Lots! Over the years we've seen what sells and what doesn't. Have a question about pricing or how to package your items? Ask! For now, here's a bit of advice:

If you want to sell costumes:

On the form, let us know if they are in a bag or if they need to be hung. We will have a clothing rack with a limited number of hangers and garment bags. Space is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Remember to mention the size of the costume on the inventory form.

All costumes must be clean and in good condition.

A label will be clipped (with a safety pin) to the main item of the costume. This is what we stick our price tag on.

Small items that are part of the costume must be stored in individual bags. Each bag must be labelled as a part. And the total number of parts must be listed on the description of the costume (both in the form and on the costume’s description, as described below).

Costumes sell best if customers can see them. Provide a photo (color works best) and a good description of the costume with measurements on a piece of paper and tape this to the bag containing your costume Then, if there is no space left to put your costumes on display, we can display the picture!

If you want to sell wigs:

Put each wig in a zip-lock or resealable bag. This makes it easy for people to open the bag and examine the wig.

If the wig has a descriptor or character reference, tape the paper with the explanation to the inside of the bag. A color description is often not enough, please include the hair length (rough approximation is fine), manufacturer name, and any writing on the wig cap. Whether the wig comes with a wig cap or not should also be in the description.

All wigs must be clean.

If you want to sell posters or wall scrolls:

Posters and wall scrolls do not sell if people cannot see what they contain. To protect your posters and wall scrolls: roll each one up tightly and use an elastic to keep it rolled. Tuck a picture of the poster under the elastic so people can see how pretty your poster and wall scrolls are.

Note that if the poster or wall scrolls do not contain a visible copyright statement or mark, it is a bootleg and we cannot sell it at the table. We cannot sell posters that come from magazines unless the magazine is also provided *or* the visible copyright statement is present.

Also note: folded posters, posters with tape on the back, and posters or wall scrolls that are ripped in any way do not sell well. We do not mount or pin-up posters. We do not have space or equipment to put up posters (and those just stacked on the table tend to get damaged rather than sold). We roll posters and wall scrolls and put them in a bucket at the end of the table for easy browsing.

If you want to sell collectible cards:

If you're selling a group of cards for one price, make sure the user can flip through the group of cards. We reserve the right to limit the number of cards that we sell.

Store them in a baseball card protector sleeve to display the cards.

If you're selling individual cards, we strongly recommend purchasing either baseball card protectors or individual plastic sleeves. That way, the stickers we use for pricing never have to be in contact with the cards.

Typically, older collectible cards do not sell well unless they are rare or still very collectible.

A binder of cards people can look through takes up a lot of table space, but we can usually find space for a card box. We reserve the right to mix baseball card sleeves together in one binder (or card box) if space becomes an issue.

Remember to tell us if any cards are common, rare, etc. and what set the card comes from (starter set, tournament deck, booster pack, etc.). Large boxes of cards for sale should have a few rare cards (or better) in them to justify the price of the box.

Boxes honestly labelled with the frequency of the cards (x common, y uncommon), style or type of cards (mostly lands, mostly reds, etc.), and other details sell better than boxes without labels. And yes, people will check. We reserve the right to refuse multiple card boxes from the same series or of the same type from the same client.

If you want to sell one or more small items:

Put the items in a resealable bag (there are lots of different sizes). Use a piece of stiff cardboard to keep them flat. The stiff cardboard should be only slightly larger than the object you’re selling.

Put any sticker on the back - not on its face.

Do not wrap them in bubble wrap or Saran Wrap. If the customer can't see the item clearly, they will not buy it.

Whenever possible, make the package with a flat base (another piece of cardboard works). This “coffin” must be able to stand on its own. This will practically guarantee good placement on the table.

All bundles must be made before you check-in. We always have some elastics and a few zip lock bags, but don’t rely on us having what you need.

We will stop your check in and ask you to step aside if your goods are not already bundled. We can’t always provide you space or time to build your bundles on site.

If you want to sell a group of books or disks (games, DVDs, etc.):

Use one or more elastics to hold them together or put them in a box so that their spines are easily viewed (by putting them in an open rectangular box made out of cardboard, for example).

People don't usually buy books they can't flip through and are less willing to buy disks if they cannot be checked for scratches.

Wrapping them in plastic does make them look nice, but such bundles never sell well, and we typically have to open them before they're sold (mostly to check for wear-and-tear on the item).

NEVER USE SARAN WRAP to wrap your bundles! Elastics or ribbon work best.

If there are more than 3 or 4 items in your bundle, we recommend you make a box for it (the item’s spine must remain visible). Large or ungainly boxes are displayed only when space becomes available.

All boxes that are closed should have a picture of what’s inside. This picture should be very large (up to as large as the box itself) and, if you can manage it – in color. Boxes must list what’s inside as we cannot always find the space to open them and display their contents.

Boxes without pictures of their contents and lists of their items will be sold as “mystery boxes”. Note that “mystery boxes” at the Garage Sale do not sell well. It’s not what people come to the Garage Sale to buy.

All bundles must be made before you check-in. We will stop your check in and ask you to step aside if your goods are not already bundled. We can’t always provide you space or time to build your bundles on site.

If you want to sell action figures or figurines:

These items sell best in their original packaging.

If you don't have their original packaging, try providing a stand, or at least make sure that:

a) they can be clearly seen (don't wrap them in crinkly, dirty plastic, Saran Wrap, or bubble wrap).

b) they are clean.

c) put all parts together and put them in an open-sided box (“coffin”). Multiple parts that can fall off must be tied into the coffin. If the toy has multiple parts and is not in its original packaging or a homemade box (as described previously), we reserve the right to refuse it.

d) the figurine must be able to stand freely (if, for example, a peg is broken, put the figurine in a coffin that can stand freely). If the figurine is in a plastic bag – it will be refused.

If you want to sell framed prints, art books, or animation cells:

As with posters, there must be a copyright symbol on the item. If it is not something typically copyrighted, the item must be signed by the artist and come with a provenance.

Animation cells must also have provenance, especially if you claim they come from a movie.

Collections and other books that need space to show off their contents do not sell well at the Garage Sale. Space is always at a premium, and we cannot display them to best effect.

If you want to sell art

You will not get a good sale-price by selling art through the Otakuthon Garage Sale. The cart cannot be made by you (as that would be the purview of Artists Alley) and must be signed by the artist, and/or numbered, and/or come with provenance.

Art previously purchased without provenance cannot be resold as anything other than what it appears to be. For example, a film cell can not be sold as having been used in a movie unless there’s provenance to prove it was actually used in the movie.

Art not signed and numbered cannot be sold without provenance as a limited-edition item.

Art of copyright characters must show signs of trademark and or copyright attribution. If it lacks these marks (or proof of these marks existing), it will be deemed fan art and refused.

Art in frames will be displayed as space allows. Note that this will delay its appearance on the Garage Sale table as we cannot hang or display art properly.

In all cases

If people can't see what's in your package, they won't buy it.

Don't wrap it in stiff plastic, bubble wrap, Saran Wrap, or use cheap zip-lock knock off bags, or bags that have already been used and washed. Stiff plastic crinkles and crinkled plastic can look opaque in Exhibition Hall lighting. Dirty or scratched bags also make your goods look older and dull.

Your items must be clean. Wash your plush toys, wipe down your toys, etc. We will refuse to sell items that are visibly dirty.

Groups of items (such as books and CDs) should be tied together with rubber bands or placed in a box in such a way that they can still be clearly identified. We will not pack your items for you.

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