[mamadonna]

How do you determine what a good price is for used baby clothing? I'm trying to avoid buying new this time around and have been looking on Craigslist (haven't been to any thrift shops or consignment stores yet) and know a couple people who want to sell some clothes, but I'm kind of clueless as to how to negotiate the price or what even is a good price.<br><br>
So, I'm just wondering what you look for when buying used baby clothes and what you're willing to pay for certain things.<br><br>
Thanks<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[kathywiehl]

I'm cheap! I spend about .50-1.00 for casual stuff, and for fancy smocked dresses or rompers or something really high end I'll spend as much as 3.00 in the newborn size. The reason is because they only wear it for a few weeks when they are very little and they never get stained, so the abundance of these sizes at yard sales and thrift stores drive the price down for this sort of thing.<br><br>
When they get bigger and it's harder to find clothes that are in new condition, I will pay more. I usually pay 1-2 per item for my 2 year old and 2-3 per item for my 4 year old, simply because that is the lowest I can find in their sizes.<br><br>
I did however buy a ton of clothing for my son in sized 2-5T recently for .50 each at a yard sale. Most of it is packed away for when he gets bigger.

 

[LilMama23]

I don't know when you're due, but if you wait for garage sale season you should be able to find a ton at 25 cents a piece. Usually, I won't pay more than a quarter a piece unless it's Gap/Hanna/Gymboree/Old Navy, and then I usually bargain for $1-3 per piece.

 

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I'm with Kathy and Lauren -- I spend under $1 on little baby stuff.<br><br>
Salvation Army and Goodwill and even Once Upon a Child usually sell things under 12 month size for less than $1.00<br><br>
Once Upon a Child often sells onesies and rompers three for $3.<br><br>
And garage sales are GREAT because newborn clothing will be in great shape and priced to move.<br><br>
Also let it be known that you are open to hand-me-downs. Once Mamas decide to get rid of their baby stuff, they will give you bags and bags of clothes. Keep what you like and give the rest to Goodwill to help other new Moms out.

 

[sanguine_speed]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"> I knew I'd come in here and read about rediculously low prices that I cannot get here. I shop consignment, I shop thrift, and I do not get those prices...not even CLOSE. Ah well, I guess it's made up for in not having to pay for health insurance <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment">.

 

[BetsyS]

Our Goodwill (that has a good selection) prices all clothing up to 24 months at $1.60. The Salvation Army (not as good selection) charges 50 cents.<br><br>
I will pay more for Christmas outfits or for a coming home outfit, in the $10 range. But, that's the most I'd ever consider, and that's for a fabulous outfit I just love and can't do without.<br><br>
At consignment and garage sales, I average about $1 per item.

 

[Ruthiegirl]

About a dollar for the simple stuff. I spent $5 for a fleece bunting for this new baby. That was during a 50% off sale at the local consignment shop.<br><br>
I could spend more though. My kids dress very simply, wear lots of well worn hand-me-downs and are not the most fashionable kids around.<br><br>
As they have gotten older, I spend $4-5 on individual pieces and I am having a harder time finding used clothes for my kids lately. They are to the age where they wear things out before they outgrow them. So, I have been forced to buy more stuff new.

 

[SeekingJoy]

On craigslist, I will pay between .50 and $3 for used, but excellent condition, clothes for 2yrs and under. In consignment stores, I will pay $2-5 per itm/outfit.

 

[wonderwahine]

IMO its your own personal rule that you need to make. For certain stores and brands, i refuse to pay over $1.50 a peice, at garage sales i refuse to pay over $1 a peice. At other places, and for certain brands, I'll go as high as $5 a peice, but $5 is my definate limit for used childrens clothing.

 

[pbjmama]

I spend $1-2 for new stuff in the off seasons. Example, last week I hit the old navy sale (clearance stuff was marked down and take an additional 50% off) and got tshirts, long sleeve tees, thermal pants, most for $1-2. Some will be worn this spring and some next fall/winter. I spend up to $6 on jeans and I usually get those at a resale shop. Sizes matter too - I can find the little stuff cheap but the bigger sizes are harder, I guess because kids are harder on clothes as they get bigger.

 

[Valian]

Garage sale season I can find clothing $1 or under. At actual thrift stores $1 is the rock bottom price I can find anywhere here. More often items are 1.50-2.75 ea. Craigslist I would not, personally, pay more than $2 an item. For many stores I can buy brand new starting at $3 an item so its not worth buying used for $2, yk? I aim for a personal average of $1 per item used.

 

[WhoNeedsSleep?]

I spend anywhere from 25 cents for a onesie or t-shirt on up to $5. I rarely spend more than that. It has to be something that is extremely cute and will either fit for a long time or can be sold or handed down.

 

[Benji'sMom]

Our Goodwill is $2, salvation army I think is like 50c, and garage sales 25c, maybe up to $1 but you'd expect garage sales to be more like 50c especially with the little baby sizes. Plus as was already mentioned, some stores clearance their stuff for $3 (Target for example) so you wouldn't want to spend too much on used clothes anyway.

 

[SleeplessMommy]

Here in PA, USA, yard sale pricing is 25cents (or less!) for a onesie, 50cents or less for something bigger. And I ask for a bulk discount! Thrift store pricing (the good thrift shop, not goodwill) is always less than $2.<br><br>
After about 2T, good clothes get much harder to find.<br><br>
I would suggest asking friends, freecycle, then asking on MDC - especially if minor staining is acceptable. Many moms have "extras".

 

[bc1995]

At yard sales here I average $1-$3 for an outfit, but will pay up to $5. I will pay more than that on ebay for used clothes. I just stocked up on some smocked dresses this week out of the paper for $15 each. They were in perfect condition, and I certainly could no go out and buy them new for that.

 

[wednesday]

Yard sales really stink where I live, it's a complete waste of time. If there are children's clothes at all they're like WalMart brand for $2 each. We do have some seasonal consignment sales where prices are more like $3-5 per item but it's mostly nice stuff. A lot of DS' clothing I get that way. Jeans and pajamas I mostly buy new at end-of-season clearance sales. I'm just not satisfied with the prices and quality of what I can find used. I envy y'all who live in good yard sale areas--we lived in a great city/neighborhood for that when DS was a baby and it was unbelievable. People selling like Gap clothes for a quarter per item. I live in a small retirement town now and the people who have kids don't shop at the Gap for them unfortunately <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[KariM]

For baby clothing, I'll rarely spend over $1.00 per piece and even then it needs to be in great condition and stain-free.<br><br>
I can usually find used baby clothing at garage sales for 25c each around here.<br><br>
For children's clothing I'll go up to $3.00/piece for good quality stain-free clothing (more if it's a great brand name known to wear well and last a long time).