Secrets of Shopping Kids’ Resale Stores

Resale shopping is one of those venues that people often are reluctant to try. As a parent on a budget, I’ve checked secondhand shops out a few times and found a lot of things I’d never want to dress my kids in. Old t-shirts from discount stores with pilling and faded stains aren’t exactly something anyone wants to pay for. But hidden among the junk is usually at least a couple of great buys. You just have to know the secrets.

Be prepared. Most kids’ resale shops will buy your unwanted items. Taking a little time before you shop can save you money in the long run – these stores will take your used clothes for cash or credit, making your new purchases cheaper or even free! Here’s how it works: The night before you go in, search through your kids’ closets and pull out anything that’s outgrown or unwanted. Freshly wash everything and fold it all neatly, packing away anything you want to save for future children. Presentation is key, so take a good look at what’s left, and make sure it’s free of stains, lost buttons, or other problems that would cause the store to reject it, and pack everything up into a box. A tip: some resale places say they buy clothing from all seasons, all year round. While that may be true, I always do better when I bring in winter clothes in the fall and summer clothes in the spring. While you’re at it, you might want to search out other kids’ items, too…are there movies your kids don’t watch anymore? Has Candyland been neglected for Monopoly Junior, and are those Bob the Builder DVDs gathering dust? Wipe everything down and pack it up neatly.

Take it all in. Leave the kids with Dad if you can – you’re going to need to shop without distraction. Get to the shop early. I’ve found that when you bring in items to sell, the staff is a lot more receptive (read: generous!) when it’s not the end of the day. You’ll probably need to register, and then you’re free to browse while they go through all your old items. Here’s where it gets really fun. Clothing is usually sorted by gender and size, but that’s it. So you’ll often find tank tops mixed in with dresses, and teeshirts mixed in with sweaters. Start at the beginning of the rack and start looking for whatever grabs you. I’m a little bit of a label snob when it comes to kids’ clothing, so I keep an eye out for designer or boutique labels, like Hanna Andersson and Flapdoodles. but if something else grabs you, that works too. If something catches your eye, pull it out and keep going – you can inspect it more closely later.

Expand your horizons. Don’t limit your search to the size your kids are wearing now. Keep an open mind and check out larger sizes as well – there may be a great GapKids shirt that will fit your son at Christmas or a beautiful Gymboree dress for your daughter to wear for Valentine’s Day. Some styles, like the timeless Hanna Andersson Daydress, will work for several sizes, so it’s worth the time to browse the bigger sizes for your growing children. While you’re at it, take a look at outerwear. It’s not unusual to score a winter coat that was worn for one season for under $15. Lesser-worn items, like raincoats, can go for even less.

Check It Out. Have you found everything you want to buy? Slow down for a moment and take a good look at each piece you’ve found. Check buttons and zippers, and look for stains, tears, or holes you might have missed the first time. Reject anything that looks overly worn or is damaged – the cost to replace a zipper will likely be more than the garment is worth, so shop carefully.

Report back. Head back up to the front desk and check in with the staff. If they’ve looked over your items, they’ll have a total for you of what they’re willing to pay for your things. It’s not uncommon for some items to be rejected; maybe you missed a small stain or other damage, or maybe they are overstocked on boys’ size 8 jeans. Not to worry – try a different shop or just come back on another day – you never know what they’ll be needing next time! Take back the items they didn’t want.

Wrap It Up: Store staff will ask you if you want cash or credit for the items they’re taking. Usually they will pay you half of twhat they plan to sell an item for. Often there’s an incentive for credit, so go with that option, and let them ring up your new items. They’ll apply the credit to your new purchase, and depending on how much you brought in, you may not even owe any money! Nothing like scoring new or nearly-new designer kids’ clothes for next-to-nothing.

Tryouts. It’s good to check into the return policy before you leave the store, and hang on to your receipt until you’ve tried everything on your kids. Wash it all and hang it up, and keep a box handy in your laundry area to start collecting for your next trip!