How To Shop Consignment Sales

I just finished shopping my very favorite children's consignment sale, and realized its the perfect opportunity to share one of my passions with you.  
Now wait, I know what you are thinking when I say consignment... you're picturing those over priced consignment stores that offer next to nothing for your clothes and then re-sell them at ridiculous prices.  

No, no, no!  There is another way!  

There are large bi-annual consignment sales, usually spring and fall, that sell gently used children's clothing, toys, and gear.   The sales take place in expo centers, abandoned big box stores, school gyms, and generally last 3 or 4 days.  Most sales allow between 250 and 2000 consignors (sellers), so the size of each sale varies widely.   Large or small though, the deals can be amazing!

I purchased 37 items for $126!  That's an average of just $3.40 per item.  A few of the items are bargain brand, but most are name brands including Ralph Lauren, Gap, and Gymboree.  I found 5 sets of button down shirts for the twins,  khaki pants, dresses for Sissy, skirts and sweaters for school uniforms, and even a few fun items like a Santa dress, and everything looks brand new!

So, now that you're sold, here is the bad news... its not always easy to get the best deals.  The sales can seem daunting, and the pricing can be all over the place.  Here are a few tips to make you a successful consignment shopper!

1. Find a sale in your area!  Just hop on Google and search for children's consignment sales in (your city here).  If you live in a very small town, consider finding a sale within driving distance.  It will be worth it.
2. Research the sales!  Ask your mommy friends, read online reviews, and find out what each sale does best.  Some sales are very picky about the clothes they accept, so you waste less time searching through stained or worn out clothes.  Some sales have more gear like high chairs, strollers, car seats, and cribs while other are mostly toys and clothes.  Find a sale that fits your needs.
3. Volunteer!  Most sales are fully staffed by volunteers, and the volunteers get to shop before the sale opens to the public.  Usually, you can earn the right to shop early by working one 3 or 4 hour shift.  I can not impress on you enough how important this is.  The very best deals will be purchased by the early shoppers.
4. Make a list!  Sit down and think about what you need before you go.  The sales are often huge and overwhelming, so its easy to get distracted if you don't have a plan.  Write down the items you are looking for and even the size you want, so you have a quick reference in the moment.  It will also pay off to look at a map of the sale and plan your attack.
5. Know your brands!  You will get the best deals if you are generally familiar with common brands and prices.  For instance, $3 for a GAP brand polo is great, but $3 for a Faded Glory brand is just okay.  Assume most items will be offered at less than 40% of retail value.  I stumbled across this consignment pricing guide which is broken down by item type and brand tier if you want to brush up a bit ;)
6. Be patient!  I usually block out 3 or 4 hours to shop kid free.  It will take a long time to look through all of the clothes, toys, etc., and because the sales are staffed by volunteers, it will probably take a long time to check out.  I waited 30 minutes to check out this last sale.  Consider this though, you can purchase a whole season of clothes in one sitting at remarkable prices... its worth 4 hours! 

I hope this helps you become a very successful consignment shopper.  Let me know if you try it!  

Oh and one more thing, many of the sales will let you shop a private "new mom sale" if you are pregnant, but they only take the first 200 or so to sign up!

Happy shopping!