Once upon a Child and Others

I took clothes to Once Upon A Child over this past weekend. They only took about 10 out of 50 items. The other items were definitely still in usable / "sellable" condition, but some were not "designer" and others they did not give a reason for.

Please do not try Once Upon A Child. I took 4 bags of brand new w/tags, or excellent condition, maternity and baby clothing, several bags of Land of Nod bedding and other misc items from Right Start (crib mobile, etc.) and only received $50. I would have been so much better off having a garage sale. They don't track what they sell or for what price, so you have no way of judging what items sold or for how much. The clothing I gave them to sell were all Mimi Maternity, Pea in the Pod, or baby boutique. Besides that, the woman who works in the back of the store is very unpleasant and rude.

I have never had a problem trying to sell things to Once Upon a Child. I feel that they pay a reasonable price for the things that I have brought in. I did bring a bassinet in and just refused the offer that they made to me. Other things that I brought in, I received more $$ than I expected. Much easier than having a garage sale!

I'm a M. who loves to consign items, as well as shop consignment. I have stopped shopping and selling things at children's Orchard as well as Once Upon a Child. They don't offer you much for your items, and you can barely walk through the store the racks are so close together and jam packed! Don't even think about bringing a stroller in there!

But I have found 2 of the best consignment shops around, and they are the only ones I currently shop/consign at. But you have to be willing to travel. The first one is called From My Room in Naperville. Check them out at www.frommyroom.com. The located just off 75th street at 1283 S. Naper Blvd. They take childrn's clothing and baby items, toys, strollers, furniture, you name it! And they are very selctive in what they take. I have shopped there for both my children and always come away with top name brand items that have little wear and tear. The second shop is call Sequels, located at 453 South Main St., in Bourbonnais. Check them out at www.shopsequels.com. Again, worth the trip. However they only take children's clothes and shoes, not strollers and toys. They have 2 stores in the same shopping center, one for just home items and one for just clothes. The clothing shop is mostly women's, but I have to tell you I found a pair of Levi's there that fit me perfectly, and they looked like they had never been worn before! I paid $10 for them! I'm headed down there again this Friday to drop off a bunch of stuff at the home store. Again, both the shops are very spacious and you can actually move around and breath!

I hope this helps. I love to recycle any way I can! Good luck!

I have sold and bought items on craigslist.com. I have lots of good luck with prices.

It sounds like as a full-time working M. your time is very precious to you. Personally, I don't think the time spent on garage sales (i.e., preparing items for sale, setting up, and sitting outside for about 12 hours) are worth the $100-200 you MIGHT make. If your bigger items are high-end, try selling them on Craigs List and specify that they are "pick-up" items only. I don't have any experience with second hand stores, but I would think that you would have more luck with the bigger items. There are also plenty of charities that will come to your door as well.

I'm adding another vote for craigslist. I bought my crib/changing table, baby monitor, stroller, some toys, bouncy chair, baby bjorn, high chair and travel high chair ALL on craigslist and all were great experiences. Tips that will help you - include real pictures taken yourself, ask resonable, competitive prices, don't bother with mailing/shipping, go cash only with pick up (or meet somewhere if you're willing and can deal with no shows) and most importantly, be willing to bargain in order to sell more quickly. I've sold some things too (not baby related) and if you have a little bit of time to invest, it can really pay off.

Hi- For big items like the ones you mentioned, try Craig's List. It is easy to list and free. As far as high end toys and clothes, I use ebay. But it really is only worth it if clothes are Gap, Gymboree, etc., shoes are Stride Rite or similar, and toys are LeapFrog or popular characters.

Craigs List has also worked for some toys for me. Good luck!

Check out Craigslist.org. Many people sell items on there and you can set a price that you want. Just a thought!

Try craigslist. I've bought numerous items through this site and it's wonderful.

I have had a lot of success selling gear on craigslist!

I take everything that is in great condition to the Once Upon a Child on Harlem Ave. I have heard awful things about the other one (Lombard). What they don't take, I donate to the Salvation Army. The store on Harlem takes items on Saturday and they open at 10AM. If you get there then, there is usually no wait. They have taken toys, strollers, swings etc. from me. Just remember that someone in need will get the items either way.

Dear M.,
Do NOT donate your baby equipment to Goodwill as they do not resell anything like that because of liability concerns. They will just throw it out.

i believe that u should donate it. there are an awful lot of children that have to go without because they are part of an underprivilaged family. why let all that stuff sit in a stuffy consignment shop when it can actually go to good use. i was a teenage M. with very little money. donations helped a lot.

My husband and I are very active in the local Women's Domestic Violence Shelter. I can say that they are ALWAYS looking for baby items. If you are not looking to turn a profit, I will bet they can be put to great use!! Shoot me a note back if you are interested in donating to the DVS. It's location is undisclosed for obvious reasons, but I can get you the information you need to donate if interested. Thanks!!
Jaime

have you thought about ebay?

Hi!
Tons of people have told you about CraigsList. Depending on where you are located there is another website you (and everyone in the area can check out). It is called www.napervilleyardsales.com. I love it! We have bought and sold many things on there!

I would try craigslist first. It's free and you can set price/pick up/etc. If you have no luck and have the space, try to hold out for garage sale. Although in either case, you won't get a lot for it usually. If all else fails, donate. :)

I donate alot of stuff and take the full deduction (most people WAY underestimate their value). Check the official IRS pricebook for deductions to find out how much you can claim for each item. Or just use a program like ItsDeductible to make it easier.

Anyways... I tend to sell the big things through craigslist.com. I can get what it's worth in cash instead of waiting and getting most of it from a deduction. Like I just sold a nice bassinet... it's valued at just under $40 for a donation but I got $50 cash for it by selling on craigslist.

Another idea is a big kid stuff sale. We have many around here in the spring. You register and tag all your stuff. It's normally $10 to register and then you get a check for 70-80% of the sales a week or so after the sale. You just drop everything off a few days before and the volunteers/organization takes care of the rest. There's a big one twice a year at Craig Middle School in Indy and also at the Hamiliton County Fairgrounds. Because of the registration cost, it's best to do it if you have alot of things to sell. I've done it a few times and made alot more than I would've doing a garage sale and it was alot less work!

CRaigslist! I have sold all my old stuff on there!

Hi - a daycare is a wonderful place to check if you want to donate. I know our daycare in Antioch (Antioch's Early Learning Center) is constantly looking for things to upgrade/replace in the baby/toddler room. They like the toys to stay in good condition so no small parts are falling off and causing choking hazards, etc.
I saw Craigslist as a response - that is a good option, too.
Good luck! D.

Try selling it on Craigslist.com before you give it away. You can state pick up or price + mailing fee's. Inclued pictures if you can it helps to sell items. If you want to donate them though don't give it to goodwill. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce to find out where your community donates to needy mothers. Goodwill just takes the money you have spent and make profit from it. Also get some type of reciept showing what you donated it does not need a price just the items. There is tax right offs for things like this if you have proof.

I've always had GREAT luck selling baby items at yard sales! I had lots of things that I just HAD to have, but my kids didn't like so much and I knew I could get something out of it. If I didn't sell stuff at my YS I would donate it to the local Thrift Shop. If you can't wait til YS time and you would like to get something out of them just take them to a consignment shop.

I don't know what town you live in but our local schools in Naperville have children's resales twice a year. There is one for infants to size 5 plus all baby equipment, crib linens, etc. That one is held at Highlands School and the next one takes place in April. The other one is at Ellsworth School for kids' sizes 5-18 and takes place next month. There is no fee to sell. You price your stuff and get back 70% of the total amount sold. I've bought and sold at them for years and not only get great stuff for my kids but make some money at the same time.

Ihad a beautiful baby boy bedding we paid well over $300.00 for bought at The Baby Depot inside Burlington Coat Factory, Once upon a child wanted to give me $10.00 for it. It is a 5 or 6 peice perfect condition. I refused to leave it there, I put in back into our storage. They do not give very good pay on items. You can post it on this website and see if anyone is looking for something.
Or e-bay, or even craigs list. Sometimes even daycare centers can use items, you may be able to donate to them.
Good Luck

Hi - I've had a little experience with selling items at their actual stores, but they were very selective on what they accepted (though I saw lots of clothing there in much worse condition than what I had..& older) & they didn't pay you much at all. I would probably try selling the equipment through them though if they offered you what you considered a fair price. Garage sales are a pain & alot of work. You could advertise in the paper. But then you never know who's going to answer that ad, but then you would probably make more $ going that route. Donating can be a good idea depending on how advantageous that could be as a write-off for you.

I went into Once Upon a Child (Bolingbrook) for the first time about two weeks ago to try and sell some VERY expensive bedding that was in perfect condition. I barely made it in the door--it hadn't even closed behing me--when the check-out person said, "We don't accept cash buys today, we don't accept anything that comes in plastic bags and we don't accept bedding." I'll never try to sell anything in there again, and forget about even buying anything after the way I was treated!

My neighborhood has a garage sale which is highly attended because many in the neighborhood participate. It seems that they have had luck with that, so I'm going to try that this year--as well as Craigslist!

i have had success with selling things on craigslist like that. just take pictures and put them online with prices and YOU WILL GET CALLS! we had a garage sale and sold nothing...then put everything on craigs list and it was all gone within 3 days! www.craigslist.com and then just use the IL or Chicago page.

You can really make some nice money with a consignment sale. Most of them offer 60-80% (More than a consignment shop). With the baby gear and equipment you can really make some money. Check out: http://www.consignmentsalequeen.com/p/getting-started.html for tips on how to maximize your profits while minimizing your work.

Hello~
I myself and my sister both didnt have too good of experiences with Once Upon a Child and actually a couple other consignment shops. If you need quick money and you are willing to not get what they are really worth then that is the way to go in my experience but if you arae looking to get something out of them the garage sale is the way to go. I make much more at my garage sales then with consignment and my stuf is priced very reasonable!!!! Something ese is you can box it up and place an add in the paper for $xx per box. I have bought and sold several boxes of clothes this way and both got a ood deal and made what I though hey were worth. Hope this helps.

I am in the same boat.. I like to donate myself. It's out of my house when I want it to be and I get a tax write off for alot more than I'd ever get for it. I usually give to AMVETS but they don't accept childrens items.

I have decided to try and donate my stuff to a shelter. My understanding is that most families leave their homes without anything except what they can carry. When I called one they said if I donate to The Hope Chest on LaGrange they support the shelter with their profits & items. I havent' done this yet as I'm still collecting stuff around the house, but think this sounds good to me!
Good Luck! B.

You may try Craig's List. You can post your "ad" for free giveaways or even post your items "for sale". I don't think there's a fee. You choose if you want someone to pick it up from your home. Check it out! visit www.craigslist.com and you can even buy stuff from other folks in your city/area. Good Luck!

Just donate the items you have. You will be surprised how much it will really help with your taxes. A garage sale is way too much work for someone who has small children. The last time I did it, I made just under $400 for organizing, setting up, taking down, and manning it all day. I told myself I would never do it again! I would never recommend it.

inchbyinch in shorewood gives you 50% of what the item sells for, you can check out, kind of far but maybe worth it