anyone try to sell excess gear b4 flying home?

[ccalip]

I'm considering buying a booster seat and stroller from Wal Mart when we arrive in Orlando. Much cheaper than renting from rental car company and WDW! Don't really want to bring them home, though... wondered if there is somewhere I could sell it... perhaps a consignment-type shop that will take 'gently used' items...

Or perhaps even holding up a sign at the airport wherever arrivals are? (Any laws against that?)

If I could recoup any of the cost that would be cool...

Any thoughts? Am I crazy?

Thanks!

 

[swilshire]

Sounds like a lot of trouble unless someone on this bboard is arriving at the time you're leaving. I would suggest donating to any charity that is convenient to the airport.

Or just take your own from home. I always liked gate-checking the stroller when the kids were smaller so I could use it when we changed planes. Great for hanging bags on.

Sheila

 

[Barb D]

I second bringing them from home. In the long run, that will be MUCH less hassle than having to find a place to sell or donate them. We have an extra (very small, lightweight) booster seat that I took on our trip. Now that we're home I keep it in the back of the minivan in case we need to drive an extra preschooler somewhere. (We use it all the time when we take a friend to the park.)

The stroller will actually be very helpful in the airport. You can load a lot of carry ons onto a stroller, and roll it directly to the gate. The flight attendants will take it from there, put it in the baggage section, and bring it back to the gate for you when you land.

 

[bubbasmom99]

We always take the seat (bottom) part of our son's Graco TurboBooster and pack it in the suitcase. The back part would be too bulky. You just have to make sure you have extra room for it... you could always pack it in a smaller suitcase and assume you'll be needing the extra space for souvenirs

And take the stroller to the gate. It's extremely handy!

 

[ccalip]

Well, I'm traveling with three kids. I have one umbrella stroller that I will bring on the flight, but I'm hoping to buy one more when we get there ($10-$20), and one of those cheap $14 booster seats. Given that a stroller will cost $40 to rent (and I can't roll child and gear out to car!) and a booster will cost $64 to rent, it's still a cheaper option to buy new even if I don't recoup any of the cost.

I don't want a bigger stroller than that, so it really can't be used to hang stuff on. It would a lot easier to get the luggage in the car and buy the gear on the road. The booster is actually for a 4 year old, which according to what I've read, may not legally have to be in an approved restraint (but correct me if I'm wrong). I would feel comfortable for the short drive from MCO to the store.

We haven't traveled a lot, but we've endured enough headaches to know that everyone in our group needs to have a rolling bag, and anything beyond that will be cumbersome. As it is now, I'm going to have to figure a way to bungy the 1 stroller to one of the larger suitcases after baggage claim.

Would either like to find out where there is a second hand store that sells kid stuff (we have a place like this in our town), or offer to someone just arriving in town, or where there is a charity drop off. Just wondering if anyone has ever done this?

Thanks

 

[HitchhikingGhost]

If you are looking for a convenient location to donate "gently used" (EMPHASIS on gently. . . not junk) Give Kids The World is an awesome place always looking for donations. They are right behind the Wal-Mart SuperCenter on 192. Super people doing a super service.

Check them out at www.gktw.com

 

[NotUrsula]

I'd advise bringing your own and just setting aside $10 to tip a skycap to handle your bags. Shopping for mundane things like strollers is a waste of good vacation time, and driving all over looking for a used-goods shop on your departure day is a PITA.

We do travel a LOT, really a LOT, and I'm telling you, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Checking luggage is always less hassle than hunting around town for things you need but did not bring. Buy a big cheap duffel bag from the Army surplus store and check the things.

There are some kids consignment shops in Orlando, but they are going to be WAY out of your way from WDW. The closest one I know of is in Apopka, but most of them are in areas like Oviedo and Lake Mary. Shops like these are usually in established middle-class neighborhoods, and in Orlando, that mostly means north of downtown. The used-clothing chain stores, like OUAC, do not have branches in Orlando at this time.

 

[bubbasmom99]

In the interest of maybe not having to bring our DS's booster seat with us, I found this info on Florida Vehicle Code:

Every operator of a motor vehicle as defined herein, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall, if the child is 5 years of age or younger, provide for protection of the child by properly using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device. For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a seat belt may be used.

I interpret that to mean that a 4 or 5 year old can use a plain seat belt. If we do this, I will probably buy one of those seat belt adjusters so that it doesn't cut off his neck.

As far as consigning the equipment, here is what I found:

Baby & Me Consignment Boutique (407) 277-2424
9645 E Colonial Dr Ste 112, Orlando, FL 32817

Kids Stop Consignment Inc (407) 464-0496
380 Semoran Commerce Pl Ste A108, Apopka, FL 32703

You might want to call them and see what you can work out.

If you want to donate to charity, you can probably find a Salvation Army that will come pick it up from you at the resort, or maybe if you leave it for them at the front desk.

 

[all4fun]

Have you considered the stroller swap on the budget board? Just a thought.