After all the hard work and fretting over selling all my baby items in a garage sale a few weeks ago, the sale itself was a colossal bust.
It was such a miserable failure, that we ended up having the garage sale AGAIN this past Saturday also.
Prior to the first garage sale, Tate and I were certain that we were going to become members of the nouveau riche with the millions of dollars we were going to make. People were going to see our newly acquired vast wealth with our extended holidays to Malta, our Ferrari’s, and our 64,000 square foot homes. The other nouveau riche would whisper behind our backs at posh parties in the Hamptons, “how do you think they made their money? Was it in the stock market?” Their in-the-know nouveau riche friends would say, “No! Didn’t you hear? They made all their money in selling baby items at a garage sale. Their baby swing sold for a cool 3.2 mil.”
Oh how we’d foolishly spent the money in our heads.
The dismal failure of our garage sale looked like this: ONLY about 4 or 5 of Carson’s baby clothes sold at our first sale. Not even one of Ella’s baby clothes sold, nobody even LOOKED at them. Our only “big ticket” baby item to sell was our changing table. Our swing? Our baby papasan? Our bouncy seat? Our exersaucer? Our high chair? NOT SOLD. We ended up making about $200, which is nothing to sneeze at, but it certainly isn’t going to buy a 300 ft. yacht.
So this past weekend we decided to have another sale. My expectations were far less grand than the previous weeks. I’d be happy to simply GET RID of all the stuff, I was willing to let the stuff go for far less than I’d originally intended. And thank goodness I had low expectations.
I did sell a good chunk of Carson’s clothes, though I still have two completely full totes of his clothes. Again, NOT ONE of Ella’s baby clothes sold, nor did anyone even look at them. The only other baby item to sell was the high chair. We made $50, not even enough to buy a week’s worth of groceries.
If I were the religious type, I’d think Jesus Himself was trying to tell us something. “My child! Stop being greedy. Fulfillment cannot be found in riches. Also, you’re going to need your baby girl clothes,” He said with a raise of his eyebrows and a smirk.
Shannon
May 26, 2009 at 7:05 am
That is so disappointing! I’ve recently been through a similar thing. Except my grand idea was to sell my kids clothes on craigslist in lots based on size, season and gender. And getting all those clothes organized, washed, ironed and photographed ended up taking MONTHS. And when I finally did post them on craigslist? Not a single bite. Soooo annoyed. Now I’m holding out for a local baby-stuff sale where I can set up a table or something. Still, my hopes of making some extra cash fell flat.
DesignHER Momma
May 26, 2009 at 7:22 am
you really know how to pump a girl up for her big sale next weekend, huh?
I’m honestly surprised, people around here thrive on other people’s crap.
Di
May 26, 2009 at 7:26 am
It’s a shame you live there, and I live here. I would have been over in a hot second, buying up all your boy stuff…I’m due in September and have already taken to wailing “But everything I have is PIINNNNKKKK!!!!”
Di´s lastest post..Results…
MommyNamedApril
May 26, 2009 at 8:24 am
huh. baby stuff usually does pretty well at garage sales around here… but only if they’re neighborhood garage sales. mommies don’t get out for just one house (myself included).
our neighborhood’s not having another group sale until next year (missed this years), so I tried to sell a huge lot of unused baby boy clothes on craigslists. HAH. i sold a big fat ONE item. one.
MommyNamedApril´s lastest post..Potty Training? Bwahahahahaha!
jen
May 26, 2009 at 8:28 am
no joke.
i tried to sell all of stella’s stuff one year … and got pregnant (with another girl) 3 weeks later.
Juliet
May 26, 2009 at 8:30 am
Freecycle that stuff! Pass on the good fortune and love sistah!
Juliet´s lastest post..10 Things SAHM’s should stop doing right now
AndreAnna
May 26, 2009 at 9:31 am
I didn’t even bother to try and sell the stuff, figure I’d deal with what you are and that the money I would make wouldn’t be worth it when I could just donate it to people who need it.
So I probably donated thousands of dollars of baby stuff.
And now, my husband must get a vasectomy or we’re screwed.
AndreAnna´s lastest post..Today I…
Michael Silence
May 26, 2009 at 9:32 am
Try this. We’ve had great success!
http://www.dkdkgoose.com/main.html
Beth
May 26, 2009 at 9:33 am
Maybe you’re right, maybe it’s a sign! You should have tried to sell your pump…that would have been the ultimate sign.
Headless Mom
May 26, 2009 at 9:44 am
What about Swap Mamas? MommyPie set up a great site and it looks like you can get rid of it all if you want. Then if you do end up pregnant again you can ask for it all back. Heh.
Headless Mom´s lastest post..A Big Fat Rat of a Tale
sam {temptingmama}
May 26, 2009 at 11:36 am
That pump would have went for a cool one million. Just think of what you could have with that money? But NOOOOOo Tate just HAD to keep it. JUST IN CASE.
LOL
Sorry your sale was a bust. That really sucks.
sam {temptingmama}´s lastest post..How Bluehost Handles Delicate Situations (Alternate Title: #BlueHostSucks)
Burgh Baby
May 26, 2009 at 11:47 am
So what you’re saying is that I shouldn’t count on that closet of baby crap to finance my trip to the French Riviera. Damn.
Burgh Baby´s lastest post..How to Make a Scene at the Grocery Store
OHmommy
May 26, 2009 at 12:21 pm
When we sold most of our baby items in our garage sale, we found out we were pregnant with #3.
That is why there is still a bouncy chair, high chair, pack n play, and baby clothes in our basement. Im SO afraid to have another garage sale!
OHmommy´s lastest post..Thank God my parents had the foresight to live in a refugee camp because I rock at motherhood.
kj @ Where my boys at?
May 26, 2009 at 12:32 pm
dang. we’re having a sale next Sat. I’m selling all my baby stuff…. gulp. Hope we get rid of something…
kj @ Where my boys at?´s lastest post..Happy Boys!
Formerly Gracie
May 26, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I would have probably cleaned you out had it not been for the MILES upon MILES between us.
I’m having to re-buy a ton of baby stuff. All I saved were the tons of boy clothes. The rest went the way of the garage sale too… and oops, whadya know? It’s a girl…
Formerly Gracie´s lastest post..In Need of a Little Lunchtime Inspiration
paula
May 26, 2009 at 2:41 pm
the holiday weekend prbly did not help with sales
paula´s lastest post..Meatfest ‘09
Connie @ Young and Relentless
May 26, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Yep, I think there is a message here.
I put all of my baby crap up on craigs list a year ago and only sold one thing.
Connie @ Young and Relentless´s lastest post..The Bachelorette~ The Man Code
Fairly Odd Mother
May 26, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Is that a tease or what? Hmmmmmm. . .I think that perhaps you may be happy you didn’t sell all your stuff. ; )
Fairly Odd Mother´s lastest post..A Potty Party
misfithausfrau
May 26, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I quickly learned once we moved to Tennessee that the only way to sell clothes is in a consignment sale. I had never even heard of them before coming here. I haven’t taken the time to do one yet, but they are an option.
Or, you can always sign up for swapmama.com and swap your stuff with other moms.
misfithausfrau´s lastest post..I Love This Man
mep
May 26, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Since you still have the pump, might as well keep the rest too . . . just in case.
Sorry you can’t get that yacht just yet.
mep´s lastest post..Heloise, if you please.
Swiggy
May 26, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Is this your way of trying to tell us something?
Swiggy´s lastest post..5 years and 4 days apart
Crystal
May 26, 2009 at 10:34 pm
There’s a neighborhood garage sale taking place next month, but it’s probably more trouble than it’s worth. Might be better off just dumping everything in a pile in the front yard with a FREE sign.
Amo
May 27, 2009 at 6:10 am
I had no problems selling my baby stuff back in TN. I shoved all the bins in the drive way with a bunch of plastic bags and sold it for $10/bag.
Incidentally, I now understand the true volume of those little Kroger bags…geez.
Amo´s lastest post..It’s kind of like own a pit bull, but without the ability to tie them in the yard.
rachel-asouthernfairytale
May 27, 2009 at 11:35 am
Baby stuff gets SNAPPED up out here.
Sorry it was so disappointing.
The last line (mmmmmm)
Sarah
May 27, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Haha!! We were talking with the neighbors last night about the recent baby boom…and how “going out is too expensive” anymore…and thus everyone is pregnant…
Maybe someone up there IS laughing at you
Sarah´s lastest post..Fully Armed…
Jennifer
May 27, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Swiggy, No, no hidden messages. At least I hope not.
Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com
May 27, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I don’t think it’s just you guys. We’ve been perusing garage sales for baby stuff so that we can get as much as possible second-hand and people are always astonished that we’ve popped by at all. Apparently, this is their second or fifth or ninetieth garage sale to get rid of the stuff, but all anybody wants for their precious little ones is brand new wonderful stuff.
I figure that’s their loss. My kid is gonna puke all over it anyway, so it might as well have already been used.
Megan {Velveteen Mind}
May 27, 2009 at 4:36 pm
That was Jesus doing some shopping for me.
Except no way we’re having a girl… no way we’re having a girl… no way. You hear that Jesus? I know you read Jennifer’s blog!
Megan {Velveteen Mind}´s lastest post..Will You Hit Your Saturation Point Before Your Tipping Point?
Tara R.
May 27, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I’ve given up on garage sales. It’s not been worth having sketchy strangers near my home and the money is minimal.
Tara R.´s lastest post..Drugs, sex, drinking… just do it!
Joe @ Irrational Dad
May 27, 2009 at 8:04 pm
You should have held a raffle for the breast pump.
I skimmed the comments, so if it’s already been mentioned, I apologize. But take pictures of your stuff and put it on craigslist. It’s free, so you’ll only be out time if nothing sells.
Joe @ Irrational Dad´s lastest post..Got to keep on movin’
the planet of janet
May 27, 2009 at 11:44 pm
yup. totally a sign.
the planet of janet´s lastest post..It’s my dream, and I’ll cry if I want to
Chiropractor
May 28, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I have also been part of garage sales that made very little money. It makes me feel pretty silly.
But I’ve also been a part of garage sales that were wonderful money makers. I’ve found that May is a good month as long as it’s not raining. This may has been so unusually cool that the mornings have been a bit too cold. But those who make a hobbie of going to garage sales usually still tough the conditions!
Amanda of Shamelessly Sassy
May 29, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Around here, there are 4 super huge yard sales every year where you can put your kids clothes in and consign them. Someone else sells them for just three days, and usually, most of them are sold. I don’t even mind forking over 10% for it, because the sales are so well publicized that people drive a few hours to come to them. Maybe there are some around there? The sales are so large that they rent out a huge community building for it.
Amanda of Shamelessly Sassy´s lastest post..Under Pressure