Selling Your Child's Old Clothes

How to Sell Clothing Through Resale Shops, EBay and Yard Sales

© Diane Laney Fitzpatrick

May 31, 2007

That Gymboree outfit you paid full price for a month ago is already too small for your baby. She’s growing like a weed and her closet is full of clothes that have been barely worn.

You can make make significant improvements in your budget by taking your child’s hand-me-downs and selling them at resale shops, on EBay or at a yard sale.

First . . .

• Go through your children’s closets and drawers and remove things they don’t wear anymore. Launder and fold them, and keep them sorted by season: spring/summer and fall/winter.

• Store old clothing in plastic bags or storage containers. Avoid damp or musty basements.

• When selling time arrives, air them out, press and refold them. The more attractive your items look, the more money they’ll bring in.

Resale Shops

• Second-hand clothing stores vary in the type and quality of clothing they’ll accept. Some shops give you cash upfront for your items, while others will give you a percentage of the sale price after it’s sold. Know in advance what commission you'll earn and how you'll be paid. Find out what sells best at the store and what you can do to make the most out of your merchandise.

• Take items to resale shops well ahead of their season. Spring and summer clothing should be taken in by February. Fall and winter clothing, coats and boots should be taken in June. Check with individual stores for their suggested schedule.

• Generally, clothing with stains, holes and wear marks don’t make it to the racks in a resale shop. Up-to-date clothing in good condition sells best.

EBay

• Know the ins and outs of selling clothing on EBay before posting. Read the EBay selling tips.

• If you have a large amount of clothing in the same size, sell it as a “lot” on EBay. Someone with a child the same sex and size may want to purchase the whole package.

• There are some upfront commitments to EBay selling: You must have a computer, internet access, digital camera and photo software. You should make a few purchases on EBay first, to establish yourself as a trusted source. And you should research shipping methods and costs ahead of time.

Yard Sales, Tag Sales and Garage Sales

• Yard sales require prep work. In addition to washing and ironing clothing, you’ll need to display it on tables or racks.

• If you’re selling lots of clothing, avoid attaching individual price tags to each item and sell by type: “T-shirts $1, Shorts $1.50.” A general pricing rule for yard sales is 10 percent of the current retail price.

• The risk in yard sales is simple: What if no one comes? Advertise with neighborhood signs and newspaper listings.

• Make it worth a customer’s trip by joining with a few neighbors to have a multi-house sale. You may have to carry your merchandise down the block, but you’ll draw more customers.

• Unlike EBay and resale shops, yard sales often are able to sell the lesser of your clothing. The yard sale shopper is looking for bargains, not necessarily high-end clothing at higher prices.

The Combo

• To get the most out of your hand-me-downs, try using a combination of selling methods. Offer them on EBay for an ideal price. Take the items that don’t sell to a high-end resale shop that pays you upfront for items they want. What they don’t buy, take to another resale shop. Pick up what’s rejected there and donate to Goodwill or other charity and include the receipt in your tax return for a charitable contribution tax write-off.

Another Idea:

• Have you got a trunk full of old Halloween costumes your kids won't wear anymore? Many resale shops accept them, well ahead of Halloween. Or save yourself the cost of new Halloween costumes by organizing a costume exchange or trade with friends and neighbors .

For Sale

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