- and lost so much money
Just a one off that I unfortunately had a large amount of cash to deposit in the bank to pay some bils.Wasn't hurt though and that is good isn't it?
Now if I could only get back to gettinf a good night's sleep
Just a one off that I unfortunately had a large amount of cash to deposit in the bank to pay some bils.Wasn't hurt though and that is good isn't it? Now if I could only get back to gettinf a good night's sleep1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
21 Sep 10
Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I am glad to hear that you were not harmed my dear.
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
26 Mar 11
Well, now that I have a business license, I am allowed to legally sell from my home, and this is a Big plus for sure. I have collected a lot of stuff over time as well and really need to consider going thru some of it more that I no longer want and sell it in a Yard Sale for sure. I also have the Beef Jerky, etc. that is Business related that I am always trying to sell and find more customers with as well.
Personally I think sometimes it is not always just the $$ factor involved. It is knowing you are able to get rid of stuff and sometimes seeing the smiles on someones face as well. But giving things to a Charity like you did was a great guesture for sure.
@kareng (80243)
• United States
19 Sep 10
I would have to say that I would want to see at least a $25-$50 profit for giving up an entire day of sitting at a yard sale. You also have to consider the prep time, which is usually more hours than you anticipate. If you had fun during the day and made a profit then I would consider that a profitable day!
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51828)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
19 Sep 10
I'd say $75 was a decent enough "profit". Good for you.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
22 Sep 10
hi elusivegutterfly . that is one thing I have never done although I have gone to to other's yard sales and often found some great bargains too
I still have the little Koala bear, a stuffed fellow that I just adore and my husband bought it fore me. I had fallen in love with a real
'little Koala bear we met in a pet shop.It jumped up on my shoulder
and wanted to go home with me but alas the pet shop owner was not allowed to sell it as it was deemed an exotic pet and those were not
allowed to be owned by homeowners at all. So instead my hubby gave me this little fellow to look at and remember that day at the pet shop.
I just took my extra stuff to Good Will and the Salvation army shops as
to me it was just too much work when I had two small babies to care
for. lol.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
20 Sep 10
I love yard sales or garage sales as we call them here! My husband and I have never had one at our house but we love driving around looking at the ones around our area. Believe it or not I found my sister’s bridesmaid dress for my wedding at a garage sale; it was fourteen years ago and to this day she still thinks I got from a friend, didn’t have the heart to tell her I paid twenty bucks for it! I think that any amount you end up with that you didn’t have before you started is a good profit!
1 person likes this
@lifeafterdeath09 (2043)
• United States
19 Sep 10
wow that is a pretty good amount of money that u made... thats a pretty good amount.. i probably wouldnt have made very much money cuz i dont think im all that good of a salesman.
1 person likes this
@Sanitary (3968)
• Singapore
20 Sep 10
In my opinion, as long as it's money gained, it will be profit. It's better to sell them off instead of throwing them all away. Won't it nice to earn a couple of bucks than nothing at all? U are lucky u have your own car to send those items away. For those without transport, sales from those junks can be used to pay, making it free. If they managed to profit enough, it will be even better because they manage to get rid of unwanted things with free transport while actually getting paid it.
See how much wonder that couple of bucks can do? Besides, u do find joy in this event, making it all worthwhile right? Profit need not come in the form of monetary, it can be from the heart, the things we learnt from others.
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
21 Sep 10
I would consider it worthwhile no matter how much I made, because it will keep a lot of stuff that can be re-used out of a landfill.
