<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Scobleizer]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://scobleizer.blog]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Robert Scoble]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://scobleizer.blog/author/scobleizer/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Garage sale powered by Craigs List (and&nbsp;signs)]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>Well, the garage sale has gone very well. Lots of fun, not really all that profitable but then it was mostly aimed at getting rid of junk so we wouldn&#8217;t need to move it.</p>
<p>The red couch still hasn&#8217;t sold, but we have a few bites. Larry Hryb of the Xbox Live team was by here earlier to sit on it one last time. Of course he had to check out my HDTV. &#8220;Nice,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>Anyway, I&#8217;ve learned a few things about Garage Sales.</p>
<p>First, make good signage. About six out of 10 people I asked said they came just because of the signs.</p>
<p>Second, advertise on <a href="http://seattle.craigslist.org/">Craigs&#8217; List</a>. Three out of 10 said they came that way. I&#8217;d also recommend <a href="http://expo.live.com/">Microsoft&#8217;s Expo site</a>.</p>
<p>The rest came cause of the blog.</p>
<p>Other best practices? Furniture doesn&#8217;t sell well cause it&#8217;s hard to haul that stuff home. Best sellers? Toys, bikes, appliances, old AV equipment went fastest.</p>
<p>Most potential buyers just drove by in their cars, so make your best stuff easily viewable from the street. That got them to stop or turn around.</p>
<p>Leave room for bargaining, everyone loves to drive down your prices.</p>
<p>Have some free stuff. I had Channel 9 guys for the kids, that got everyone in a good mood.</p>
<p>Get your neighbors in on the act. That helped get people to stop cause there was more stuff to look at.</p>
<p>Have bags, if people&#8217;s hands are full they stop buying.</p>
<p>Have plenty of change.</p>
<p>Oh, and Patrick made about $20 selling lemonade and cookies. Not a bad way to earn some extra iTunes money.</p>
<p>One other thing. You might think that only geeks read Craig&#8217;s List. You&#8217;d be wrong. Almost everyone who mentioned Craigs List was a non-geek and included several senior citizens.</p>
<p>Maybe I should just trade the Red Couch to <a href="http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/">this guy</a> for a paperclip!</p>
]]></html></oembed>