I have a ton of higher end baby items to sell - how to do this most efficiently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have three kids, the youngest is 15 months and we might be moving soon so I have a ton of baby items to off load. Everything from a car seat, mamaroo, nursing pillows, multiple carriers, clothes from Hanna and Boden, etc etc. I don’t need to get top dollar for it all but it feels collectively too valuable for me to just donate. In my ideal world I’d find an honest seeming woman who go could come over on a nice day and hang out for a while on our driveway / porch while I brought things out one by one and we determined a reasonable low price for what she wants - and most of what she didn’t want I’d just donate.

Is this a pipe dream? Anyone know of how I might find such a lady? Or is there a better way to easily and quickly sell baby gear?

I live in Arlington btw.

OP, I came back to post again. I posted earlier that I didn't think there was anything wrong with you asking, but I didn't think it would likely work out the way you wanted. I still think your heart is in the right place, and your intentions are good, but that it is unlikely. I wanted to expand on it.

Part of the problem is that when you envision a nice day and going over each item one by one, that's a good experience from your side (even if extra work!), but it might not feel so good from the other side. Having to sit there for the day and going over items piece by piece and verbally appreciating them, and the verbal appreciation for your generosity and largesse, might come off a bit "noblesse oblige" and "lady of the manor."

It's hard to accept charity for a lot of people. It really is. Buying a batch of items off eBay for a set price is just a financial transaction, and it doesn't tend to feel like compromising your dignity or groveling. But it might if it had to be a drawn out process in person with someone you don't know, you know? Not that this is how you mean it, but how it feels from the other side -- sometimes and for some people, at least.

You might get lucky and find someone of the right mindset to appreciate it in the spirit intended. You can always try! But if it were me, I'd shy away and just go to Goodwill or buy something used more impersonally. I grew up super poor (like, outhouse and no electricity poor), and sometimes charity is more than you can bear. If you've had to navigate that a lot, sometimes you just can't anymore unless it's a matter of life or limb. It just hurts too much to give more of yourself in gratitude, over and over.

I have a professional job now and consider myself well off, but I remember. I just remember how hard it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Honestly in my pipe dream scenario I’d sell they mamaroo for like 20 bucks. The car seat for 10. The ergo baby for 10. Etc. just if I could sell it all at once.

But, I’m hearing what people are saying, and I appreciate that used stuff just is t that valuable, especially if one doesn’t want to put in the effort to go through things and list them one by one.

You can sell on FB marketplace or your local moms FB page for those prices in my experience. I easily sold things like a baby Bjorne, double city select stroller, etc for cheap and made a little money .

Cheap as in- baby bjorn for 10 dollars, double stroller for 50 dollars etc

[Anonymous]

Are you part of MONA? You could easily sell that stuff on there at those prices and do porch pickups.

[Anonymous]

Just post it on MONA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Donate it and move on. Not worth the hassle to find the perfect buyer. Lean into generosity.

I appreciate the perspective.

But, I also know that so much donated stuff ends up in the trash, and not because it’s not valuable.

I just wish I knew someone who was expecting her first because I could easily equip someone with everything they need in a single afternoon.

I'd donate. Just ask your local food bank. They have lists and ages of families in need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have three kids, the youngest is 15 months and we might be moving soon so I have a ton of baby items to off load. Everything from a car seat, mamaroo, nursing pillows, multiple carriers, clothes from Hanna and Boden, etc etc. I don’t need to get top dollar for it all but it feels collectively too valuable for me to just donate. In my ideal world I’d find an honest seeming woman who go could come over on a nice day and hang out for a while on our driveway / porch while I brought things out one by one and we determined a reasonable low price for what she wants - and most of what she didn’t want I’d just donate.

Is this a pipe dream? Anyone know of how I might find such a lady? Or is there a better way to easily and quickly sell baby gear?

I live in Arlington btw.

OP, I came back to post again. I posted earlier that I didn't think there was anything wrong with you asking, but I didn't think it would likely work out the way you wanted. I still think your heart is in the right place, and your intentions are good, but that it is unlikely. I wanted to expand on it.

Part of the problem is that when you envision a nice day and going over each item one by one, that's a good experience from your side (even if extra work!), but it might not feel so good from the other side. Having to sit there for the day and going over items piece by piece and verbally appreciating them, and the verbal appreciation for your generosity and largesse, might come off a bit "noblesse oblige" and "lady of the manor."

It's hard to accept charity for a lot of people. It really is. Buying a batch of items off eBay for a set price is just a financial transaction, and it doesn't tend to feel like compromising your dignity or groveling. But it might if it had to be a drawn out process in person with someone you don't know, you know? Not that this is how you mean it, but how it feels from the other side -- sometimes and for some people, at least.

You might get lucky and find someone of the right mindset to appreciate it in the spirit intended. You can always try! But if it were me, I'd shy away and just go to Goodwill or buy something used more impersonally. I grew up super poor (like, outhouse and no electricity poor), and sometimes charity is more than you can bear. If you've had to navigate that a lot, sometimes you just can't anymore unless it's a matter of life or limb. It just hurts too much to give more of yourself in gratitude, over and over.

I have a professional job now and consider myself well off, but I remember. I just remember how hard it was.

+1

[Anonymous]

OP, do you have a Once Upon a Child store near you? You get money for items-you bring them in and they choose what they want to buy from you. No carseats though, I think.

You could try Craigslist for the bigger items, maybe.

I don't think your years old-very used baby stuff is worth as much as you think. Maybe try listing the big things and the nicest clothes and just donate the rest. So many people in need right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I would do is pick out the 2-5 things that are worth the most, and post them a few places, like neighborhood listservs and Facebook Marketplace.

When you have someone that's interested, you can say, "Oh, in case you're interested, I also have a bunch of other baby things you might like, listed below. Let me know if any of it appeals to you, I can throw it in and save the hassle of finding another buyer." Then just list it all out, in groups where applicable: Various onesies and footy pajamas, size 0-3, $10. Nursing pillow, $5. Baby K'Tan carrier, $8. You could list out like 10 things. If you offer it all to all, say, three of your buyers, some of them might grab some more, and it saves you the hassle of posting individually. Once the bigger stuff is sold, whatever didn't go with it, gets donated.

I bought a couple of baby things from Facebook Marketplace, and looked for a couple more (couldn't find exactly what I wanted) - would not have responded to an ad for $10 of baby clothes, but if the person I bought the Boppy from had listed out things in the way I suggested, I would have definitely taken most of the clothes (especially in bigger sizes) and possibly other stuff as well.

NP. This is good advice, OP.

[Anonymous]

I’m 15 weeks. I am interested in high end baby gear, but I’ll buy new or snag hand me downs for free. I wouldn’t pay for used items.

[Anonymous]

Do you b know anyone who is pregnant, has a pregnant family member or is going to be grandparents? Giving them to those people saves you time and hassle, feels good, and know it will be used.

No single person in your circle knows anyone having a baby?

[Anonymous]

Op, you’d have better luck in not COVID times. A pregnant woman sitting for an extended period of time with a stranger? Think through that ask from the perspective of someone who doesn’t know you.

That being said, if you really want to do this go the friend-of-a-friend route. Then the people are pre-vetted and you have a higher chance someone will say yes. Maybe even you, your friend, and their friend could sit and chat as you do.

[Anonymous]

It's not weird to want to sell your things. It's really weird to expect someone to come over and sit while you take out things one by one and you barter on price.

[Anonymous]

You know you can just donate it by listing it on Nextdoor and putting it on your porch/end of your driveway/whatever. People will be happy to take what they can actually use...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not weird to want to sell your things. It's really weird to expect someone to come over and sit while you take out things one by one and you barter on price.

I don't know what's in OP's mind, and I want to make that clear.

From the outside, it seems like the way it is set up -- an "honest seeming" woman sitting on the porch for an extended visit with a stranger bringing out higher end used items, of hers, one by one, to discuss together -- includes some really odd vibes.

OP, were you envisioning that she would be telling you how nice the items are, how lucky she is, how generous you are? Were you anticipating something out of this, like a wash of gratitude?

[Anonymous]

Not sure why no one recommended lemon lane consignment. They’re in falls church and only take certain brands, in good condition. Think jacadi, boden, mayoral, tea, Hannah andersson etc. They can donate what they don’t sell so it’s win/win. I’ve made about $300 within 3 drop offs.