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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

How to Sell Cloth Diapers

*SOLD*


One of the main reasons I decided to use cloth diapers was to save money. Kelly Wels has a great calculator that shows your savings for one year using cloth vs. disposables if you need a visual. One added bonus I hadn't initially considered was the possibility of resale. Not only do disposable diapers cost you (and the environment) more in the long run, but nobody wants your dirty Pampers. The cost of cloth diapers, however, can be partially recouped.
People choose to sell diapers for a variety of reasons. Maybe a style didn't work for them (like prefolds for me) or a certain brand didn't fit their little one properly (my Monkey has thunder thighs).  Otherwise, people attempt to streamline or "destash" because they simply have too many diapers. The value depends on the condition and quality of the diaper, of course.

Since I've just earned my first $100 reselling some used cloth diapers, I thought I would share a few tips.
  1. Inspect the diapers you plan to sell. Look for stains, aplix/snap/elastic issues, pulls in the fabric, or general wear. 
  2. Determine the condition (New, EUC, VGUC, or GUC - you generally won't make any money off of diapers unless they are at least in good condition.)
    • New (never washed or used)
    • EUC (washed and/or used once or twice, practically new)
    • VGUC (used infrequently or in a large rotation, little to no wear)
    • GUC (used regularly, shows some signs of wear)
  3.  Find a venue. I've had success with CraigsList (in a very small, very non-crunchy town no less) and DiaperSwappers.com. You can also check Facebook for swap groups in your area.
  4. Be honest and thorough in you descriptions. It is better to get less money than you think a diaper may be worth than to deal with the headache of unhappy buyers--especially if you are selling online and going through PayPal. I try to avoid disputes, refunds, and negative feedback at all costs, but maybe that's just me. ;)
  5. Compare to other listings of the same or similar-quality diapers in the same condition in order to come up with a fair price. (Example: A Sbish fitted is going to sell for more than a GMD fitted because of the initial retail price, materials used, and perceived value to buyers.) 
  6. Some sellers including shipping costs in your price (listed as PPD - Postage Paid Domestic) out of convenience, but you may choose to quote shipping depending on the zip code of your buyer. I've personally found there is very little difference in shipping cost based on zip code unless you are sending packages OCONUS, so all of my prices are PPD.
  7. Try to sell in lots as opposed to listing individual diapers. Group by type (prefolds, pockets, AIOs, hybrids) or size (NB/XS, S, M, L, One-Size, or Size 1/Size 2) if you can. You'll get rid of more diapers and save on shipping this way.
  8. Consider shipping costs and PayPal fees when listing online. Some sites also require you to include Delivery Confirmation. You can get an inexpensive postal scale from Amazon and reuse mailers/boxes so there are no surprises at the post office!
  9. Have a back-up plan. If your diapers don't sell, you can store them for future babies or see if a shelter, foster home, or day care center in your area would be interested in donations!  Sites like Giving Diapers, Giving Hope also accept donations for families in need.
Happy diapering, mamas!

1 comment:

  1. Thank you so much for this post, it is very useful. I was thinking about when my daughter is done with her diapers, how would we go about selling them. This post helped me a lot!

    Lolli S

    ReplyDelete