British? Don’t want to waste perfectly good baby clothes? Or looking for something for a newborn that won’t cost a mint? Check out where to buy & sell used baby items here!
By Lora O’Brien
As a first time parent, I amassed a lot of baby stuff. In the early days, I went mad, convinced my baby needed all of these flashing musical monstrosities to be entertained.
Then came the wooden toys. They were eco-friendly and an investment, but I soon found myself hoarding them in a spare wardrobe, and it felt like they were multiplying. We had dolls, prams, climbing frames. My house felt overwhelming, the clutter mounting.
And don’t get me started on the clothes. Children seem to grow each minute you take your eyes off of them, and I had bags of clothes of every single age hoarded in my loft. Little did I know I was sitting on a small gold mine!
Once I’d sifted through everything and sorted it into what I wanted to keep and rehome, I had to find a place to sell it. I used most of the sites below, and here are my best tips for making the most money!
Know what will and won’t sell
Deciding what you’re going to sell is the first step. Once decided, you need to make sure the items are in good condition.
For example, know this:
- stained baby clothing isn’t going to be sought after
- clothing that has been gently worn (without stains) will sell
- shoes sell well
It’s always good to keep your expectations realistic. I sold my daughter’s Hunter wellies that she’d outgrown. They were gently worn but still had a lot of life in them, but I knew I wouldn’t get anywhere near the £50 I paid for them.
Choose the right platform
It’s crucial to know your market. Pretty much all baby items sell. I’ve sold everything from baby toys and clothing to eating utensils and baby gear. But the amount you get will depend on the brand you’re selling and the condition. Vinted is the best for selling clothing because you get 100% of the amount you sell it for. So even if you sold an item for £1, it soon adds up, and you don’t have to dread fees being deducted from the final amount.
When it came to selling wooden toys, Facebook Marketplace linked me to like-minded parents who wanted to invest in the same toys. They appreciate the high price that can come with some brands, and you’re likely to get close to what you purchased them for by selling this way. The same for Yoto audio cards. I joined a Facebook group for buying and selling Yoto cards and sold our old, unused cards in minutes!
When it came to selling bigger items such as my pram, eBay and Gumtree were the platforms that worked the best but you have to be aware of time wasters, as the buyer has to come to pick it up.
Market wisely
If you’re selling, try to make stuff look as pretty as possible.
I’m no skilled photographer, but I always make sure that my photos are taken on a bright background. I usually hang clothes against a white wardrobe so that they look crisp and clear.
For toys, I take photos against a plain carpet so they’re not lost in busy patterns. I also make sure to take photos of the items from different sides so that the buyer can see the exact condition of the item.
If there is a defect at all, be sure to list it so that the buyer is aware beforehand.
Always leave room for negotiation
As both a buyer and a seller online, I understand we all want a bargain! So I usually place everything I’m selling for £3-5 more than the price I’m hoping for so that when people make me an offer, it’s for the amount I’m happy to sell for.
It’s unlikely you will ever make the exact amount you paid for an item though (unless it’s highly sought after). So be realistic when setting a price.
It’s better to make money than to have stuff sitting around, unused, right?
How To Buy & Sell Used Baby Stuff In Britain
1. Vinted
Vinted is my favourite way to sell things because it’s SO easy. You simply take photos, upload and sell, it’s that easy. If you’re currently sitting on a pile of old baby clothes and toys, Vinted may well be your way to get rid of them while making some money.
Vinted is an online marketplace which allows people to exchange goods. It was created in 2008 by two Lithuanian friends, one of which wanted to clear some space in her closet. Vinted has since grown and today has over 105 million users, 16 million of which are users in the UK.
How it works: To start you need to download the app and make an account. Then you simply snap photos, describe what you’re selling, set your price, upload and then your listing is live. Once sold, you package it and post it and once received your funds are released into your account the same day.
Seller fees: There are zero seller fees to pay. Sellers get 100% of the cost, unlike other platforms which take a selling fee. The buyer also pays for postage and a protection fee, so the seller pays nothing. You can, however, boost your item if it’s not selling to give it a better chance at selling.
One of the best places to buy & sell used baby items for: Selling children’s clothing, soft cuddly toys, toys, furniture – you name it!
2. eBay
The eBay platform has been live in the UK since 1999, and it was one of the best places to sell used goods. Though there are other platforms available today, eBay is still a faithful way to get rid of unwanted items, and an excellent way for buyers to shop secondhand easily online.
The platform is easy to navigate and you can upload items before deciding whether to offer a ‘buy it now’ price or to set an auction where potential buyers can bid for the item listed.
How it works: To start, you’ll need an account. Once live, simply take photos, add details and upload. You’ll need to set postage costs before listing the items, which the buyer pays, and you’re then responsible for buying postage once sold.
Seller fees: eBay takes around a 13% fee for each item sold, which is deducted before your funds are released to you. You can also boost items so they feature higher up on the search page, which is an additional 2%.
One of the best places to buy & sell used baby items for: Selling pretty much anything baby related. Great for bigger items such as prams and bigger toys. Clothing sells well, but unless brand new with tags or from highly sought after brands, you won’t make heaps selling them. I scored a Charlie Crane rocker way below retail on eBay!
3. The Octopus Club
Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or donate items, The Octopus Club is the perfect place to shop. It allows parents to shop everything child related, from maternity through to baby and toddler at a discounted price. It’s a great platform for parents to shop secondhand for all essentials.
How it works: The platform works much like most selling platforms. You sign up, upload your items and then list them for sale. Buyers will message you if they like the look of something before buying. You then arrange delivery, waiting for it to reach the buyer before your funds are released, which can take up to 10 days.
An added bonus is that every time you buy, you’re given 30 days of access to Octoplus, where you’ll find lots of discounts on brands that the whole family can enjoy. Each new purchase refreshes the Octoplus membership for free!
Seller fees: 10% of each sale is automatically deducted and goes back into the site to keep it running, and developing new features. 2.9% + 30p of each say also covers payment processing fees.
One of the best places to buy & sell used baby items for: Everything baby and todder related from clothing, books and toys to the bigger items such as baby carriers and prams!
4. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook may be known for keeping in contact with family and friends, but the social media platform is a great place to sell your old baby bits, and to also snag yourself a great deal, too!
How it works: Facebook allows you to upload and sell to the marketplace area of the site. Buyers can then message you if they’re interested in the item. You then arrange whether you’re sending the item to them, or are arranging a place to meet to exchange items for money. Alternatively, you can join niche Facebook groups to sell items. Whether you’re looking for wooden toys, Yoto audio cards or Jellycat toys, there’s lots of groups to buy and sell in.
Seller fees: Selling to Facebook Marketplace doesn’t cost anything, but if you sell through PayPal, you’ll want to select the Goods and Services option to protect your sale, which deducts just under 3% of the sale.
One of the best places to buy & sell used baby items for: Buying bigger items for cheap. Many people sell furniture or garden toys cheap, sometimes even for free. You just have to drive to pick them up. It’s a great way to buy and upcyle!
5. Loved Before
If your little one has a soft spot for cuddly toys, you’ll understand that some brands such as Steiff and Jellycat are pretty pricey! Loved Before is a great platform to buy pre-loved soft toys with history. It’s a sustainable way to shop, buying what already exists over brand new, and allows you to ‘adopt’ a toy, giving it a loving new home.
How it works: People who have soft toys that are no longer loved or played with can donate to Loved Before. They’re then cleaned and given a photoshoot before they’re uploaded for sale. Stories are sent in with the teddies so that the new owner can know all about the old life of their toy, and where it came from.
Seller fees: No fee to donate, you only have to pay postage to send your item in. You’re also not paid for the toys sent in, but it’s a great way to give toys to a loving new home.
One of the best places to buy & sell used baby items for: It’s a great way for buyers to grab a good deal, and to support secondhand shopping.
6. Preloved.co.uk
Preloved is essentially thrifting online! The site is full of secondhand items and people can sign up to either buy or sell on the site, or both! Rather than bidding on auction style platforms, Preloved allows you to shop for what you need easily. There is also a ‘Freeloved’ section where people are giving away things for free, too!
How it works: You have to make a Preloved account to start which is free. You can then buy and sell but with limited access to the features. To make the most out of the site, you can subscribe monthly. Depending on how much you have to sell and how regularly, you can either pay £6 per month or £15 depending which features you need.
Seller fees: Preloved has zero listing fees and no selling fees making it affordable for everyone.
One of the best places to buy & sell used baby items for: Talking directly to seller or buyers. No middle man, and no middle costs.
7. Shpock
Shpock, short for Shop in your Pocket, is described as an alternative to eBay. It’s a mobile app that is available on iOS and Android, and you essentially list items, sell them and make some extra money!
How it works: Whether you’re buying or selling on Shpock, you’ll need to sign up for an account. Once done, if you’re looking to buy, you can add your location to see deals in your local area, and is not shared with the seller. The app is aimed at shopping local, so usually a meeting place is agreed to trade goods for payment, but you can also arrange shipping with payment taken via PayPal.
Seller fees: Shpock itself is free to use, but selling fees will be deducted. If you use PayPal, both Sphock and PayPal will take a fee. The least amount Sphock takes is 50p per £10 sale up to £10 per £1,000 sale. PayPal then takes 3.4% + 20p.
One of the best places to buy & sell used baby items for: Finding local treasure!
8. Depop
Depop is an online marketplace where you can upload and sell clothes. It’s super popular with the Gen-Z generation, and a great way to thrift trendier, sought after brands. It’s not the best place to shop for kid’s items, but you can grab a bargain on there. Oftentimes, parents who invest in named brand clothing tend to resell on there.
How it works: Download the app and create an account. You then upload photos with a description before setting the price and postage. Once purchased, you’re responsible for packaging the item off. Funds can be released into your depop wallet to use on site, to your bank or to PayPal.
Seller fees: Depop deducts a 10% fee from the final sale.
One of the best places to buy & sell used baby items for: Getting named brands for cheaper which is great for things like kid’s shoes!
9. Gumtree
Gumtree is an online site where you can post classified adverts to sell items. It’s an easy site to use, and you can find great stuff but you have to be able to travel to collect.
Gumtree.com, known as Gumtree, is a British-based online classified advertisement and community website based at Hotham House, Richmond, London. Classified ads are either free or paid for depending on the product category and the geographical market.
How it works: Sign up and then compile your listing. Add photos and information, and then you add either your e-mail or phone number. Potential buyers will then contact you to negotiate a price, or to arrange a meeting place. Generally, Gumtree is better suited to bigger items such as prams, baby rockers, bassinets etc.
Seller fees: There’s no fee for uploading, and no fee for selling as it typically happens away from the site either with cash, bank or PayPal payments being the most common ways to receive payment. But you can promote your listing as urgent for 7 days for £11.99 if you need to make a quick sale.
One of the best places to buy & sell used baby items for: Reselling or buying bigger baby items such a prams.
10. KidX
If you’re a parent, you’ll likely know how quickly children outgrow everything from clothing to bigger items such as prams. S
o, instead of hoarding items, why not turn your no longer used items into cash? KidX allows you to send them your items to then sell secondhand, giving items the chance to be loved all over again. Plus, it helps the planet, too!
How it works: Start the process by photographing your items and uploading the photos with information. They will send you a free quote. If accepted, you post your items. Once received, they will inspected for quality by the KidX team. Within 2 days you will receive your payment.
Seller fees: There are no listing fees – you keep 100% of the money.
One of the best places to buy & sell used baby items for: Giving a second life to quality, pre-loved pushchairs, clothes, shoes, maternity wear, toys, nursery furniture & technology, feeding, changing & bathing items. Basically, all your parenting needs!
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