Yard Sale Tips: How to Dispose Your Unsold Merchandise

This summer, many Americans are expected to host yard sales. Yard sales, also know as garage sales, are a great way to de-clutter a home and make extra money. If you are interested in holding a yard sale, you hope for success. After all, the more items you sell, the more money you make. However, you should consider the what ifs. What if all of your items don't sell? What should you do with the leftover merchandise? Continue reading on for a few yard sale tips concerning unsold goods.

Host a bag sale. Since you are thinking ahead, you are at an advantage. Consider planning a last minute bag sale. Bag sales, especially those that are advertised, generate lots of interest and attention. Generally, bag sales involve handing shopping bags to your customers. You allow them to fill each bag for a set price, such as $1 or $2. Since your main goal is to make money, don't start your garage sale off as a bag sale. Instead, offer the special deal on the last day or final hours of your sale. Shoppers rarely leave this type of sale with a half filled bag, as they feel like they aren't getting as good of a deal. A bag sale is a great way to get rid of merchandise that might not have otherwise sold.

Give free away items to last-minute shoppers. If you only have a few items remaining towards the end of your sale and don't want to or cannot host a bag sale, consider offering the items free to last minute shoppers. Setup a special table of goods that you think may not sell. Merchandise that was automatically bypassed by shoppers is ideal. After your customer pays for their purchases, inform them that they can select an item or two from your free table.

List your unsold items on Craigslist.org. When taking this approach, you have two options. They include selling your items on Craigslist or listing them for free. Take the item and value into consideration. If selling a used Wii console, your selling price may have been $150. As great of a deal as this is, yard sale shoppers rarely carry this much cash with them, so the item likely didn't sell. Don't offer this product for free; list if for sale instead. However, old movies, books, clothes, and anything of low value can be listed for free. With that said, if you have a large group of items, such as 20 hardcover books in like-new condition, try selling them as a group for one low price first. Since it is free to list on Craigslist, you have nothing to lose. If they don't sell, alter the price to free.

Donate your unsold items from your yard sale. Most non-profit organizations take donations for clothes, toys, movies, books, and home decor items. It all depends on how the items will be used. For example, a non-profit organization that gives items directly to the needy are more likely to accept clothes only. However, some items are resold in thrift stores operated by non-profit organizations. Instead of actually using the donations, they use the money generated from the sale. Before donating your unsold items, take a close look at them. Was there a reason they didn't sell? Most non-profit organizations will only take clean and safe items. Make sure yours qualify before making the drop-off.

Ask friends and family if they want your unsold goods. If you have exercised all of the options above and are still left with unsold items from your yard sale, you are about out of options. Unfortunately, one of your few remaining choices is the trash. It is heartbreaking to throw away something you know another person can use and it costs money. As a last ditch attempt, pickup the phone or send an email to those you know. Let them know you have a few clothes, toys, books, movies, and so forth available. In fact, ask if they know of anyone who may want the goods.

Throw away anything you cannot give to shoppers for free or donate. When doing so, keep your trash regulations in mind. In most states, an old air conditioner can't just be trashed like normal garbage. Some garbage and recycling centers will charge a small fee for these items, but many have special drop-off or pick-up dates where the fee is waived. Some yard sale hosts like to place free items by the side of a road with a free sign attached. Use your best judgment and check local laws before doing so. Don't leave a free couch out when rain is forecasted. The couch will suffer damage and a passerby is less likely to take it.

You now have a few yard sale tips on how to dispose of unsold merchandise. Hopefully, you will never need to use these tips. Hopefully, you will have a profitable yard sale. Unfortunately, even the best sales have items leftover.