I don’t know if it is the economy or something else, but lately, buying used doesn’t seem to be the bargain that it once was.
Let me focus here on children’s clothes. I would say that normally, about 90-95 percent of my children’s wardrobes consist of clothes that were previously owned. Most are purchased used and some are given as hand me downs. The new clothes usually come as gifts from relatives or purchased by us in the case of underwear or shoes.
Unfortunately, though, I’ve been pretty disappointed with used prices. First this happened at a recent outgrown clothing sale. Although we were one of the first groups to arrive, I found mostly stained or shrunk garments that cost between $2 and $4 a piece. Clothes that I would actually let my children wear, ranged somewhere between $5 and $35 each. This is a shock to someone who is used to getting an entire bag of nice children’s clothing for $5, or at least paying no more than $.50 to $1 an item.
Next, I asked my husband if he would be interested in a short road trip to our old neighborhood. In town is a thrift store that basically supplied my first child with five years of clothing. I never spent more than $50 a year, even though the quickly growing months of baby and toddler-hood. I was sure that I would be able to stock up with clothing for my daughter–we were in desperation mode for her.
Well, as you can guess, that stock up didn’t happen. The selection was poor and the few items I did find were overpriced in my opinion: $6 for a pair of toddler-size jeans, for example.
In comparison to all of this, we hit the clearance section recently of a local retail chain store. New but clearance items included spring and even summer clothes! It is early May as I write.) Brand new prices ranges from $2.30 for a top to $4.80 for a dress. New was less expensive than used.
Perhaps it is because more people are flocking to the thrift stores and demand is raising the prices. Or perhaps it is as a volunteer at that outgrown clothing store told me, “I think a lot of the consigners buy things that the store on clearance and then mark them up here for the sale, in order to make money.”
What do you think?