How to Find the Best Deals at a Children's Consignment Sale

Why pay retail prices for children’s’ clothes and toys when you can pay a fraction of the price for lightly used items at a children’s consignment sale?

Find a local consignment sale by looking through the newspaper, online websites, and by word-of-mouth advertising. The basic idea behind a children's consignment sale is that someone gives an organization, often a church or school, some articles of clothing or toys which are clean and lightly used. The organization will tag the item with a price and a reference to the seller. The general public is admitted and when someone buys the item, a large percentage of the money goes to the seller and a small portion to the organization, so both parties benefit. These consignment sales may be listed in local newspapers or even mentioned on web sites like Craigslist.org. Friends who also have young children are also good resources for discovering new consignment sales.

Consign several items yourself or volunteer to help with the sale. Most organizations who conduct consignment sales will offer a discount to the people who consign their items. Volunteers who help with the sale also may receive a discount and be allowed early entrance to the sale. Early entrance is a great privilege because it will give you access to the best items at the best prices. Also, you get to shop with a much smaller crowd. Some popular things to search for at children's consignment sales are the "boutique" items, which are normally isolated in their own section. These are high dollar items like fancy dresses and shoes and usually cost more than the average items.

Be prepared to shop aggressively. If you do not consign or volunteer for a sale, but you do want to shop, be sure to arrive early and bring a container, like a clothes basket to carry your purchases. Also be sure to bring some cash as many consignment sales are not equipped to process credit cards. Be prepared to navigate through a highly motivated crowd. Due to the low prices and crowded spaces, it is not uncommon for tempers to flair and for people to get into arguments over items. It is best to avoid these confrontations if possible.

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