Yesterday, I posted about a community sale we were participating in 40 minutes from home and while we sold some stuff, we still managed to come home with 2 carloads of items. Our own items. :(
Below is a picture of Eric in our space. The sun was in a really bad spot by the time I got my camera out so I'm sorry it looks so dark- but you get the idea.
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| Still early on in the morning. We weren't standing so proud by the end of the day. |
My initial thoughts on the day...
The Good
*As we were setting up a nice old man came by and bought a handful of items. His sale covered our "participation" fee.
*There was a restaurant next door and they had really good burgers
*We also made enough money to cover the cost of the burgers
The Bad
* It was hot out. Not as hot as some of you East Coasters are dealing with, but 6 hours in a parking lot with no pop-up tent made for one over heated seller.
*Descanso is faaaaar! And apparently not just for me...also for all of the buyers.
*Someone asked me if I would accept a check for $2.00, from Wyoming. sorry lady, no can do.
The Ugly
*The parking lot was not paved, just lots of loose dirt and gravel and every time a car drove by it kicked up a little tornado of dust and dirt. we were covered in a thick layer of grime within 20 minutes of being there.
*2 carloads of items left home with us and 2 carloads of items came home with us.
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| The lower parking lot- where we were stationed |
Overall I'm glad we participated today. We did get rid of a few box loads and learned some good tips for the next time we do something like this. 1. shade is important. 2. we need better tables...more things need to be lifted off the ground. 3. keep the books in boxes. 4. cheap clothing racks stink!
Have you ever participated in a swap market/ flea market type event?
Any tips you'd like to share.
Me and Mom did the Flea Market once (and that was enough for me). We too were in the heat and really didn't sell that much. It was not worth the trouble of loading and unloading. I don't think we will do that again. I think I would have made out better just having a yard sale.
ReplyDeleteThe loading and unloading was a real spirit deflater! A beer never tasted as good as it did once we got home and emptied out the cars.
DeleteThat's rough to have a day like that. Thanks for your honesty to educate the rest of us. I have never tried a flea market. I generally do a garage sale in the spring and fall; as early in the spring as possible. I actually passed up two church sales yesterday because my online sales are so poor, almost nonexistent. NorScott and HankyDresses from the Vestiesteam
ReplyDeleteOur last few garage sales were a little lack luster- We just aren't in the best area for a really successful sale. We thought this might be a good alternative. It still could be, we just need to fine tune the details...find an event closer to home, pack better, get tables...etc.
DeleteI've only sold at a swap meet (Rose Bowl) once and that was over a year ago. It went alright but I came home with more than I expected to come home with. If I were to do it again I think I would try to pair up with another local reseller to have a partner in crime.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, we came home with so much more than I expected we would. I had high hopes that we would sell most of it. I realized quickly into the morning that would not be the case :(
DeleteSuch a shame, it looks as though the heat put people off a little .Theres nothing worse than coming home with most of the stuff you went with though!
ReplyDeleteI think you are right, the heat probably kept a lot of people away. Oh well, can't really control the weather....yet :)
DeleteLoving that west coast landscape in the pictures. No rocks or hills in Florida ;) I ALWAYS have had the worst luck with these events, It'll rain or be freezing cold...something bad always happens and I never sell as much as I want :p
ReplyDeleteI always donate the items after trying to sell them two sales in a row, so I can focus energy on reselling other items.
I think we are going to try one more swap meet- one that is much larger, and closer to home and what doesn't go there will be driven directly to the donate store. :)
DeleteI hear ya! I used to live in San Diego. It is wonderful by the beach, but inland, it gets hot, hot, hot! I'm glad you survived it.
ReplyDelete