Classifieds vs. Yard Sale

I am often asked what advantages listing in the classifieds has over a yard sale. The primary and most important difference for all of us is price.  The classifieds always get a better price than a yard sale. Always! How much better? Often up to 5 times more. In fact, I use that advantage to make lots of money, but that's a different.article to come. First, I will tell you some items that you never want to sell through the classifieds or a yard sale.

1. Collectibles: Collectibles should always be sold through an auction site like ebay. The value of a collectible is limited only by the desire of the collector to have what you are selling. If two or more collectors compete for the item it can be very good for you. It is important to decide what is the absolute minimum you will accept for the item (don't forget commissions to the auction site) and set a reserve at that price.
2. New items: Sometimes we receive a gift that we never get around to exchanging, or buy extra of something and never use it. If you have something new and unopened that will ship easily your best option is Amazon.com. Even some used but like new items will fetch a premium price there.

Now, lets talk about why the classifieds are a better option for most items. Yard sales were usually associated with moving. When people cleared out the house and saw the volume of stuff they had accumulated over the years, they realized it was probably cheaper to sell the items at a yard sale than pay to have them packed and shipped. Any reasonable price they could get was better than paying to move items that they hadn't used in years. Of course there are other reasons for yard sales, but yard sales have traditionally been a source of bargain buys and that is what yard sale shoppers are looking for. Most yard sale shoppers don't have any specific item to shop for, they are just looking for the bargain.

In contrast, classified shoppers know exactly what they want and are looking for a quality used item at a fair price. They are more interested in getting a good value than a cheap price. They are prepared to pay much more for what they want. They also want to spend as little time as possible shopping, often buying the first item they look at. This means your items are likely to sell much quicker and for more money in the classifieds than a yard sale. If you think about it, there are few items that cannot be sold more effectively through the classifieds.

All that said, there are still some items that are destined for the yard sale. Home decor items top the list. These are usually impulse buys and do well at a yard sale, but don't expect to get a premium price. Clothing is still a yard sale favorite, but clothing can also do well in the classifieds if you bundle like items together.

Each sales channel has certain advantages for certain items. Smart sellers will take the time to do a little research a select the best channel for each item. The rewards for doing so can be great.

Happy selling!