EBay vs. consignment for selling children's clothes

[bengalbelle]

Which typically brings in more money or are they about the same? I have lots of name brand boy clothes to get rid of, sizes ranging from newborn to 5.

Any advice on which way to go? I've never sold on EBay before. I am a buyer.

 

[kfeuer]

Personally, children's clothing doesn't fetch enough on Ebay to make it worth the hassle to me.

I sell my kid's clothes at a huge semi-annual kids consignment sale. I set my own prices (I have to tag everything myself) and get to keep 70% of what my items sell for. I just participated last month, I took about 125 items and only got 3 things back! Normal consignment stores only pay 45-50%, so I don't fool with them anymore.

 

[lindakmonty]

ebay will probably get you more... I had the same situation w/my ds5... just last year got rid of most of it.. I had a garage sale, sold 2k worth!!! then took to a church that has twin sales... you don't have to have twins to sell but have to be a member of the club. it is really worth checking out because people line up to come to these things like you wouldn't believe and you can sell your stuff at the same prices that the consign. shops sell for! also I've sold many things on craigslist.org... just be sure that people pay through paypal if possible. never send out til you are totally paid. I had more than one person try to scam me... sent bogus money orders...so beware and you'll be fine. good luck, its work!! Even though my son is an only child...I could have clothed 10 !!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Boys clothes dont sell well at all on ebay UNLESS they are the cute smocked outfits (like Beaux et Belles brand). I would list your dressy stuff on ebay and take the other clothes to a consignment store.

 

[bellarella]

You can try Craigslist too. Take the clothes to a consignment shop and see what they will offer you and what they are charging for things. Then list on Craigslist for some price in the middle.

 

[bengalbelle]

Boys clothes dont sell well at all on ebay UNLESS they are the cute smocked outfits (like Beaux et Belles brand). I would list your dressy stuff on ebay and take the other clothes to a consignment store.

Some of them are the smocked outfits (mostly 3 and under). The rest is Ralph Lauren/Polo, Gymboree and Gap Kids - all in really good condition. Would you still suggest consignment over EBay? It does seem easier.

 

[bengalbelle]

You can try Craigslist too. Take the clothes to a consignment shop and see what they will offer you and what they are charging for things. Then list on Craigslist for some price in the middle.

I'll check into that. Thanks!

 

[kfeuer]

Some of them are the smocked outfits (mostly 3 and under). The rest is Ralph Lauren/Polo, Gymboree and Gap Kids - all in really good condition. Would you still suggest consignment over EBay? It does seem easier.

I'd suggest doing some searches of completed auctions on Ebay and seeing what similar items are going for. I also have alot of Polo, Gymbo and Gap stuff and I sell it at the mom's sale I mentioned. I buy at end of season clearance sales and often can price things for close to what I paid new. It's always a hassle selling kid's stuff no matter what you do...I like my mom's sale because I only have to deal with it twice a year and I get my money fairly quickly (vs. waiting for stuff to sell in a regular consignment sale for months on end).

 

[bengalbelle]

I'd suggest doing some searches of completed auctions on Ebay and seeing what similar items are going for. I also have alot of Polo, Gymbo and Gap stuff and I sell it at the mom's sale I mentioned. I buy at end of season clearance sales and often can price things for close to what I paid new. It's always a hassle selling kid's stuff no matter what you do...I like my mom's sale because I only have to deal with it twice a year and I get my money fairly quickly (vs. waiting for stuff to sell in a regular consignment sale for months on end).

I saw your post a while back on the large consignment sale you participate in. I checked but unfortunately we don't have anything like that in my area. It sounds like a good deal.

I'm going to have to do some research on the consignment shops in our area. When I've tried to shop there for DS they have very little for boys over 2-3T. I don't know if there is no demand for it, they sell out very quickly, or they're just not interested in boy clothes

 

[welovedis]

I'll suggest eBay then, especially if you have some smocked items to list. They seem to do very well and so do some of the other brands you mentioned. I've usually done quite well selling DS' used clothing on eBay.

As someone else mentioned, check out the completed listings to see what things are going for. If you don't know the name of the Gymboree "line" that a garment is from check out name that line or gymbo haven. If the Gymbo & Gap stuff is recent, it should do well.

Also, take good pictures using as much natural light as possible and take close-ups of the garments. If you include measurements, I think you'll do really well!

GL!

 

[madge]

Personally, children's clothing doesn't fetch enough on Ebay to make it worth the hassle to me.

I sell my kid's clothes at a huge semi-annual kids consignment sale. I set my own prices (I have to tag everything myself) and get to keep 70% of what my items sell for. I just participated last month, I took about 125 items and only got 3 things back! Normal consignment stores only pay 45-50%, so I don't fool with them anymore.

I did the same thing! I tagged over 100 things for our sale, brought home very few things that I will take to the local consignment store next week. i've already started sorting things for the fall sale, LOL!

 

[madge]

Some of them are the smocked outfits (mostly 3 and under). The rest is Ralph Lauren/Polo, Gymboree and Gap Kids - all in really good condition. Would you still suggest consignment over EBay? It does seem easier.

I would list the smocked stuff, as well as the Gymboree on Ebay. I would think Polo sells well on Ebay, but I've not shopped or sold it there.

good luck!!

 

[Princess Glenda]

I always eBay the nice things--smocked dresses, Gymboree things, etc. Then I take the rest to a consignment shop. I always do research on eBay and look at ended auctions to see how much $ things are going for. Time is money too and listing on eBay and packaging things up to ship them out takes time. You have to keep that in mind. Good luck!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

DEFINITELY ebay the smocked things. You can try to ebay the name brands but it is hit or miss these days.

Take a look at what some of the smocked things go for - $75 an outfit!!

I tried to post a link but can't for some reason. Search under completed auctions for Beaux et Belles.

The girl's smocked outfits go even higher - some end at over $100!

 

[linda_loo]

I would list the smocked stuff, as well as the Gymboree on Ebay.

ITA. If you bought it at a good mall or in a boutique, it will probably do well on eBay. That is the general rule that a lot of eBay re-sellers do.

We have a Once Upon A Child near us, and I have found that I get about 25% of what I originally paid. If I only have a few things, I just go to OUAC, because it's easier. If I have a lot (like right now, I have a bunch of dd's Gymbo on eBay), I eBay them... and make sure to suggest that bidders take a look at my other auctions, that I will combine shipping.

 

[bengalbelle]

ITA. If you bought it at a good mall or in a boutique, it will probably do well on eBay. That is the general rule that a lot of eBay re-sellers do.

We have a Once Upon A Child near us, and I have found that I get about 25% of what I originally paid. If I only have a few things, I just go to OUAC, because it's easier. If I have a lot (like right now, I have a bunch of dd's Gymbo on eBay), I eBay them... and make sure to suggest that bidders take a look at my other auctions, that I will combine shipping.

Thanks everyone for the advice and well wishes!

The majority of my baby and young toddler clothes are from boutiques. Lots of them are smocked, and some are reversible shortalls (the brand escapes me right now). They were pretty expensive, but I considered that I was getting 2 looks in one. There are also quite a few pieces from the Ralph Lauren layette. I'll pull out my boxes this weekend and check EBay and craigslist. I also plan to go shopping tomorrow, so I'll check out a few consignment shops.

I'm pregnant now and don't know the gender yet, but even if it's a boy he'll be in opposite seasons from DS so I don't need to keep all of the clothes I've been saving. I'd really like to wait until early to mid April (when hopefully we'll find out the gender of this baby). If I hold off that long will I be listing/selling too late for spring/summer looks?

Sorry for all the questions, I just don't want to "give" my clothes away, KWIM?

 

[lilprincessnbuzz]

I have to ask...What is "smocked clothing"?

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

You can see some examples of smocked items on this site:

http://www.orientexpressed.com/2006/

This style is VERY popular in the Southern states for boys and girls.

 

[mamalle]

I have done very well with smocked and name brand items. another tip is to sell in bulk- I'll sell the kids jeans/shirts in mixed lots and go by the season on what I will sell. good luck!

 

[sk!mom]

I have sold DD's outgrown clothes on EBay in the past but you never know about used clothes. Gymbo and few other brands are the only ones that consistenetly bring in enough to be worth it to me. Now that DD wears mostly Limited Too and similar brands it's back to the second hand store for me. It's just too much effort on Ebay- sometimes things sell well other times only a few dollars. I take mine to a store that pays me upfront. I seem to do as well overall without the work of Ebay. Anything that the store doesn't take goes to the Women and Children's shelter.