How do you sell your children's used clothes?

[mcgrawfan]

I have been trying to sell DD's clothes in garage sales and not having too much luck. Everyone who comes say they only have boys. I thought baby clothes in a garage sale was usually a huge draw, but I have been surprised. Anyway...Have you had better luck on Ebay or in a conginment store? I know our local consignment store gives you a better percentage back if you use your earnings as instore credit, but I want the money for WDW! Is that normal? I am not very familiar with consignment selling in a store?

 

[jennifer293]

I have been seeling them on Ebay. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries before someone will bite. I find that the bigger sizes do better than infant clothing. I had 9 auctions listed and none of them sold and then a lady emailed me about them and she bought everything I had, so I lucked out on that one ... I have never done consignment and I live way in the COUNTRY which is too far for anyone to want to drive for a yard sale so Ebay is my method right now..LOL

 

[mrstbalt]

I try a garage sale first, then whatever does not sell I try on ebay. Most people don't like to pay the price I ask for my girls clothes, but most are Gymboree and Gap...I don't give them away or sell cheap. I only ebay my big brand names like Gymboree,Gap and RL.

 

[jwfla422]

EBAY!! Tried the garage sale route and don't make much at all-not worth the hassle...nickeled & dimed to death!! Actually after my last garage sale I turned to EBAY as garage sales in my areas attract the lowest forms of life...YES, "shoplifting" at garage sales, ridiculous!! I've had people actually try to steal stuff (and I don't live in a bad area), but they come and see it as an opportunity. I have a difficult time with people stealing my stuff in my driveway even if it's something small. They try to talk you down to next to nothing and will decline and then when you're distacted with someone else they take advantage of that opporutunity. It's really sad!!

When I turned to EBAY I did very well and now I sell off and on. Most of my dd's clothes have done quite well and I turn around and buy her new clothes with the money I make, I think of it as...recycling!! I've sold lots of other stuff on there as well. Just have to keep in tune with the selling seasons for best results.

 

[imsayin]

YES, "shoplifting" at garage sales, ridiculous!! I've had people actually try to steal stuff (and I don't live in a bad area), but they come and see it as an opportunity.

Yep, I've had things stolen from my garage sale. It really is sad. I guess they figure there won't be any legal consequences for their actions. I figured if they were stealing a $1 item from me, they needed it more than I needed the $1.

 

[Threehearts]

I have 11 years worth of barely touched or new Petit Bateau, Cacherel, Oilily, Jacadi etc. boys and girls clothes that have been bought in Europe or shipped to us from friends and family. I must have about $10,000 worth sitting in my house in plastic bins, many with tags still on. Not one of my neices or nephews was able to match up with the right size/season or I would have given the clothes to them. Is there any market for these items? I think I'll give the clothes to a shelter next week if selling them will not work out. Sorry to highjack the thread but thought that some DISer may be able to help with this question. Threehearts

 

[shades]

I have 11 years worth of barely touched or new Petit Bateau, Cacherel, Oilily, Jacadi etc. boys and girls clothes that have been bought in Europe or shipped to us from friends and family. I must have about $10,000 worth sitting in my house in plastic bins, many with tags still on. Not one of my neices or nephews was able to match up with the right size/season or I would have given the clothes to them. Is there any market for these items? I think I'll give the clothes to a shelter next week if selling them will not work out. Sorry to highjack the thread but thought that some DISer may be able to help with this question. Threehearts

You should look for similar items on Ebay to help you decide if you want to sell them. If you don't need the extra $$ from selling them, I think donating them to a shelter is a great idea!

I purposefully bought a bunch of those ladies Mickey, Tink, & Eeyore sneakers from disneyshopping a few weeks ago when I got them for $9 and donated them to a foster kids shelter.

 

[LuvTinkBell]

I visit a message board for moms, and I found a woman that has a boy, and is pregnant w/ a girl. I've got 2 girls and am pregnant w/ a boy. We have looked online at each other's pictures and are doing an item for item trade.

Then I am going to Ebay the rest. My youngest is 4 so I have newborn-4 girls clothing.

My consignment shop works the same as the OP's- more money for your items if you take store credit. I couldn't find ANYTHING in there to buy. Honestly, some of my stuff was in the best shape, and a lot of thier stuff was not. They also did not have alot in sizes for my kids at the time, she said the credit was good a year but I insisted on the cash.

I haven't had great luck having garage sales the past few years, but am thinking of doing one but advertising it as a girls clothing sale with the sizes I have listed in the ad. We have given away a lot of household items, so I have some stuff to sell, but am mostly interested in getting rid of the clothes while it is still in style and decent to use!

 

[madge]

I sell my children's clothes at a local consignment sale that's held twice a year. I make 70% of what I sell, which is more than I'd get a local shop. I can set my own prices, which I like. I don't make as much as I do on ebay, but it's also less work, LOL.

 

[PA Princess]

I sell my kids clothes in stages. I have to say that I do not do garage sales simply because we do not have a set up that works well for a garage/yard sale. I first go through and pick out nice, name brand items. I then press and carefully fold those and take them to Once Upon A Child...a chain outgrown shop store. They never take everything (and I never can guess what they will and won't take???), but they are quick and easy and give cash. I usually make $50 with each trip (pressing the clothes is key, I have found). Then I go through and see what is left that will sell well on Ebay, and last I give stuff away to people I know and then to local charities. In selling infant clothing on Ebay, I have done well when I sold in lots (like 20 items) than individually. I have 4 kids, and I tell my husband clothing them all for a reasonable amount each season and then dispersing of the used clothing is like a full time job!

 

[tribus121]

We have had a lot of clothes given to us so we just in turn pass it along to some one else who needs it

 

[Zim]

I was in the same boat as another poster... 8 years worth of infant to size 8 clothes bound and tied in bags all over the house! But we're moving this year and I had to find homes for all the clothes. I've done most of the different routes and since most of the clothes were shipped from across the country from a friend of my mother's I wanted to get the best deal I could for them.

Ebay works best for name brand and selling them as 'lots' of same sized clothing, imho. I think people actual do title searches for the word LOT and the clothing size. That way they aren't paying for shipping on one item.

I did consign quite a bit to a store in town for their store credit. I'll use that for Christmas this year, since the store also carries new toys.

I think garage sales are too much work - all your time gone and people don't even feel they're getting a deal when you offer to let them fill a bag for a few bucks.

I finally decided the best option for what didn't ebay or get consigned was to drop it off at Goodwill. Keep an inventory list of what you give them and then write it off at the end of the tax year. You won't have cash up front for Disney, but you'll be able to write off more than you could probably get for the clothing anywhere else.

 

[pjupton]

I sell my children's clothes at a local consignment sale that's held twice a year.

I'd agree with a seasonal consignment sale if there are any in your area - I know a great one in central Kentucky

 

[cats mom]

I have 11 years worth of barely touched or new Petit Bateau, Cacherel, Oilily, Jacadi etc. boys and girls clothes that have been bought in Europe or shipped to us from friends and family. I must have about $10,000 worth sitting in my house in plastic bins, many with tags still on. Not one of my neices or nephews was able to match up with the right size/season or I would have given the clothes to them. Is there any market for these items? I think I'll give the clothes to a shelter next week if selling them will not work out. Sorry to highjack the thread but thought that some DISer may be able to help with this question. Threehearts

Ebay can be really hit and miss with kids clothes.
I've had expensive high end items go for the minimum bid (someone got a great deal) and on the other hand I've had folks get in a bidding war and end up paying way more for used gymboree clothing than I paid new. Go figure.


I'd probably look at listing the Oilily stuff. It generally does quite well.

Even though your other brands are really nice, I'm not sure you'd get many people searching for those brand names. We used to have a really fancy kids clothing store that carried the European lines here... but they went out of business because there just was not a large enough market.
I did my share to try and keep them solvent.

Donating is a great option as well. I find I'm doing more and more of that because I just don't want to deal with the E-bay headaches.

Good Luck

 

[daisyduck123]

I don't sell my kid's old clothes (except once in a blue moon). My DD11 & DS8 find things in their closets/dressers every week that they don't like or that doesn't fit. I just give it all to the neighbors the very next day. I hate clutter and if doesn't fit anymore...it's outta here!!

My neighbor loves it...her DD gets several, like new, Limited Too outfits every month!!