Resale Shops for Baby Items
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Resale Shops for Baby Items
Oct 2007
Finally cleaned out the closets and I have a fair amount of nice, great
condition, recent, mid-level brand maternity clothes to get rid of. And
quite a bit of similarly softly-worn (or not worn at all) baby clothes.
The archives are all over 3 years old and I'm wondering where I should go
to recoup at least a little of the cash spent on clothes I will never use
again.
Can this be done at one place? Or do I need to go different places for
maternity and kid's clothes to maximize my return? I don't need it to be
a great experience, but I don't want to support businesses with lousy
customer service, either. And I don't have the time or patience to sell
pieces individually on Craig's List, etc.
Back into my old clothes
There's a store in Alameda. I forget the name, but it is on Park
Street, just off Lincoln. They will buy kids clothes and sell
maternity clothes on consignment. If they don't accept your clothes
for sale, you can leave them and they will donate them for you. I
have found it easy and convienent, but you don't get the prices you
would if you were to sell on your own. The owner also has some
strange taste in what she accepts and doesn't. For example, I see
used Mervyn's T shirts for sale in her store, but she didn't accept
some fancy European clothes I wanted to sell. Oh well, she knows
her market.
not into individual sale either
I highly recommend you check out
Fashion After Passion. Please tell Jaye, the owner, that I sent you.
1205 Lincoln Ave
Between Bay and Sherman St
(between Haight Ave & Santa Clara Ave)
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 769-6667
Tue-Sat 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Jessica
The only places I know that take both maternity and kids clothes
are: Crackerjacks (on Glen Ave just off of Piedmont by Peets),
Lauren's Closet (Park St in Alameda), Fashion after Pashion
(Alameda) and Child's Play on College. Baby/kids clothes are bought
and you get cash or more in credit; maternity wear is usually
consignment only. I know Crackerjacks will only take in season
maternity, but any season for kids clothes. Fashion After Passion
and Child's Play are less picky than Crackerjacks and Lauren's
Closet.
Other places that just take kids clothes are:
Laura's Closet (College Ave)
Solano Kids (Solano Ave, just up from San Pablo) Hannah's (top of
Solano) Little Rasberries (San Pablo in El Cerrito)
I usually opt for credit as you get more money that way, and use it
to buy the next age clothes.
anon
August 2004
I need to try and sell a bunch of gently used baby clothes, and
am not sure how to begin...does anyone have a recommendation for
a particular resale shop, or is it best to just sell items
individually or as a ''lot'' here on the Marketplace newsletter?
Is one shop better than another as far as amount they pay you, or
brands they accept, etc.? I have quite a bit of name-brand stuff
(Baby Gap, Gymboree...) as well as some nice things from Mervyns,
Target, etc. It's all stain and rip-free so I'd like to get a
decent price for them. (I'm donating a lot to charity too...) Is
it worth the time and energy to iron all the wrinkled things
first? Any recent experiences, advice, and recommendations FOR
or AGAINST any shops will be great appreciated. Thanks.
heidi
First, you need to sort the items by season. Even though I think
there is plenty of summer left, I have been told that stores are
now buying for Fall.
Laura's Closet on College (I think now called Laurens)- unless
the item is immaculate, trendy, brand lable, don't waste your
time. Allthough this is a family run store, I was made to feel
like I was offering rags to the high school aged buyer who looked
at my stuff. It was not a positive experience, but if you have
good stuff and/or are thick skined, it is worth a shot.
Child's Play on College. They are less picky and their prices
are lower, so they seem to take more stuff. I don't like the
fact that the buyer sits with a calculator and punches in the
numbers without telling you how much she is selling the item for.
CrackerJacks- off of Peidmont, same street as Peets coffee. I
have not yet sold here, but there is a new owner and the store
looks a lot better- cleaner, nicer stuff.
For bigger ticket items, like baby equipment, I have sold
successfully on the BPN. Selling at the shops is a lot of work
and you have to decide whether donating the stuff and getting the
tax write off is a better use of your time.
Hope this helps.
resale mama
Since you have quality items, Laura's Closet may be your best
bet, but as you'll hear, they are incredibly picky. Another place
I have not seen mentioned here or on the website is Bearly Worn
at 1619 N. Broadway in Walnut Creek. It's a relatively small
place that is PACKED with all sorts of used baby and children's
stuff, from clothing and books to videos, toys, strollers, high
chairs, and other furniture. They've been pretty easy going about
taking stuff, and I've found plenty to take home in return, some
of it really great. I think you need to call to make sure they
can accept your items: 925-945-6535.
Burr
Please take a look at Fashion After Passion on Webster St in
Alameda. Jaye, the owner is wonderful and she accepts a wide
variety of clothes and is not restrictive of seasons. She also
sells new and used maternity clothing and has the best selection
of nursing and maternity bras. Please tell her I sent you.
Jessica
I highly recommend Kids Again in Dublin. It is only about 15
minutes away once you get onto Hiway 13 or 580. It is
consignment, and only takes through age 10, but they have lots
of great clothes and some toys and furniture. You do have to
sort through what they have, especially as your child gets
older. I have never had any problem finding clothes to use up my
credit (which they keep track of). They do have seasons, and
started taking only winter clothes as of July 15th, I believe.
Also they have a limit on the number of clothes you can bring in
at one time, although they have been flexible about that when I
say I live in Oakland and can't get there very often. They are
now only open on Saturdays on the weekend, unfortunately. They
have great sales just before the change in clothes for the next
season, and then things are half off the already good price. I
have also had a poor experience at some resale stores, and find
this better, especially since they will donate things they can't
sell, so you don't have to come home with anything. They are
very careful about the condition of the clothes they put on the
racks, and if you find a problem they just take it back to
donate. They don't take regular shoes, however, only specialty
shoes such as rain or snow boots, ice skates, tap shoes, etc.
Their phone number is 925-828-7334
Susan
I heartily recommend Hannah's, on Solano Avenue in Berkeley.
Regardless of where you go, if you haven't done this before I
don't think you're going to feel that what you receive is
a ''decent price'' -- you'll be surprised at how little is taken,
and how low a price you get for it -- but Hannah's certainly
gives you at LEAST as high a price as the other local stores,
and unlike some of them, Hannah's is FRIENDLY and POLITE. They
also are incredibly nice about the clothes they sell TO you --
they take them back any time, as long as the tags are still on,
as opposed to Lora's Closet, which has a return period so short
it's hard to return anything unless you live in the
neighborhood.
I second the post about Lora's Closet (they recently changed
the spelling): they take almost nothing (much less than
Hannah's), and make you feel bad about having sullied their
store with your unworthy stuff. (I also had a bad experience
when I placed maternity clothes there on consignment.)
Darla's Baby Boutique on San Pablo also takes used baby
clothes, but they have a lot of rules about sorting by season,
etc., that Hannah's doesn't (I believe Hannah's takes things
regardless of season), so I've never tried them out.
Anonymous
I recommend Lauren's Closet in Alameda as a great place for
reselling baby's and childrens' clothes (not to be confused with
Lora's Closet in Berkeley). I live in Berkeley and used to shop
at Lora's Closet but no more, for the reasons stated by others--
they do not take my stuff for resale anymore (even the clothes I
bought from THEM!), they are not friendly about it, and their
store reeks of perfume. For example, they once told me they did
not take Elefanten shoes because ''they do not have a high resale
value.'' This is simply not true. By contrast, Lauren's Closet
in Alameda takes lots of my stuff, is super-friendly, and there
is a lot more of a selection of the things that I need there--
leggings for my 3 year old, shirts for my 8 year old, books,
shoes. So I can take a bag of clothes in, get a credit and buy
a few good items all in one trip without spending a dime of new
money. The selection is huge of USED stuff, not like Lora's
Closet, which has mostly toys and ballerina costumes.
Karen
I missed the original post, but I wanted to chime in on Hannah's
and Lora's closet. Despite having the best selection of stuff, I
agree with the other posters that the people who run the latter
storeare rude and insulting by making you feel that they are
doing you some kind of favor by buying your clothes. I also don't
like their practice of taking your stuff in the back room and
coming out and giving you a price for it. (The other stores go
through it in front of you--Lauren's Closet gives you a tab of
the stuff they will buy from you). They used to be ''Lauren's
Closet,'' the same as the one in Alameda (which I highly
recommend--more later) but apparently had some sort of falling
out and are no longer affiliated--hence the name change. I've
always had good service at Hannah's, and it's true you can return
at any time, but I find, as a buyer, the selection to be hit or
miss--I often don't find what I am looking for. Finally, I want
to recommend Lauren's Closet on Park St. in Alameda. I drive all
the way there b/c I think Lisa, who own's the shop, gives the
fairest price, and though not the warmest person on the planet,
is very straitforward about her business. They've also recently
expanded to have a huge junior section, so smaller mom's like
myself can shop and trade there. She also sells new and used
toys, furniture, etc.... and there is a playroom for little ones
to use while you shop. Though on a busy street, I always find
parking. I've been shopping there for over three years now.
Faithful to Lauren's Closet
Aug 2003
Where have people had good experiences re-selling baby clothing and
baby items (like a baby bjorn, swing, bouncy seat, stroller, etc.)?
I have checked previous recommendations and don't see many recent
posts.
Thanks,
Bridget
Cracker Jacks - off Piedmont Ave
Fashion After Passion - Webster in Alameda
Child's Play - College Ave in Rockridge
Making Ends Meet - Fruitvale Ave - Dimond District
Lora's Closet - College Ave in Elmwood (very particular there)
Happy Sales!
The best place I have found to sell or purchase used baby
items is Making Ends Meet (510-531-1135) store hours are
10 to 6 Monday-Saturday they outright purchase your things
for cash or give a little more in store credit.. I'm not sure of
the address but the store is on upper Fruitvale in the
Diamond area of Oakland.
jsobie
Try ''They Grow So Fast'' in Lafayette. The owner and staff are
really nice and the shop itself is great. There's also ''Fashion
after Passion'' in Alameda- I've always had great experiences at
both establishments. Good luck!
Marian
Lora's closet on College is VERY particular about what they buy
back. It pretty much has to be a good brand (Gap, Petit Batou,
Baby Lulu, etc) in immaculate condition. I have literally
bought something there & then tried to resell it after only a
few uses & they refused.
Darla's in El Cerrito is not as picky, but you can only get
store credit that is good for 60 days. They do buy & sell lots
of new & used gear, though. I've not found much among their
used clothes, though. They do have a section of new clothes &
all-important pajamas.
Hannah's on Solano is good for clothes. It is a TINY store.
You can get cash or good forever credit. Their inventory is
updated all the time, so you have to check thier racks a lot.
I've also heard good things about Child's Play on College &
Lauren's Closet on Park in Alameda, but never sold there, only
bought.
Good luck,
virginia
Why not try this newsletter first (Marketplace)? Otherwise
hanna's on top of solano is great for selling clothes or Darla's
on San Pablo in el cerrito for baby stuff and toys and they take
some clothes too but not many. I have stayed away from the re-
sale store on College Ave. because previous postings on this
newsletter relayed that the owner unethically scoured charitable
yard sales claiming to be from a pre-school only to re-sell the
items for much more in the shop.
chris
Sept 2003
I'm thinking of trying cloth diapers on my six month old son,
but I don't want to invest in brand new diaper covers. I'd like
a variety of brands, and would like to be able to look at them
(ruling out ebay). Does anyone know of a thrift store around
Richmond/El Cerrito/Albany/Berkeley/Oakland or thereabouts that
carries them, or do I just have to shop around?
Jennifer
I am sure you will get quite a bit of response, as luckily the
Bay Arera is home to many many cloth diapering families
and baby resale stores!. I live in Alameda and recommend
Fashion After Passion on Webster at Haight (here in my
town). The owner is reaslly nice and they usually have a
large number of diaper covers.
I would also say keep your eye out at any thrift store, or baby
resale shop. Though I know you wish to look at them you
can buy almost new and gently used diapering goods
online at http://www.mothering/com/discussions
I recommend this for another reason: The forum communtiy
has a diapering board that is very active and a wonderful
place to ask questions about which diapers/ covers are
useful for which situations, washing methods, and rashes. I
have received a lot of good advice from the board.
Kudos to you for taking steps to put your precious baby in
cotton!
tabitha
Try e-Bay. I've seen lots of diaper covers for sale there.
Emily
Darla's Baby Boutique on San Pablo Ave. in El Cerrito usually
has some used diaper covers. If you ask, they will hold them
for you when they get them in.
Also, new ones are available for pretty reasonable prices at
tinytots.com, which is one of the local diaper services.
A cloth diaper using mommy
The best selection I have found is at ''Fashion After Passion'' in
Alameda (I think its on Webster). They run from about $2 to $5
each, depending on condition. You will probably also need diaper
clips to hold the diapers together when the baby starts
crawling. I haven't been able to find them used, but you can
order these from the diaper services.
anon
I have a 4 month old and have been cloth diapering her the whole
time with Mother Ease diapers and used diaper covers. I have
found a few good consignment stores to look for them: Fashion
After Passion (Webster and Santa Clara) and Lauren's Closet (
Park St.) in Alameda and Crackerjacks on Glen Ave. just off
Piedmont Ave. near Kaiser. They range in prices from $2 to $4
usually but occasionally they will have some new ones for $5.
All of them have been good deals for me, especially if you
compare them with the prices in BabyWorld for new ones ($8 each
or more).Hope this helps you out.
Heidi
I didn't see your original post, so I don't know what sizes you
are looking for, but I have a pile (maybe six?) of used diaper
covers, size large (20-30 lbs), I have been wanting to pass
along to someone for a while now. e-mail me and they are
yours (for free)!
Karen
I get my used diaper covers at Child's Play on College Ave. in
Rockridge. She usually has a a variety of sizes, priced well
and in good condition. In fact, I know she just got a bunch
in. If you need smaller sizes (11-16 lbs.), I have a few we're
about to take down there. Contact me if you want them.
shari
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