Moms Encouraging Moms

It’s no secret that I LOVE children’s clothing and toy resales.  I’m able to get almost everything I need to clothe and entertain my children for a fraction of the cost if bought new…while indulging in some rejuvenating “resale therapy!”

But…I do remember feeling overwhelmed at the first few resales I attended.  I didn’t know where to start or what was a good deal.  Over the past several years of shopping resales, though, I’ve developed some strategies that help me get the most out of the time and money I spend at these events.  Here are a few of my suggestions:

• Look up the details before you go.  You need to know the time and location of the resale, of course, but you also need to know if there is a price for admission, if strollers and/or children are allowed, if they accept cash, check, and/or credit cards, if you are allowed to bring a shopping bag/laundry basket, if there’s a time items go half-price, etc.  Check out the resale’s website or other advertisements to learn the specifics.
• Know what you need.  Just before resale season begins (mid to late February for spring, early August for fall), I go through my kids’ closets and drawers to see what they already have.  We play “fashion show” and even try on clothes to see what sizes are going to work for the upcoming season.  After seeing what they have, I make my list of what items and sizes they still need.  I keep this list in my iPhone and refer to it when, for example, I find a great pair of size 5 tennis shoes but can’t remember if my toddler needs them.
• Have a plan of attack.  Most resales are very well organized, so take a minute to get the lay of the land when you arrive.  If you will be looking for any “big ticket” items (bicycles, outdoor toys, large baby equipment, furniture, etc.), I suggest scoping out this area first since these things tend to sell quickly.  But, if your most needed item is a 3T rain jacket, head to that section of the clothes to quickly scan the selection.  I also suggest following your gut-instinct when looking through clothes and toys…if you immediately like an item, put it in your shopping bag.  Later, when you’re done looking, find the designated sorting area or quiet corner to sort through and pare down your finds.
• Check items carefully.  When sorting your items, look closely for stains, holes, broken zippers, ripped pages in books, missing pieces from toys, etc.  Most resales run on an “all sales final” business model, so you don’t want to get home only to discover that adorable shirt is missing a button or that Hi Ho Cherry-O game is missing half its cherries!  Yes, both of those have happened to me…learn from my rookie mistakes!  This is also the time to narrow down your selections based on need:  does your child really need all 5 swimsuits you pulled or will 1 or 2 do?
• Look at larger sizes.  My girls tend to outgrow their clothes for a season *just* before the next resale season starts up again.  Buying a couple of tops and bottoms one size larger helps me avoid making a trip to the store where I would have to pay [*gasp*] full price!
• Leave the kids at home.  If at all possible, I hit the resales without kids.  It is not usually worth the headache or the increase in blood pressure I experience when trying to entertain my girls while simultaneously searching for the deals.
• Arrive early.  This is especially important if you’re in the market for one of those big ticket items mentioned earlier.  The first shoppers also get the best selection of clothes and toys.
• Or arrive late.  On the other hand, if you are not looking for anything in particular, it may be worth skipping the early crowds so you can shop at a more leisurely pace with a bit more elbow room at the racks.  Many sales also have a time with selected items are half-price, so you can score even better deals by arriving later.
• Sign up for the resale’s contact list.  Not only will you be notified of their next sale, you’ll also get information about becoming a seller as well as any promotions or contests the sale might be offering.  Just a couple weeks ago, I won two passes to shop before a sale opened to the public!

In addition to the strategic tips above, I suggest taking the following things with you to a resale event:

• Laundry basket or shopping bag.  I love using an over-sized beach bag or my large reusable Aldi bag (twice the size as a regular reusable bag with a large, flat base).  I can fit a ton of items in those bags and throw it over my shoulder as I shop.  I have also used a laundry basket with a belt tied to it so I can drag my basket along as I browse.
• Smartphone.  Not only do I keep my resale shopping list here, but I also use my phone to find out more information about products.  Not sure if that’s a good price for a used Bumbo seat?  Look it up!  Wondering if these Leapster2 games will work in your original Leapster handheld game?  Look it up!
• Your child’s measurements and a measuring tape.  Since my older daughter has long legs and is very thin, I have a difficult time finding pants that are long and slim enough for her.  To avoid purchasing pants (or dresses) that are too short, I jot down her measurements in my phone and use my measuring tape to check the dimensions of any pants I’m considering.  On a related note, I know some sellers who trace their child’s foot on cardboard, cut it out, and slip that template into a pair of shoes to see if they would fit their child.  I have never had much luck with this as my child’s templates usually do not even fit in her current, well-fitting shoes.  It may be worth trying, however, if you are in the market for shoes or boots.
• Cash.  Paying with cash helps me stick to a pre-set budget.
• Snack/drink.  Some of the resale events in our area are HUGE…like, multiple-county-fair-buildings-filled-with-children’s-clothes huge!  With all the browsing, decision making, and waiting in long checkout lines, a girl can get hungry!  I usually keep a granola bar and bottle of water in my shopping bag when attending one of these mega-sales.  As with any extreme sport, it’s important to keep hydrated and nourished in order to “perform” at your best and “score” the best deals!

A perfect opportunity to practice these resale “tricks of the trade” is coming up next weekend when our Moms Encouraging Moms small group will be hosting our 4th Annual Children’s Clothing/Toy Resale.  Hope to see you all there!

What resale shopping strategies or tips do you have?

~ Laura