Akseli, Take 2 (Consignment/Self Service flea market)

[Xochiquetzal]

I sold at Akseli in Mankkaa (Espoo - above the Tarjoustalo and K-Market Mankaa) last week. I had done well last year and wanted to see if I could do well again. Their website is here: http://www.akseli.info/ And you can read the first review I posted on Finland forum here: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=25153&p=227171&hilit=akseli#p227171

So here's review #2.

This is like an upscale flea market. I've seen the 'fly by night' ones all over and they tend to make you feel dirty just by walking in the door. But it is clear Akseli went for the "Disneyland" model - clean, efficient, and a bit more upscale. I don't feel like I'm walking into a broken down Goodwill, which is nice. And they've maintained that feel since they opened about a year ago. It hasn't become run down and they look to be doing a decent business. I really like that the areas you rent are a bookshelf and a hanging shelf - not just a plain wood table. It keeps the area neat and viewable. And it's also very well lit in there.

I've been buying there for a couple of years - mostly props for the photography business. But admittedly I've also bought quite a few games and toys as well. So I can say I'm a buyer as well as a shopper. I've been very happy with what I have bought.

For selling, there are two options:

1. You do the renting. The first week is 35e and the second week is 20e. You bring in the stuff, price it, come back and re-neatify the space every few days, and then take home what's left.

or

2. You give them all your stuff and they will price them and sell them over a period of about 2-3 weeks. They take a 40% commission and deposit the money into your bank - and donate the rest of the items to charity. This is a *great* option for expats leaving the country and who don't have time to bother with selling smaller items.

Clearly, you budget in what you can expect from your items and decide if the commission vs results is worth it. For two weeks, you are paying 55e to rent a table. So if you don't have 500e worth to sell, you're going to take a bit bigger hit (above 10%) in the commission area. But that is likely to be worth it just to get rid of items.

In my experience with selling at Hietalahti and Vermo, I can verify that your items will sell for much better prices at Akseli. There's no haggling or dickering. And you can set prices you want at the first week - and then put up a 50% everything for the second week to get rid of the stuff that didn't sell. So you can price at different levels to attract different customers.

This sale, I went solely on my 4 year old's outgrown toys and clothing only. I only put up clothing that was clean and had no stains or other detractions - and all were ironed and presented well. I had Disney items and a lot of high end form dresses that I was selling for 18 to 20e a piece. I also bagged up loose little toys (plastic animals, dinosaurs, little Happy Meal toys) and sold those for 2-4e a bag. I also had the play clothes and sleep wear for fairly inexpensive - 1-2e each typically.

Toys and playsets especially went very fast - I couldn't keep them on the shelf for more than a day - even at 15e a piece. But I did sell complete sets. The high end dresses never lasted a day, each selling for 18e to 25e. Shoes and sleepwear sold poorly - even for sandals that were new and only 3e and pajamas in excellent condition for 1-2e for 2 pieces. Jackets sold well but hats did not.

In the first week, I sold 600e. In the second week, another 500e. I refreshed the supply on the table every 2 days or so. And I put what was left at 50% off on the last two days.

At Vermo and Hietalahti swap meets/car boots, I tend to sell items a lot but very, very cheap. A table will cost around 20 to 25e there and the higher end items over 5e just don't sell. But people will buy nearly anything if it is a euro at a swap meet. So my commission rate is roughly 10% but I have never made more than 200e. In comparison, at Akseli I sold roughly 900e with 55e or so commission. So the commission was half and much more profitable. And the Akseli ladies speak English just fine and are pleasant to deal with.

Some thoughts:

Some items are going to be stolen and some will be misplaced/have tags fall off/end up on the wrong table and you have to hunt them down. I don't believe they have a full handle on the security there though they have cameras and monitors. They do rent security tags for the things valuable enough that you want to make sure they are paid for (and the security is .10 to .20c only). But for me, 1-2 stolen items is nothing compared to being constantly dickered down to giving things away for next to nothing at the swap meet.

I do recommend the second week if you have enough stuff.

I also recommend specifically requesting a table in the front room. Get the buyers money while they first go through the tables.

[Rosamunda]

Thanks again....

I am DEFINITELY going to have a table soon but at the moment am too busy during the week to set it up and go in regularly to check, but I guess I can start tagging stuff at home.

I have located the place but was to find it closes at 3 or 4 pm on Saturdays (it was shut when I tried to go in and book a table last weekend), so will have to go back and try again next week.

[Xochiquetzal]

Your tags have to have table #, date, and price. So I'd wait to tag anything. Here's what they look like (less the table/date info): http://www.akseli.info/tulostus/?tulosta=hintalappu

They will give you several pages worth of tags to cut up and put on your items when you go in to get the table (and you can do that at any time). You can rent their plastic "price tagger" thingie for 2e - but I've found that stapling works just as well and you don't have to tag everything in the store rather than at ahome if you use a stapler.

The turnover dates are Monday nights and Thursday nights. So plan on having items ready to be put on shelves at either Tuesday or Friday.

All the areas have hangers provided - so don't bring your own unless you don't mind giving them to the store (who will just donate them to the Goodwill).

[rauginta_kojine]

Hey, I have just read your topic. It's a great idea to make some money! Even if I don't have any items to sell - I can try to make them myself, right?

But I didn't understand one thing there. For example, I book one week for 35eur. Let's say I earn 500eur per that week. Then what Akseli does? I mean , do I get the entire amount of 500eur, or do they take some % for themselves from my earnings?

Thanks in advance.

Let's see if I don't find a job soon, then I am definitely going to make some nice items for sale

[Xochiquetzal]

You have two options at Akseli:

1: Bring in items, all price tagged and ready to go. You put them on the shelves and take care of the shelves. Akseli charges 35e for the first week and 20e for the second week. At the end of the rental period, they deposit the money in your bank less the rental. There is no commission - just the rental fee per week.

2: Bring everything to Akseli and leave it with them. They price everything, check the shelves, etc. At the end of 3 weeks, they deposit the amount you sold into your bank account less a 40% commission and 40e. No rental fees. Anything left unsold is donated to a charity.

[rauginta_kojine]

Thanks very much.

One more question - What do Finns think about english speaking sellers? Do they mind a lot?

I started to study finnish only a week ago, so I don't speak very good. I could say the price , but no more.

[Rosamunda]

Ok...... let's start again.....



The Finns don't actually see the sellers. You (the seller) are NOT there. Only your stuff is. Which is why it's called a Consignment/Self service flea market.

I think Xo explained it really well... so read her posts again and you will understand.