Finally Walking The Walk

For years, actual YEARS, I’ve been telling people to consign… without actually ever consigning anything myself.  Well, I’ve finally lost my consigning cherry – which sounds dirtier than it should.

Tip Of The Day:  Consign!  Or, Resell!  Today, we’ll look at not only HOW you consign or resell your stuff, but which stuff sells the best.  I’m talking real insider information from resale stores like Half Price Books.  I almost feel like an investigative reporter…

Read it here first, and then watch it tonight on Fox 9 News at 5 PM.

Tip For Tomorrow:  I’ve noticed a startling and unpleasant trend lately – bad customer service.  Which, given the state of unemployment, is completely unacceptable.  I’ll share the horror stories I’ve heard, and you can share yours.  Plus, to end on a positive note, I’ll also talk about the stores that are getting it right.  Because I’m all about the glass being half full.

Further Elucidation Of My Cheap Deal:  Since I was a wee Chicklette, I’ve sold my unwanted books, CDs, and DVDs at either Half Price Books or Disco Go Round.  However, although I’ve shopped extensively at clothing consignment stores, I’ve never CONSIGNED at a consignment store.  Shame on me, I know.  Therefore, 2 weeks ago I took the plunge and took some unwanted items to Turn Style.

Here’s what I learned about consigning at Turn Style:

1.  Bring your clothes in on hangers, or they will NOT look at them.  Seriously.  Not even a peek.  They won’t keep your hangers – you get them back after the sorting process – but they insist you bring your stuff in on them.  Why?  To prevent wrinkling.  The clothes they accept go directly on the floor, and they don’t have the time or manpower to iron them first.

2.  The Turn Style in Roseville?  They LOVE shoes and purses.  If you’ve got shoes and purses in good condition, bring them to this location, stat.

3.  Turn Style is currently accepting Fall and Winter items.  They won’t go out on the floor until the end of August, but they will store them for you.

4.  You don’t need an appointment at Turn Style on weekdays from 11 am to 7 PM.  On Saturdays and Sundays, though, you will need to schedule an appointment to consign.

5.  You are responsible for the following:

- To wander around the store during the sorting process and check back when they are done.  They won’t tell you when they’ve finished sorting, you’ve got to go back to the sorter and ask.

- To see if your item has sold.  You have to call the store and ask.

- To know when your item, if it hasn’t sold, will be marked down to half off.  They give you a slip when you consign that tells you when the items will be discounted, and when they expire.  If you want your item back, it’s up to you to go to the store and retrieve it before the expiration date.

6.  If you consign at Nu Look in Minneapolis or Elite Repeat in St. Paul, they DO require an appointment.

7.  Regardless of where you consign, make sure your items are clean, stain-free, and have no rips/tears/broken zips/missing buttons.  Gently used is the name of the game.

Now, I resell all the time to Half Price Books, so I know the drill.  You drop off your stuff at the sales counter (NOT the checkout counter), you give them your name, you browse the store while they sort your stuff, they call you back over the loudspeaker when they’re done (NOTE: Turn Style, look into this), they give you a quote, and you can either accept their offer, or take your stuff back and resell it somewhere else.  Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy.

However, what I didn’t know is this – what does Half Price Books want from me (and you, too)?  What are their biggest “gets?”  In short, what sells the best?  So, I asked the store manager at the St. Louis Park store, and he sent me an extremely detailed, thought-out list to share with the masses.  Thank you, Jim!

“1.  Any book (or other media related items) on the current bestseller list.  Brand new books make up the majority of this category, but older books may be reintroduced into the minds of the public because a new movie made from an old book is being released, a book club is reading it (the Oprah Effect is real), or the book just won an award, like a children's book winning the Newberry.  For a number of months now, the Twilight books have been in high demand both with teenagers and young adults.  The new Harry Potter movie will be coming out soon, and that will spur a re-interest in those books which have already peaked.

2.  While many DVD's are common now, two categories sell very well. First, TV series sets are in high demand, especially of older re-released TV shows from eras past:  PBS shows, British shows, and rarer shows from the sixties that maybe weren't top hits, but remain in the public conscious as memories of their youth.  Route 66, The Prisoner, Doctor Who, and many others fit into this category.  Second, Blu-Ray is just starting to take hold, so any Blu-ray disc (in good shape) will be worth something.

3.  And last, to try to give you an idea of something a little more unusual (but harder to define), I would say books about subjects that have a great deal of interest to many people, but there just aren't that many out there.  Memoirs written about a person's life long obsession over their cat or dog, especially ones that really become popular and make it to a movie, become redundant in a very short time.  But just try to find a book (something with more than just a lot of pictures, like a ‘respected history of X’) about roller coasters, amusement parks, watches (about, and repair), clocks, magic, and many other subjects.  Books on making household wood projects are a dime a dozen, but a graduate college level textbook on the technical aspects of all varieties of wood, is rare and, hence, in demand.”

Another place to resell your stuff – and one I have very little knowledge of, as I’m not a parent – is Once Upon A Child.  Since I lack the offspring to sell here, I turned to their user-friendly website for advice.  Here’s what they said:

"1. Clean out your child's playroom, drawers and closet.

2.  Bring in your gently used children's clothing*, accessories, toys and equipment to a store near you.

3.  Sign in with a team member and review the steps and time frame needed to complete your buy.

4.  While you check out the great products at the store, a buyer will review your items based on a variety of criteria including: condition, style, safety standards, and store’s current stock levels.

5.  The buyer will enter the buying criteria details into our computer system to create an offer for those items we would like to purchase.

6.  An offer to purchase your items will be extended to you.

7.  You walk out of the store with $$$, some great new stuff for your kids, or both!

* Clothing purchased in the past 5 years preferred.”

For more information, including a list of what they buy and what brands they prefer, go to www.ouac.com.  Furthermore, according to the St. Louis Park location of Once Upon A Child, they are on the lookout for boys’ summer pants and shorts, bike trailers, and strollers.

What tips and tricks do you have to share about consigning?  Anyone?  Bueller?