Which would be better, - a garage sale or a retail shop?

ions_momma wrote: Ion has sooo many toys that he never plays with, and clothes that he never wears and I have been wanting to get rid of alot of things for a while. I dont want to sound money hungary or anything, but do you tink a garage sale or a resale shop would bring in more money? All of the toys and clothes, and other items of ours that we have been wanting to get rid of, are in good shape so I am pretty sure they would make some good money, but I dont know which would make more. What do you think? Should I wait a few months to have a garage sale, or just take the stuff to a resale shop now?

mckayleesmom replied: I don't know....A garage sale is suppose to be cheap....When I go to garage sales for toys for the kids...if its marked too high...I don't even bother with it. Same with a thrift shop. I did take some of the kids clothes to a consignment shop a while back and I got totally ripped off. I will never do it again.

mckayleesmom replied: Maybe you can try selling them in LOTS on ebay??

ions_momma replied:
I didnt even think about that! I have no idea how to use it though, but I have a friend that sells practically all of her old things on there so maybe I can get her help with it! Thanks!!

C&K*s Mommie replied: I would go the route of ebay too. Garage sales are should be fairly inexpensive, but it could add up fast-- but you never know. I would stick with Ebay though.

kit_kats_mom replied: I sell the nice stuff to a local consignment shop. Toys and clothes. They only take certin things though. No clothes from target, walmart or stuff like carters or osh kosh. I have made over $100 with just the stuff I took to them at the beginning of the winter.

They generally price most baby outfits at about $4-6 and you get 60% of that at our shop. Just think about if you'd pay $5 for an outfit at a garage sale and if not, try to consign it first. If it doesn't sell there, then you can always pick it up and sell it at a garage sale later for less.

Crystalina replied: I sold a few toys on Ebay and then I ended up pulling everything out because no one really wanted it by the time shipping was added. I even used the calculator so I didn't have to figure out the shipping. Then I had to pay out of MY pocked because the calculations were wrong and I can't change the shipping after someone won the auction! I was paying people to take the toys.

Remember a resale shop will usually add a fee on top of what you sell. Just check into the fees first.


Yardsales are good but ALOT of work.

Have you thought of donating to a charity? If you want or need the money I guess that wouldn't be the way to go.

Oh Gosh! I'm no help, don't listen to me.

mom21kid2dogs replied: I've done garage sales, consignment and EBay. I've made money hand over fist on Ebay. I did make a decent amount from consignment but you have to shop around if you do it for one that really a) needs what you are selling is willing to give you a decent price for it. I used to drive my stuff to a OUAC in Parkersburg WV rather than sell in either Lancaster or Columbus because the markets there were very saturated. The problem with both consignment and garage sales is that you can't get rid of it all~only what sells. On EBay, I sell it all every season. Although it is a great way to sell, I find it time consuming but for me, worth it.

ions_momma replied:
Yes, I have thought about that. I figured that I would donate the stuff that the shops wont take, or the stuff that doesnt sell to some kind of local charity

luvmykids replied: If you're wanting money I wouldn't say a garage sale, even if you price it fairly people will want to bargain you down. Our last garage sale I just wanted to get rid of it, so I was dirt cheap and got some money but not what I would've gotten on ebay.

MamaJAM replied: When I had stuff to get rid of - I went to the consignment shop near-by. They give a larger payment if you get store credit. It worked great since I had more to spend at the shop (where I buy tons of stuff anyhow).
I don't sell outgrown clothing....I either pass it along as a hand-me-down or donate it to a local charity. The stuff I've taken to the consignment shop was toys and 'furniture' (a toddler bed, infant swing, etc).
I'm not a fan of garage sales...I don't shop at them - and really can't stand the headaches of running one of my own. So - it's just consignment or donation for me.

MommyToAshley replied: I agree that you would probably make more money on Ebay, but I am going to have a garage sale this summer. Garage sales are one or two days, you sell the stuff and then the rest goes to charity and you are done with it. With Ebay, you have to wait around for the auction to end, get the buyers information, ship it off... I have a lot of stuff to sell, that would be very time consuming. I might sell some of Ashley's special occasion dresses that she only wore once on Ebay... if I can bring myself to part with them.

jem0622 replied: Sell them on Craigslist and avoid paying fees to eBay!

You can still offer them in lots and folks can pick up from you! Make sure you ask for cash only to avoid any bounced/bad checks and such.