Consignment store vs Consignment sale

[kristin1724]

I've been extremely happy with the consignment sales in our area. We don't have a lot of kid's consignment store (the one that I tried ended up closing). I definitely found that the sale is the easiest for me. The sale I participate in is very well-organized and everything is computerized. They are very particular about the clothing and how everything is marked but I've been doing it for so long that I have a system down. We get 65% back or 70% if you agree to work a shift plus there is a $12.50 consignment fee. My daughter has a lot of clothes - I'm a bargain shopper and get good deals on her clothing. I average about $700 take home and almost always sell everything I take. I've had problems with a few things missing but I understand that's the risk I take. I think selling the clothes on eBay takes too much effort and I have had really bad experiences with garage sales.

 

[tbhoover]

I am actually sitting in my living room floor tagging my kids clothes to turn them in for a sale next week

I personally love the consignment sales. I think I make 60%...I can't remember. But for the few hours of work I put in I am happy with my financial return. I mostly consign clothes that I have previously bought through consignment and easily make $4-500. With an expected expense of about $4000 I am happy with the chunk that will take out. In addition, since we are not planning to go until next September, there will be 2 more sales before we go. So I am hoping to get $1500ish towards our trip just through selling my kids old clothes.

Love it.

 

[arihillfarm]

I've done one consignment sale and thought it was too much work for the payout, not to mention the gas driving there to drop items off and again to pick up the ones that did not sell. I also had a few items go missing. I do buy from the sales quite often but don't think I'll sell there again. Now, I hold back a few "nice" clothes and shoes that I think will sell well to list on Ebay (that are season appropriate), list them a max of three times and what doesn't sell, goes to Goodwill for the tax write-off or is passed down to other families. Some items are immediately donated or passed down if I don't think they have a chance of selling well. Larger toys and baby gear are listed on Craigslist and the rest are again, donated or passed on. I use Intuit's Its Deductible program for my Goodwill donations. Also, check with your local library as a place to donate. They will often take good quality toys (wooden puzzles and such) as well as DVDs if they don't sell.

-Astrid

 

[ThisIsTheYear]

I just did the consignment sale last week. It was a lot of work but my wonderful MIL and SIL helped me! We filled the back of my MIL's Expedition and 90% of it was clothes. It was so nice to only bring home an arms full of things. I did really well but I also priced my things to sell. I can't wait to do it again in the Spring.
At the beginning of the summer I brought a garbage bag filled with ironed, name brand clothes on my hangers (as per their instructions) to the consignment shop. The woman was VERY pleased with the clothes. After months I only made $20! I cringe when I think of what I could have made on them at that sale!