Selling kids clothes

[Disneylush]

What is the best way to sell kids clothes in the dead of winter (in Minnesota) when you can't have a garage sale?

I am listing the Disney clothes on the swap thread but that isn't even 1/10th of what I have.


I am just starting the Dave Ramsey thing and I want this stuff gone... but I don't want to give it away.

TIA

 

[elgerber]

What is the best way to sell kids clothes in the dead of winter (in Minnesota) when you can't have a garage sale?

I am listing the Disney clothes on the swap thread but that isn't even 1/10th of what I have.


I am just starting the Dave Ramsey thing and I want this stuff gone... but I don't want to give it away.

TIA

Maybe try Craigslist?? But gee, I don't know why you wouldn't want to have a garage sale right now, freezing drizzle would do wonders for your sales .

 

[Disneylush]

Craigslist was plan A but by the time I am done I am going to have at least pieces!

I saw on there most people list things one by one... that just might kill me!!

 

[lindsmom]

I saw on there most people list things one by one... that just might kill me!!

I know a mom who bought three "boxes" of "mixed playclothes" on craigslist. I think more on ebay, you'll find individual pieces due to shipping costs. If someone can pickup (like on craigslist), they're more likely to buy larger lots. JMO

ETA: it's possible you're seeing just individual items because larger lots gets scooped up as they're listed? But the individual pieces sit there a bit longer. Just a thought.

 

[Disneylush]

I like that idea!!

 

[kkwis2]

I have a friend that sold a "box" of maternity clothes on craigslist. She got $40.00 for it all which is more than she figured she would get at a rummage sale and it was much less work!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Ebay. I resell all of my kids clothes on Ebay.

 

[mombare]

Hello fellow MN'er!
Down in the southeastern part of the state (Rochester), there is a really nice second hand store called Children's Exchange. They buy gently used kids' clothes (and maternity and juniors)...I shop there occasionally and have found some nice stuff. I have often pondered taking my kids' clothes there, but have yet to do it. Are there any stores up your way? I know there is a "Once Upon a Child" store also - ours doesn't seem to have as nice of clothes, though. I would say that is your best bet - REALLY hard to have a garage sale this time of year. I have known a couple of families that will go together and rent a small town community center to hold a garage sale, but I don't know how they do. It's too cold and snowy to even venture out to something like that (as a prospective shopper).
We have a couple of garage sales each year in the spring and summer, and often net $800 total (per person). I often start shortly after taking down my Christmas decorations - it is time consuming, but very therapuetic. The garage sale thing is kind of like an addiction for us - we do it every year, and really enjoy it!
Good luck, though...other than Craigslist or ebay I think you are stuck until spring (no pun intended)!

 

[Disneylush]

So if you have garage sales give me some helpful hints...
do you price everything? or do you say all clothes a buck a piece?
do you price all year or do you wait until right before the sale and price?
I keep saying we are going to have one and then the summer is gone. I would also really want it to be worth my while... $800 would be worth my effort!

 

[Disneylush]

I forgot to mention we do not have a Children's Exchange...that I know of and Once upon a child really made me mad this spring. They didn't want some of my clothes because they were not ironed or on hangers!

 

[bunkkinsmom]

DON"T GET ME STARTED!! I have 21 60gal tubs of kids clothes in my attic, boys and girls. I spent HOURS on a Yard Sale this spring and tons of money on advertising. 3 people showed up. So then I started taking my tubs to Once Upon A Child, I had shopped there many times. I was so upset at the way they treated me as a seller, that I will not even shop there anymore. I have listed some stuff on Ebay, and it sold, for cheap. But the buyer pays shipping, so it's better than nothing, and it gets it out of my house. AND I bought some stuff on Ebay, nice sweaters for my oldest. Seems like Ebay is the way for me right now. But I haven't looked into Craigslist. Anywho, good luck.

 

[mombare]

So if you have garage sales give me some helpful hints...
do you price everything? or do you say all clothes a buck a piece?
do you price all year or do you wait until right before the sale and price?
I keep saying we are going to have one and then the summer is gone. I would also really want it to be worth my while... $800 would be worth my effort!

The key is timing when it comes to garage sales, at least here in MN. Our first garage sale of the season is Mother's Day weekend (Friday and Saturday). Because of the weather, it is one of the first weekends for garage sales. It is also city wide sales in my aunt's town, and it is absolutely INSANE. There are a ton of people out...from the area and they also drive for an hour from Iowa. Our second garage sale is also a "city wide" where my sister lives - it is in August, and one of the last of the summer in our area. That one is not as good, but is still worth it. Everything is already marked from earlier in the summer...

We do mark everything individually - we even have a 'tagging gun', like they use in stores! We also hang all of our clothes on racks - they do sell a lot better. So for our situation, we have some investment in our sales, but I feel it pays off in the end. My disclaimer: My aunt is OBSESSIVE about garage sales (seriously, we call her the garage sale Nazi), and these have been her rules all along! She is the one who has purchased all the tables, clothes racks, tagging guns, etc.

This next year I am going to get serious about "cleaning house". I have been selling some of my kids' clothes through the years, but not enough of it. I have a husband who is a pack-rat, so we continue to keep stuff we haven't used in years! It drives me nuts...but that is all coming to an end!!! I may even stop to get some garage sale stickers tomorrow!

 

[averysmom]

You can sell your Excellent used better brands (Hanna Andersson, GAP, Naartjie, Boden, some gymboree) on ebay (use a trading assistant if you don't ebay) or check the Just Between Friends site to see if they are having a consignment sale in your area soon.

For more playclothes - TCP, deptartment store brands - you can still try ebay - list in a lot or on craigslist in a large lot as well.

HTH!

 

[KKB]

DON"T GET ME STARTED!! I have 21 60gal tubs of kids clothes in my attic, boys and girls. I spent HOURS on a Yard Sale this spring and tons of money on advertising. 3 people showed up. So then I started taking my tubs to Once Upon A Child, I had shopped there many times. I was so upset at the way they treated me as a seller, that I will not even shop there anymore. I have listed some stuff on Ebay, and it sold, for cheap. But the buyer pays shipping, so it's better than nothing, and it gets it out of my house. AND I bought some stuff on Ebay, nice sweaters for my oldest. Seems like Ebay is the way for me right now. But I haven't looked into Craigslist. Anywho, good luck.

I find the key to advertising is to list specific brands (not all...just the ones like GAP, Polo, Limited Too, etc) and size ranges. I also always try to have some big items to lure people in, which can vary from a TV to big Little Tykes toys, etc.

 

[dismom24]

We have a local church that does consignment sales twice a year. You price and tag everything and drop off. They sell at full price for 2 days and half price the third day - usually all of my stuff sells and I have a nice check in about a week.

 

[crisi]

If you itemize on your taxes, and your income is high enough to put you in a high bracket, you may come out ahead boxing them up and handing them off to charity. You get to write off their reasonable value - but after paying eBay fees, consignment store fees, or only selling half of them at a garage sale, this may turn out to be pretty much a wash - and almost no work. And given the time of the year, you can drop them off TODAY and get the benefit in six weeks.

 

[fairykin]

I buy alot of children's clothes on ebay!

 

[momxx5]

Bunkinsmom,

I would like to thank you for making my day!

I have a few boxes that I have put aside, a "pile" that needs sorting and a garage with a mess.

So, knowing you have that many bins in your attic somehow makes my piles a bit bearable. With the kindness of hearts I feel your pain.

How often do you ebay? I have never done it and end up donating most of our stuff, clothes NWT that didn't fit, etc. I am hoping that the donating in bringing in good karma(needed) but with some of the items I surely could use the money.

To others, is craigslist hard to post? Do you meet mutually in public?

Thanks in advance.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

If you itemize on your taxes, and your income is high enough to put you in a high bracket, you may come out ahead boxing them up and handing them off to charity. You get to write off their reasonable value - but after paying eBay fees, consignment store fees, or only selling half of them at a garage sale, this may turn out to be pretty much a wash - and almost no work. And given the time of the year, you can drop them off TODAY and get the benefit in six weeks.

It depends on the clothes too. I make about $2,000.00 per season selling on Ebay, that's after fees. But I have mostly all high end things. I've even made more on Ebay resale than I originally paid for an outfit - ex. size 3T Beaux et Belles smocked Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs set. I paid $65.00 new and resold it on Ebay for $85.00. I would never get the "reasonable" price for my things by dropping them in the charity bin.

 

[crisi]

It depends on the clothes too. I make about $2,000.00 per season selling on Ebay, that's after fees. But I have mostly all high end things. I've even made more on Ebay resale than I originally paid for an outfit - ex. size 3T Beaux et Belles smocked Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs set. I paid $65.00 new and resold it on Ebay for $85.00. I would never get the "reasonable" price for my things by dropping them in the charity bin.

Yep, it certainly does. It also matters what you value your time at. Dropping things into a charity bin is going to take almost no work - just itemizing out your stuff - and if its a bunch of Target stuff - the IRS write off is likely more than you'd get selling it on eBay or a garage sale - or having to iron and hang it and then get very little for it at Once Upon a Child.

If your kid's closets are filled with like new Baby Gap and Gymboree - than eBay or a garage sale in a high end neighborhood will be a better option.