If you have overflowing toy bins or baskets of outgrown clothes, you are sitting on extra cash! Selling your child’s unused toys and old clothes can declutter your house and give you some extra cash for other needs.
If you’ve tried selling at kid-to-kid stores before, then you might have experienced some frustration with the store not taking your items or not giving you the monetary return you expected. Here are some tips to get the most back on the items you’re selling to a consignment store.
Have Reasonable Expectations
Before bringing in your items, have the right expectations. You’re not going to make big bucks by selling your child’s old items, but you can still pocket a handful of cash–and it’s more money than donating it!
Consignment stores sell items for far less than the new listing price. The low prices encourage buyers to thrift and save money. However, to do so, they purchase your item for far less.
Say you’ve purchased a darling 3-piece Halloween outfit for $25. Your baby only wore it a few times, so it’s in pristine condition. The store may only give you $3. This is because they can only sell it for perhaps $5, and they have to make a profit to pay their overhead and employees.
Resell Quality Condition
Consignments will pay you more money for the quality of the items. Toys without (or minimal) dings and scratches, toys and puzzles with all the pieces, clothes without stains, and books with no (or minimal) tearing will always get you more money. This is because consignments can sell these items for more than items in good or poor condition.
Try these tips to prove your toys and baby gear are in top condition:
- Leave batteries in toys so the employees can validate that the buttons work
- Place loose pieces in a baggie and attach to the toy so the employee can validate that all parts are accounted for
- Wipe all dirt, dust, and splotches from toys
Try these tips to prove your clothes, coats, or other weather gear are in top condition:
- Ensure clothes are freshly washed and stain-free
- Fold clothes for easy sorting. It also gives the impression that the clothes have been cared for. If applicable, fold brand-new clothes with the tag visible to the employee
- Pair matching clothing sets together so the employee knows they are sold as a set
Sell Items In Season
Most parents try to sell clothes and toys once their children have outgrown them. This is usually right after the weather changes, or after a holiday like Christmas.
However, the store will probably pay you much less than you deserve for clothes not in season, or toys right after Christmas. They might not take them at all! Why?
Consignment stores need trending items because most customers are looking for those items. At the turn of the season, kids need weather-appropriate clothes, and lots of parents are looking for toys right before Christmas
Hold onto your items until the right season. Bring in last year’s summer clothes around March or April, and last year’s winter clothes around August or September. Save toys and books for October or November, when consignments are stocking up for Christmas sales. You’ll be shocked at how much more you’ll get for the exact same items because they are in demand.
Immediately Sell Items That Are Trending
On the contrary, immediately sell any items that are trending. Consignments will pay far more for trending toys, characters, shoes, baby gear, and books than for similar items from five years ago. If your child outgrows a trending item, don’t hesitate to sell them!
Most consignment shops will advertise the trending items they need to stock. You can access these lists on the shop’s website or social media platforms, by picking up a flyer at the store, or by calling the store.
Organize Your Box
Although your reimbursement isn’t directly affected by the organization of your box, most consignment employees appreciate an organized box that has grouped items. An organized box:
- Keeps the parts and pieces of toys easy to find. For instance, you’re trying to sell a toy with many small parts. All the parts are in the box but not grouped together in a bag and taped to the toy. The employee may not see all the parts and therefore not correctly calculate the price of the toy.
- Helps the employee process your order faster. If you’re like many parents, you do a little in-store shopping while you wait for employees to sort your items. If your box is a jumbled mess, it takes the employee much longer to sort through all your items, making your trip take longer.
- Makes a good first impression. Items thrown together in a dirty box are more likely to be scrutinized than those in a clean and organized box. Items nicely presented are more likely to be accepted.
What Do I Do With Returned Items?
A consignment store rarely accepts all your items. The store will offer you reimbursement for the items they wish to buy and give you the rest. It’s up to you what you do with the returned items. You can try selling them at:
- Another consignment store
- Social media groups
- A yard sale
You can also donate them to a charity organization like Goodwill or Salvation Army. Donation is preferred over disposal because it keeps more items out of landfills.