NCT Sales - would you buy second hand clothes?

[emmawrigley]

Hi everyone

I am going to be selling some clothes at an NCT sale soon and was just wondering what kinds of clothes sell? (e.g. trousers, skirts etc), what sort of brands are most popular (e.g Boden, Next, Frugi, Zara etc). Also, what would you pay for say a pair of trousers or any other items?

Your thoughts would be much appreciated as I don't want to waste cash trying to sell things that may not sell.

Thanks

Emma

[emmawrigley]

Hi there

it's kids clothes. i was going to steer away from baby grows/vests because I thought that they probably wouldn't fetch much individually. How much would you pay for say a bag with 10 babygrows in?

Also, what makes do you tend to buy, and what is the maximum price you would pay for trousers, skirts etc?

[SuzysZoo]

At my NCT people won't pay more than £2/£3 for anything, even if it's Boden! Mostly sellers who want to sell the stuff sell for £1/£2 but there is loads of stuff for £1 that doesn't sell! I'd pay £1 for a bag of 10 babygrows. You've got to remember that you can buy a top at Asda for £1 that's not a brand, but it is new!

[GrunglyBum]

I made about £80 last year selling clothes at our local NCT sale. They were all Next, Debenhams, John Lewis and they all sold. This year I wasn't selling but bought a few lovely Next dresses for about £2 each. I would pay £4 for a party dress, about £2 max for everyday trousers or dresses, tops I wouldn't pay more than £1.50 for.

I was a helper at the sale too so had to set up and pack away all the clothes and toys. I had to pack away all the clothes that hadnt sold at the end, they were mostly dated clothes that you could tell were older or supermarket brands. I think people want to buy clothes that look like they could have bought them recently from a highstreet shop rather than things that look obviously secondhand if you know what I mean?

The packs of babygrows and vests mostly didn't sell if I'm honest, there were plenty of them and they didn't sell. You can buy them pretty cheaply new in the supermarkets and at Matalan and most would prefer new and cheap rather than secondhand.

Coats sold well, hardly any of them to pack away at the end of the day, likewise baby all in one snow suits, they all sold. Bags with socks in sold well and so did tights.

[piprabbit]

Yes - I buy the decent brands (heavier weight of T-shirts, cotton summer dresses, party dresses, coats etc.) I wouldn't buy used clothes if I could buy the same brands cheaply brand new. Sometimes people will try and sell a George or Tesco T-shirt for £2 or £3 - that is just having a laugh really.

[MrsDeterminedandSpecialMum]

I always buy my DD's some clothes at NCT sale & when preggers some maternity clothes too if anything takes my fancy anyway.

[PurpleGentian]

I've bought clothes for DS at NCT sales - I think the most expensive item I've bought there was a snowsuit for £4. Most stuff is priced between 50p - £3 (although the 50p items tend to be single t-shirts). I wouldn't want to pay more than £2 for trousers unless they were bundled together with a top.

I don't have a particular brand I look out for (although tend to avoid supermarket clothes unless they're especially attractive), but look for clothes that look to be good quality and an attractive design.

[exoticfruits]

As long as they are clean and in good condition and you don't expect too much they all sell.

[MsTitanium]

Don't sell Boden at an NCT sale, put it on eBay instead and you will get 5-10 times as much for it!

[poppy1973]

I agree about putting Boden on ebay. I would to NCT sale to pick up clothes cheaply. I wouldn't pay more than £2.50 for something - if it was a good name, once worn then I would resell on ebay for a lot more money.

I don't sell clothes - good quality at NCT sale anymore but sell on ebay.

[emmawrigley]

Hi all

Thanks for your answers, they have been really helpful.

I think maybe ebay is the way to go if I want to fetch more money then? Sounds like I would be struggling to break even by selling my stuff at an NCT sale considering the stall costs quite a bit to rent.

Is the general consensus that more money can be made selling kids clothes on ebay? What's it like to sell on ebay? is it much of a hassle to list them, pack them up etc? I am very new to all of this but I have some quite expensive items such as Boden that I wouldn't be happy selling for £2.50 per item at an NCT sale.

Does anyone have any concerns about buying over ebay? Again, it costs a listing fee I believe so I want to make sure that I might achieve a bit more than £2.50 per item for my clothes.

Your help is much appreciated.

Emma

[IceNoSlice]

Hi, check out the eBay section for all the eBay experts on here.

I buy and sell from eBay. Selling: make sure you get postage costs right or you'll be out of pocket (not too much of a problem for clothes though). Photos are a bit if an arse to take but are important. Also descriptions are really important to attract buyers using specific search terms etc. Also check out similar items for sale before listing yours to see what they go for.

[oohlaalaa]

I've bought all my maternity clothes and baby clothes at nct sales. I don't bother with eBay as p & p makes it too pricey.

[Jackjack]

I buy so long as they are clean and in good condition. I tend to look for better quality stuff I can't otherwise afford eg Boden, John Lewis. If I'm selling I always wash and iron it. As a mother of boys I find less boys stuff than girls from my experience, probably as boys tend to trash stuff as they get older!!

[Mandy21]

I have sold both at NCT sales and on Ebay. NCT sales might differ depending on area, but in my area, there is one sale in a village hall - you don't have to pay to rent a stall etc, you simply drop your things off and then collect at the end of the sale. NCT take 25% of anything you sell and you get a cheque a few days later. Advantages are that its quick, less effort than selling on Ebay (don't need to list items / take photos etc) but you will generally make less for the premium brands (Boden, Joules etc). But, some items sell better (as others have said - coats / snowsuits / babygrows if they're in good condition and sold in sets).

Ebay - I've found that even good quality / once worn / even brand new with the labels still in tact can be a bit hit and miss. Boden / John Lewis etc tend to sell well if they're in pristine condition and you list to end on a Sunday night. But even lovely T shirts / dresses etc from Next / Debenhams don't tend to go for more than £1 or £2. By the time you've paid the fee to Ebay, and Paypal has taken a cut, you've packaged everything up and trapsed down to the Post Office, its alot of effort for not alot of reward.

Its frustrating because I have some lovely clothes that have never been worn, I know they've cost quite alot but because there are so many parents trying to sell the sale things, they don't tend to go for very much.

[amarylisnightandday]

I go to nct for nursery clothes. I will buy sturdy jeans/jumpers/long sleeves tops and random party type clothes (as they are. Usually good condition).
I won't buy any supermarket clothes but happily scoop up next/marks/John Lewis/assorted brands.

I also go there for toys and books and have spent a fortune before!

[amarylisnightandday]

I have no concerns about eBay bit I always look at the sellers rating for any ropey feedback. I've spent quite a bit lately on 2nd hand Boden - that sells v well btw.

What about sharing a stall with a friend? Cuts the cost. If not ate there any other local baby sales? My old sure start used to do £5 a table and I'm sharing a stall with a friend soon at some random baby table top sale thing in a church hall.

[Sabriel]

I made over £70 at an NCT sale recently (and that was after they'd taken their 30% cut).

I was quite surprised that even supermarket stuff sold well, eg a pair of George pink jeans age 2-3 years for £1.50, 7 x newborn size (Tesco) bodysuit vests for £2, 3 x sleepsuits for £1.50. Sold a Boden pinafore dress for £5 but most of the stuff that went was about £1 - 3.