Anyone sell to Once Upon a Child?

[kayt]

I don't think I have the time/energy for e-bay, but we've got to come up with some $ for our August WDW trip! Has anyone ever sold to Once Upon a Child? I've got tons of stuff in good shape from places like Target and Wal-Mart, plus some nicer brands like Health-Tex, and a few designer things. What does OUAC pay per item?
Kayt

 

[Crazy for Tigger]

Hi there! I have used them many times. When my son was smaller it was great, but we are about out of the size range now(10). It really depends on what you have, what season you are trying to sell, and what size. They don NOT pay very well, and are very picky. They will almost always buy name brand clothes if they are in good shape. They will Target or Walmart clothes if they are in excellent condition, but what they will pay you will be minimal.

You can get more from them than a garage sale, but less than e-bay. They will only but clothes in season and what they consider in fashion. (I have had clothes refused for not being hip enough...go figure!) They can be so picky because sooooooooo many people try to sell to them.

I have had ggod experiences and I would recommend them. I hope this helps. I would be happy to answer any other questions.

 

[momm2four]

The one here in Chattanooga closed, but it seemed they had a scale they used to determine how much to pay for clothing. If I remember correctly, Polo (Ralph Lauren), Kelly's Kids and Disney Store were close, if not the top level. Gymboree and Gap Kids were next, with Buster Brown, Healthtex, etc being further down the scale.

I don't remember ever getting a huge amount of money from them. I did find a dollar rack at a children's consignment store one time, which had some really nice designer clothing. I took them to OUAC and got about three times what I paid (so roughly $3 or $4 per piece)

Lori P.

 

[StephMK]

I tried once but never understood the logic behind what was picked or rejected. I love buying there but won't try & sell there again. I agree that it did not pay well & easier to just donate & take the tax deduction.

We have several moms groups in the area that hold semi-annual sales. I have sold through one several times & do very well. You price & hang your own items but they are super organized & the sales are well known. They take a $3 fee & 30% of your sales. I have done much better going that route. Less work than ebay, more than OUAC, but the money is much better. Now is a perfect season to clear out your kid stuff. Good luck!

 

[disneymom3]

I would rather donate my kids clothes and toys to charity than ever sell to OUAC again. The ones here give you next to nothing and are so beyond picky. I took a whole box of little girls clothes in awhile back and had all kinds of brand names--Osh Kosh, Carters, Gymboree, Old Navy, Gap, etc. They all were in great condition with no stains or tears or anything. They also were in season. They offered me three dollars for 7 or 8 outfits and refused the rest. No reason, they just didn't choose them. Whatever. I now donate them to the local helping hands organization and feel a lot better!

I agree though, I don't have time to put them on ebay either for what I feel I would get for them I sell other stuff on ebay, but kids' clothes dont' seem worth it.

 

[floridafam]

I take some of my children's old clothing to OUAC in Grand Rapids. I ususally send it home with my family if they come for a visit. The shop calls me the next day with a quote.

They rarely reject anything. I just cashed checks from them totaling around $100 for stuff I sent up last week-clothing, shoes, toys, etc.

It's nice because you get your money instantly. I also take things to the consignment shop but you don't get your money immediately.

Gap, Ralph Lauren and a lot of the specialty brands I buy my daughter sell fast and I get a fair amount for them. I make sure everything is clean and in good condition.

I don't know exactly what I get per item but I usually make $4 or $5 on a nice pair of pants and $8 on an outfit worn by my daughter.

It's a great way to get rid of stuff we don't need.

 

[liznboys]

I've sold stuff there a couple times. As already stated, they are VERY picky which is great for those buying from them... But kinda a pain for those selling. I donate all our extra stuff to Goodwill, Purple Heart or Salvation Army now, it's just easier...

 

[Kermit]

Do you have any other (non-chain) resale or consignment shops in your area? A lot of them will give you more money. They have less overhead, since they don't have a franchise fee. The main thing you need to be aware of is whether you get paid in cash. Some of the places around here will only cut checks if you earn a certain amount of money in a month's time. Otherwise, they give you merchandise credit. That's fine if you want to buy new clothes there, but you can't use it to buy WDW tickets or anything.

 

[angel's momma]

This was about 4 years ago. I had heard such great things about OUAC, and thought it would be much easier than having a yard sale. The closest one was about 45 minutes away, but I had a huge amount of items in excellent condition so I made the trip. I was very disappointed in the amount they offered me, and ended up not accepting the offer & taking everything home. They kept telling me that I could never make that amount at a yard sale & that I would regret my decision. I had a yard sale and I ended up making over 4 times the amount they had offered me.

 

[floridafam]

I agree with some of the posters. I could probably make more money at a yard sale. For a few years, I was against having a yard sale because I thought I didn't have the time.

I always get more money at the consignment shop. I use OUAC for stuff I want to sell immediately or for toys because the consignment shop only takes clothes.

I also donate a lot to the local mission.

One area that OUAC paid me nicely in is baby equipment. I took strollers, pack n' plays, etc. there and seemed to get a decent price for it-more than what I would have asked at a yard sale.

 

[cyndibelle]

i worked for once upon a child for 3 years....

 

[ceecee]

The one near us really has a lot of things that looked super used, ours must not be very picky. Not many namebrand things either.

 

[dizagain]

Well, I have used them once or twice, but I found them picky and CHEAP!!! They turned some of my stuff down and told me it was too nice - I mean it. The stuff in ours seems mostly very worn and cheaper brands. I do much better at yard sales - I can ask for $10 for some of my girls dresses and I get it, and I usually get $2 - $5 for individual pieces of gently used name-brand clothes. Maybe it's just my area, I don't know...
Anyway, I'd definitely try a yard sale over the resale shops.
Good Luck!!!

Oh Yeah!!! I forgot to mention that I HAVE used local consignment sales held by groups of moms. I always do very well that way and can ask for the prices I want. Check our your area - we have several a year around here, usually Spring and Fall.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

I took a huge lot of clothes over to the one near me - all Gap, Disney Store, Tommy H., etc, no no-name brands at all. They were in immaculate condition too. They picked out 19 pieces and offered me $7.00 - I told them they were out of their mind! I took those pieces, put them up on ebay and got $41 for them. Looks like Ebay is the way to go for me. I would have gotten more than $7 from a garage sale!

 

[luvmk]

I have taken clothes to them also. What I don't like is that there doesn't seem to be a certain set of standards for what they take. I have taken in barely worn gymboree outfits that they won't accept, yet there are pants on their racks with worn knees. The one near me seems to be paying less. It is no longer worth it for me to take my clothes there. I donate them to a local charity. Hopefully, the one in your area is a little better.


Rachel

 

[barbnbrian]

I will never waste my time with OUAC again. Was just there on Monday with Gap, Gymboree and Disney Store clothes. I've been pulling out all my kid's spring & summer clothes and chose the nicest and best outfits to bring in. They chose 10 items and wanted to give me $6.50. One of the items was a Laura Ashley Mother & Child dress with tags still on it. My daughter never got to wear it since I bought it off season and when the time came around to wear it, the dress was too small. I asked them what they were giving me for that dress and they told me they would be pricing it at $5.50 and were offering me $1.50, claiming it was an "older style". I ended up not giving them any of the clothes. Took them all back since I'm planning a tag sale within the month. I know I can get more for these items at my tag sale than through them and the LA dress, I listed on Ebay. I think it will sell for more than $1.50!

I've seen some clothing that's not in the best shape on their racks and yet they are so picky with things people bring in. I think they still put out clothing that people just leave with them and don't want back if OUAC refuses it, they tell them to keep the items, so they put them on the rack for sale!

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Originally posted by barbnbrian
I asked them what they were giving me for that dress and they told me they would be pricing it at $5.50 and were offering me $1.50, claiming it was an "older style". I ended up not giving them any of the clothes.

I also got that "older style" comment. PLEASE!! How are plain gap jeans, Tommy H. turtlenecks, Disney dresses, etc. Older styles? I thought jeans were jeans? They turned down an excellent Rare Edition Easter dress from 2 years ago - I was in Lord and Taylors this year and they had the SAME DRESS - now how is that older?!

 

[Countrymom]

I took some clothes to Children's Orchard a couple weeks back...OUAC sounds like a similar operation. Since I'd never done it before, I asked the buyer if I could watch her sort through my items and learn what they were looking for. I guess they all have their own ideas of what will sell...my buyer had a thing against plaid and wouldn't take any. Nothing with bears on it over 18 months either. LOL

I definitely figured out that I could make more money selling them at a tag sale or eBay. Still, I walked out of there with $62 and three less boxes to put up in the attic.

 

[floridafam]

I just took some stuff to OUAC. I have the receipt that shows what they paid me for each item.

I thought this info might be useful to someone.

Disney Mini Princess Set $2.05
DVD's-various children's titles $3.00 a peice
Gap Jean Overalls-Girls-size 4 $2.05
Boys Polo Jeans-size 6 $2.05
Nike Girls Sandals $1.85
Teva Sandals-Girls $2/05

A few pair of shorts brought me $1.20 a peice.

Not bad. You can ask them to look over your stuff again and see if they will raise the price they give you. They said this happens all the time. I did this last year with some new toys and was able to get an additional $15.

It's possible I could have made more at a consignment shop or yard sale but this was quick and easy.

 

[gassmandy]

Wow!! (Not a good wow!). Thank God I didn't try OUAC in my town (I had thought about it but when they got a little rude w/ my sister--I opted against it!!). With that said--I just sold a Janie and Jack lot (gymborees other company) which had a cargo jumper, shirt, socks, bucket hat , and matching canvas sneakers. I started the lot at 5.99 and it ended at $32.00. So even though I am having a garage sale this Sat., you can bet NONE of my daughters gymboree, janie and jack, baby gap, etc. stuff will be part of it--nor will I take it to someplace that might tell me it's out of style and offer me $2.00 for it!! LOL
Got to recoup some of the money I spend on her clothes so I can buy her more in her new sizes!! LOL