Once upon a Child vs Bi- yearly consignment sales

[frankiemom]

I participate in a summer and winter consignment sale in which I set my own prices. It is getting to be too much work cause they are going electronically now. I went to one of my favorite restaurants yesterday and saw a few doors away they are opening a Once Upon a Child. If anyone has sold through Once Upon a Child please give me the good and bad. Thanks!

 

[Mickey527]

They give you a pittance for good clothes. I had a snowsuit that I bought my grandson from Land's end when he was about 6 months old. It was a 12 month. Well, my DIL liked the one her mother bought from Kohls better and never put the snowsuit I bought on him. It still had the tags on it $65. OUAC offered me $3 for the snowsuit. I took it and sold it at a tag sale for $15, not near what I had paid for it but at least more than $3.
I know they give you something like $1 for shirts and $2 for pants. You might do better at a tag sale or on ebay in bulk selling.
Others might know more.
I did take some toys there and got about $20 for a trunkfull, but I tried to sell them at a tag sale and no one was interested. I then took them to Goodwill but they won't take toys anymore with all the lead scares lately.

 

[PrincessDreams2]

We also have a twice a year children's consignment sale in my city. I have been participating for about 4 years now. When I first started, all the tags had to be handwritten, and then they went electronic. I must say, its seems like it would be a lot more work, but it is really so much easier all the way around. Plus, I can see a printed inventory of all my items that sold, and for how much. Don't be afraid of it; I think my tagging goes much faster now than before!

We don't have a once upon a child near us, so I can't comment on that.

 

[gregokdisney]

I used to love Once Upon a Child, both buying and selling, but they seemed to start to go for more brand name stuff. I never cared about brand names, I just wanted nice, clean, gently used clothes at a good price. When they started to focus on brand names, their prices went up and the amount they'd offer for your used stuff went down. I haven't been there in years. I do much better at Goodwill for buying, and I sell my own stuff at garage sales. eBay used to be an alternative, but they've gotten so seller-unfriendly I won't sell on there either.

 

[SalandJeff]

I can still find some cute things to buy for my dd, although now that she is older, they don't have much in her size.

As far as selling, as others have said, they give you a very small percentage on clothes. On clothing I believe they only give you around 15% of what they will sell it for. If you have items like strollers, etc. they give you 50% of what they will sell it for. They are very picky about what they will take (which always makes me laugh at consignment stores, because I can find 10 items on their racks with stains/spots, but they won't take something from me with no stains!)

I would stick with your consignment sale. We don't have anything like that around here...I wish we did. And I have not had much success selling at tag sales in our area. It may be more work for you, but you will earn the profit. Maybe take items that have not sold after the consignment sale and try those at Once Upon a Child.

 

[MomRN]

I do better there than I do at yard sales, because I price my stuff to get it out of there. Many times I sell shirts $.25-$.50 and pants/jeans $1.00. They give a little more than that. So my rotation for kids clothes in OUAC, yard sale, give away/Goodwill.

 

[aceys_h0ney]

My Once Upon a Chid is very picky. However I never seem to have a problem finding stained items on their shelves. A few weeks ago I went through the stuff they denied their reasoning was stainig, I had three outfits that were dark blue and red so even if there was a stain you would not be able to see them, they were Gymboree too I think the girl just did not like them. I think it is the luck of the draw, I have done well with them but it was from older women, the younger girls seem way too picky and like your stuff is trash. At least at my store. They told me they sell furniture at 40, 60 so you get 40% of what they will sell a larger item for.

 

[mollybug2]

I never sold at a consignment shop but do a 2x a year sale. It has computer printed barcode tags and I LOVE IT! So easy to enter the info in, print them out, attach... and like a previous poster said, I can track my sales online. I agree, it might not be much more work for you so give it a try. I have heard horror stories about how little stores pay for clothing...

 

[MinnieGi]

Stick with your TAG sale place!!!

Once Upon a Child as others have stated give very little money to you for your clothes. You will make much more money sticking with your tag sale. Ours is coming up and can't wait to make a little extra money.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

I take my stuff to Once upon a Child as my last stop for selling the clothing. I do a local consignment sale (tag yourself) and then CL and then OUAC.
I do bounce btwn 2 different OUAC bc they vary soo much in what they will accept. I do agree that they claim your clothing is stained but there are racks of stained clothing in their store. My other favorite is that the clothing is out of style???!!!

good luck

 

[IndianaPrincess]

My other favorite is that the clothing is out of style???!!!

good luck

I had this happen to me. I got an email that they were "desperate" for jeans and offering bonus bucks. I took a stack to the store and they rejected them all for being out of style. I didn't think kids' jeans could go out of style and they must not have been too desperate!

 

[SalandJeff]

How/where do you all find these twice a year consignment sales? I am not aware of any in my area (CT), but maybe I am just not looking in the right place.

 

[mollybug2]

The consignment sale I do is called Just Between Friends, and is a national franchise, I think. Google "Just Between Friends" and see if there are any near you. Since I have been doing it I have noticed ads for other local sales which sound similar...

 

[summerrluvv]

OUAC gives you pennies for stuff. But, I still take stuff there that I don't want to bother trying to sell on ebay. I once took a NWT Peter Pan Disney costume there (with a load of other things)....I didn't even want to see the receipt because I probably would have thrown up at what they gave me LOL. I do LOVE to shop there though! I'm always finding tap shoes there for my DD for $3!

 

[deedeecee]

This message was very timely! Previously, I have sold my clothes to a resale shop in the area, but stopped because it was so depressing how little I got. I've wanted to try out a consignment sale in the past, but hadn't found one. I just googled "childrens consignment sale" and my area, and found a Kids Consignment Sale in the area for the end of the month, and promptly registered.
Even if my clothes sell on the last day for 50% off, I will still make more money than I would from our local resale shop. That is, if they sell. Keeping my fingers crossed . . .

 

[wlake]

Are there any independent consignment shops in your area? We have one that gives me 50% of what they sell the clothes for, minus a 35¢ consignment fee. I think they charge $5 to set up an account now, too, but I've had mine for years and years. They are VERY picky, but they will also tell you if they don't take something because they're already overstocked with that type of item. I can use the money to buy other clothes or have them send me a check.

 

[iluvdiscruises]

How/where do you all find these twice a year consignment sales? I am not aware of any in my area (CT), but maybe I am just not looking in the right place.

Not sure where in CT you are, but I do one 2x a year in Yorktown Heights (Northern Westchester County, NY). If you are interested, send me a PM and I will send you more info! Ours is a little different, as sellers pay between $35 and $40 to register, but keep 100% of their profits. Averages at the last sale were between $200 and $300, more for some sellers who brought more items.

 

[reagan75]

OUAC pays diddly squat! I always sell mine at the semi-annual sale and make a lot (usually $500-$700) a year. And that is for just clothes and toys for 2 kids, no big ticket items. What doesn't sell (usually less than 10 pieces) I will take to OUAC for store credit or put in our yard sale. I never spend more than what I make at the consignment sale so it is a much better way around for our family.

 

[reagan75]

How/where do you all find these twice a year consignment sales? I am not aware of any in my area (CT), but maybe I am just not looking in the right place.

Also google consignment sale mommies, they compile a list by state. They have a facebook page too.

 

[crmom7054]

Once Upon A Child basically wants you to give it to them! As other posters have posted, they want to give you a few dollars for name brand items that are in perfect condition.

I tried this once with several Gymboree items that were still in perfect condition because my DD was still little and grew out of things before she barely wore them once.

It is defiinitely a lot of work to do the consignments sales, I agree, and I put it off everytime. But you do make considerably more money this way.

Hope this helps!

Angie