Really Really Free Market Fiasco

So I managed the yard sale. It was overwhelming and we made $89. As my sister said, "Well, that's $89 more dollars than you had." And we got rid of a ton of stuff (for afterward, a friend and I loaded the van full of the leftovers and drove them to Carrboro for the Really Really Free Market which just happened to be this afternoon. Nearly everything went within minutes, and I was mauled no less than a few times. Not lying. It was wonderful and disturbing together). I was going to take photos of the sale, but I was afraid to offend anyone with the items we were selling... after all, someone has probably gifted us most of the items we sold, although I could easily have located some leftovers from high school. So no photos for you.

However, I did visit a couple websites and blogs which had great advice for having a yard sale, so I wanted to share them.

1) Advertise clearly, in bold marker signs with few words and clear directions. Post signage legally. You may also want to advertise in the paper, on Craigslist, or other local venue.
2) Don't forget to snag change before the banks close. For a small yard sale you will need $80-$100, at least $10 in quarters and a whole lotta ones.
3) Keep all your money and a cell phone in a fanny pack, on your person, at all times.
4) Provide plastic bags for people to take home.
5) Consider having a cooler full of cold, cheap sodas or just a thermos of ice water. Bake sales are not popular. Cute kids with lemonade are.
6) Mark everything ahead of time, even if it's just a giant sign that says "Clothes, $1 each or 5 for $4." Mark each label with a mini description to avoid price swapping.
7) Prices should be at about 1/3 of the original price if items are in good-great condition. There are websites easily found which can give you basic prices.
8) Be willing to go down--to about half--on everything, during negotiations.
9) Set up your "station" (aka. lawn chair with pile of plastic bags and a glass of iced tea) at the end of your driveway, to avoid people who might "forget" to pay.
10) Be willing to part with your hangers... or be firm.
11) You really need tables (even if they are just your end tables and picnic table) and/or racks... no one likes to dig through piles of stuff on the ground.
12) Have a "free" box, and also some budget boxes (like small toys). You can also bag up items in sandwich bags, like hair things, jewelry... or mystery toys in a stapled lunch sack. People seemed to like grab bags.
13) Be ready early enough for those people haunting your street at quarter to 7am.
14) Have friends over. It's more fun this way.
15) Set up a stereo with ambient music.
16) Run an extension cord to a working outlet, so that people can try out appliances. You can also have batteries available, if you are really organized like that. I don't know...
17) Never let anyone in the house. Direct to nearest McDonald's restrooms. Shrug off people who want to try things on.
18) And when all else fails, throw some stuff in an area marked "Name Your Price" and do not--I repeat, DO NOT--buy the $15 Mainstays clothing rack from WalMart. Do not.