Classy Kids Consignment

What a great way to get lots of kids and baby stuff cheap! I love going to these sales because they are huge, and I am always able to find some steals! When I was pregnant, I went to this sale to get some baby essentials. I got a pack n’ play, nearly new for $ 50, an unopened play mat for a few bucks, and lots more. I think we ended up spending $ 200 for about $ 2000 worth of stuff to cover us for when the baby was born.
I hated spending a bunch of money for all the stuff new because you really don’t use a lot of the baby things for very long. What a great way to have lots of the baby supplies and soothing devices without breaking the bank!
This sale is my favorite of the consignment sales because it is so big, and they are pretty efficient. It is at the Prince William fairgrounds and takes over two buildings. This is a great place to start for first time moms. You will see so many things you never knew were out there too!

I’ve been shopping and consigning at CKC for the past few years and I’m debating about continuing to participate. I think the whole idea and setup are really good. I generally find decent stuff for my kids and most of the time I sell the majority of my items. My one complaint… and it’s getting worse… is the lack of customer service. I know volunteers are mostly running the show, however, they are very cold. It may just be to me… idk. I’m of a different race so sometimes I don’t know if that plays a part. But I dropped off clothes for receiving today and was completely ignored. I had to figure out where the receiving line was (in the back). I was given no instructions (even though I’ve done it before) but the process may have changed. Then when I’m putting things away, the workers were busy organizing the racks and would not step aside so I could hang up my stuff in the appropriate sections. I looked confused a few times as I was trying to find where something goes and the workers around me ignored me. I had to walk up and ask if I could ask them a question. However, I believe I ran into the organizer of the sale (or an actual staff member) and she was friendly and asked if I needed help.
In addition to the ‘cold’ volunteers, the other shoppers are very unfriendly. It makes it hard to enjoy shopping when people bump into you with no ‘excuse me’ or when people block the aisle, etc.
Despite the above, I do like selling and shopping here… it’s the experience that I dread.

A friend and I just got back from the Feb. 2013 Manasses sale and we thought it was great. The women who run this sale are amazing and very kind. I was impressed that they had the whole place (on the fairground in Manasses) set up in only 2 days with the help of volunteers. If you assisted in volunteering, you were able to get first crack at the items for sale, which we did. They had everything from botique and Gymboree to Walmart brand clothing, and although you have to carefully check the items for defects, you can’t beat the prices. The organizers do screen the items and turn quite a bit away, but we did buy something at a previous sale with a missing button (I wouldn’t have bought it if I had noticed it). This time I checked and found no issues.
One thing I think is neat about this sale is the variety of items you can find. They had everything from Fisher Price toys to foreign brands from France and Japan. We found some great classic kids books and learning dvds we had been looking for and also some great lunch box containers. You never know what great thing you will find.
Considering how much time they had, I was very impressed with how well organized it was. They did tell me that by the end of the day, the place would be pretty well trashed by people tearing through the items, but they would straighten up for the next day and reorganize as the sale progressed. The check out lines for me were intuitive, not requiring instruction, but they did have volunteers on hand to help direct traffic as it got busier.
The one negative I would have is that the customers can at times be pushy. This is not something the owners can control, but some of these people were ready to push me and my infant over to get at items. Because it’s only a two day sale, I think there is this false sense of urgency created. It’s only stuff, folks! People are much more important!

I went to the Nov. 15, 2011 sale in Woodbridge and was extremely disappointed. I paid $ 20 for my husband and I to be able to go early and feel that the website sorely misrepresented what would be offered. The website features a video showing a very large warehouse and several rockers, cribs, bassinets, car seats, etc. The reason I paid $ 20 to go early was because I anticipated being able to snag good bargains and save lots of money on those types of big purchases. There were two car seats (separate from strollers), one rocker, and one crib available by the time I arrived. A few others already had sold signs on them. Keep in mind this is even before the public sale.
As my husband and I walked around we used an iPhone bar code scanner app to compare prices of many items to their brand new counterparts. Many of the consigned items were not even discounted from the new retail price! While I understand that consignors determine their own prices, Classy Kids should monitor for this type of thing. Many shoppers might assume that they’re getting a deal because they’re in a consignment setting, but in reality the same goods can be purchased brand new in-​store for the same cost.
Desperate to not have wasted our $ 20 and time, my husband and I settled on a vibrating chair and baby tub, totaling $ 17. The line to pay was CHAOS. I was the only one waiting to pay and clearly looked like I was waiting to pay when a «cashier» asked rudely if I needed help with something. I said, «Umm, yeah is this where I pay, or???» She responded that the line was in the middle of the two checkout tables, so hubby and I promptly moved to the designated spot. I can’t really put the setup into words but the checkout was really a nightmare. There were rows of clothes directly behind where we were told to stand, and toys all over the floor. A few times people tried to walk past us to continue their shopping and it was difficult to not be in their way. The «cashier» was noting how poor the setup was and stating that next year they would have signs to put up. Really? You can’t manage to eek out a few arrow or «pay here» signs? Not one owner or manager could have fired up the olé inkjet at home? Come on.
So I finally approach the register, more than ready to get the hell out of there. My items are totaled and I give cashier #2 my debit card. She swipes it, and I wait. And I wait. And I wait. Eventually the transaction was rejected and cashier #1 (the rude one) steps in. «We don’t accept MasterCard.» Really? Because on your website it says you do! She wanted to go check on it (said with the attitude that she really just wanted to prove me wrong) but I just told them that I wanted to leave and I would pay cash. Never have I been so glad to have cash on me. We left and I was so disappointed by the whole ordeal that the hubs and I drove straight to Target to start our registry. I wonder if Classy Kids will give me my $ 20 back.