Should I brave my local NCT nearly new sale!?

[pinkgrasshopper]

The NCT are holding a nearly new sale this Saturday morning. The email implies it's going to be pretty crowded (they serve refreshments in the queue apparently!). Are these sales worth the effort? Do they get as raucous as it sounds they might (I have visions of women snatching babygros from one another's hands aka designer seconds sales!)? If it is worth going along do I need to get there really, really early!? (I draw the line at camping overnight !

Thanks!

When my lovely friend and I were pg we went to an NCT nearly new sale.

Oh. My. God.

It was terrifying. We did a circuit of the hall in a daze then walked straight back out again.

She's been back to one since she had her DD and said it was ok. I still haven't mustered the courage - brings me out in a cold sweat just thinking about it

Volunteer to help, you should get a preview screening before everyone gets lets in which basically means you get a chance to buy all the good stuff before the scrum starts. Also have a list of what you actually want.

Thanks Bicnod- I had a feeling that may be the case. I think I will stay tucked up in bed on Saturday morning instead!

I did one last week and found it hard going, all those massive pushchairs blocking the way! I grabbed a few re-usable nappies, paid (WHich took ages) and left. Ebay suits me better!

Good advice Libra, thanks- have been looking into volunteering for the NCT generally so maybe next time!

If you do go, get there early. And take an iPod!!!

I organise the Nearly New Sales for our branch but they are only small and even so it can be a bit of a bun fight! But some of the things people sell are amazing - you can get some fantastic bargains.

With us if you volunteer to help you get first dibs, plus if you are a member you get in 15 mins early. I know some of the bigger sales can get very busy so sharpen your elbows!! Good luck!

Like a top athlete, you need to get yourself into 'the zone' before you enter an NCT sale!!

Ignore the crowds, the noise, the jostling, and focus on identifying and homing in on the bargains. You really can save a fortune! The best times to go are first thing (only if you're a member as they let you in early) or the last half hour when you can haggle a bit better. Avoid the first hour after the general public have been let in, if possible.

Oh, and don't take a buggy!

I tend to go late to ours if I am not looking for anything special. You still quite often pick up a bargain, but if you go in the last half hour you avoid the queues and the crush!

I went once and licked up so many bargains, it was worth the queue and crowds!!

Don't bother to sell stuff though. I did that too and was only told after I had bought the sellers pack that they take 40% or what you make and if you charge too much, people just won't buy it. I let a lot of immaculate things go for pennies to get it out of the way, as do many people who sell there which is why its great for people who are buying.

They are utterly overwhelming. BUT they are a great way to pick up amazing bargains - I've had some fabulous stuff from NNSs over the years. Cheaper than ebay - plus you get to see the stuff before you buy.

I would go, but look upon it as a test run - you'll get the hang of how they work, where stuff is (most sales keep things in the same place year after year), and the sorts of things you can by. Even if you don't buy much, you'll be ready for it next time (most places to 2 sales a year)

And, depending on how the sale is set up, you may find that the small baby stuff is separated out, and less hectic. And IMO, the best bargains are in the small baby stuff - people don't always get into NNS until their LOs are a bit bigger, and everyone always has loads of baby stuff to pass on.

Good luck....!!

Can anyone tell me how it all works as a seller? I'm thinking of organising something similar as a fundraiser for our pre-school as so many people I know have baby stuff they want to get rid of. TIA

The one I went to recently wasn't too bad first thing. I had to leave when the whole hall filled up with the smell of VERY dirty nappies though. Got some good bargins.

Sweetness - The NCT website has details, I think you can download a pack when you search for your local sale.

If you are nct member you get in first - I would go about 30 mins early to get in queue. Just don't panic buy because of the crowds - better to go and buy niothign than buy what you don't want.

The way our sale works is like this:

People register to sell, we issue the sellers number and they label up and price their own goods. We send out a sellers pack but don't charge for it as we don't send out the labels, people make their own. It basically explains how the sale works, what can and can't be sold and how to label goods. At the tills we keep the labels so we can work out the sellers total, we deduct 30% commission and the seller gets the rest. The advantage for sellers is that they can get rid of a lot of things in one go and we do issue some hefty cheques. Sellers soon appreciate that if they don't want to have to take a lot of unsold stuff home its best to price cheaply. They do work really well for both buyers and sellers and the NCT - win win really.

HTH sweetness. An easier sale to organise though is a table top sale, where you sell a table and the seller sells their own stuff - that is less labour intensive for the organiser.

Thanks Strangeways - really interesting. When do they deliver the stuff to the venue?

On the day, as our insurance won't cover items left at the venue the night before. People tend to turn up from 8.30am and the sale starts at 10am. We are lucky that our venue allows us to set up the tables and rails the night before so its all in place. Otherwise it would be a rush on the morning of the sale!

Definately don't take a pushchair - or even a baby! I always go by myself - you're much quicker that way

I've been to a few now - Not an NCT member. Not being an early riser I turn up about halfway though and have always picked up some lovely clothes & bits at bargain prices. They are good sales. Towards the end sellers are practically giving stuff a way at the bigger sales.

Thanks everyone! Am expecting DC1 so given no pushchair I may go and check it out. Also a member so will take advantage of that. Imagine given I'm a member of one of the London branches it will be pretty full on!

How pregnant are you? If you don't like people jostling your bump, and have a good idea of what you are looking for, maybe send DP or a friend in for you? (not as much fun, though!) I'd make a list of what you are most looking out for, and stick to it. Anything else will be a bonus!

Being a member and getting in ahead of the main scrum is definitely a good thing. If it's this weekend you might have to print off a letter saying your card is in the post though (it might take ages). And that's assuming you want to be a member, though it has other benefits. Definitely get there an hour beforehand. Probably too late to volunteer this time and get real first dibs, though!

Is it the Clapham one you are going to by any chance? If so they arrange it so that all the larger equipment is in one room. This is the stuff that goes quickly - if you are just after clothes and toys then there should be something that takes your fancy after the initial rush. I also recommend the Herne Hill one where all the clothes are grouped by age not by seller.

It is Clapham yes! I'm only 18 weeks so very early days. Was thinking of going along to do a recce more than anything else!

Go on - you'll love having a chance to get all mummified! Do check out the Herne Hill one when it's on - i preferred it slightly tbh.

You might get some maternity stuff. Our branch (midlands) has a policy where pregnant women have priority at the tills to avoid standing.

However this is difficult in practice as no one wants to ask a woman if she is pg when she might just be a little bit on the large size. So perhaps ask at the door if your branch do this?