Advice on selling at Equestrian Table Top Sale

[worldchimp]

I have booked a table at an equestrian table top sale but have never sold at one. I have remember to: wash all the items like rugs, numnahs etc and to get a float.

What else do I need to do in preparation for it? Should I price up the items that I am selling?

Any advice would be great.

 

[Carefreegirl]

Don't bother washing rugs. I did and just about made back the money spent on cleaning them. The couple next to me bought loads of minging rugs that stunk of urine and sold the lot within the hour. I couldn't even count how many they brought it was that many. People haggle really hard so stick your guns (as long as realistic) I had some proper cheeky offers.

 

[iconique]

Price everything if you can, then you won't get flustered trying to remember how much you want for an item. Be prepared to haggle and that people will offer below what you have on it, but don't mark prices too high otherwise people won't even bother.
Second not washing rugs, I can't understand why people buy them in the stinky state but they do. It will cost more to do that what you sell them for, and covers up a multitude of sins!
Make sure you are organised as if its like one of the sales that we have around here, people will start looking before you've unpacked
And if you are selling saddles, take a saddle stand, there is nothing worse than having your treasured saddle plonked back on the floor!

good luck, hope you sell lots!

 

[lara b]

definitely have stuff priced, I don't even stop at stands were stuff isn't priced (unless it's something I really want)

Oh and at the risk of me being miserable I don't want to hear peoples life stories when I buy from them, bit of chat fine, but in detail description of the last 6 months of the lives not so much!!

 

[4x4]

Oh lara b couldn't agree more (falls on floor laughing)! Went to one not so long ago...owner of yard/shop going bankrupt/relationship poblems etc etc. "I only want to rent a table for God's sake!!!"

 

[lara b]

Oh lara b couldn't agree more (falls on floor laughing)! Went to one not so long ago...owner of yard/shop going bankrupt/relationship poblems etc etc. "I only want to rent a table for God's sake!!!"

yep, that's the type..

 

[4x4]

How about-they must be the same people as the one's who come to buy a s/h rug/pony/bridle whatever with about half-a-dozin assorted kids and then start telling you about this one's father, what ponies they've owned, what they've won etc.etc. I hate people!!

 

[lara b]

As the saying goes ' the more people I meet the more I love my horse'!

 

[Orangehorse]

Good advice. If you can wash lightweight rugs at home then wash, but don't go and pay ££ to get turnout rugs cleaned, give them a brush off the worst of the mud and hair and maybe put into separate bags, but definitely price everything. Expect people to make offers, so think about your minimum price. Don't have too high prices or people will just walk past. Everyone is looking for a bargain, and you want to get rid, get some money and free up some space.

Please clean leather tack - some of the stuff on sale I would only put in the dustbin, it looks as if it was never, ever cleaned.

Books don't sell for much (I nearly always manage to buy one).

 

[catkin]

Take a tape measure.

Clean all the leather stuff, wash bits and fold up clothing neatly. If possible lay it out as nicely as you can so that your table looks a cut above the others. Be prepared to talk about the stuff and what's it's been used for.

If you have decent stuff then don't sell it for pennies, show it to people properly 'look at the quality of leather' etc - it's surprising how people come back if it is a true bargain rather than just cheap.

 

[lottiepony]

Take a tape measure.

totally agree with that as people never believe you! also mark on sizes where you can e.g bits, pony,cob full etc just saves on telling every person the same thing!

 

[Shantara]

The more knowledge you have the better
Be prepared for people who are annoying (like me) and aren't 100% sure of their horses sizes

 

[Happy Hunter]

Manilla tags on everything with price and size - saves so many questions!
Tape measure with your name on!
'index' of rugs taped to the table - saves people time and they can browse quicker!
a pile of nice neat folded rugs WILL be demolished in 20seconds! = try to keep sizes together - pony one end horse the other ect.
take big boxes that can keep things loosely together - i.e. not loose on floor for people to kick, stand and trip all over

good luck!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

All good advice in above posts specially the bagging/stacking of rugs in sizes.

I've used a small plastic storage box/feed bucket with small items in in the middle of the table and found that if you put a label on it with 'all under £2' (or similar) you will actually shift lots of small bits & bobs.

Also, borrow a small portable hanging rail to put jackets & tops hanging on their hangers, easy to grab them to see & saves them getting wrecked by 'rummaging'. A folding deck chair is helpful to drape maybe a decent rug over (or to stand a 2nd saddle in.

But - Price everything up as the others say

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

Don't bother washing rugs. I did and just about made back the money spent on cleaning them. The couple next to me bought loads of minging rugs that stunk of urine and sold the lot within the hour. I couldn't even count how many they brought it was that many. People haggle really hard so stick your guns (as long as realistic) I had some proper cheeky offers.

Hmm, I'm not so sure about that. I'd never touch anyones stinking, dirty, crusty old rugs, but I would definitely look through clean rugs, particularly stable rugs and clean coolers and fleeces etc.