Consignment Sales or: How I Learned to Control the Chaos and Love the Deal

‘Tis the season for children’s consignments sales, at least in the Leigh Valley.  A month ago when advertisements for these sales started showing up on my Facebook feed, I made a list of all the sales and all the dates in my area.  Children’s Consignment Sale season around here is a biannual event.  Spring and summer items are sold in March/ April while fall and winter items are sold in August/ September. The sales around here are organized/ curated events in that stained and damaged items are not allowed to be sold, the events all happen in a large hall or venue, the price tags all look the same, and there is a central check-out location.
Truth be told, while there are many good deals to be had, these events can be wily beasts.  Like me, you might stand in line for over and hour asking yourself, “Is this even worth it?”  Everyone is a newbie once, but I would not recommend attending one of these events without a strategy or at least reading up on tactics before you go.  Everyone has there own preferences and what works for me might not work for you, but  after attending several seasons of these events I am starting to figure out the best methods to attack them so I would like to share my tactics with you today.

First of all, what is so great about these consignment sales?
There are several reasons you might want to attend one.  For starters, shoppers can buy in-season clothing that is gently worn for a fraction of the price of a regular store.  Most clothing is priced at or below the prices on the clearance rack of most stores. The sales also feature some new but mostly lightly used toys, Halloween costumes, shoes, maternity clothing, car seats, bikes, strollers, and baby accessories including carriers and breast pumps. For example, in August at a consignment sale I got Patrick a very nice duck costume for $10 that is probably worth $25-30 new.  Another reason to participate in the consignment sale process is to sell your child’s clothes, toys, and accessories.  Cosigners earn  60% of their sales and have the potential to earn more if they volunteer to work a shift at the sale.

Katie’s Code for Navigating the Mass Consignment Sale:

1. 1. 1. Come prepared with a list of items that you would like to buy.  Before attending these sales, I inventory Patrick’s dresser and closet for his clothing needs for the upcoming season.  I also have him try on clothes to see if they fit.  I estimate what his size needs will be for the next 6 months.  I determine if there are any special holidays or events that will require special clothes and does he own something already that will fill that need.
      2. Be open to other items at the sale not on your list if they will be useful.
      3. Most mass consignment events have a ticked pre-sale period before the sale is open to the general public.  Often the tickets for the ticketed pre-sale period are priced anywhere from $15–$5 and allow the user to have access to the sale for a few hours the day before the sale opens.  Sometimes there are different levels of pre-sale tickets.  Cosigners also have access to the sale early.  I have never consigned so I have no experience with that, but I have purchased the least expensive level of pre-sale ticket.  Based on my experience, I would not recommend purchasing a pre-sale ticket.  Here is how it played out for me: After purchasing the ticker online several days before the event, I waited in line for at over 30 minutes to even get in the door to the pre-sale.  The amount of merchandise was good but many of the high interest items including car seats, yard toys, strollers, bikes had SOLD tickets attached to them by the time I got to that section.  I found all of the clothing items I was looking for, but the wait to check out was at least 1.5 hrs long.  This particular sale also highly catered to entire families shopping together so there was a lot crying and whining while I waited in line.  I will probably not attend this particular  sale again.
      4. After this experience and another experience during a regular non-presale, I have learned an important lesson which is DO NOT SHOP AT THESE SALES IN THE EVENING.  It may seem convenient or like a great way to keep your weekend free, but people’s nerves are frayed in the evening and everyone is grumpy.  Usually there is a child crying right next to you or right beside you and it isn’t even your child.  Which brings me to my next item. . .
      5. If you can, leave your child at home when you shop at these sales.  I know this not always possible but things will go so much more smoothly for you if you do not bring your child.  You will be happier and other shoppers will be happier.  I do not mean to offend but at some of the sales the aisles are narrow and often there is a long wait to check out so if possible plan to go to the sale a time when someone else can take care of your child.
      6. Take advantage of the end of sale discount.  Usually on the last day of the sale there is a substantial discount, like 50%.  My favorite sale The Kids Clothesline has lots of great clothing available on the Sunday of the sale.  Last spring, I got most of Patrick’s summer clothing  for 50% off including a pair of Janie and Jack swim trunks.
      7. Bring a calculator (or use your phone) and know what you are willing to spend before you arrive.  Sometimes it is very easy to keep adding items to your bag and you are attending a consignment sale to spend less money than you might spend in a store.
      8. Visit the sale’s website and read the FAQ section.  Most sales have tips for navigating their particular sale.
      9. Get your self a nice drink, maybe a Starbucks or something stronger if you wish when you get home! Treat yourself for your hardwork and strategy, you deserve it.
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