Don’t forget consignment shops when you are looking for back-to-school clothes and shoes. You can get deals that far surpass even the best sales, just because they’ve been gently worn. I’m a huge fan. In fact, I think I can safely say that the majority of clothes (and shoes) I buy for my kids are secondhand. It just seems silly to pay $30-40 for a pair of jeans that my son will likely grow out of or ruin in a matter of months? It’s not uncommon to find gently used (sometimes new) brand-name jeans (Gap, Gymboree, etc) for a $3-$8 at consignment shops.
Case in point – I found these New Balance shoes (pictured above) for my daughter at Me n’ Moms a Seattle consignment shop for $7.99. These retail for as much as $49 online and they are BARELY worn. The bottom of the shoe doesn’t even look like it’s been outside.
Consignment store tips:
- Earn credit by bringing in your gently used clothing! Bring in your gently used items and you can either trade them for store credit or cash. Usually you’ll be offered more if you opt for store credit instead of straight cash. Using these credits can be a great way to save. Many stores require an appointment to consign your goods, so call ahead of time. Ask lots of questions about what they are looking for. Do they prefer certain sizes? Brands? Do they have a limit of how many items they’ll look over at the appointment? Some do. Asking these types of questions can save you time!
- Make an appointment to trade in items? Make sure and keep it! Some stores are booked out weeks for appointments and they may require a manager to come into the shop – so don’t blow off your appointment.
- Many consignment sales have “wish lists” that you can get on if you’re looking for something very specific – especially as far as baby gear is involved. They’ll call you when something comes in that matches your needs.
- Great deals on new items, too – Maybe you don’t like used clothing, you should still know that consignment sales often have NEW inventory in stock. For example, one of my local stores, has an amazing selection of new See Kai run shoes – priced very competitively and often you can use consignment credit on new items.
- Have shopping buddies – If you have friends who also like consignment shops, share what you’re looking for – so you can both keep an eye out for each other. Often times it’s just being in the right place at the right time – if you have a little group of friends that shop for each other, you can text or call when you find something they might need.
- Pay attention to tags – You probably won’t save much on brands like Circo or Carters – which are regularly clearanced at Target or Walmart. Look for BRAND name tags on clothing or products, to save the most. These often have a higher resale value, too! And remember if they are still in great shape, you can bring them back to the same consignment shop and sell them back for credit or cash!
- Watch for sales and discounts – Many consignment shops have Facebook pages or email lists. Watch for special sale days or coupons. Follow their Facebook page (if they have one), that’s often a way that they’ll advertise sales!
- Consider a polite negotiation – Depending on the consignment shop, you might be able to negotiate a little. For example, if you think you’ll be buying many items, ask if they could do a small discount for buying in “bulk” or ask if you see a piece of furniture or larger item you’re interested in, offer a certain amount (at a respectful value) and if they are hesitant, leave your phone number. Just say, “If you can’t find a good home for it at that price, I’d be happy to take it off your hands for $x.” You never know, they might need the extra space one day and give you a call! Can’t hurt to ask, as long as you’re respectable in terms of true value for the item (as in, don’t ask them if they’ll take $10 for a crib marked $75, that’s valued at $150).
- Check the return policy – Every store is different, so make sure you understand the return policy before you purchase the items. Most places give you 30 days and offer store credit.
- A store, with many titles – It could be listed as a consignment shop, secondhand store, resale shop. When you’re searching for consignment sales in your area, try different keywords to find them all. I like to use Google Maps and find your local community, then type in these types of keywords to see results based on location!
- Always an option on the road! I’ll never forget the time we were in a small beach community – playing in the sand on a day trip. My three-year-old stood up from playing in the sand and promptly peed his pants, filling his rain boots with. . .well you know. I had packed other clothes, but not a second pair of shoes! There was no Target around. A gift shop would have cost a shiny penny – probably $30 or $40 for boutique rain boots. But we went into a kid’s resale shop on the boardwalk and walked out with a brand name pair of shoes for $3.75. Perfect to finish off our day at the beach.
Consignment sales versus garage sales or thrift shops:
- Consignment shops are typically priced a bit higher than garage sales but you are paying for the convenience of not having to run around to various sales, saving you hassle and gas. And often times the inventory is better organized – saving you time!
- Consignment shops are often more selective! At most consignment shops, you won’t have to sort through stained or torn clothing to find gems. If you do – consider finding a different consignment shop that is more selective! All items are prescreened before being priced and if it’s a high-quality store, they’ll stick to high-quality brands in good shape.
- Consignment shops can be more specific – Many consignment shops specialize in one area – women’s clothing, kids clothing and gear, furniture, antiques. Unlike thrift stores or garage sales where you have a little bit of everything – you can save a lot of time by going to a consignment store filled
I picked up these shoes last summer at my local consignment shop. The blue sandals still had the store tag on them – brand new and a fraction of the price!
Check out our list of Consignment Stores in the Pacific Northwest – including the Portland area, Tacoma/Olympia and Seattle!
Angela says
These are great tips! I love my local shop {Baby Basics in Lacey}; I will go take clothes in for store credit about 2x a year, and I can usually find good deals for both my kids. My son is getting bigger, tho, and it’s getting harder and harder to find jeans or pants in good condition. Boys are so hard on their jeans 🙂
Jessica says
There are a few I can think of…. I dont have the addresses but here are their names and city.
Baby basics – lacey
The changing table – centralia
Bargain baby – centralia
All do have facebook pages