Click on question below for shortcuts to SELLER Questions:
Click on question below for shortcuts to SHOPPER Questions:
Click on question below for shortcuts to VOLUNTEER Questions:
Click on question below for shortcuts to Questions about Friday Nights Presale Event:
SELLER Questions:
Q: What is a consignment sale?
A: Consignment is when a seller gives items to an agent to sell. At The Mother Load Sale, we organize, advertise and operate the sale in return for a percentage of the seller’s total profit.
Q: Why should I sell with The Mother Load Sale?
A: We’re personable, professional and organized. We will offer you guidance through the process of preparing your merchandise for sale while we advertise the sale to attract well over 1000 shoppers. Best of all, you do not have to be present to sell your items or haggle over sales prices. The only time that the seller is required to be present is during set-up on Friday night at 7PM (* NEW * or pre-arranged item drop-off) and for pick-up of unsold items after the sale on Sunday from 5-5:30 PM. You simply prepare, tag and bring your items for set up, and they will be sold for the price marked. Plus, you will earn more than what local consignment stores will offer. You will also enjoy access to the private pre-sale the night before the general public is allowed to shop at the sale.
Q: How do I become a seller?
A: Simply open and print The Mother Load Sale Seller’s Contract. Complete the contract and mail back to the address at the top of the form, along with a check or money order for your $10 seller’s fee and a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE). Completion and submission of the contract means that you agree to all of its terms. The SASE will be used to mail your check after the sale. Click here to find out what you can sell.
Q: What does the $10 seller’s fee and commission cover?
A: The fee covers the rental of the sale facility, advertising, equipment needed to run the sale, administrative costs, insurance, computerized barcoding system, 6 computerized cashiers, etc.
Q: How much work is it to prepare items for sale?
A: Proper preparation of items does take time, but it will assure the best results in sales and, therefore, money in your pocket! Our computerized barcoding system makes entering and printing price tags a SNAP! We encourage sellers to begin preparing early, doing a little each day. We also offer detailed merchandise preparation guidelines, under the “Sellers” tab on this website, to assist you in this task and are always available to answer questions about item preparation, pricing, etc. It is not unheard of to make well over $1000 at sales like these, so your hard work can really PAY off!
Q: How much of my profit will I receive, and when will I get paid?
A: Sellers who volunteer to work a 4-hour volunteer shift will receive 75% of their total profits. Sellers who choose not to work a volunteer shift will receive 65% of their total profits. * NEW * Starting in the Fall of 2010, sellers will also not be required to participate in Friday night's set-up process. These sellers, earning 10% less profit, will now have the option to make prior arrangements to simply DROP OFF their items and TMLS staff will place them on the sales floor for them on Friday night. With the Seller Referral Incentive Program, you can earn an extra 5% for each new seller that signs up listing YOU as the person who referred them to TMLS. You can also earn an extra 5% for each ManPower shift you fill. (See Vol. Info page) You will receive a check by mail, sent using the self-addressed, stamped envelope that you returned with your contract, within 7 business days after the sale..
Q: Wouldn’t I make more money if I held my own garage sale or sold my items on Craigslist?
A: The benefit of selling at The Mother Load Sale is that we will bring in well over 1000 shoppers who are specifically looking for baby, children’s and maternity items. You don’t have to advertise, haggle over price, have strangers at your home or go to a stranger’s home, and you are able to remain anonymous. You are welcome to hold onto unsold items and participate in our next sale.
Q: How do I get my unsold items back?
A: If you would like your unsold items back, you will need to return to Cleveland Middle School between 5--5:30PM on Sunday to collect them. * NEW * At that time, your items will have been removed from the sales floor and pre-sorted either onto the donation table or into your own seller bin. When tagging your items with our computerized barcoding system, you will have the option to mark items "Donate" at that time or at pick-up you may also leave additional unsold items that you no longer want on the donation table for our charity. However, because the charity picks up later in the evening, tax receipts will not be available at that time, * NEW* but are able to be printed from our barcoding site (for tax purposes.) Any unclaimed items left after 5:30PM will be donated to a charity chosen by The Mother Load Sale, LLC or become the property of The Mother Load Sale, LLC.
Q: How will I know what items I sold?
A: We use a computerized barcoding system that will keep an exact inventory of what is/is not sold at the sale. It will be updated so you will know your profit due Sunday evening. Although we provide security during the sale, The Mother Load Sale, LLC is NOT responsible for lost or misplaced items.
Q: Why does the Mother Load Sale require wire hangers for all clothing?
A: Wire hangers make clothes more “shoppable” because they take less space on the racks. In other words, shoppers can easily slide clothes back and forth on the racks while browsing without breaking hangers (resulting in clothes on floor and possible damage to other clothes from the sharp edges). The tighter and more difficult the clothes are to shop, the less likely buyers are to purchase your items. In addition, if we used bulkier plastic hangers, we would have to build/purchase more racks, requiring a larger, more expensive location, resulting in higher seller’s fees. At The Mother Load Sale, we strive keep our costs low and profits high!
Q: Are sellers allowed to bring children to set-up and pick-up?
A: No. For the safety of everyone, children are NOT permitted during set-up or pick-up. Also, if seller shows up for shift with child/ren (and is therefore unable to work shift), the commission will be reduced to 65% of the total dollar amount of their items sold minus a $50 fee.
- Click here for the Sellers Contract (FULL!)
SHOPPER Questions:
Q: Why should I shop at The Mother Load Sale?
A: You will find a huge selection of quality, gently used baby/children’s items under one roof for reasonable prices. Rather than driving from garage sale to garage sale, where quality and selection are iffy, this sale is dedicated to exactly what you need—baby, children’s, and maternity consignment. You will find everything categorized and nicely displayed in a comfortable indoor environment for easy shopping, and helpful volunteers will be on staff to offer fantastic customer service.
Q: What type of payment methods are accepted for purchase of items at the sale?
A: CASH of course, is the preferred method. There are several ATMs within 2 blocks of the sale location! ;]
Credit/debit cards as well as personal checks will be accepted. Valid NM photo ID will be required for these methods of payment.
Q: What should I bring to the sale?
A: Bring plenty of cash, checkbook, and/or a credit/debit card, valid NM photo ID, comfortable shoes and TEN friends! For your convenience, HUGE reusable shopping bags will be sold for $2 at the sale.
Q: What should I leave at home?
A: Anything extra that you would have to lug around! NO children’s toys are allowed in the door. Extra items coming in such as strollers, diaper bags, bottles, hats, etc. will have to be tagged as your property at the door, so please bring as little in as possible to keep the entrance line from backing up.
Q: Are items I purchase returnable?
A: Shoppers have 48 hours from the end of the sale on Sunday to report items that are broken, missing parts, etc. so please check through all of your purchases as soon as you get them home and contact TMLS immediately with any problems.
Q: How can I become a seller or find out about future sales?
A: Refer to Seller Questions on this page for information on becoming a seller. To find out about future sales, sign up on the mailing list on our Home page or add your name to our sign-up sheet at check-out during the upcoming sale.
VOLUNTEER Questions:
Q: Do I have to work a shift if I am a seller?
A: No. Sellers are not required to work a volunteer shift, but doing so will result in higher profits since sellers who volunteer make 75% profit and those who do not make 65% profit.
Q: What happens if a seller signs up for a volunteer shift and then does not show up?
A: Per the contract, if seller signs up for a volunteer shift and is a “no show” or if seller shows up for shift with child/ren (and is therefore unable to work shift), the commission will be reduced to 65% of the total dollar amount of their items sold minus a $50 fee. If a seller confirms their assigned volunteer shift when assigned and then cancels, there will be a $25 fee. There will be NO shift changes after the final confirmation (two weeks prior to the sale date.) Volunteers who are late for their assigned shift will have their final sales check docked 5% for every 15 minute increment past the scheduled arrival time. This means that, as volunteers are required to arrive 20 minutes early for their shift, arriving "on time" will result in a 5% profit decrease.
Q: How do I become a volunteer if I am not a seller?
A: Volunteer registration forms accepted on a first come, first served basis until we are "full." Volunteers who submit their paperwork early will have a better chance at getting their first choice of shift. For safety reasons, expectant mothers WILL NOT be allowed to work the Friday Night volunteer shift.
Q: How long are the shifts, and what will I be doing?
A: Shifts are approximately 4-hours long (Friday night shift is 6 hours from beginning to end, but 3 hours of that time is for you to set our your own items and to shop at the pre-sale). Jobs could include helping keep items neat and organized on the sales floor, working the door, answering basic customer questions, tag removal, cashiering, or one of many other helpful tasks. Feel free to invite your husbands to volunteer with you or for you. We always welcome extra muscles - especially during set-up and take-down! (See "Volunteer Info" page for more on ManPower Volunteer shifts) Should you, on the other hand, be interested in volunteering but have physical limitations, such as being pregnant, please indicate those limitations on the volunteer registration form, and we will assign you to an appropriate job. There is a job for everyone! For safety reasons, expectant mothers WILL NOT be allowed to work the Friday Night volunteer shift.
Q: Do you provide childcare for volunteers?
A: No. Because we need our volunteers to be as productive as possible during their shift, as well as for their own safety, we do not permit you to bring children. Special breaks can be managed for breastfeeding mothers.
Q: Will volunteers have a break during their shift?
A: Sure. If you need a break at any time during your shift, please let the shift supervisor know so that someone can take your place for a short while. Although no food or drinks (other than water) are allowed on the sales floor, you can bring your own snack/drink to enjoy while on a quick break. We also recommend that you DO NOT bring your purse, bag, etc. onto the floor with you during your shift as there will not be a safe place to store these items. Cell phones are acceptable (we know that you probably have kids at home and would need to be reached in the case of an emergency) as long as volunteers are not making excessive calls/sending texts during their shift. If this becomes a problem that a simple warning does not clear up, a volunteer could be asked to leave and not be allowed to volunteer at future sales.
Q: Why are volunteers asked to wear red shirts during their shift?
A: We ask all volunteers to wear red shirts so that volunteers can easily spot each other and shoppers can spot volunteers on a very large sales floor during busy times. Aprons will also be provided, making it easy for you to hold personal items as it is recommended that volunteers NOT bring purses onto the sales floor or into office areas.
Friday Night Pre-Sale Questions
Q: What is the Friday night Pre-Sale?
A: The pre-sale is a Friday night special event strictly limited to sellers and volunteers. To ensure a safe, relaxing, stress-free shopping environment, children are NOT permitted at the pre-sale - NO EXCEPTIONS!
Q: How will my seller number affect my entrance into the Pre-Sale?
A: It won't. Because TMLS can allow sellers more time to set up and shop, starting Spring 2010, there will no longer be a presale line by seller number. Sellers will simply be able to start shopping as soon as all of their own sale items are placed neatly on the sales floor. The advantage NOW of getting your contract in early is to assure your space as a seller in a steadily-growing, always-sold-out sale as well as heightening your chances of getting the volunteer shift you prefer.
