Garage Sale

About Otakuthon

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For general inquiries, please contact the Information Desk at info@otakuthon.com.

For all registration questions, please contact registration@otakuthon.com.

The Garage Sale is a table manned by Otakuthon staff where we sell your stuff.  We charge 15% (minimum of $0.50 per item) if the item is sold. If the item doesn't sell - you get it back when you check-out and we charge nothing.

Each person can sell up to 50 items, and is expected to submit their list of items by email before the convention starts. We ask that all stuff to be sold be in good working order and clean.

Note: You must be pre-registered to sell items at the Garage Sale.

Merchandise Drop-Off Times

New for 2012 : To improve Garage Sale service, all merchandise drop-off must be done before the convention starts and will be by appointment only. During the drop-off, an appointment will also be made for check-out.

Drop-Off Procedure

1. Register for the convention and pick up your badge.  Your badge number is used to track the items you have for sale.
2. Read & agree to the Terms of Service (PDF). You will be asked to sign a Garage Sale Contract when you check in.
3. Fill out the Garage Sale inventory form electronically (XLS / ODS). We will only accept a maximum of 50 items from each registered member.
4. Email garagesale@otakuthon.com your inventory form. We have to get the email of your inventory BEFORE you can drop your stuff off.
5. You will receive a confirmation email and an appointment will be set for the drop-off. Garage Sale Drop-Off will be in the Registration Area when pre-registration badge pickup starts on Thursday. Please note that drop-off is by appointment only.
6. We'll go through the inventory you want to sell and confirm it's all there. Each item must be labelled with your badge number and the inventory number. It must also have your set price for the item. We do not barter or haggle in your name; but we can take the contact information down if someone really wants an item but not at the price you set. 
7. Go enjoy the convention. We'll handle it from here.
8. Remember to return on Sunday at the appointment time to collect the items that have not sold and your money.

Items and/or funds not collected before the closing of the Exhibition Hall on the last day of the convention will be considered a donation to Otakuthon.

We try to take care of your goods as if they were our own. Still, accidents can happen and we will not be held responsible for any losses.

We reserve the right to refuse to sell any item for any reason.

How do I fill out the garage sale form?

To fill out the garage sale form:

1. Put your name and badge number on the top of the form, in the spaces provided.

2. Sort your items.

• Keep like/similar items together when numbering (ie: all mangas together, all figurines together, all DVDs together, etc.).

• If you want to sell items as a set, put them together in a clear bag or put an elastic around them in both directions (top-bottom AND left-right). If they are not grouped tightly together - they run the risk of not being sold.

3. Assign an inventory number to each item/package/thing you are selling.

• Each item is assigned a two-part number. The first part (your lot number) is your badge number. The second part is an inventory number.

• Start at 1 and count up. Do NOT skip numbers. Each item in your list must have a unique inventory number.

BAD:

GOOD:

• Each item must be written on the form on its own line. For example, if you have six items that are the same (like six Death Note manga #14), they must take up six lines.  DO NOT write the same description for the six copies.

4. For each line:

• Provide a name and a general description for each item. This helps us quickly find the item when we're doing the paperwork. The description should be short and concise, as it needs to be enough to distinguish it from other similar items; e.g.: the item's name; "type of object", "name of the manga/anime/game", "name of character", "color", "size (Height/Width/Depth)", "number", "language (EN/FR w/subsEN/FR/Multi, etc.)", "way to read (L2R or R2L)", "standard/deluxe/special edition", etc. The name of the item is never enough.
• If you want to sell costumes, let us know if they are in a bag or if they need to be hung. 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 in good condition and clean. Costumes sell best if customers can see them. Providing photos will help in the case when there is no space left to put your costumes on display.
• Set a price for each item. Remember that we keep 15% of whatever is sold. Since the minimum charge is $0.50, if you set a price of $3.25, $1.00, or $0.10, we will be taking $0.50.

5. (OPTIONAL) Make your own labels

Each label must have the following information: badge number, inventory number and price. This information must be clearly written (use big printed numbers). The stickers must be removable! We suggest the white multi-use reusable labels, available from most office supply stores, in packs of 100+.

Example:

FAQ

1. What is allowed to be sold at the table?

You can sell any items you want, so long as it is in good condition, clean and legal. 

However, please note:

1. Bootleg, pirate copies, and knockoffs are not permitted. If someone complains to us that your item is not legitimate, we will take it off the table until its status can be verified. If it's off the table, it cannot be sold.
2. Food may not be sold.
3. Pornographic material may not be sold.
4. Blades without sheaths (cardboard sheaths are OK) and weapons that cannot be peace-bonded may not be sold.

The Garage Sale staff reserve the right to refuse any item for any reason.

2a. How much do you charge?  Why do you charge?
2b. What if I want to price my goods below $0.50 / below $3.30?

We charge 15% of the sale value per item, with a minimum charge of $0.50.

Why do we charge?  Two reasons:

1. We don't want to handle many small, cheap items since they are difficult to track and can get lost easily.  If you have a lot of small items that you want to sell, you may want to consider selling them as a set (which would be treated as one item). Sets must be grouped together (e.g.: in a bag or tied tightly together).
2. The Garage Sale itself needs to cover its own costs (including the space it occupies in the Exhibition Hall).  Whatever is left over goes towards the next Otakuthon. :)

IMPORTANT:Each sale has a minimum charge of $0.50.  Items should not be priced below $0.50, since the difference of the minimum charge will be deducted from your overall total sales.

3. Why are all the drop-off times now by appointment?

In the interest of making the check-in and check-out process more efficient:

• all check-in times will be by appointment (before the convention) only,
• all check-out times will be arranged by appointment during check-in,
• if you need to check-out earlier (ie: before Sunday 2:00pm), please let us know as soon as possible and we will try to accommodate your request.

4a. How do I make/change my appointment?
4b. What if I can't check in at the appointed time? Can I check in after 5:00pm on Friday?
4c. Can I check out at some time other than the appointed time?

(IMPORTANT: Please don't leave your goods unattended in the Registration Hall.)

You can make your appointment when sending in your form.  Please provide your availabilities for Thursday and Friday of the convention.  If you need to change the time, please email us as soon as possible.

If you're running late and miss your appointment, we'll try to deal with it on a case-by-case basis but remember that check-in closes at 4:30pm on Friday.

IMPORTANT: We will not be able to check in any goods into the Garage Sale after 4:30pm on Friday.

If you need to cancel your appointment, please email us as soon as possible (and all will be forgiven :).

If you need to check-out earlier (ie: before Sunday 2:00pm) than your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible and we will try to accommodate your request.

5. Can I get my money before I check-out my items?

No. To keep the book keeping simple, we ask that you check everything out all at once. We can give you your money only after you check out your items.

6. Can I put on my own price labels?

Sure! Please include your badge number and the number of the item (as written on your Garage Sale form) on the price label for each and every item. This information must be clearly written (use big printed numbers).

Reminder: Buyers prefer stickers that come off easily and don't leave marks (sticky notes).

Example :

7. Can I have you barter or set a price range instead of setting a price?

No. We will not barter or negotiate a price for you. The price you set is the price we sell it at.

You can, however, change the price on an item up to a maximum of once a day. We might ask you to wait if we're busy selling items, though.

8a. Do I need to send my inventory form before drop-off?
8b. How/Where do I send my inventory form? 

You must email your Garage Sale inventory form to us before you can drop off your goods.

Please send your list to garagesale@otakuthon.com with the subject "Garage Sale: (badge number) (name)" and be sure to include:

• Your name
• Your badge number (this is a 5 digit number on your registration email confirmation)
• Your completed garage sale form
• Date and time when you will drop off your goods.

9. Can I add items to my list?

Only if you email it to us *BEFORE* the convention starts on Friday (5pm).

10. Did you get my email?  Didn't you get my email?

When emailing us:

• Send all garage sale correspondence to garagesale@otakuthon.com.
• Use the subject "Garage Sale: (badge number, name) (subject)" to make things easier.
• PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ALL IN CAPS.

REMINDER: Once the convention starts, we will not be able to check emails in a timely fashion.  Please send in your requests early!

If you sent an email with a question and didn't get a response, please wait a few days before sending us another email.

11a. Where can I find my badge number?
11b. I don't have a badge number.

a. I'm pre-registered.

Your badge number is a 5-digit number that should be part of your registration email confirmation.

b. I'm not pre-registered.

You must be pre-registered to sell items at the Garage Sale.  Once you are pre-registered and obtained your badge number, you can send in your form.

c. I'm staff and I've registered via staff registration system.

Write in "S-" followed by your initials in the badge field (ex: John Doe would be "S-JD").  We will look up your badge number and update it for you.

d. I'm an exhibitor.

Write in "E-" followed by your initials in the badge field (ex: Tommy Willow would be "E-TW").  We will look up your badge number and update it for you.

IMPORTANT: Each item must be labelled with your badge number.  Do not use your initials.

12. But I can't open the XLS or ODS (Spreadsheet) files!

If you do not have access to software that can read XLS or ODS files, you can send us your list as a text file like shown below:

Badge Name: John Doe
Badge Number: 12345
Date I will drop off my goods: Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
Time I will drop off my goods: 4pm

Title, Description,Badge Number,Lot Number,Price
DEATH NOTE ISSUE 14, MANGA (ENG) VIZ MEDIA, 12345, 1, $5.00
FRUITS BASKET ISSUE 4, MANGA (JAP) HAKENSENSHUA, 12345, 2, $5.00

Notes:

• Each piece of information in the table should be separated using a comma (please do not forget the commas!)
• Each section should not use commas.
• For price, please use the period "." instead of a comma as the decimal separator.

13. I have a complaint about...

We'll listen. Please try to be constructive, but we will take your complaints to heart and try to improve. Each year we change things. Sometimes something work, other times they really don't. We don't know until we try. You are our clients, our customers and a source of inspiration to us.

We are a group of volunteers led by a few loons willing to sacrifice their weekend so you can go have fun. Please be patient with us.

Questions?

Contact us by email garagesale@otakuthon.com.