I just figured out that I made about $257.10 last year in consignments at the thrift store. 
Not as good as the year before, when I made over $400. But that year we had just moved here and I was finally getting rid of various baby paraphernalia: crib; portacrib; as well as some furniture — you know, all the big stuff.
I go to the thrift store on base — Wright-Patterson — to consign. When we moved to Ohio, I was inordinately pleased to find such a good consignment store on base. It ain’t always so, believe you me. The turnover’s high, the inventory is eclectic, and some of those ladies have been working there for 30 years! Oh, yes, it’s true.
They run a tight ship that spins like a top. It’s hopping in there most days, I tell you what. They only take things in season and they limit you to 16 items at a time, one consignment a week. Their consignment hours are fairly limited — but hey, they’re all volunteers in there, so they can do what they want.
I didn’t get there as much last year: Their hours didn’t jive with my schedule. This year I plan to go every week so long as I have stuff to take in. So far, it’s just been one trip — but they’ve only been open two weeks into the new year. I didn’t make it the second week because the garage door fixer guy called at the last minute and I ran out of time. I plan to take this pile in in a couple of days.
It’s a pretty typical representation (until we get ready to move again, and I do a major purge): clothes my kids have outgrown; toys I’m tired of looking at my kids don’t want anymore; even some long-lost craft projects I know I will never get to. After 2+ years here, I feel like I’m finally approaching the bottom of the abyss.
I do give stuff away to goodwill as well: mainly things that I know won’t turn over well (or they won’t even accept) at the thrift store.
For many people, consigning things like this would be too much of a pain — ack, paperwork! Yes, donating things outright does earn you a tax deduction. But for us, itemizing has never made a difference with our taxes anyway, so it’s all a wash.
What doesn’t sell within the five-week time frame is considered a donation and goes into their clearance section. Some simply donate outright instead of consign, so their things go into the clearance section as well. I have found many steals in the back of that store, for $1 or less.
How about you? Do you consign? or donate? Or pass things directly to a friend/family member that needs them? Do you shop consignment stores? (Are you a second-hand junkie like me?) 
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I donate, or just give everything to my friends/family.
I’d consign if it was something worth selling, but I’d probably post it on my blog, or eBay it first.
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I never consign as by the time we are finished with stuff (usually got from the thrift shop to begin with), they wouldn’t want it. I tend to just give to our local thrift shop as 100 percent of their profits go to local and far away church charities, and I buy so much stuff there for all of us.
We’ve done the tax deduction bit, and it usually ends up making one slightly more than a garage sale, with a lot less trouble. I don’t want someone casing my house and it is demoralizing to put stuff out and have most of it left at the end. We give toys and clothes (when we had them) to families with younger kids.
One thing we are finding now is that for cheap everyday stuff, we can often get new stuff cheaper from the evil W mart or on sale from LLBean or an outlet up north that sells Costco remainders for 25 cents on the dollar. So I mostly buy fancy stuff from the thrift shop: I got the rather eccentric looking sheepskin coat I am wearing in my pic for $20 and it is heavenly warm and has thick shearling. Or evening dresses for the girls (I never go anywhere, but they have stuff at college) or work clothes and cashmere sweaters that are good quality from ten years ago. I have a huge sweater collection (mostly handknit) bought over the years from this thrift shop.
But more power to you if you can consign and make some money from it. I wish I had your diligence!
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jolyn Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
I definitely have my share of things that aren’t worth going to the thrift store: they are amazingly picky. (Probably a big reason their turnover is so good.) Those things go either to goodwill or to the veterans’ — they come and pick it up off your doorstep, Can’t beat that.
I do love that coat!
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We just give our stuff away, usually to a local thrift store that supports a crisis pregnancy center. I don’t have the mental energy to keep up with consigning and no desire to have a garage sale. A lot of stuff has been given to us over the years too, so I feel like we are sort of paying it forward by donating instead.
I have not had much luck finding things at thrift stores/consignment shops. Part of the problem is not having time to really look through the offerings to find the good stuff. I find that I can often get something brand new for the same price once it is on clearance anyway. I think it comes down to patience, and I have very little when it comes to thrift shopping.
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jolyn Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
I w/actually gladly pass on my children’s clothes to a friend, etc, who needed them. We don’t personally know anyone like that here! All of my friends either have kids the same size, or they already have a system set up with someone else passing things to them and they don’t need anymore. Well over 50% of what I take in to consign never sells; it then is considered a donation. What’s cool about this thrift store, too, is that they donate their profits to base programs, scholarships, etc. So I feel like it’s a good cause, too.
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Usually when it comes to getting rid of old clothes and things, I either give them to a neighbor who has younger kids, or donate them to charity. I LOVE shopping thrift stores!!!
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I have to agree with you about Wright Patt’s Thrift Shop. I LOVE that place! I have never consigned there yet though. I wasn’t really sure how to go about it. I have, however, taken some children’s items to a kids second hand store in the area. The nice thing about it is instead of consignment, they simply look over the stuff, tell you what items they want, and offer you cash for it. That way there’s no paperwork, no follow-up to worry about. Also, Vietnam Veteran’s of America is a GREAT group to donate to. They just picked up a big batch of stuff at my house this morning. Rather than loading everything up and hauling it to Good Will (which I also love) I just call them, arrange a pick-up date, and stick everything out on my front porch. They leave a tax receipt and a bag to fill up with more stuff. Great! Would you mind elaborating a little bit about how you go about consigning at the Wright Patt Thrift Store?
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jolyn Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
I have friends tell me I should do that with my nicer stuff, take it to those places where you’re paid up front and done with it. I guess I just got my mojo down at the thrift store… But I really ought to try them out sometime. I also have had Vietnam Vets come and get stuff — they call me regularly
Ok. For consigning on base they (usually) limit you to 16 items per week, one trip per week. I w/recommend stopping by there to get the low-down on what they accept, and to pick up the forms, which cost 25 cents each. (Each form is for 16 items.) They also have colored stickers that need to be on each item with your number on it, which you get when you register in their system.
The nice thing is that, once you figure it out, pretty much everything can be prepared at home before you go in: filling out the paperwork; attaching the stickers to the items; even putting the clothes on hangars. (If you don’t have extra, they have plenty there.)
You can call #285-0306 24/7 for a recording of their hours; consignment schedule; what items they won’t be taking that week, etc.
Isn’t that place fun?
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We only consigned once and never got any money out of it. It was a stroller. We didn’t do a good job in follow up either. DH took the thing in, called them a couple of times and never heard from them again. I don’t consign and I don’t go to garage sale much. Deep down in my heart, I really want to live a somewhat minimalist type of life. Of course, I will never be a true minimalist because I’m too sentimental. I kept my oldest son’s old shoes (from new born – about six years old) for a loooong time. I finally took pictures of them and threw them away during my de-cluttering years. DH was so happy and so proud of me.
However, I do sell on eBay with items that are shippable in sizes. I used to sell a lot of things on eBay but I have not sold much of anything lately. it’s a lot of work. I did it for the extra money so the children could have extra things and extra activities.
Having the freecycle.com and the cloth exchange program in our community helped a lot for this season of my life. I have gotten so much from these two programs that they are my private consignment stores, sorta speak!
We donate our extra stuff to Good Wills after checking with a friend first to see if she has any use of the stuff or know of anyone who does.
Yeah, I guess I am not a big second hand junkie but sure appreciated the free stuff I got (that I have a need for).
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jolyn Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 7:48 am
My goal is to consign more than I take out. The problem with second-hand stores is that “it’s such a great deal” you can’t pass it up. I have never lived in a place before with such great second-hand stores; I’ve gotten such great deals on much-needed things, mainly for the kids, clothes, etc. But the danger is going in for one thing and coming out with many others! That would definitely be my shopping weakness, and one I am working on curbing.
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Our Lives Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 10:34 am
That’s exactly the reason I do not allow myself to visit the second hand stores. I am weak in that “clearance sales” deal too.
We have a wonderful street in one part of the county all lined up with thrift shops (we went there last summer and yeah, brought home a whole bunch of clothes for my daughter and me). It is the street I have to avoid. 
As long as it is for your family and for the real need, Jolyn, I think you are doing a great job with what’s been given to you. To that, I hope you will find many more great deals on your next consignment store trips!
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