Selling

Turn your family's outgrown clothing, toys and gear into cash. Sellers (consignors) receive 55% of the sale price of their sold items, or 65% if they volunteer for a shift at the sale.

Register and tag your items

We have to limit the number of sellers at each sale and spots fill quickly, so don't wait until the last minute to sign up.

How selling works

  1. Register on our registration and tagging site and pay the seller fee by check or PayPal.
  2. We email you the Seller's Kit and a link to start tagging your items.
  3. Print your price tags on plain white cardstock (we also still accept terra green cardstock) and attach them with your own tagging supplies, such as a tagging gun at the seam, plastic ties or safety pins at the seam. Items with paper tags are rejected because the tags tear off easily.
  4. Bring your items on the designated drop-off day and place them in the right sections.
  5. Our staff and volunteers quality-check items throughout the following day, so there's no need to wait.

Preparing for the sale takes time, so start early. We no longer mail tagging kits; your Seller's Kit explains how to attach tags without damaging your items.

What we accept

We only accept new and gently used items, so check everything carefully while preparing your inventory:

  • Clothing and footwear must be clean, with no holes, stains, tears, rips, missing buttons or broken zippers. Some signs of wear are fine, but not excessive wear such as worn-out sneaker treads, heavy pilling or worn-through knees.
  • Toys, games and puzzles must be complete. Check electronic items for corroded batteries and damaged chargers.
  • Everything must be clean, complete and unexpired. Car seats and helmets expire!

Among other things, we do not accept opened or used baby bottle nipples, used pacifiers, perishables, items that promote violence or hate, sexually suggestive materials, items with profanity, mature men's clothing and footwear, recalled toys or baby items, or expired helmets and car seats. Items that aren't in good, usable condition are rejected, so don't spend time tagging them.

Displaying your items

All clothing must be on hangers so shoppers can see it easily. Securely attach items that have multiple pieces or attachments, to prevent loss and theft. We have designated sections and baskets for accessories, and high-end items can be brought to us at drop-off to be displayed in a monitored area.

Finding hangers

  • Only tag clothing you think will sell. Items like camp T-shirts and customized soccer jerseys won't sell here, so don't waste a hanger on them.
  • Start early: you'll have plenty of hangers if you don't leave it to the last minute.
  • Keep the hangers from items you buy at our sale. We send hangers home with our customers, including you.
  • Ask at the stores where you already shop. It's hit-or-miss, so ask each time, even if they said no before.
  • Check Craigslist, garage sales and the dollar store, or raid your own closets.

We may have some hangers available on drop-off day for your use, but you can't take hangers home that day, so bring the tagged items that need hangers with you. We also have a limited number of hangers on pick-up day, from customers and donated items: once you've pre-registered for the next sale, you can fill one bag until they run out.

Pricing your items

For clothing and similar items, we recommend starting at around 25% of the retail price. Toys and large items can be priced nearer 40% to 50% or more. The right price also depends on the item's condition (brand new, like new or gently used), what type of item it is (a jacket or jeans is worth more than a T-shirt or onesie), how desirable it is (brand names, character prints, current styles) and your own preference. If you would pay a particular price for an item, someone else probably will too. Your Seller's Kit includes a chart of actual prices from our previous sales for reference.

Volunteering

We love and rely on volunteers to make every sale happen. Each sale is fast-paced, with thousands of shoppers, so we always need energetic people with friendly attitudes. There are shifts to suit all abilities, and each one lasts just 4 hours. Sign up early, as spots fill quickly.

Seller volunteers earn 65% of their sales and can shop one hour early on the sellers-only sale day. Sellers who sign up for a shift and don't show up receive 45% instead of 55%, because we have to hire staff to cover the shift. Unless you are a nursing mom, children under 13 can't accompany you on your shift.

After the sale

Unsold items that aren't marked with a "D" are sorted and returned to you on the designated pick-up day. If you choose to donate your unsold items, local nonprofits rely heavily on these generous donations. We have worked with agencies including Santa Maria Urban Ministries, Loved Twice, Real Options, City Team, hospital NICU units, local school and church clothing closets, and victims of floods, fires and natural disasters.

Getting paid

Teardown, donation pickups and cleanup take about a week after the sale. We then need a full week to verify volunteer shifts and adjust percentages before we update seller settlement reports. You can ask to receive your settlement by Zelle, or we'll mail you a paper check. Payments begin about three weeks after the sale.

Lost the Reference Section of your Seller's Kit? Just contact us for another copy.