nearly new sales

[anne74]

I went to an NCT nearly new sale today and was totally overwhelmed. I'm someone who normally stays well away from shops like TK Maxx or busy sales where you can't actually see what's on sale as it's just total chaos.

I can imagine that there are some great things to get from these sales and wondered what people thought would be the best things to get at these sales.

I'm due in Jan so it was helpful to go today and see what they're all about but plan to go to the next one in November and get a few goodies then.

So, what should I be looking out for at these sales if I can actually get past all the people and get to the tables?

Totally unhelpful, but it depends what you need and what they have.

If you want to look for any big equipment (cots, travel systems, etc) then it pays to get there early as any bargains will go fast. You should also have a clear idea of how much you're prepared to pay as prices can vary wildly (often depending on how desperate the seller is to shift it). Grow bags can be quite good value. Clothes can be of variable quality and variable value - I tend to go for stuff on hangers as its easier to see what's what, but bundles of vests go pretty cheap. Bumbo's often crop up and can be very useful.

At our's, people start queueing a good hour before doors officially open - and NCT members get in 10 or 15 mins early.

Something else to consider is volunteering to help - round here I think its a minimum of 2 hours, but for a few hours of helping to get the sale set up and ready (or packed up, or helping on a till) you get first pick of everything there before the doors even open to the general public so its all much more civilised.

ditto what tangle says!

defn get there early. make a list of what you want & how much it would cost to buy new (so you can see how much of a "bargain" it is)

Also take someone with big arms who can carry it all for you!

It's easier when you go for a second time as you will know the drill.

At our sale non-members start queueing at least an hour before it opens.

Volunteers get to purchase in the pre-sale and members get a 15 min head start. Probably worth getting membership as it will save you a fortune. It's only about £30 a year and you should get your moneys worth in one sale easily.

I always buy clothes and books.

My sister is a member an bought loads of gorgeous things for her nw baby in the last sale she went to. Definitely worth the membership.

Sh bought a stunning crib for £30, loads of clothes that looked unworn, a swing for £10 and numerous grobags, bedding and a medula(?) electric breastpump and backpack with bottles for (iirc) £15.

Just to give you an idea I'm trying to think what I've paid / sold stuff for.

Sold (I try and sell it cheap as e-bay is much more hassle).
18 month old Mothercare cot for £15 (bought for £60).

Phil & teds cocoon for £7 (cost about £30 new IIRC)

ELC sit up cosy for £4 (about £25 new)

Bought:
Gap sweaters usually about £3 each. I have some that won't for DS for another 2 years but they are good quality and a nice 'uniform' for him.

Reasonable condition Clarks shoes for garden play, about £2 - £3 each.

I tend to buy as much as I can carry . The dc's get lots of second hand nct stuff for xmas / birthdays as they are too little to be fussy.

Thanks for all your advice. Am hoping to have a baby shower early November which would be before the next NCT sale so thought I would see what, if anything, I get given and then try and stock up at the sale. I think I will get the membership so I can get in a bit early though as otherwise I'm likely to walk in and walk straight out again!

Good luck, and happy shopping :)

(do check that your NCT branch let members in early, though - not all do)

I went to one today. I ignored the clothes completely as I have managed to get a few bundles for newborn and 0-3 months on ebay and they were a lot cheaper.

I was looking for re-usable nappies and blankets, which I got. I also had a look at the toys.

I found it really hard going though, too many people with big pushchairs and loads of kids.

Oh and I only spent £5.50!

Hey all. There's a really big one coming up in my mum's area and she wants to go along for me. I was hoping to send her on a re-usable nappies mission. Are there usually good pickings to be had with these? It's really all I would ask her to go for, so if they don't normally feature very much then I'll tell her not to bother.

Ta.

I would say join your group and volunteer to help on the day - that way you will probably get first choice before the hordes arrive and also get to meet some good women too!
Ours was recently and I bought maternity stuff (Topshop jeans,2 pounds, brilliant!), nappies, some babygros as well as books and clothes for DD1.
Islandbaby - there were loads of nappies to choose from at ours, but obviously its a bit hit and miss.

When I was pregnant with DD1 I bought pretty much everything at NCT sales, the cot, nappies, baby chair thing, mobiles, toys, loads.

Your post has made me realise that at our sale we maybe need some helpers to look out for newbies and help them find what they need!

I like your idea larryadler of looking out for the newbies. It really was quite scary. As soon as I walked in the door it was just a sea of people and it probably would have been really helpful for someone just to have given me the lay of the land. At least next time I'll know what I'm letting myself in for.

Were you in the South West/Midlands by any chance? I know my local NCT clothing sale was yesterday, and I think the next one is Nov. I was going to go (actually I usually volunteer at these things, means you get to shop before everyone else gets in) but am too heavily pg and grumpy to even leave the house atm

On my first one my friend recommended chucking everything you even vaguely like in your bag then finding somewhere to sit and sort through what you want.

Avoid taking children/buggies

I've had some lovely bargains (brand new CarriMe sling, sells at £50+, for £19, nice toys for DS, rocking horse, some good clothes etc) though there is a lot of crap too, as anyone who's helped at these things and then had to sort out the unsold items can testify!

Make a list of what you really want, what you'd like and what you already have and do NOT need. Decide what you're going for first. Some sales have really helpful maps showing customers where the different zones are - cots, stairgates and buggies, for instance, tend to be together, but if in doubt, ask an NCT bod on the surge in. Clothes will be on hangers (easier to look at) and there isn't often much on the tables that's worth it. For some reason, I can't find decent little boy clothes past the age of about 6 months. I have been known to take DS's inside leg measurement on a piece of string to measure trousers!

Buggies are generally not allowed, am at Duellingfanjo's experience. Leave kids at home or in the coffee area with DP! IME, they are not the free-for-all bunfights that put people off, but do get there an hour early to be one of the first in. Have a plan and stick to it.

Better still, do as Tangle says, volunteer and get first dibs! Don't have to be a member for this. This year I think I'll be on the tills, not in cafe, as will be too pregnant to stand up serving cakes, but try and keep me away!

Oh, and many branches won't accept used cloth nappies for sale, so might be worth checking first.