We got answers...
Q - How do I price my items?
A – This often is the hardest part for our sellers to figure out. We do not set pricing standards; we recommend you sell your items at a price you are comfortable with, and a price that will sell.
Q – But how do you know what that price is?
A - Experience so far has taught us that most items sell for higher than a garage sale price, but lower than a consignment store. Do some research on the internet, a good site to check out is “Consignment Mommies”, http://consignmentmommies.com/Resources/ClothingGuide.htm.
Another good one I found was:http://www.moppettogs.com/Documents/Moppet%20Togs%20Pricing%20Schedule%202007.pdf. But these are just the tip of the iceberg; there are lots of great sites out there.
Q – What if I don’t want my items selling for 1/2 price on Saturday?
A – We ask that you price most items to sell for 1/2 price, as we advertise that Saturday is a half price day. But you can select some (not all!) of your items to be not included in the discount. On the drop down menu for the tags, you must check one of the boxes in the "Discounted" section - you may choose to participate in the discount or to NOT discount this item. When the tag prints out, it will clearly state "discount" if you are selling the item for 1/2 price.
Q – What if I don’t want my items donated at the end of the sale?
A- You can choose to donate or not donate any unsold items. Simply check the box on the tag to donate if not sold, or do NOT donate. The tag will display a red heart icon for those items to be donated.
Q – Is there a way to have my item sell at 1/2 price but not get donated?
A – Yes! We are happy that with the new online system this is finally possible. You can select what items can go for 1/2 price and to donate or not. Once again, we request that you do not mark all your items for return, it takes us a long time to sort these all out.
Q – Do all my clothing items need to be on hangers?
A- Yes - all clothing must be on hangers. Everything is hung on racks, we cannot place items without hangers! The only exception to this rule is infant onesies (newborn and 0- 6 months only!) hats and socks. We will allow these items to be packaged in Ziploc bags. These items will be displayed for sale on a large table. Other clothing items not on hangers will not be placed for sale.
Q – Where can I get hangers?
A- We recommend the Dollar Store(s), Target, Wal-mart and other discount stores. Old Navy is also an excellent source of FREE hangers. Call them a few days ahead of time and ask them to save hangers for you. They are a great source to find pant hangers… make sure to specify what size hangers you need (children/infant etc.).
Q – Can I use wire hangers?
A- We strongly prefer plastic hangers, we have found clothes falls off too easily from large wire hangers. If you can find child sized vinyl coated wire hangers, those work fine too. But adult wire hangers are much too big for childrens clothes.
Q - Do I get my hangers back?
A- Unfortunately no. Hangers are sold with your item. Factor the cost of hangers into your price if necessary. We do allow you to return during item pick up on Saturday and take some hangers home - but you don't necessarily get your own hangers back. We do not have room to store hangers, so they all must go!
Q – How do I attach tags onto toys, bikes etc.?
A- We have found using a strong, clear packing tape is the most effective way to tape onto toys. Only tape over the top half of the tag. Please DO NOT tape over the bottom of the tag. The scanners must be able to scan the barcode, and have problems scanning through the tape. Large items will have a claim ticket attached to it once you drop off. This is for bikes, trikes, outdoor items and things generally too big to carry. Please do not attach these tags to your items - we will do that for you!
Q – Do I have to use safety pins on all my tags for clothes?
A – Pins are one of the easiest ways to attach the tags to clothing items. We recommend attaching them around the collar area of shirts, on the size tag if possible, but not on the bottom of sleeves. The lower the tag, the harder to find the price and the easier it is for the tag to accidentally fall off. Secure your tags as best you can!
Q - Is there a specific kind of paper to use for my tags?
A- All tags MUST be printed on WHITE CARDSTOCK. Colored or textured cardstock will not scan well, and those items must be hand entered at check out. Regular printer paper wrinkles, tears and falls of easily. We are not trying to be difficult, but white cardstock is what works, we ask that you please use it.
Q- What if my tag falls off during the sale?
A- We do our very best to match to watch for tags on the floor and reunite them with their lost homes! If we cannot find the tag, we set the item aside and donate it at the end of the sale. Any item without a tag CANNOT be sold. This is why we stress securely attaching all tags. We want you to get credit for your sale or for your donation! However, we are not responsible for your item if the tag falls off.... please make sure to secure it properly.
Q- I have an item that is not showing up as sold or donated. Where is it and what happened to it?
A- Unfortunately things still go missing. We generally have over 13,000 items and it is possible for items to get lost in the shuffle. We try our very best to make sure your item is accounted for, but sometimes things go missing. Tags can fall off, human error and sadly, even theft can occur. Columbia Community Church is not responsible for any lost or stolen items, or items without tags.
Q- The sale is over, but I am missing items that are not showing up on my sold items or my donated items. Where are they?
A- We include an item flagged report with your check. This shows everything that we have pulled due to stains, holes, out of season items, or items we feel are too worn to sell. Check that list and see if your item was on it. Most of those items were donated unless you specifically asked for the item back.
Q - What sizes of clothing do you accept?
A- We accept newborn, toddler, children, youth or junior sizes. Based on industry standards, youth size XL is 12-14, Junior sizing is XS 0-1, S 3-5, M 7-9, L 11-13. We do NOT accept women's (2, 4, 6, 8, 10+) or men's clothing.
Q- Do you accept maternity clothing?
A- Due to slow sales of maternity clothes in past sales and the needed rack space, we do not sell maternity clothes.
A – This often is the hardest part for our sellers to figure out. We do not set pricing standards; we recommend you sell your items at a price you are comfortable with, and a price that will sell.
Q – But how do you know what that price is?
A - Experience so far has taught us that most items sell for higher than a garage sale price, but lower than a consignment store. Do some research on the internet, a good site to check out is “Consignment Mommies”, http://consignmentmommies.com/Resources/ClothingGuide.htm.
Another good one I found was:http://www.moppettogs.com/Documents/Moppet%20Togs%20Pricing%20Schedule%202007.pdf. But these are just the tip of the iceberg; there are lots of great sites out there.
Q – What if I don’t want my items selling for 1/2 price on Saturday?
A – We ask that you price most items to sell for 1/2 price, as we advertise that Saturday is a half price day. But you can select some (not all!) of your items to be not included in the discount. On the drop down menu for the tags, you must check one of the boxes in the "Discounted" section - you may choose to participate in the discount or to NOT discount this item. When the tag prints out, it will clearly state "discount" if you are selling the item for 1/2 price.
Q – What if I don’t want my items donated at the end of the sale?
A- You can choose to donate or not donate any unsold items. Simply check the box on the tag to donate if not sold, or do NOT donate. The tag will display a red heart icon for those items to be donated.
Q – Is there a way to have my item sell at 1/2 price but not get donated?
A – Yes! We are happy that with the new online system this is finally possible. You can select what items can go for 1/2 price and to donate or not. Once again, we request that you do not mark all your items for return, it takes us a long time to sort these all out.
Q – Do all my clothing items need to be on hangers?
A- Yes - all clothing must be on hangers. Everything is hung on racks, we cannot place items without hangers! The only exception to this rule is infant onesies (newborn and 0- 6 months only!) hats and socks. We will allow these items to be packaged in Ziploc bags. These items will be displayed for sale on a large table. Other clothing items not on hangers will not be placed for sale.
Q – Where can I get hangers?
A- We recommend the Dollar Store(s), Target, Wal-mart and other discount stores. Old Navy is also an excellent source of FREE hangers. Call them a few days ahead of time and ask them to save hangers for you. They are a great source to find pant hangers… make sure to specify what size hangers you need (children/infant etc.).
Q – Can I use wire hangers?
A- We strongly prefer plastic hangers, we have found clothes falls off too easily from large wire hangers. If you can find child sized vinyl coated wire hangers, those work fine too. But adult wire hangers are much too big for childrens clothes.
Q - Do I get my hangers back?
A- Unfortunately no. Hangers are sold with your item. Factor the cost of hangers into your price if necessary. We do allow you to return during item pick up on Saturday and take some hangers home - but you don't necessarily get your own hangers back. We do not have room to store hangers, so they all must go!
Q – How do I attach tags onto toys, bikes etc.?
A- We have found using a strong, clear packing tape is the most effective way to tape onto toys. Only tape over the top half of the tag. Please DO NOT tape over the bottom of the tag. The scanners must be able to scan the barcode, and have problems scanning through the tape. Large items will have a claim ticket attached to it once you drop off. This is for bikes, trikes, outdoor items and things generally too big to carry. Please do not attach these tags to your items - we will do that for you!
Q – Do I have to use safety pins on all my tags for clothes?
A – Pins are one of the easiest ways to attach the tags to clothing items. We recommend attaching them around the collar area of shirts, on the size tag if possible, but not on the bottom of sleeves. The lower the tag, the harder to find the price and the easier it is for the tag to accidentally fall off. Secure your tags as best you can!
Q - Is there a specific kind of paper to use for my tags?
A- All tags MUST be printed on WHITE CARDSTOCK. Colored or textured cardstock will not scan well, and those items must be hand entered at check out. Regular printer paper wrinkles, tears and falls of easily. We are not trying to be difficult, but white cardstock is what works, we ask that you please use it.
Q- What if my tag falls off during the sale?
A- We do our very best to match to watch for tags on the floor and reunite them with their lost homes! If we cannot find the tag, we set the item aside and donate it at the end of the sale. Any item without a tag CANNOT be sold. This is why we stress securely attaching all tags. We want you to get credit for your sale or for your donation! However, we are not responsible for your item if the tag falls off.... please make sure to secure it properly.
Q- I have an item that is not showing up as sold or donated. Where is it and what happened to it?
A- Unfortunately things still go missing. We generally have over 13,000 items and it is possible for items to get lost in the shuffle. We try our very best to make sure your item is accounted for, but sometimes things go missing. Tags can fall off, human error and sadly, even theft can occur. Columbia Community Church is not responsible for any lost or stolen items, or items without tags.
Q- The sale is over, but I am missing items that are not showing up on my sold items or my donated items. Where are they?
A- We include an item flagged report with your check. This shows everything that we have pulled due to stains, holes, out of season items, or items we feel are too worn to sell. Check that list and see if your item was on it. Most of those items were donated unless you specifically asked for the item back.
Q - What sizes of clothing do you accept?
A- We accept newborn, toddler, children, youth or junior sizes. Based on industry standards, youth size XL is 12-14, Junior sizing is XS 0-1, S 3-5, M 7-9, L 11-13. We do NOT accept women's (2, 4, 6, 8, 10+) or men's clothing.
Q- Do you accept maternity clothing?
A- Due to slow sales of maternity clothes in past sales and the needed rack space, we do not sell maternity clothes.
