Pricing at a flea market can be tricky, especially when you remember exactly how much you paid for your used treasures when you bought them. Remember that the patrons of the flea markets are looking for business, so don't raise the prices too much if you want to sell as much as possible. Read on for a general guide on deciding prices at a flea market.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Pricing for books, DVDs, CDs, and games
Step 1. Put the books for less than € 1 each
Nobody will pay more for a book in a flea market, unless it is a very special edition. Display the books with the spine in view in an attractive box or in a bookshop that is also for sale.
Step 2. Put the DVDs for € 3 each
You may want to keep a laptop or DVD player handy to demonstrate how DVDs work before paying. Show the DVDs in their original packaging.
Step 3. Put the CDs for 1-2 € each
Keep in mind that CD sales have plummeted, so they're not the cool items they once were. You can try to sell stock of CDs by the same artist at a slightly higher price, if you aim to sell them as quickly as possible.
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If you have videotapes, go down even more. They probably won't leave for more than € 1 each.
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Sell the vinyls for 1-2 € each.. Unless you have very rare records that are still in good condition (in which case you might want to take them to a record store - it's easier to make some money this way).
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Step 4. Put the games at € 7-8 each
Some rare or expensive games may cost more, but in general your games will not be worth more than € 8.
Method 2 of 4: Pricing for clothes and shoes
Step 1. Sell baby clothes for 1-2 €
Nobody will pay more for used clothes, which are already inexpensive in stores. Make sure your clothing is clean and well presented to make it easier to sell. If the object is branded and still has the label, you may be able to raise the price a little.
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If you want to sell heavily used or stained clothes, have them cost less than € 0.5, just to get rid of them.
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If you have a ton of dresses to sell, you can try selling them "by weight", like € 5 for a full bag.
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Step 2. Sell adult clothes for € 3-4
Old shirts, trousers, dresses and other items shouldn't cost much more, unless they are branded with the label still on. You may have better luck selling by excluding older, run-down ones; don't force customers to dig for something of interest.
Step 3. Sell the shoes for 3-5 € Make sure you clean them to remove scuff marks and spots before putting them on display
If you have a trendy and almost new pair of shoes, you can ask for a few euros more.
- Old sneakers should be cheap; even free.
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Display the shoes in an inviting way, rather than throwing them all in one box.
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Step 4. Put the coats for 10-12 €
Wash and hang them neatly. Coats that look 15 years old will go away for less, but if you have a little used designer coat, you can raise the price a bit.
Method 3 of 4: Price the furniture
Step 1. Offer the lowest quality furniture for € 5-20
Furniture made of mediocre materials, or heavily used and full of marks, should cost less so you can get rid of it. At these prices, you should be able to sell your old furniture to students looking for cheap furniture.
Step 2. Put the solid furniture at € 35-60
Solid wood dressers, tables, cabinets or bookcases could be among the most expensive items in your market. A good guideline for these items is to put them at 1/3 of their original price. If you spent € 210 on a table that you hardly ever used, go ahead and put it at € 70. You can always lower the price if necessary.
Step 3. Put rare antiquities at no less than 80 €
If you have something particularly special, like a Tiffany lamp or a Victorian chair, raise the price. The right buyer will be willing to pay for what it's worth.
If you do not know for sure the value of the object, do your research first or have it evaluated. You certainly don't want to sell off your most precious possessions
Step 4. Put the knick-knacks at € 2-3 each
Candle holders, frames, trinkets and other knick-knacks should be among the cheapest items in the market. Exceptions are allowed for antiquities or rare or expensive things, for example works of art.
Method 4 of 4: Pricing miscellaneous items
Step 1. Put your computer accessories and other electronic equipment to no more than € 15
Even if you spent € 80 on the juicer, it will be hard to sell it for more than € 15; electronics deals abound, so you have to offer better than what the smartest customers can find online.
Step 2. Sell the kitchen accessories for less than 2 €
Porcelains, plates, cake accessories and all the other things you find in the kitchen. Make sure everything is clean before being exposed.
Step 3. Put the toys at € 1-2 each
You can also equip yourself with a box of freebies with the least expensive items, so the children accompanying their parents can take something home with them; maybe this way their parents will be even more willing to buy something.
Advice
- Be ready for negotiations - people think "cheap" when they see a flea market, so don't be discouraged if your table goes from € 90 to € 40. That's still € 40 compared to what you had yesterday and you have less junk at home!
- Advertise as much as you can. Without a large turnout at your market, the items will be out there in the sun and you will earn almost nothing. So paper your street with signs, put an ad in the newspaper, and also try online shopping sites.
- Donate leftovers to charity. If you don't sell all of your stuff and don't want it anymore, consider donating it to some charity or similar. Ask for a receipt in case of any tax deductions.
- Arrange everything so it's easy to see. On the day of the market, make sure everything is visible, in order, so that everything is easily found.
Warnings
- Check your local regulations if you intend to sell food.
- Beware of selling faulty items. Check online, especially in the field of electronic items, toys, appliances and baby items.
