Resale tale

I was so proud of myself I finally got all the out grown baby clothes that I didn’t want to keep together (no small job) along with my extra swing and a bouncy and headed to a local resale store. Now before I go any farther I should say I did not expect them to take all the clothes, but I didn’t expect what did happen. I get to the store and (leaving kids in truck with my sister) went in. I should of know it was going to be bad when I was struggling to get through the door with the swing and bouncy and the girl at the counter just stood watching me and yawning. So first off she deemed my bouncy unworthy, no big, then she tells me its going to be a half hour so I say “great I will run my older son to a close by play place and be back in a hour” to which I get “don’t take too long because we have limited space” so I say “fine I will just take him to get some lunch and come right back” she pops her gum looks at my box and bag of clothes and says “ oh I guess you don’t have very much stuff so do what you need to do just make sure your back before we close” Gee thanks.
Fast forward to my return. I walk in and the girl directs me to the other worker who is eating and has a mouth full of food. She just looks at me expectantly so I take a chance and tell her my last name assuming that is what she is waiting for. She looks on her computer (lucky me I guessed right) and says, through her mouth full of food, that I am not in the computer. Puzzled I tell her my name again and again she says I’m not listed. So the girl turns and says “Kim right” yes “well you put it under (my maiden name)” then to the food eating woman “show her, her quote slip” sure enough I had printed my maiden name but signed with my married name.(I still don’t know why I did that I haven’t used my maiden name in 4 years +) Now wouldn’t you think they would of least been interested as to the difference nope they just wanted to get me the heck out of there. So she flops my box and vacuum bag on the counter, which look almost completely full, and says 35 dollars. They took almost none of the clothes and the way it looked they just pawed through them and then shoved them back into the containers, they even ripped out the side of the vacuum bag, which they offered no apologue for, all I got was “do you need a bag” well yea since you ripped the bag apart I kind of do. I am not even sure that there wasn’t some of the clothes they didn’t want laying on the floor behind the counter because clothes were falling out of the ripped bag when she dumped it on the counter. . I was so disgusted when I left.
I know they probably get tons of cloths everyday but they don’t have to treat the clothes like garbage and the people bringing them in like they are below them. I would really like to get something for the outgrown clothes to put back in the cloths funds but after this I am not sure I want to deal with any resale shops again. They aren’t all really like this are they? Does anyone else have a good way of selling their out grown cloths? Maybe I will just donate them and call it a day.

 

I have heard similar tales from people. I don't think it's you at all!! This is the very reason I haven't bothered to take my stuff to one of these places. Sort of disrespectful of them, IMO.

I had a ton of perfect condition clothing from my girls' first year and ended up donating them to Cradles to Crayons, who were in dire need of girls' clothes 0-12 months. I felt so much better knowing they were honestly needed, AND I was able to claim it on my taxes.

 

Oh goodness what a disappointing experience. They are not all like that, no way! My mum owned one and it was clean and organized and professional and she treated people with the respect they deserved. My mum was one to know that people work hard for their money and what they purchased and treated it as such. If she just did not have the space she would say so, if she felt it wouldn't sell she would say so. I am confused though, how did they put a price on it? Don't they wait until it sells and then they take a commission? That is how the resale shops around here work, you take your items to them and they sell them on consignment. Shop around and even try holding your own rummage sale. You may want to consider contacting the owner (I hope the owner wasn't one of the girls), they are making a bad name for her shop and she will lose business with attitudes such as those.

 

I've taken stuff (once!) to two different resale shops here. I had a similar experience at both. I will never take stuff there again, honestly, I'd rather donate it. Also, neither of them have great prices to buy either. Only if you happen to find an expensive brand such as Hanna Andersson - but most stuff is just as cheap new on sale at the regular stores

QUOTE(Mum2TwinBoys @ Jul 6 2008, 03:47 PM) [snapback]862480[/snapback]
Oh goodness what a disappointing experience. They are not all like that, no way! My mum owned one and it was clean and organized and professional and she treated people with the respect they deserved. My mum was one to know that people work hard for their money and what they purchased and treated it as such. If she just did not have the space she would say so, if she felt it wouldn't sell she would say so. I am confused though, how did they put a price on it? Don't they wait until it sells and then they take a commission? That is how the resale shops around here work, you take your items to them and they sell them on consignment. Shop around and even try holding your own rummage sale. You may want to consider contacting the owner (I hope the owner wasn't one of the girls), they are making a bad name for her shop and she will lose business with attitudes such as those.

I think a resale shop buys your stuff outright and then turns around and resells it. A consignment store waits until it sells and then takes a commission.

 

I am so sorry that you had this experience...I've never gone to a resale shop, I don't where there are some around here, but it certainly does put you off if people treat others that way.

 

I popped into a resale shop (that does maternity and kids clothes) the other day, just to ask if they took mat. clothes on consignment, and they looked me up and down and said "yes, but we're not accepting anything except current year name brand styles." With a pointed look at my 6 month old twins.

No "thanks for coming by" no, "would you like to check out our selection of childrens clothes?" etc.

 

You might try Craigslist. I've seen ads for twins clothes, but they were too small for us.

 

It sounds to me like those girls were very rude. I don't have any experience with resale shops but that doesn't sound like good customer service. You could sell your clothes on e-bay, I get lots of my girls clothes there!

 

:hug99: I'm sorry you had this experience. I'd be willing to bet the owner/manager of the store would never have treated you this way. I believe there are plenty of other places, which would love to take in clothes and other baby items from you. Other places you can sell are eBay, Craigslist and Mom 2 Mom sales.

 

I kept looking for WHERE you live cuz I feel like it might be the shop by me!! UNREAL. I have never bothered to TRY to drop anything off there cuz they are just RUDE at the place here. And they're eating and talking on the phone and just LOOKING MEAN all of the time. I cannot even imagine how they treat you when you make them work!!!

OMG. Seriously.. if you hate doing it- get a new job, right?

Anyway, no it's not you and I have had similar problems with Miss and Mrs. Congeniality behind the counter at my shop. Not fun.

 

Do you live where I live too?

I had a similiar experience at Once Upon A Child. The girls are not nice at all.
They act like they are being bothered by the customers. I brought some clothes
in and the items they didn't want they practically threw back to me. They gave
me hardly anything for the clothes.

I have talked to other people about the store and they had the same experience.

I have had better luck at children's consignment store or garage sales. I also like
to donate some clothing. I know the clothing will be appreciated.

Sorry that happened to you! :hug99:

 

Wow, what a crummy experience. I do mom to mom sales. This is perfect, you can price everything as you see fit, and they even have mom to mom sales for multiples. These are the best!! I am not sure if they are everywhere or not, but in Michigan they are every weekend and I get and sell all my clothes at these.

 

Our parents of multiples club has a big sale twice a year as a fundraiser - they keep half of all proceeds (less if you volunteer to work) and you get the rest. I know that option might not be available to everyone on the board, but the people are always wonderful!

 

I've dealt with some snide employees at Once Upon a Child. I had some hand-me-downs given to me, nothing too old (within a couple of years), and lots of brand-name (Gymboree, Gap, TCP, Old Navy, Ralph Lauren, etc.) and didn't need it for my DD. So I lugged a box, and my DD in her stroller, into the Once upon a child. They looked at the box from a distrance, told me everything was too old and they wouldn't take any of it. Seems like they could have at least looked at what was in the box??

QUOTE
Our parents of multiples club has a big sale twice a year as a fundraiser - they keep half of all proceeds (less if you volunteer to work) and you get the rest. I know that option might not be available to everyone on the board, but the people are always wonderful!


YAY for MOM Twin Club sales!!! I have a mound of stuff already set aside for my chapter's fall sale!!

 

I swear that's all I've ever heard about those consignment shop/ resellers. Always bad. I'd rather donate everything than deal with snobby people.Not everyone wants designer/boutique stuff anyway.(I don't care what the brand is or how old..cute is cute and I think some boutique stuff is just ridiculous looking and then I like to fall over when I hear how much it cost when you couldn't pay me to put it on the babies) I would go with craigslist/flea market even ebay if you have the time and are trying to get a little money for them. I must say I have a customer whose twins were 18 months when mine were born and she immediately started saving and giving us everything. There are no words to say how much this helps us and how much we appreciate it. I in turn will donate our old stuff because the feeling I get when someone appreciates or can really use it is so great and I know how it is on the receiving end. This woman could have made out selling this stuff, tons still had tags on it, brand name gymboree etc.,perfect condition but I think she knows what we are going through with twins and wanted us to have it. I feel like we hit the lottery. I am forever giving stuff away and I feel like what comes around goes around maybe that's why we got lucky.

 

I've been donating them to someone who needs the help. I keep some. And I've had some luck selling nicer items on Craigslist.