Ebay: buying clothes for kids?

MorrisonCorner · #1 07/04/07, 06:01 AM

Ok oh givers of wisdom... here's the issue:

We took the kids to a concert last weekend (free, with fireworks!) and it was FREEZING. With rain in the end. But cold. The kids were layered up but the little girl mentioned that she had "no clothes."

Yes, someone around here did mention they grow fast.. well... she went and sprouted! But "no clothes?" come on.

The laundry is being done by a friend right now because the washer hasn't been hooked up yet, so there is some lag between dirty and clean, but since she had the clothes right in front of her she sorted them out and...

Ahem...

The kid has no clothes. She has total grubbies and play clothes, but she is right, she genuinely couldn't stitch together a couple of decent "go out in public and look nice" outfits if her little life depended on it. I think she's got one little white knit top which fits properly and isn't threadbare... and her new overalls. Which are cute on the farm, but not right for around public.. around here anyway.

So, isn't this why they invented ebay? Girl stuff in bulk! Now, I checked prices on LL Bean (my "base price place" figuring that it wasn't designer, and it wasn't cheap, it was "good stuff in the middle") and.. do people really pay $38 for a knit dress for a kid?!? But I did not find LL Bean in size 7 and up on ebay.

Help me with brand names. I already know if it says Bratz I don't want it, and Mary Kate and Ashley isn't a plan. She won't wear it if it has a logo splashed across it (how cool is that? and that's her own personal distaste!). I hit the Oshgosh outlet for their 4th sale... not a stitch of clothing in there would fit her, so she's out of Oshgosh (her father is delighted, he thinks it looks too babyish and encourages her to act babyish).

Brand names to look for in used clothing? Stuff that will be "decent" and will have good wear left... AND (we do have to think about these things) "fit in" with the other kids? So not too high end (I mean, I'm not looking for Laura Ashley or something).

thanks oh collective givers of wisdom... this parenting from 0 to 60 in 12 months is a bit much sometimes!

longshadowfarms · #2 07/04/07, 07:05 AM

How about Salvation Army? She might not be willing to go in there but you can! Once my kids learned that they could get 3-6x as much stuff for the same $, even Salvation Army became cool. They have 1/2 price Wednesday here.

JC Penney brand is Arizona which is pretty good. Avoid Walmart's Faded Glory.

Alice In TX/MO · #3 07/04/07, 07:12 AM

I've had success getting clothing for myself at Goodwill.

When the boys were younger, we did garage sales. You learn which neighborhoods to shop in.

I'd hesitate to buy used clothing on ebay.

paintlady · #4 07/04/07, 08:48 AM

EBay is fine for clothes but you have to figure in the shipping charges. Some people charge way too much for shipping. I would try a good thrift store first.

teresab · #5 07/04/07, 08:56 AM

99% of my boys clothes (and mine for that matter) come from Salvation Army. You will be amazed of the "brand names" that you find there and some with the tags still on them! Also check out yard sales...that's where I always got their stuff while they were little. Now they are into sz 7 most boys clothes aren't in very good shape (blown out knees).

I will also go to Old Navy and Kohls and shop their sales. Last year got DS jeans for 11.99 a pair and they lasted him all year and will get passed down to younger son.

Mid Tn Mama · #6 07/04/07, 09:03 AM

I give my kids clothing they have grown out of to a friend with a large family that goes to church with us. Look at someone at church with kid's older than yours who wear nice things. Mention that you'd love the clothes they grow out of. And you will pick up. We don't have good will pick up here and it helps me out if someone will pick up.

Lands end is equivalent to L.L. Bean but less expensive.

longshadowfarms · #7 07/04/07, 09:30 AM

Forgot about Old Navy! My DD is a bit of a tomboy so she even checks out the boy side for pants and shirts. They have some great clearance prices/stuff if you hit it right.

MicheleMomof4 · #8 07/04/07, 11:25 AM

For brand names I am really happy with Old Navy and Children's Place. No logo's, current styles without being immodest (showing belly buttons and such) and their fit is nice.
I find them on eBay, Goodwill and others. But the place I love the most is a national chain of children's second hand store called, Once Upon a Child. There is only one in Vermont and I am not sure if it is close to you, but they sell things rather cheaply (name brand shirts about $4 and jeans $6-$8 and so on. All name brands.).
Here is where it is located....
38 TAFT CORNERS SHOPPING CENTER
WILLISTON, VT 05495

Hope this helps!

God Bless,
Michele

RachAnn in NW Okla · #9 07/04/07, 11:38 AM

Once Upon a Child

http://www.ouac.com/OUAC/myheadline....ID=4339&P=4225

you can use the search feature to see if there is one near you (the one for the OP has been given but this is for the rest of you that may want to know)

my child is 6 and she wears mostly Walmart clothes....we have done Old Navy and JC Penneys but she tends to ruin more expensive clothes faster than cheap ones!!!

Rachel

chamoisee · #10 07/04/07, 11:56 AM

This might not help you, but for what it's worth: I went to the local children's consignment store and told them I wanted certain types of clothing (Thomas the tank engine and Carhartts) and aske dher to let me know if they come in. She happened somehow to mention that she gets a lot of stuff in with small stains or that isn't in top notch condition. She donates all that. Well, with 5 boys, their clothes don't stay in top notch condition even if I buy them that way. I told her that if she ever gets Carhartts, even if they aren't perfect, I'll take them. Well, a few days ago, I went in there, and she had a set of Thomas pajamas and size 6 pair of little boys Carhartts for free if I wanted them!

The pajamas were slightly worn, and the Carhartts had a tiny (1/4") hole, hardly noticeable. I also bought a size 10 pair for $6, still a steal since they'd be $20 or more new and these were in mint condition.

People don't want to buy stuff that isn't perfect. Some of these consignment places just throw the stuff away! It doesn't hurt to ask, and to buy stuff that you need, too (so you don't seem like a mooch that only wants handouts).

MorrisonCorner · #11 07/04/07, 12:34 PM

Wow.. you guys are so awesome. Yes, the Once Upon a Child is quite a ways from us, but we do get to that area around once a month. Consignment shops.. what are those? Just kidding.. we don't have the Salvation Army shops or a consignment shop that has stuff for killer prices. We have a couple that are "fund raisers" for local charities but the stuff tends to be Quite High End and no bargain.

Plus, maybe it is just me, but my neighbor's teen came home from school seriously upset because someone had looked at him with some surprise and remarked "you've worn that jacket all week.. is that the only one you own?!?" Ahem. So these kids do notice and of course the social pecking order is vicious. Having been on the bottom of the tier when I was a kid, I don't want to go to the local (high end) "thrift" shop and risk having the girl arrive at school wearing a recognized cast off. I don't want to find out someone said to her "my mom threw that away when I didn't want it any more and now you're wearing it!"

It takes a very tough adult to stand up to that kind of thing, I wouldn't deliberately put a kid through it. But Once Upon a Child sounds like it has real possibilities.

Thanks !

tiffnzacsmom · #12 07/04/07, 01:57 PM

Check the clothes cupboards at churches too, maybe the next town over if you're worried about kids. My daughter liked Limited Too at that age though you had to pick hard to find appropriate clothing, BUT I bought two large bags of clothes for $50 on clearance once.

Elffriend · #13 07/04/07, 02:01 PM

Land's End and Hanna Andersson hold up very well and I have gotten my daughter some of those cheap from ebay. Hanna's are sized differently. If she's wearing a 7 she would probably need a 120 or 130 Hanna.

Ravenlost · #14 07/04/07, 02:11 PM

Go to www.currentcodes.com and then to their Kohls link. They will give discount codes to use when checking out that can be used on clearance items. Or, if there is a Kohl's near you check out their clearance racks. They have GREAT sales and will be getting rid of warm weather stuff so they can stock school stuff.

Old Navy is another good brand/buy for kids.