Get ready to score some BIG TIME baby bargains. Spring consignment sale season is upon us!
Consignment sales are a fabulous place to get started with your baby preparations. Starting this month you’ll find warm-weather items like shorts, tees, and baby swimwear. Expect to see lots of baby gear, too, from strollers to baby gates, to safety rails for toddlers’ beds. Items I’ve picked up at consignment sales include Bumkins bibs, toys, books, sneakers, baby gates, clothes, and footie pjs. The quality of the items varies, but expect it on the whole to be better than thrift store stuff, but with more wear and tear than you’d find on items at consignment stores. Prices should be along the same lines, slightly higher than most thrift stores but less than most consignment stores. And WAY less than retail.
Find a sale near you at KidsConsignmentSales.com, The Bargain Watcher, and local parenting magazines. You can also check your local Craigslist board for listings or Google the name of your town and “consignment sale” to locate nearby sales.
- Many of consignment sales have websites with details about the event, maps, and contact information if you have questions.
9 Things You Must Know Before You Head Out
- Think about what you need most and try to find it straight away, especially if you’re looking for baby gear. The best baby gear items go fast. It’s also a good idea to know what the items you’re after cost new in stores. That way, you’ll know whether you’re getting a deal.
- Avoid buying used car seats. You don’t know if they’ve been in a crash or not.
- Consignment sales can be crowded and hard to maneuver with a stroller or with kids in tow. Strollers are actually verboten at some sales.Go without the kiddos if you can.
- Get to the sale early, but check to make sure there aren’t “early bird” restrictions if you plan to bring your kids. Some sales reserve the first day or first few hours for child-free shoppers.
- Get there near the close of the sale for move-it-or-lose-it pricing. The last day or last few hours of the sale often bring half-off or “$5 per bag” type deals.
- Look items over well to make sure they’re in good, safe condition. If you have a smart phone, you can even check the recalls list before you buy. Baby Center has an easy-to-use recall finder.
- Take cash, although many larger operations take debit or credit cards.
- Take along your own shopping bag so you’ll have a place for all the goodies you find. I’ve seen a lot of shoppers with small laundry baskets.
- If you like the sale, ask if there’s a mailing list you can get on so you’ll be notified of next years’ sales.
If you’re interested in selling your gently-used baby and kid stuff, contact the sale organizer. Also, most sales have websites that can tell you what you need to know.
What great deals have you found at consignment sales? Any more tips for making the most of your shopping?
See more How-To Tuesday Posts (click and scroll down)
Photo at right: SouthernBelle886 via Flickr
How I shop without my kids, by measuring them first. I make a list of each kids measurements or “ideals” for each. We like our girls to wear dresses that cover them adequately so I’ll measure an outfit that does fit or how long it should be and write that down. I stress the arm length and dress hem length for my older girls. For my son, I’ll measure pants by going around his waist and groin to ankle hem. Think like a tailor! For shirts I’ll measure shoulder to waist hem.
Then when shopping, I can compare clothes and get a good idea if they’re going to fit or not.
My local parenting center does a great sale. I volunteer two shifts, they provide childcare, and I get first dibs at the shopping. I also hit the $5 bag sale the last hour. It worked out to 4 cents an item. Good for a onesie, amazing for a pair of stride rites.
ConsignmentMommies.com is another site to search for sales.
If it’s a big sale, I make sure to bring a bottle of water and a granola bar just in case it’s really crowded and I have to wait in line a long time. My mom and I picked up a Little Tikes heavy-duty plastic table with 2 chairs last year for $15 and we got great deals on a basic Exersaucer and F-P travel swing before DS was born.
Thanks for the ConsignmentMommies.com shout out Emily! My mom and I had SUCH a hard time finding all of the sales that we created our own site!
Most sales give volunteers very first pick, so find out if they need help!
I carry a small notebook (yes, a spreadsheet would be better) with descriptions of clothing items that I already have in various sizes, so I can check whether a particular piece fills a gap.
Make sure bags/baskets/etc are permitted. My go-to consignment sale doesn’t allow anything, just you and your arms.
Know what’s a reasonable price before you get there. I’ve found that the clothing is way overpriced at the many sales in our area (I personally don’t care if it came from The Gap if it is pilled and faded); you are often better off buying new at the end of the season. I have actually overheard conversations at TJ Maxx and the like where customers are purchasing new clothing on clearance in order to re-sell at a consignment sale.
While I’ve never seen $5/bag deals, I love the half-price day (but beware of the tag labeling – not everything is 50% off). I’ve scored a lot a maternity clothes this way.
Glad we’re having a warm & sunny day here in MD because my kids’ playroom has been turned into consignment sale prep central! It is a lot of work to prep clothing for the sales, but my results have been way better than when I have tried to sell baby/kids clothing at yard sales. It seems that a lot of people show up ready to buy and leave with their shopping bags overflowing! Maybe part of it is the sense of urgency created by the short time span of the sale.
I have been pretty picky, but have still had a lot of luck finding nice jeans, khakis and jackets, too. T-shirts and sweats usually look pretty worn.
I agree with Julie–know what is a reasonable price before you go. I have noticed lots of “new with tags” stuff that came off of the clearance racks at Kohl’s, Target, and Children’s Place. I guess somebody is making money off of this stuff, but I noticed a lot left over on the day I went to pick up my items.
Double and triple check for those hidden stains:
Especially: Knees, Elbows, Sleeves, Diaper line/crotch, Under arms (Especially in JR sizes and older boys.), Collar (Even a 5 year old can get ring around the collar.), and Under tags and accessories (Some people try to hide the stains
)