Quilting rummage sale question
05-19-2013, 12:56 PM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Fox Valley Wisconsin
Posts: 1,920
Quilting rummage sale question
I will be having a large rummage/garage sale at my home in a couple of weeks and have a lot of quilting supplies to be selling. If you are going to a sale, what kind of prices would you expect to pay at a sale? I have been thinking of fabric 1/4 of retail, same with patterns and books. Most books and patterns have never been used. Is that still too much to ask, or do you think reasonable for a rummage/garage sale. I am getting my house ready to sell and having to do lots of cleaning out to downsize.
05-19-2013, 01:16 PM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Adelanto, CA
Posts: 4,044
Hard to tell depending on your locale. I know that I want really discounted prices. There are 2 thoughts, if you price high people might just walk on by and not ask if you'd take less. But then no matter what your price is there are going to be those who want you to take an even deeper cut (even if you have it priced at $1yd, some people will offer you .50yd) ... one reason I hate to have garage sales, LOL.
You might do better selling your quilt supplies here.
You might do better selling your quilt supplies here.
05-19-2013, 01:36 PM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 4,555
I would say that 1/4 of retail would be great for your sale. Measure your yardage beforehand, and put little stickers with the size on each piece.
If you advertise well in advance of the sale (Craig's list), the quilters will go and you may have some who come prepared with their own boxes and tote bags. If you don't advertise to quilters specifically, then you won't have the foot traffic, and you will have more likelihood of hagglers who want to give you .50 for a six-yard piece.
Some will say sell it here, but it sounds as if you don't have time to either get the requisite number of posts per the guidelines, photograph and upload your batch of (no more than) 15 items at a time, or deal with emails and trips to the post office when you are needing to get out of the house fast.
Good luck with your upcoming move! It can be stressful.
If you advertise well in advance of the sale (Craig's list), the quilters will go and you may have some who come prepared with their own boxes and tote bags. If you don't advertise to quilters specifically, then you won't have the foot traffic, and you will have more likelihood of hagglers who want to give you .50 for a six-yard piece.
Some will say sell it here, but it sounds as if you don't have time to either get the requisite number of posts per the guidelines, photograph and upload your batch of (no more than) 15 items at a time, or deal with emails and trips to the post office when you are needing to get out of the house fast.
Good luck with your upcoming move! It can be stressful.
05-19-2013, 01:43 PM
#5
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,474
You might want to call it something other than a garage/yard/rummage sale.
Perhaps a "Quilter's Moving Sale"? Than with an idea of what you have available and ranges of prices that you are asking:
Yard goods: $2 to $4 per yard
Books and Patterns: $2 to $5
You might add that there will be 'other items' for sale at 'priced to move' prices.
I really don't know what's 'fair' to ask -
You might base your prices on:
1) what you paid for the item
2) what you think the market might bear
3) how attached you are to whatever
Perhaps a "Quilter's Moving Sale"? Than with an idea of what you have available and ranges of prices that you are asking:
Yard goods: $2 to $4 per yard
Books and Patterns: $2 to $5
You might add that there will be 'other items' for sale at 'priced to move' prices.
I really don't know what's 'fair' to ask -
You might base your prices on:
1) what you paid for the item
2) what you think the market might bear
3) how attached you are to whatever
05-19-2013, 01:45 PM
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,163
One of the guilds I belong to has held two or three garage sales in the local senior center. All fabric is priced at $1/yard (or less) and it flies off the tables. If you're talking 1/4 of retail, that would probably be in the $ 3/yard range, and it should get sold at that price but it might take longer. Be sure to let the local guilds know about the sale. Good luck.
05-19-2013, 01:58 PM
#7
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,728
I did that several years ago, when I thought I would never be able to sew again, and like you was moving.
Here's what worked for me ....
I did NOT want a public garage sale, as I was letting people into my home.
I sent emails out to everyone on my email list, telling of the quilting/crafting sale items, indoor, date, hours, etc.
The email did say it was fine to pass it on to other people who may be interested.
I washed all fabric, and tagged it with the measurement.
No pressing, just a simple fold up, so they could all be laid on a table.
To make it simple for everyone, the price was set at one price per yard.
To get into different rates for different fabrics complicates it for everyone.
It was easy to add up the total yardage and then multiply by X.
Likewise for patterns and books.
I kept my price consistent for all things of the same type.
And yes, not everything falls into a group, then it gets a different price.
As for what price? ... you have to do what is best for you.
Do you want to be rid of it all? ... or content to downsize and just have less?
As a final thought ... be sure to hold back some of your favourites, so you aren't later saying, I wish I had ..........!!!!
Good Luck!!!!!!
Here's what worked for me ....
I did NOT want a public garage sale, as I was letting people into my home.
I sent emails out to everyone on my email list, telling of the quilting/crafting sale items, indoor, date, hours, etc.
The email did say it was fine to pass it on to other people who may be interested.
I washed all fabric, and tagged it with the measurement.
No pressing, just a simple fold up, so they could all be laid on a table.
To make it simple for everyone, the price was set at one price per yard.
To get into different rates for different fabrics complicates it for everyone.
It was easy to add up the total yardage and then multiply by X.
Likewise for patterns and books.
I kept my price consistent for all things of the same type.
And yes, not everything falls into a group, then it gets a different price.
As for what price? ... you have to do what is best for you.
Do you want to be rid of it all? ... or content to downsize and just have less?
As a final thought ... be sure to hold back some of your favourites, so you aren't later saying, I wish I had ..........!!!!
Good Luck!!!!!!
05-19-2013, 03:09 PM
#10
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Fox Valley Wisconsin
Posts: 1,920
Thank-you for the input.
I bought most of the fabric when it was $8.00 a yard-so probably will sell it at $2.00 a yard. Patterns mostly were 8.00 so probably will sell at $2.00 each, and books, will maybe break into $2.00 each, $3.00 each, $5.00 each boxes and label accordingly.
We have our guild meeting tomorrow, so I will make an announcement there. Craig's list is a good idea. Not just selling quilting items, so will do an ad in newspaper also.
I may try listing some things here too, depending on how the sale does.
Kim
I bought most of the fabric when it was $8.00 a yard-so probably will sell it at $2.00 a yard. Patterns mostly were 8.00 so probably will sell at $2.00 each, and books, will maybe break into $2.00 each, $3.00 each, $5.00 each boxes and label accordingly.
We have our guild meeting tomorrow, so I will make an announcement there. Craig's list is a good idea. Not just selling quilting items, so will do an ad in newspaper also.
I may try listing some things here too, depending on how the sale does.
Kim
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Yarn or Fabric
Pictures
5
05-04-2011 05:40 PM
Yarn or Fabric
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
22
09-29-2010 05:04 PM
