Selling used kids' clothes to buy a new bike, Chiara's story

Chiara lives in Turin, in the San Salvario neighbourhood, with her seven-year-old son Tommaso, who grows faster than any wardrobe can keep up with. One Sunday at the end of July she went down to the cellar to look for the fan and found four boxes full of used kids' clothes, from newborn sleepsuits to the jeans he wore in first grade. Tommaso, meanwhile, had been asking for a bigger bike for months, because on the old one his knees were practically hitting the handlebars. That's how the idea came up to sell the kids' clothes and put the money towards the new bike.

Chiara's story is an example, but it shows quite well how a full cellar can turn into something useful, one step at a time.

Where to start when there are lots of clothes

On the first evening Chiara made the mistake almost everyone makes. She tipped everything onto the bed and twenty minutes later wanted to put it all back in the boxes. The second time she changed approach and sorted the clothes by size, then by season. Within an hour she had six tidy piles and a separate bag for what was too worn to sell (that went into the clothing recycling bin).

Sorting by size mostly helps the buyer. A parent looking for clothes for a two-year-old wants to find everything together, not ten single-item listings. So Chiara put together bundles, for example eight bodysuits and four sleepsuits in size 3 to 6 months, or a dozen summer T-shirts for age 4. The best pieces she kept aside and sold on their own, like a branded winter puffer jacket that was practically new and a pair of snow boots worn for just one winter.

How much you can get for used kids' clothes

Kids' clothes won't make you rich, but the numbers add up faster than you'd think. These are fairly typical market estimates for items in good condition.

In about three weeks Chiara sold nine bundles and six single items, for a total of €265. She didn't empty the whole cellar, but only one box was left, and she decided to give that to her cousin, who is expecting a baby girl.

Photos and descriptions for children's clothes

Chiara photographed everything on a white sheet spread on the living room floor, near the balcony door, in daylight. For bundles she took one shot with all the items folded in a row, then a few close-ups of the labels. One trick that saved her a lot of questions was measuring the key pieces, like trouser length or the inside length of shoes, because children's sizes vary a lot from brand to brand.

The boring part, writing the listings, took less time than she expected. On Lendmates she took a few photos and the listing more or less filled itself in, she checked size and condition, adjusted the price and published. In the description she only added what a photo can't show, like "pet-free home" or "washed and ready to wear". For more practical photo tips, see our guide on how to photograph an item well.

Shipping bundles anywhere in Italy

The first orders came from Genoa, from Lecce and from a small village near Treviso. At first Chiara assumed she would mostly sell to parents in her area, but clothes are easy to ship and people buying second hand online search the whole country. She used tough plastic mailing bags for the bundles and a small box for the shoes. Buyers saw the shipping cost before paying, so there were no surprises for anyone.

Payment always worked the same way. The buyer paid in the app and she received the money once the purchase went through. A mum from Lecce asked her in the chat whether the puffer jacket really was age 6, since her daughter is tall, and Chiara sent her the measurements taken with a tape measure. They sorted it out right there, without swapping phone numbers.

Tommaso's new bike

With €265 in her pocket Chiara went looking for a 24-inch bike. New, the one Tommaso liked cost over €300. On Lendmates she found a used one in great condition, listed by a dad in Novara for €140, kickstand and lights included. Before buying she asked him in the chat for a couple of extra photos of the chain and brakes, then paid in the app and the bike arrived by courier, packed in its box.

Since the seller already had several good reviews and a verified profile, Chiara felt comfortable even without seeing the bike in person. When it arrived she left him a review, and the parents who had bought her bundles did the same for her. If you want to know more, have a look at our guide on how reviews work on Lendmates.

With the money left over she bought a new helmet, which is one thing she preferred to get from a shop.

The travel cot, rented out instead

At the bottom of the last box there was also a folding travel cot, still perfect. Chiara didn't want to sell it, because she still needs it when her sister's little ones come to stay. So she listed it for rent, with a calendar of free dates, and in August it went to two families on holiday in Turin who didn't want to lug one on the train. They picked it up from her place and brought it back at the end of their stay. If this sounds interesting, we covered it in our guide to renting strollers and car seats peer to peer.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to sell kids' clothes in bundles or one by one?

Everyday items sell better in bundles sorted by size, because buyers save time and shipping. Branded or nearly new pieces earn more when sold on their own.

How much should I ask for a bundle of used baby clothes?

For 10 or 12 items in good condition people usually ask between €15 and €25. If some pieces are unworn with tags, you can aim for the top of that range.

Do I need to wash clothes before selling them?

Yes, and it's worth saying so in the listing. Clean, neatly folded clothes also make for better photos.

Can you sell used children's shoes?

Yes, especially if they were barely worn, like smart shoes or snow boots. Give the inside length in centimetres and photograph the sole.

Illustrative story. People and figures are fictional, but they reflect a typical way to use Lendmates.

---