Best way to make money selling baby items?

[disneylovinfamilyof6]

I need some advice.

My 2 youngest children are 2 and approaching 1 yr old. I basically bought all brand new items for both (2 yr old is a girl, 10 mo is a boy) because of the spread between our kids. I had gotten rid of everything thinking we were done. Now they have outgrown tons of clothing, equipment, etc. Almost all of it is in excellent or like new condition, and we splurged buying high end, expensive items (esp. on our baby girl). Now I want to recoup some money!

Years ago I used craigslist very successfully to sell household and baby items. However, with quite a few recent horror stories in our area involving craigslist, I am very concerned about safety and shying away from CL. I live in a neighborhood where individual yard sales are not allowed (with the exception of 1 annual neighborhood wide sale open only to neighbors). There are very few families with kids younger than kindergarten age in here, so I don't know how successful I would be going that route. We do have kid to kid nearby, which is fine for selling everyday clothes, but I feel like they rip me off for high end clothing and all equipment. I don't use Facebook, but I have heard of people using local Facebook groups to sell items, so if I set up an account I guess that would be an option (though I do have some of the same safety concerns as CL).

How do you sell your children's gently used/new items? Any recommendations are appreciated.

 

[scrapquitler]

Consignment stores, maybe?

Unfortunately, I think that the reality is that most people buying used baby things want a bargain, and you probably aren't going to get back the amount of $$ that you seem to be expecting to get.

 

[disneylovinfamilyof6]

Good point.
I don't expect to make a ton of money back, but being offered $20 for a swing I bought 2 years ago for $200 (that my babies sat in *maybe* 5x total so it's seriously like brand new) seemed like a rip off. I was thinking $50-$60 was fair resale. Is that just an unrealistic hope in the current resale market? If so, I'd honestly rather donate the stuff to someone in need.

 

[SC Minnie]

Are there semi annual children's consignment sales in your area? We have several here and you get more $ than yard sales. The sales are once in the spring and once in the fall. They are picky about what they will accept-- especially the large ones. Around here you get 50-70% of the sales price-- and you price the item.

Another option is to check Facebook for any buy/sell pages for your area. There are several here that are just for baby items. Most of the regular ones allow baby items as well. It's similar to Craigslist but I feel a bit safer for some reason.

With either of these options you are going to get 25 maybe 50% of what you paid for the items-- depending on what it is and the condition. You have to keep in mind what someone could buy it for especially on sale.

 

[laceyinwonderland]

I use the facebook method like you mentioned. It has its pros and cons. I like it because I can see a pic of who Im meeting, and I can click their profile and almost always, I end up having mutual friends with them ( a feature where facebook shows who you are both friends with) With that being said, if you create a profile, I would send friend requests to people you know. I would never meet with someone who had a new profile and no friends on their list. I always meet in a public place, usually a gym with a huge parking lot, and always during the day. No one comes to my home, and I never go to anyone elses home. I always send private messages discussing when and where we will meet, and of course always tell someone I know where I'll be and have my phone.

I also like it because I set my price, and I make 100% of what I sell. It does take time and effort so I dont sell anything under $15 this route, I do save any small things for our annual yardsale.

The things I dont like is people will always try to talk you down on price, so start higer than your actually willing to take. And I have been stood up before, and thats a pain, but not the end of the world.

I totally funded my May Disney vacation thru yardselling!! Good luck!!!

 

[disneylovinfamilyof6]

I use the facebook method like you mentioned. It has its pros and cons. I like it because I can see a pic of who Im meeting, and I can click their profile and almost always, I end up having mutual friends with them ( a feature where facebook shows who you are both friends with) With that being said, if you create a profile, I would send friend requests to people you know. I would never meet with someone who had a new profile and no friends on their list. I always meet in a public place, usually a gym with a huge parking lot, and always during the day. No one comes to my home, and I never go to anyone elses home. I always send private messages discussing when and where we will meet, and of course always tell someone I know where I'll be and have my phone.

I also like it because I set my price, and I make 100% of what I sell. It does take time and effort so I dont sell anything under $15 this route, I do save any small things for our annual yardsale.

The things I dont like is people will always try to talk you down on price, so start higer than your actually willing to take. And I have been stood up before, and thats a pain, but not the end of the world.

I totally funded my May Disney vacation thru yardselling!! Good luck!!!

Great tips! Thank you.

And wow! That's amazing that you funded your whole trip! I'm very impressed. I bet that was a wonderful feeling. Congrats!!

 

[bcwife76]

I use Facebook groups as well as selling to kids used clothing/toy stores (we have a good one nearby called Once Upon a Child) and selling at local swapmeets (we have a HUGE one that meets almost every single month about 10 minutes down the road from us).

 

[brooke789]

I like our local facebook group for selling. I don't resell clothes unless it's sets (like Gymboree or high end brands) because they just don't sell for much. If I don't have luck with the kids resale pages I'll hold bigger items for the next consignment sale, but I much prefer even selling individual items to holding for the twice yearly consignment sale.

 

[disneylovinfamilyof6]

I use Facebook groups as well as selling to kids used clothing/toy stores (we have a good one nearby called Once Upon a Child) and selling at local swapmeets (we have a HUGE one that meets almost every single month about 10 minutes down the road from us).

Can you tell me what a swap meet is, and also how you would find one?

Thanks

 

[strawberrymom2]

I get the most money out of consignment sales (check consignment mommies for one close to you) and craigslist for baby gear. You can always meet at a police station if you are concerned about cl. I also wouldn't rule out the yard sale- if you advertise it heavily as a high end baby sale with good pics and list name brands being sold, many will travel to you. I have found most local facebook groups want even less than cl unless it is a specific high end group. If you are willing to ship and have high end brand names clothes you can do really well on national facebook sites (most clothing brands have several). There is also swap which will send you a bag and you send them your stuff; they photograph and post it and you go in and set your own prices and they take a % when it sells. I will say that for clothes under 2t, unless real high end (boden,mj,etc), tend to go for very little. Everyone gets sooo much and often goes unworn so unless a sought after item I don't expect alot.

 

[scard192]

my sister has been using a FB group for about 6 months now and loves it. She had used Craigslist but was having issues with people telling her the agreed upon price was less than it was. or they did not have enough cash with them or needed change.
she likes that you have to be approved to get into her FB group and she has some recourse if a buyer is unethical. She has sold lots of things besides clothes and there is an area where people can post that they are looking for items. Sis saw someone was looking for a Kindle Fire HD and sold my 2.5 year old one for $40. Her DH has sold some tools too.

I think she belongs to 2, one might just be for kids stuff.

she always meets in a public place and often with someone else. I think she is meeting 4 people after work tonight to sell things

 

[roller99]

Are there semi annual children's consignment sales in your area? We have several here and you get more $ than yard sales. The sales are once in the spring and once in the fall. They are picky about what they will accept-- especially the large ones. Around here you get 50-70% of the sales price-- and you price the item.

With either of these options you are going to get 25 maybe 50% of what you paid for the items-- depending on what it is and the condition. You have to keep in mind what someone could buy it for especially on sale.

This is what I do. I just sold all my big baby equipment at our Just Between Friends sale. They have sales all over the country, might be worth looking into.

 

[JenzyHP]

We use craigslist but meet at public places such as Walgreens or Kroger.

 

[Min Min]

Our area has a consignment sell called Rhea Lana which is held twice a year once in spring and fall. I have made good money at this type of sale,above yard sale prices.

 

[bcwife76]

Can you tell me what a swap meet is, and also how you would find one?

Thanks

Swapmeets are basically huge garage sales held in one place. Ours is held at a local fairground in some buildings they have there. You rent a table (I thinks ours is $15/table?) and you get to sell your stuff I've always found out about them through word of mouth.

Here's the website for the various swapmeets in and around the Vancouver BC area. The one I go to is listed as the very first one. http://www.kidsvancouver.com/events/swapmeets#

 

[msmama]

I only sell things on my local Facebook site. It's basically just my school district and maybe a few surrounding towns. Like someone else mentioned, I don't feel the creepiness factor because it's usually someone I know or someone who knows someone I know. I've also had luck finding someone on there that has a child a couple years younger than mine, and who seems to like the same things my son liked at that age so I now contact her directly when I want to sell things.

I've heard once upon a child doesn't pay that well. I've seen churches and schools that have sales where people can come and set up their own stuff (for either a flat fee or a portion of the proceeds).

 

[Gracie09]

I sold stuff through a Facebook page. I have also sold a lot of stuff at a moms mart. I found clothes sell best but they must be in excellent condition. Stuff- walkers, swings, high chairs don't seek that well.

 

[robinb]

This is what I do. I just sold all my big baby equipment at our Just Between Friends sale. They have sales all over the country, might be worth looking into.

I sold a lot of stuff at the Just Between Friends sale. Be aware that baby clothes in perfect condition are very common since the babies only wear their clothes for such a short amount of time. Our area also has other consignment sales.

 

[tink9702]

I've used both FB baby selling groups & our twice a year consignment sale. I have much better luck selling at the consignment sale, but I make 65% of the listing price vs. making 100% on the FB group. The FB group often you can't sell for as much money and it seems to take forever selling a couple items at a time. I prefer the consignment sale method. Good luck selling!!

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Allot of the families I work with use Once Upon a Child (but & sell) or Varagesale.com which is all done online as opposed to a brick & mortar store.

Varagesale.com has a website, mobile friendly site and an App... they appear to have locations all over Canada & in most of the U.S states.