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Having a garage is always on our list of summer money-makers, but because we live in an area where “garage sale season” is limited to about five months out of the year, we need to get creative the other seven months.
During the off-season, we opt to sell some of our excess stuff via the many Facebook Online Garage Sale Sites. Though not without a hiccup now and then, using these sites has been immensely beneficial and one that I would recommend to others.
Here are some facts you should know about these sites:
Cash is King: Cash is the only acceptable form of payment, unless the seller you are working with agrees to something else. I now always have change in the form of ones and fives on me at all times. Which brings me to another point:
Bring Exact Change: Just out of sheer respect for those you are doing business with, bring exact change whenever possible. Don’t hit someone with a twenty for a three-dollar item.
Meet in a Public Place: Fast Food establishments or business parking lots are all favored places for buyers and sellers to meet.
Group your Meets Together: Whether you are a buyer or a seller, try to group your “meets” together so you can do more than one at a time or in conjunction with other errands you are running. This way, you won’t find yourself making special trips and eating up your profits.
Reveal and Disclose: If something has a rip, disclose it to the buyer. If something has slight damage, reveal that. I once bought a coat that the buyer claimed was “in great shape,” but when I met with her, I discovered (once I got home) that both sleeves were shredded. Nice. I opted to chalk it up to a lesson learned rather than raise a stink about it. Non-smoking homes are another biggie these days since so many people are sensitive to cigarette smoke.
Don’t Expect Refunds: Unless something is truly defective, don’t request or expect refunds. This is not Wal-Mart, folks. If you agree to buy to purchase a medium-sized shirt from me (and I disclose that it is medium) but you are an XL, that falls into the “not my problem category” if you get it home and discover it doesn’t fit.
Pictures are a must: Not only do all of these sites require a photo with every listing, but high-quality, clear pictures will work wonders for getting your item sold. I use my iPhone to take pictures, but I usually include 2-3 photos for each item I am selling. If you are selling clothes (or anything for that matter), try to present your item in the best light possible. You wouldn’t buy items that are wrinkled, faded, or dirty, so why would you expect someone else to?
OBO: To expedite the sale of your item, you may want to include “or best offer.” This is especially true on bigger ticket items.
ISO: “In Search of.” Not too long ago, I needed an extra handheld recorder for my freelance work, but I was too frugal to spend $40 at a retail store. I posted an ISO on one of the sites (along with a picture so people knew what I meant) and within an hour had a gorgeous $10 recorder in my hand. And someone was $10 richer 🙂
PM: “PM me” means that someone will send you a private message via Facebook for more details about the transaction. Please note that if you are not connected as friends on Facebook, the message may end up in your “other” message box. PM is a great way to work out details, share addresses, etc., without the world seeing.
Stellar Descriptions: Create a listing description as if you were selling something on eBay. “Purple jeans, size 12” may not get a sale but “Like new purple Abercrombie Skinny jeans with adjustable waistband and zip/button closure. Size 12, 100% cotton, comes from smoke-free home, multiple sites, must meet in ___(town)” may garner a quicker response.
Delete Pictures of Sold Items: Out of respect for the site and other buyers, type your name in the search box, locate the sold items, and click “delete” to keep the feed filled with only viable items for sale.
Sellers, Send a Reminder: After being stuck several times with “no-shows” due to the fact they “forgot” (It happens. Life moves fast) I now try to remind them before our meet time. This also gives people the opportunity to reschedule if needed. I also highly encourage everyone, whether you are a buyer or seller, to create a list of your meets that includes details such as the location of the meet, the item in question, the buyer’s or seller’s name, and the type of vehicle they will be driving. This prevents “forgotten” meetings and confusing situations.
First to Respond, Wins: Anyone who wants what you’re selling will respond in the comments, using phrases like “want” or “interested.” If you are slow on the keyboard, but still want to get in line in case the first buyer falls through, many will respond “In Line.” Tagging a friend with “@” does not constitute a commitment to the item or holding your place in line. Read all of the group’s rules and guidelines before listing your items.
Be Polite and Respectful at All Times, but stand firm. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Know when to be flexible, but also be firm. It should go without saying that buyers should not request a lower price after they’ve committed, especially not at pickup time. These sites offer a significant benefit to both buyers and sellers, operating on a respect and honor system. Yes, occasionally a turd gets into the pool, but I’ve noted that Admins from other groups will work together to weed out or block spammers or those who can’t seem to behave correctly.
Commit and FOLLOW THROUGH: For those of us who sell, two main issues are highly irritating: 1) No-shows, 2) Those who commit or say “want” and then disappear. As a buyer, commit to a specific day and pick-up time, and be sure to show up. As a seller, if this happens to you, wait for 12 hours for the person to surface, then move on to the next person.
Hold it For Me? From my personal experience, “holds” rarely work out. If you choose to “hold” an item for someone for longer than a week, please note that there’s a 90% chance it won’t work out (again, based on personal experience). To save yourself time and aggravation, consider having your meets and pick-ups within a week. This applies to people who repeatedly need to “reschedule” and drag out the transaction for weeks. Know when to stand your ground, politely cancel the transaction, and move on to the next buyer.
For those who would rather stockpile their sellables until the true physical garage sale season, the information below will be extremely helpful in organizing and orchestrating a Wildly Successful Garage Sale!
