GARAGE SALES OFFER SPATE OF ITEMS

Barbara Eagle looked over her accumulation of castoffs from the past year that she was selling at a garage sale for prices that ranged from 25 cents to several dollars.

"It's a lot of work," said Eagle about the sale she had spent several weeks preparing for, "but you pay a lot of money for things, and it's nice if you can get something out of them."

That's the general philosophy behind garage sales, yard sales, carport sales and the other names given to these events where one person's castoffs becomes another person's possessions.

Eagle generally holds a garage sale annually. Throughout the year she collects in boxes marked "garage sale" discards from closet cleanings, items replaced by newer models, clothes that have become too small and the stuff that didn't sell at the sale the year before.

"You just don't know," she said. "Something you can't sell one year, the next year the right person comes along and buys it."

Kristin Turner said she generally puts off having a garage sale until she forgets how hard she had to work during her last one. It had been several years since her last garage sale when Turner filled her driveway with tables and boxes loaded with merchandise and stretched ropes between poles to hold clothes on hangers.

"We had accumulated a lot of stuff and it was just time to hold a sale," she said as she collected money for some Barbie dolls she was selling for 50 cents to $1.

Turner, too, spent several weeks preparing for the sale. She tried to mark a price on each item so customers didn't have to ask questions. She organized items by type, with toys in one area, household items in another and children's clothes separated from adult clothes.

"That way people can find what they are interested in without having to dig through a lot of other things," Turner said.

Eagle has learned from her years of holding garage sales that customers appreciate having the price marked on all items and when the items for sale are clean and in good repair and displayed so customers can quickly find what they are interested in.

Children's clothes and toys sell the best, Eagle said. Tools, bedding and household goods are also good sellers if the price is right.

In setting her prices, Eagle takes into account how much the item cost originally, what condition it's in and how badly she wants to get rid of it.

Another factor in a successful garage sale, Eagle said, is location. Her recent sale was held at her father's house near Cape Rock Drive and Kingshighway.

"A lot of people drive by here and they'll stop to see what you have to sell," Eagle said.

Other tips for holding a successful garage sale gleaned from Internet Web sites and other sources include:

* Find out if there are any restrictions your neighborhood or local government may have on holding yard sales. In Cape Girardeau, the only restriction is those who hold garage sales more than three times a year must get a business license. In Jackson, a garage sale can only be held on property the person owns or leases and only one sale is allowed a calendar year and it is limited to a 48-hour period. Also signs cannot be placed on public property. In Scott City, the only restriction is that signs must be taken down after the sale.

* Advertise your sale through the newspaper, on bulletin boards (at grocery stores, community center, etc.) and with signs in your neighborhood (don't forget to take them down when the sale is over).

* Months before your yard sale, start accumulating the items you want to sell. As you accumulate items for your sale, make sure you do not sell something that you'll regret later.

* Put prices on everything, preferably on top of an item where the price tag is easy to see.

* As a general rule of thumb, price items about a third of what they would cost new. There are exceptions. Clothes are generally poor sellers, unless it's children's clothes. But if you price adult clothes cheap enough, they will sell. People are reluctant to pay a lot of money for clothes they can't try on, but will gamble if it's only $1 or so. Keep in mind that "a third of what it costs new" is only a guideline and doesn't apply to obsolete items like 8-track tapes and beta machine.

* If you don't have time to price everything individually, signs are helpful, such as "all books 25 cents each" or "any piece of clothes $1." You also can offer the customers a deal, example: paperbacks 25 cents each or five for $1.

* Put some effort into your sale and try to make merchandise look attractive. If you are selling an old basketball, make sure it is full of air. If you are selling a TV, have it turned on. Make sure everything is clean and shiny and displayed nicely. Ask friends/neighbors to loan you portable tables if necessary.

* Display some of your more interesting items at the end of your driveway to act as a magnet to lure people in.

* During your sale, keep busy by filling in the empty spots on your tables by rearranging your stuff.

* Guard your money. Have lots of coins and small bills available to make change. Do not leave your money lying around in a box. A fanny pack allows you to have your money with you.

* If someone hands you a large bill, and you need to give them change, leave the bill out until after you have given them their change so there is no question what denomination they gave you.

* Have a calculator handy to total up purchases. Make it easy for yourself and price things evenly, like 25 cents, 50 cents and $1.

* Have plastic grocery bags available to put sold items in. It's also a good idea to have some newspaper available to wrap breakable items.

* If you are selling electrical appliances, have an electrical outlet handy or a long extension cord to try out appliances.

* To avoid any hassles later on, post a sign that says "All Sales Final."

* If possible, invite a neighbor or friend to join you in your yard sale. It's cheaper to split the cost of the newspaper ad with someone, and the more stuff you have available to sell the better. It also helps to have several people watching merchandise, making change and answering questions.

YARD SALE SHOPPING TIPS

Yard Sale Shopping Tips

* Read the classified ads in your local newspaper to find where the yard sales will be.

* Get a detailed map of your area and plan your route so you don't waste time and gasoline getting lost.

* Put a cardboard box or tote bag in your car to hold your purchases. It keeps them from rolling around in your car and makes it easier to carry your purchases in your house.

* Keep diaper wipes or a bottle of hand sanitizer gel in your car to clean your hands in case you pick something up at a yard sale that needs a good cleaning.

* Arriving when a yard sale first opens can mean seeing things before other shoppers pick over them. On the other hand, the seller may be willing to give better deals later in the day just to get rid of the leftover items.

* Clothes are generally a great deal at yard sales because they are generally poor sellers so they are priced cheap.

* When buying dishes or glassware, first run your hands over the edges. Your hands will most likely catch any chips or nicks that your eyes miss.

* When buying something that is battery-operated, open the battery compartment to make sure there aren't some old batteries in it that are corroded. It's also a good idea to carry some batteries with you.

* When buying CD's or videotapes, open up the case to make sure the right cd or tape is in the case.

* If you see an item and can't decide whether you want it, pick it up and carry it around a bit until you decide. If you don't, by the time you decide that you want it, someone else may have snatched it up.

* Bring a lot of small bills and change, especially if you plan on making small purchases.

* Don't be afraid to haggle a price down if you feel it is too high. The worst the seller can say is no.

* When making a purchase, carefully look over an item before you buy it. Most items are sold "as is." If you get home and your purchase doesn't work or is missing a piece, you are probably out of luck. If it's an electrical appliance, ask to plug it in to test it.

* Be creative when you browse yard sales, when you look at an item, not only look at it for its primary use, but look at it for its potential use. For instance, a toy dump truck might make an interesting planter.