Buzz
As children quickly outgrow their clothes, parents often find themselves constantly shopping for new attire and managing piles of outgrown items. For those seeking affordable options or hoping to earn extra income by decluttering, there are numerous excellent online solutions available.
Hanna-Me-Downs
Hanna Anderson is renowned for its premium-quality clothing, though it comes with a hefty price tag. Recently, the brand launched a resale initiative named Hanna-Me-Downs, allowing customers to sell their children's outgrown clothing for cash or store credit. Sellers can list items at their preferred price or let the platform determine it. Upon sale, sellers receive a prepaid shipping label and are required to dispatch the items within three business days.
Pro: Customers enjoy discounts of almost 50 percent off the original retail prices.
Con: The selection is restricted exclusively to Hanna Anderson merchandise.
Kidizen/Tea Rewear
This widely-used app and website focuses solely on maternity and children's apparel. Parents can create their own virtual shop to upload photos and list items for sale. Similar to Hanna-Me-Downs, sellers receive a shipping label once an item is purchased, with Kidizen retaining 12 percent of the sale plus an additional $0.50. The platform has cultivated such a dedicated user base that Tea Collection has collaborated with it, providing parents a dedicated space to resell their clothing.
Pro: For those pressed for time, you can enlist the help of a local "Style Scout" to manage your sales.
Con: The Style Scout will claim half of your earnings.
Out&Back
Children’s outdoor and winter clothing often gets limited use, as they outgrow their jackets and hoodies by the time the cold season returns. Out&Back understands this and offers a resale process akin to trading in a smartphone: answer a few questions about your items on their site, then ship them using a prepaid label or drop them off at designated locations. After verifying the condition of your items, payment is sent via Venmo, PayPal, or as a gift card.
Pro: The trade-in process is quick, particularly if you can drop off items locally.
Con: Drop-off locations are currently available in only seven states.
The Swoondle Society
The Swoondle Society operates on a paid membership model. Members receive a prepaid, reusable bag to fill with clothing they wish to sell. Items are credited based on a point system that considers brand, condition, size, and demand, categorized into Levels 1 through 5. These credits can then be used to purchase clothing of a similar level. For instance, Level 2 items can be exchanged for other Level 2 clothing.
Pro: You can upgrade your trade for a small additional fee.
Con: Membership costs $20, which includes five trades and one monthly shipment. Extra trades and shipments incur additional charges.
Toycycle
Toycycle allows users to buy and sell clothing, as well as offload unwanted toys and gear. Sellers benefit from not needing to take photos, though this might be a drawback for buyers concerned about item conditions. For those in the San Francisco area, curbside pickup is an available option.
Pro: Toycycle offers refunds if you're dissatisfied with your purchase.
Con: While the first bag of items you sell is free, additional bags and boxes incur fees. Additionally, a variable payout scale may reduce your overall profits.
Poshmark
While searching for a pre-owned Louis Vuitton bag for yourself, you can also explore this popular resale platform to find new outfits for your children. If you're decluttering, you can list outgrown kids' clothing for free and set your own prices. The site retains 20 percent of the selling price or charges a flat fee of $2.95 for sales under $15.
Pro: If you're already a fan of secondhand shopping, you'll find the platform easy to navigate.
Con: Brand recognition is crucial on Poshmark, so selling lower-end clothing lines may not yield significant returns.
ThredUp
Unlike Poshmark, which operates as a marketplace, ThredUp functions as a consignment store. It is very selective about the clothing it accepts, stating that items showing excessive wear won’t be listed. Sellers report that ThredUp typically accepts about half of the items submitted, with the rest either recycled or returned for a small fee.
Pro: ThredUp handles everything, from photographing items to shipping them to buyers.
Con: Your earnings depend on how much your items sell for, and a $14.99 fee is deducted when items from your Clean Out Kit are sold.
Swap.com
Many users of Swap.com have shared experiences similar to those on ThredUp: both platforms operate as consignment shops with strict acceptance criteria. However, Swap.com also allows you to sell children’s toys and games alongside clothing.
Pro: Their SureSell guarantee ensures you earn some money even if your item doesn’t sell.
Con: Many users report lengthy processing times for items.
Vinted
Vinted stands out from other platforms by being more seller-friendly. Listing items is free, and sellers receive the full selling price upon sale. However, sellers must handle most of the work. To boost visibility, sellers can use an "Item Bump" feature, which places items at the top of users' feeds for three to seven days.
Pro: Sellers can list items without any fees.
Con: Buyers are charged a Buyer Protection Fee, which includes a fixed $0.70 plus five percent of the item’s price.
