Hypothetically….
If I was to have a big old yard sale, would it be of interest for people to come out to Hemet and buy my crap? My consignment space is a total miserable failure so I’m shutting it down. This whole “going out of business” thing sucks since I’m packed to the gills with crap and have no real storage space, plus we really need some cash to continue working on the exterior. Big plans in the works…
I was thinking that before the summer kicked into total high gear (where my real job takes over every spare second of time) I could have a sale on Saturday, June 12th. This is a depressing option. I’m depressed. I also don’t want to just give things away for nothing – which I totally believe should be the yard sale pricing structure. If it was like a reasonably priced estate sale-ish thing would that be fun? Heavy on furniture and vintage (lite on baby clothes and junk – which seems to be the only stuff at every garage sale around Hemet). What do you guys think?
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60 Comments
Sure. I’ll use just about any excuse to make a trip to Hemet. I’ll be the one with the big a** and short camera lens.
Well, you could list things via Craigslist to see what kinds of interest you get while you are still in the Antique Mall or you could sell everything to another dealer(s) at one price {what you have invested}, but if you are not making any money, is it worth hanging on to it? I would go ahead and sell at my investment price to be rid of it. Also you might consider a blog shop. But how much for the red owl? I love owls
Try eBay and Etsy for the smaller stuff. You could even try the big stuff and do freight shipping.
Craigslist is probably your best bet to get the prices you’d like.
Keep us updated!
Why don’t you stick it all in a rental van and take it down to the Rose Bowl Flea Market?
The big issue is that my summer schedule is shot. From now till August I work every weekend and late in the evenings on most weekdays. Things like eBay, or etsy, or fleas (hell, even craigslist) are a bit out of reach since I just won’t be around to follow through. This scheduling problem is the main reason I’m shutting down the store.
The bigger issue is that my garage is filled up (I desperately want my studio space back), the house is already full and I’m cheaping out on paying for storage. I’m feeling a bit fucked at the moment.
Maybe I could have a little sale…just to clear out some clutter…
I would come to a brick house estate sale if it was the next weekend (the 19th). I’ll be in Palm Springs for father’s day and I would drag my dad to Hemet to get some of your leftover amazingness!
oh, it would be depressing to sell your beautiful things for low low prices. i don’t have a solution, but hope you can come up with something that doesn’t leave you feeling sick. of course, if i lived closer (than australia) i’d be more than happy for you to sell everything to me for low (but not low low) prices.
What a total bummer. You have so many gorgeous things it seems a crying shame to make no money on them. I’m sorry your shop hasn’t worked out. I can only say that the locals clearly don’t appreciate a good thing when they see it! If I wasn’t in London I’d be over there like a shot to buy as much of your lovely stuff as I could.
Do the yard sale, but don’t sell too cheap, you might sell some stuff off easily, and if not then at least you tried.
Then just pack the rest in the garage and sell it on the internet this fall when things slow down for you.
Its only stuff, don’t let it weigh you down, enjoy the summer.
Good luck.
K.
Sketch 42 and Design Blahg are organizing a design blogger tag sale:
http://sketch42blog.com/2010/06/ive-got-stuff-youve-got-stuff-its-a-blogger-tag-sale/
Sorry things didn’t work out Morgan. You have such loyal fans out here that wouldn’t be able to make it to your yard sale (including me), that I definitely think you should post online somehow. Lots of us love your treasures found while thifting. Whatever you decide, good luck
I’m with Sue! The quickest way to move some stuff would be to do a sale right here on your blog. We ALL love your taste, trust your judgement & honestly, I think it would be so cool to own something procured by my MidCentury Maven! You could let everyone know it has to be done by a certain date, throw up the pics and off you go!
I am with Betty!
How much for the orange cathrineholm bowl + shipping to michigan??
So, I guess I’m also agreeing with Sue, Betty, Erin, etc!
please please pleaseeee do it through the website *tear* im too far away!
So sorry! You have such lovely things – the only thing I can guess is that the clientele in the area isn’t as robust. I see your dilemma. We ended up having a yard sale and at the end of the sale just gave away anything leftover. The tax write offs ended up being about the same as the cash we would have made selling the stuff. Good luck dear!
You could try making friends with a dealer and seeing if you can jump on board an auction. Or play dead and have an auction house do an “estate sale” for you — which is of course just a glorified yard sale but I think they fetch better prices.
I would come, if it was in Stockholm…
Hmmm….Maybe you can do consignment with a few shops in Palm Springs? You’ll get the pieces off of your hands and make a profit when the pieces sell. The PS shopper is right up your alley.
i’m am sure i am not the only person here who would love to have you plop that oddly-shaped coffee table in a box and mail it to me here in st. louis, but i understand that can be A PAIN IN THE ASS.
if making big bucks is the goal, i wouldn’t do a yard sale. if you just wanna get rid of your crap, it’s the perfect solution.
if you say the latter… man, am i sad i don’t live in cali.
good luck!
If I wasn’t all the way in Houston I would so make the trip. I say go for it. If you can’t get the price you want on stuff hold on to it and just sell what’s left on ebay, etsy, or craigshit.
The yard sale of my fantasies. Factoring in the cost of a flight from Ireland… feck, can’t make it. What’s the story with 1st Dibs? Do you have to be an established dealer to sell? They definitely know how to charge, and you’ve got The Greatest Hits of American Modernism to sell.
You have amassed some amazing stuff. If you’re willing to ship to Houston, I’d be willing to buy! Post to Esty or Ebay, puleeeezzz
i know the internet option is tough for you but i would buy quite a few things if you listed them online (rugs please!). if only i were in california…
Sell it here! You’ll get better prices, and you’re guaranteed to sell anything you post. Devote a weekend to shipping (the only down side) and you’re done.
Could you entice the boy to help out with shipping, etc, if you did a blog sale? Tell him if he runs your biz you’ll give him a cut for a new speaker set. Or you could try some other sort of bribery. I’m not gonna elaborate on that.
If that’s totally out of the question, I’d go the consignment route.
Good luck, and let us know how it works out. I’m pretty much in the same boat as you with regard to the stuff vs space dilemma.
ps: I’m so sorry that your shop didn’t work out! Lametron.
I’m headed to Palm Springs this morning. Is your space still at the Beaumont Antique Mall?
I have a consignment place as well and it also didn’t do well (i’m closing it soon). It seems like unless it’s super dirt cheap, items are not purchased.
I would totally do your estate sale thing. What do you have to lose?
I’d say yard sale, but that would strictly be for selfish reasons. And blast. I’m out of town that day.
I agree with Erin. If you can convince the boy to handle shipping duties, you’re set.
What are you selling exactly…anything yellow?
I’m guessing your stuff is pretty awesome, and although I completely understand the need to have your space back NOW, I think you should wait until you have time to sell the items in a manner that you will make the appropriate amount of money. It would be a shame for you to have to sell everything really cheap.
I’ll come!
see we’re begging you!!! blog sale blog sale!!!
post up what you’ve got with some prices…
you know some people will drive far for what they want.
seriously begging! I think you already have 30 guaranteed buyers at this point…
But also I know around my parts people post “estate” sales all of the time sans the death part and it’s essentially a way to let people know that it isn’t going to be broken baby toys and to bring more than 20 bucks. Plus is you made a super rad flyer I’m sure you could get some serious collectors to come.
I will actually be in Menifee next weekend, my sister lives there. I would absolutely come!
Yup, still in Beaumont till Sunday – then closing it.
Can you post up some of the things you’d like to unload? My boy and I are looking for a few things.
Blog sale please; we know you’re not going to be selling junk so don’t need to see it in person and wouldn’t dare request anything sent Next Day Air…so throw some pictures up on the blog and let us fight over it. Besides, that way you know that people who really care about this stuff get it and will find the perfect spot for it in their home instead of some schmo off the street. Then maybe you can feel your hard work collecting won’t have been wasted.
i agree with everyone that says sell here. however, i understand what a hassle it is for you to have to ship so maybe the best option is to do both the yard and the blog sale. those things that would kill you to sell at the ys price on the blog and vv.
another suggestion is to ask those of us that are local to bring shipping boxes to your ys. that might take some sting out of the shipping headache
things are rough for everybody and selling now is agonizing! i understand how you’re going nuts but if you were to carve out some real estate in the garage, little by little, maybe then it it would give you some hope.
good luck!
How about doing a hybrid online/yard sale? I’m sure there are lots of readers like me (or browsers on craigslist) who are close enough to take a long drive to Hemet for something specific, but not quite close enough to come browse and leave empty-handed. You can post pictures of your things on your blog ahead of time, but offer only a couple specific days for sale/pick-up. That should save some of the usual hassle of etsy/craigslist. If you can’t deal with documenting every last item, I imagine it would help to even have a partial list of highlights. Hope this helps! Love your blog!
ps, you could put photos up before your yardsale and have your devoted bh’s get first crack (commit to buy too). then everything that doesn’t sell, have your brickees (bricksters? bricketts?) pimp your sale online.
put all that’s left out in your yard sale with the prices you think are fair. grit your teeth against those that would lament your prices (none can be as agregious as some locally you’ve been to!)
what’s left says online. those of us that are fiercely devoted to brickhouse show it by pimping your sale before and after. that way, it seems like you could get rid of lots for the prices you want imho.
oops, sorry. i’m more longwinded than jackie!
i’ll be in hemet at the end of june visiting my grandparents! i wish it could be then. but i agree with everyone who is saying you’ll get more money elsewhere. garage sales make normal human beings into cheap, scavenging rats.
I see that lovely kilim every time I look at your consignment pics. I live about an hour away as the mapquest flies. please give me a price.. List your stuff on here and be willing to ship to those far away. You can do it!
Do it! I’m gassing up the car and ready to go!!!!
I think you might try consignment in shops in LA. I cant imagine your stuff not selling fast here. Theres a demand. I would drive to you to get stuff. Keep us posted of yard sale…with out the give away prices. I’ve often thought of asking you how much you’d sell some of your pieces for but felt it would be too rude to ask.
i second jessica and black.white.yellow.
YES! I will be there. Hubby and I will use it as an excuse to take a side trip to Palm Springs. Morgan, Morgan, Morgan!! I wanna buy your stuff! Yay!
Bigtime bummer. It can’t be your fault, you have admirable taste and displaying skills.
Consider consignment, or selling to another dealer – or craigslist. I did both when i had to get rid of furniture when i closed my shop, and it worked out pretty well.
So what do you do for a day job anyway?
New Zealand to California???? I love your stuff and so totally would be there but you’d have to give it to me to make it worth the airfare alone. Looks like the blog sale is a winner…what do you say?
I’d come in a heart beat- I’ll bring my frenchy! It can be a shopping spree/ doggy play date (cuuuute).
Please please please list on etsy again – if you list it, they will come!
people want CHEAP at yard sales…so unless you call it an Estate Sale and make it very clear that it is vintage furniture..not cheap crap….you won’t have much luck.
I would come if I lived closer.
I hope you figure something out…
I would be there in a flash if I were in the same hemisphere.
I think I know how you feel about running another yard sale. We had one a couple years ago and I decided it’s our last one. I just could not take it anymore. This is why I created http://www.privategaragesale.com
It’s free – no commissions, no fees whatsoever. And it is also totally private, so you do not need to disclose your address or email to strangers. http://www.privategaragesale.com handles all communications between sellers and buyers without ever disclosing their email addresses.
Just list your extra stuff and it goes on sale forever, with no strangers in your yard and no wasted weekends.
I would totally come out and buy your stuff…too bad I’m on the East coast. You have a wonderful eye for vintage furniture and I’m surprised that the people of Hemet have no appreciation for it!
Sell it on the blog, please! Can you put together an inventory list?
whatever you do. don’t be depressed. i am here for you. always.
p.s. i am a great sales associate if it comes down to a big sale, i will be your selling sidekick.
xo
HBD! Good luck whatever you decide…I hope you get good prices for your thritfing skills.
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