Conference moira::parenting

    There's one in Bridgewood Plaza on Bridge Street Dracut. I think it's
    called "The Clothes Tree". This Plaza has several consignment stores.
    
    There's "Encore" on Alpine Lane, Chelmsford.
    
    Manisha

    
    Consign *Mint*, on Rt. 20 in Northboro, and at the Twin City Plaza in 
    Fitchburg may be a possibility.  Run by an X-Deccie.
    
    I've been in the one in Fitchburg a couple of times, they have some
    childrens clothes, they didn't have alot for younger children, but 
    quite a bit of the 4+ sizes. 
    
    Good luck,
    
    Laurie

    Hi Diane,
    
    I also go by Kids Solution on Rt. 62 (btwn Maynard/acton/Concord) - not
    sure which town it falls in!  It is just before the plaza with papa
    ginos, Purity Supreme (driving towards Concord).
    
    Once or Twice in Northboro on Rt. 20, (west side of center) has 
    great prices, but does not specialize in kids (though she's getting
    more!).  Her sister has a consignment store in Clinton too (called 
    something like "my Sister's Once or Twice").
    
    rachel

There's "Children's Changeables" in Tyngsboro MA.
It's in Flint's Plaza, just off exit 34 on Route 3.
Has clothes for children of all ages, from infant on, 
and some used toys and furniture.

Lucy

    There is Kim's Kiddie Closet in Holden, and Childrens Orchard in
    Westboro.  
    
    Cheryl

    Klassy Kids in Westford, opposite the Market Basket Plaza offers new
    and used clothes for children; along with equipment (i.e., playpens,
    etc.)
    
    cj

    there is a consignment shop in Hudson, MA on rt 85, just before the 
    mcdonalds

    
    There's a cute little childrens consignment shop in the 
    center of Lancaster, MA right on Rte. 70, next to the 
    post office.
    
    And there's also one in Clinton, MA located on Church Street
    up by the park.
                

    Since this topic is about consignment shops...Does anyone know of
    any in the Nashua area.  I work at ZK3.  I'm looking for maternity
    clothes more than children's.
    
    Thank you,
    
     Cheryl
    

	There's a Children's consignment shop in Billerica Center, in the
	Walgreen's plaza (there use to be a Purity in this plaza too).
	I think the name of it is the Children's Orchard.  I stopped in there
	once just to look around and they seemed like they had a big selection
	of clothes and toys and other baby equipment.

	Karen T.

    Can't help with maternity consignment, but if you're a size 6-8,
    send mail, I may be able to help....
    
    On Lowell Street in Peabody (about 1-1/2 miles off Rt. 128) there
    is a store called The Lollipop Tree -- used to be a Children's Orchard.
    
    Now can anyone give me an idea of what they look for when doing
    consignment shopping?  When did you *stop* doing it for your kids?
    Having grown up with three older sisters, "hand-me-down" was my
    middle name, and I always hated it when kids (and sometimes the nuns)
    would say things like, "Didn't your sister wear that dress last year?
    Isn't that a family heirloom or something?".  So I want to be thrifty,
    but I also want to spare the kids that embarrassment.

    
    Clothespins on Route 12 in West Boylston in the Meadowbrook Plaza
    (?? - the one with the IGA - across from Steve's Pizza).
    Children's clothes from newborn-teens, maternity, and some 
    toys and books.  

    From a Mom of a fast growing boy...
    
    ClassiKids              Rte 110 Westford (upscale used clothes, some new)
    Childrens Orchard       Framingham, Edgell Road (picky buyer good condition
                            clothes)
    Childrens Orchard       Westboro Caldor Plaza (between record shop &
    			    bookstore)
    Childrens Orchard       Billerica (Rte 3A Wallgreens Plaza)
    Childrens Orchard       Newton, Rte 30 & Moody? Street

    Children's Orchard is OK, although I have found their items to smell
    smokey and look grubby. In Revere (don't moan) on Rte62 at Rt1
    (Northgate Shopping Ctr) is a place called Children's treasures. The
    owner is an ex-Children's Orchard mngr. Clothes seem to be more gently
    warn. Love the place... got a gorgeous basinet there ($25) and car
    seat, etc

    This is a reply to the person looking for childrens consigment in
    the Nashua area.
    
    Mother & Child  - route 101A in Amherst
    
    Childrens Orchard - route 101A in Nashua
    
    Something Treasures in Hudson - take 102 off Bridge street and it's
    right there onthe right hand side of the road
    
    

    There's a place in Littleton on Great Road (Rt 119).
    It's in the little shopping strip just before you
    enter Groton, where the Littleton Pool store is.
    Sorry I don't know the name.  My wife has taken
    lots of stuff there, and said that they are very
    careful about the quality of things that they accept.

    .16 is Cam's Closet and they went out of business a few weeks ago.
    
    cj

    
    Cam's Closet is now located in Stow MA on 117 Countryfare Star Plaza. 
    (Where Kids Junction used to be).
    
    cj
    

    
    
    I've bought many items in consignment shops and mostly have been very
    happy.  I have 3 boys 2 years apart and some of the clothes have gone
    through all three boys and still have very good wear in them.  
    
    I do have a question though, I've sold here through the notes file, but
    has anyone ever sold clothing and baby goods to any of these shops? 
    How does it work money wise.  I asked a couple, but other than the
    process, I was wondering in general is it worth my while to go there to
    sell my clothes rather than the notes file?  It seems that it would be
    a quicker/easier way of selling your generic clothing items. (I would
    still sell unique clothing, coats, snowsuits, baby stuff & toys through
    notes.)  
    
    I guess, as an example, I've bought baby OshGosh overall for $6-7 at
    the children's orchard, regular pants around $5, shirts $3-5, baby
    stuff mostly around $5 for a nice 1 or 2piece outfit.  What does the
    consignment shop give you for these type of items.  I know that it's
    based upon manufacturer, condition etc., but I was looking for anybody
    experiences out there.  Let me know.
    
    Beth
    

    
    I sell my kids' outgrown clothing through three consigment-type shops
    (Once Upon a Child in Shrewsbury, Clothespins in West Boylston, and 
    Upscale ConsignMint in Worcester) as well as through the notesfile.   
    One good thing is that boys' clothes - especially toddlers and above -
    seem to be always in demand...probably because boys don't have as much
    to begin with and wear through their stuff fairly well.  Unfortunately,
    I don't have any close friends with boys younger than mine that are
    interested in used clothing.....
    
    Once Upon a Child (like the Children's Orchard, I believe) buys 
    inventory outright.   That is to say you do not have to wait for the
    items to sell in the store, to get compensation.   With this type of
    arrangement, you also don't have to worry about picking up items
    that don't sell (Clothespins actually charges $.50/item to get
    unsold items back - a policy I don't care for).   However, I do not 
    know exactly how they fix value to items and believe that they pay 
    a little less than you might get somewhere else.   For me, the 
    convenience outweighs the cash.   Also, Once Upon a Child knows the 
    good brands (Gap, Children's Place, Gymboree, OshKosh, etc) and 
    compensates accordingly.       
    
    If you buy clothes at consignment shops than you already have a good 
    idea of what types of used clothing sells well and what the prices 
    are.   As a ballpark figure, you can probably expect to get about
    1/2 (or slightly less) than what the consignment shop has priced the 
    item for.    This usally works out to anywhere for $1-$4 per item
    depending on quality and condition.  All three consignments shops
    I've used are quite rigid about what they'll accept - no stains,
    no pilling, in season, etc.   Many places will give you an extra
    10-20% if you apply your money as a store credit.
     
    All that said, here's what I do:
    
    I sort through last year's clothes from a given season about 2 months 
    before that season.  For the very best/sometimes unused outfits, 
    I have had good luck selling them as packages (in a particular size) 
    through the notesfile to someone who may be looking to get a base 
    wardrobe for their child.   It works out good to only have to arrange
    one meeting to sell everything.  Same for snowsuits and specialty items
    or anything that might sell as an individual item for more than $5.
    I get a slightly better price than I'd get at the consignment shop 
    plus I feel like I'm giving a fellow employee a good deal on quality
    clothes.   
    
    Most of the rest goes one or the other of the two consignment shops 
    I'm currently using - based on what I know about how each operates.
    
    The balance goes to the Salvation Army and my closets/attics get
    cleaner!
    
    Sorry for the long-windedness...
    
    Carol   

I tried, several times, to bring things to Children's Orchard ... what I found 
was;

o If it doesn't have a well-known brand name on it, in general, they're not 
  interested.

o They pay between 1/2 and 1/3 what they charge if you were to buy it there.

o They reject a *LOT* of clothes that you would honestly expect that they'd 
  want.

o They pay about 25% less than you could get through the notesfile and have 
  lots of happy people.

I went in one time with 3 pairs of Osh-Kosh short-alls, 1 pair of Osh-Kosh
overalls, and 2 sweatshirts that were almost brand new, with Mickey Mouse on
them.  She wanted to give me $8.00 for the whole thing.  I took the clothes
and left.  For that little money, I'd rather give them away to someone who
really needs them.

YMMV, but in general, it seems like a better deal for everyone, to sell the 
stuff through here - everyone gets a better deal.