How to Price Kids Clothes for a Yard Sale

Yard sale shoppers may wish to spend only change.

When planning a yard sale---particularly your first one---you will wonder how to price children's clothing. As a rule of thumb when pricing all items, keep in mind that yard sale shoppers usually have one goal: finding a very good bargain. Yard sale goers may bring only their change purses, because they expect to pay far less than at outlet malls and resale shops. After all, there is no reason to spend dollars on a child's sweater when they can spend a few quarters. But if the price isn't right, they will quickly move on. To set prices that sell, conduct some amateur marketing research.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard boxes
• Laundry string or clothing racks
• Pricing stickers
• Pen or marker

Instructions

1. Survey other parents to get an idea of general expectations. Ask them what they would be willing to pay for certain items at a yard sale. For instance, ask a few moms how much they would expect to pay for a pair of children's jeans, as well as how much is too much.

2. Visit nearby yard sales and garage sales and take note of the prices on children's clothing. Be competitive--determine to set your prices at equal or lower amounts.

3. Visit retail children's clothing stores and discount stores to familiarize yourself with new clothing prices. Set your prices relative to those prices. An acceptable yard sale pricing standard is between 10 and 30 percent of original pricing for items in good condition.

4. 

   Sell more worn items out of boxes labeled with one price.

   Sort and price items according to condition. For example, you might have a box filled with children's clothes that are a bit worn. Set a price of perhaps 10 or 25 cents, and write the price on the box. Individually label and hang better-condition clothing on a laundry string or clothing rack. Also label individually un-hangable items, such as shoes and hats, that are in good condition. (These can also be sold out of a box to save space.)

5. Sort and price children's clothes according to size. Larger items, of course, should be priced higher than smaller items. Additionally, the more organized you are with your items, the more the customers will want to browse through them.

6. Sort and price items according to style. Dress clothes (dresses, skirts, boys' suits) should cost more than casual clothes (jeans, shorts, T-shirts) and underclothing (slips, pajamas, underwear). Outerwear such as jackets and sweaters should cost more than daily wear.

Tips & Warnings

• Before surveying other parents, print out a short questionnaire. Ask questions such as, "What is the best yard sale price for a pair of shoes?" and "How much would you pay for a pair of designer label children's shoes?" Study the questionnaires before pricing your items.

• When selling unlabeled items out of boxes, be familiar with the contents of the boxes. Knowing which items you wish to sell for a certain amount will help you guard against shoppers who may try to tell you they got a better item out of the "cheap" box.

References

• GarageSaleBonanza.com: How to Price Your Items
• GarageSaleSource.com: Garage Sale Pricing