Every spring and fall I look forward to going to a local Nearly New Sale in order to buy needed (or desired) baby gear, supplies, and clothes for the coming two seasons (I say two because the sale occurs twice a year). Almost every baby item we own has been a greatly appreciated hand-me-down or was purchased at this sale!
The “Nearly New Sale” at the Howard County Fair Grounds, MD is different from a consignment sale in that it is not vendors but mothers, just like me, looking to sell gently used gear and clothing that they no longer use at CHEAP prices. It takes place in the Main Exhibition Hall and is literally packed with mommy vendors. Bargaining is welcome, although some prices are so low bargaining is not needed. I often look to spend about $1 on each item of clothing (less for onesies). Everything I have bought has been in excellent condition and a great price. While the price point is similar to a yard sale, there is a specific population (mothers with small children) to which it caters, making it a one stop shop, rather than plotting out yard sales all over the state.
Consignment sales are more common, usually regardless of your area. The upside of these is that they are easy to find, have lots of options, and often accept credit cards. Consignment sales are run by professional vendors, and therefore often have slightly higher prices, but are still a good option rather than buying new.
Tips for shopping Consignment and Nearly New Sales
- Bring Re-usable bags: they make shopping MUCH easier since bags are often not provided and allow you to carry more and make less trips to your car
- Bring a buddy: big, desired items go very fast, so divide and conquer, bringing cell phones to connect once desired item is found
- Come early: Good deals go fast, some come early to get the most options and the best prices. (At our Nearly New Sale, it looks a lot like running of the brides, big lines of people who rush the building when the doors open, I love it!)
- Plan ahead: Make a list before hand so you can buy what you need and avoid buying junk you don’t need just because its a good price
- Look for bigger ticket items first: Larger, more expensive items sell quickly since there tends to be less available (ie. cribs, furniture, strollers, etc), so look first for these options, then go back to look for smaller items such as clothing and toys
If you live in our area, look for me this Saturday, September 11, 2010 from 8 am – 12 pm at the Howard County Fair Grounds in Maryland. Also, check out these website for other Nearly New and Consignment Sales
- Nation-wide: http://www.kidsconsignmentsales.com
- Baltimore area: http://www.wee-cyclemart.com/
- Maryland area: http://kidsnearlynewsale.com/
What do you think? How do you find good deals for used kids stuff
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