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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Any Ideas On How To Sell All My Daycare Stuff?
MamaBear 07:31 AM 03-14-2012
Since I'm closing down my daycare, I'm going to be selling all of my daycare things. I have some really nice stuff. All of it is like brand new because I'm a total OCD clean lady haha.

I put it all on Craigslist and might do a garage sale in a couple weeks too. I just don't like getting lowball offers so I'm kinda unsure about the garage sale thing. Do you guys have any other ideas on how to sell A LOT of daycare stuff?
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cheerfuldom 07:33 AM 03-14-2012
Posting on Craigslist would do the trick around here.
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Blackcat31 07:34 AM 03-14-2012
One of the daycares in my area closed down recently. She e-mailed all our local providers and set up an "open house" for them to come look at all her stuff. She put everything in groups or "lots" and sold everything within 2 days! She also offered stuff to her daycare parents.
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itlw8 07:34 AM 03-14-2012
Ebay brings a high dollar on some preschool stuff.

you could do an auction ??

Yes the letter to other providers works wonders. set up appointments tell them to bring a truck
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Childminder 07:35 AM 03-14-2012
Repocast.com
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MamaBear 08:45 AM 03-14-2012
Thanks guys. Craigslist is getting some calls. I do Ebay too so maybe I'll post on there as well. I don't want to ship anything though because most of it is big... it would all have to be local pick up.

I like the idea of asking the parents too. Thanks!
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daycare 08:53 AM 03-14-2012
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
One of the daycares in my area closed down recently. She e-mailed all our local providers and set up an "open house" for them to come look at all her stuff. She put everything in groups or "lots" and sold everything within 2 days! She also offered stuff to her daycare parents.
thats a great Idea..

Craigs list is too.....
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mrsp'slilpeeps 09:08 AM 03-14-2012
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
One of the daycares in my area closed down recently. She e-mailed all our local providers and set up an "open house" for them to come look at all her stuff. She put everything in groups or "lots" and sold everything within 2 days! She also offered stuff to her daycare parents.
The lady up the street from me closed her's down too and that is what she did.

Too bad I was on holidays but she did save her new car seats and 2 dck's for me to take on.
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MarinaVanessa 09:27 AM 03-14-2012
Keep using craigslist to advertise specific items that are more big ticket price items. Just make sure that you name the price you want and make it clear that you are "firm on the price". Then use cragslist to go to the section where other daycare providers advertise for their openings and put an add in there about your daycare closing and hold private viewings during the week and also add that you're holding a sale on whichever date on the weekend.

If you put your phone number on your other adds you can tell people on your add in the child care provider section to search for your phone number and all of your other ads with your items will be listed. This way they can see everythig that you will be selling. The key to craigslist is listing big items seperately and then adding a list to it with "other" items that you also have. And don't forget to add good photos of the item. Most people won't be interested in an ad unless they can see the item, they automatically assume that the item isn't is as good a condition as they say it's in.

Then you can also put an add in Craigslist under the garage sale section and do the same as the provider section. Don't worry about people asking you to lower your prices during the yard sale. If you don't want to all you have to do is say no. If you don't sell everything, just re-list the leftover items on CL again and hold another yardsale (if you have enough to make it worthwhile).

A provider friend of mine went back to school and closed down her daycare and we did everything above and she sold a lot of her big ticket items during the week before her yard sale. Most of whatever was left she sold the following weekend during her yard sale. She did have a few things left over like paint, paper, craft leftovers etc. but nothing really worth taking the time to sell so she donated everything to kinder classrooms.

Just make sure that you advertise at least one week in advance to give yard sale shoppers and other DC providers a chance to plan ahead. You can also use Vflyer.com to create a really nice flyer for your yard sale so that you stand out.
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MrsB 09:44 AM 03-14-2012
I get emails from my licensing specialist of open house sales for closing daycares every so often. One time I went and ended up gabbing to the provider shutting down. She even asked for my business card and sent a few families my way.

Is that something that you could do?
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MamaBear 01:12 PM 03-14-2012
Great ideas! Thank you guys! I've got a lot of CL right now. I have a few people coming tonight to buy some things I don't really need right now.
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PitterPatter 05:35 PM 03-14-2012
Where are you MamaBear? Maybe if not too far I will take a few things.
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MamaBear 06:24 PM 03-14-2012
I'm in southern San Diego (Chula Vista). Are you near there?
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PitterPatter 06:48 PM 03-14-2012
Originally Posted by MamaBear:
I'm in southern San Diego (Chula Vista). Are you near there?
Wow nooo I'm way across the US, East coast

I'll watch for you on Ebay!
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nannyde 04:36 AM 03-15-2012
Maybe post a list of what you have here. I'm ALWAYS in the business for excellent used baby toys (no batteries or stuffed animals). If you had a big lot I would love to see them.

these are the things I collect:

Fisher Price loving family dolls
duplo primo blocks (not the singles)
lincoln logs (11.5 inch sticks I will pay dearly for)
thomas the tank non battery trains
Melisa and doug puzzles both wooden and boxed
Melisa and doug fake food

and stuff like that there. You can call me if you have any great collections you are selling.

I pay cash
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Blackcat31 08:59 AM 03-15-2012
Originally Posted by nannyde:
Maybe post a list of what you have here. I'm ALWAYS in the business for excellent used baby toys (no batteries or stuffed animals). If you had a big lot I would love to see them.

these are the things I collect:

Fisher Price loving family dolls
duplo primo blocks (not the singles)
lincoln logs (11.5 inch sticks I will pay dearly for)
thomas the tank non battery trains
Melisa and doug puzzles both wooden and boxed
Melisa and doug fake food

and stuff like that there. You can call me if you have any great collections you are selling.

I pay cash
Nan, what are Duplo Primo blocks? Are they the regular bigger sized Lego blocks? I'm confused about the primo part?

Also are you sure you mean 11.5 inch Lincoln Logs? I have an old school set (they were mine as a child) and the longest ones are only 10.75 approx in length and can't find any that are actually 11.5 inches long. Is that a newere length or ??? (in my newer set, there are none that length either)
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MrsB 09:20 AM 03-15-2012
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Nan, what are Duplo Primo blocks? Are they the regular bigger sized Lego blocks? I'm confused about the primo part?

Also are you sure you mean 11.5 inch Lincoln Logs? I have an old school set (they were mine as a child) and the longest ones are only 10.75 approx in length and can't find any that are actually 11.5 inches long. Is that a newere length or ??? (in my newer set, there are none that length either)
I think the primo ones are the one with a dome shaped top to each block

http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Lego...8-pcs/45380588
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jessrlee 09:37 AM 03-15-2012
I'm in the market for magnatiles and manipulatives
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Countrygal 10:16 AM 03-15-2012
I'm in the market for a LOT. I was going to suggest that you post anything you would be willing to ship on here! Sounds like you could do some business.
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MamaBear 05:43 PM 03-15-2012
Most of my things I'm selling are big... too big to ship. If anyone wants to make the trek out here to sunny San Diego, you can come pick stuff up I made a free webpage to post everything on for my daycare parents and other daycare providers in my area to pick from. I already sold several things, so right now its as up to date as can be. Offering stuff to my daycare parents was a great idea. One bought several things from me today.

http://www.wix.com/kellykirk/lotsbabystuff
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nannyde 06:18 PM 03-15-2012
Originally Posted by MrsB:
I think the primo ones are the one with a dome shaped top to each block

http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Lego...8-pcs/45380588
Those are the ones that are called primo. The trick with them is to get the quad panels, the long tripples, the bases, the cars, and the people. This example is very common where there is just a few good pieces but almost all of them are singles or doubles. They are a dime a dozen and aren't really useful for my under two's.

I've been building a collection of the bases, animals, triples, quads and six plexes. I will see if I can photograph the ones I have now. I end up paying a lot for the lot and keeping only a few. This is my most recent purchase and out of one hundred pieces I kept 18: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI...E:L:OU:US:1123


They used to sell them with a lot of the bigger pieces but now the sets come with one or multi prong ones and a few doubles and then the rest singles.

I have the same issue with duplos. I buy huge sets and keep about fifteen to twenty percent of them. I give away the singles.

Lincoln Logs same thing: They used to make each set with four to eight longer sticks and now most sets don't have any long pieces. My collection comes from many ebay lots where I buy hundreds of pieces and keep ten of them. The rest go to friends or the goodwill.

My whole toy playing philosophy is built on having toys the adults don't need to be involved with. When it comes to nearly every set the prized pieces that work for the younger crowd are either from old sets or you will get one or two good pieces in the new sets. I just keep what works for independent play and then give away the rest.
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nannyde 06:23 PM 03-15-2012
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Nan, what are Duplo Primo blocks? Are they the regular bigger sized Lego blocks? I'm confused about the primo part?

Also are you sure you mean 11.5 inch Lincoln Logs? I have an old school set (they were mine as a child) and the longest ones are only 10.75 approx in length and can't find any that are actually 11.5 inches long. Is that a newere length or ??? (in my newer set, there are none that length either)
You may be right black. I'll measure them tomorrow.

Did you know they made fourteen inch sticks way back in the year five BC? just kidding.

I didn't even know the fourteen inch sticks existed until I came across a set with them in it on ebay. I couldn't figure out WHY the lot was selling SO crazy high until I realized that there were these unique pieces. I put five hundred on the bid thinking that no matter what I would get them and I did but it cost me hundreds of dollars. They are SO bleepin cool.

I'll see if I can photograph them tomorrow. I will gladly take your long sticks off your hands. If you could stuff them in the cooler of moose meat you could make me the happiest Nan on the planet.
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nannyde 05:40 AM 03-16-2012
Originally Posted by nannyde:
You may be right black. I'll measure them tomorrow.

Did you know they made fourteen inch sticks way back in the year five BC? just kidding.

I didn't even know the fourteen inch sticks existed until I came across a set with them in it on ebay. I couldn't figure out WHY the lot was selling SO crazy high until I realized that there were these unique pieces. I put five hundred on the bid thinking that no matter what I would get them and I did but it cost me hundreds of dollars. They are SO bleepin cool.

I'll see if I can photograph them tomorrow. I will gladly take your long sticks off your hands. If you could stuff them in the cooler of moose meat you could make me the happiest Nan on the planet.
10.5 inch sticks plus 13.5 inch sticks

http://www.nanshouse.com/apps/photos...toid=151615651

7.5 inch sticks

http://www.nanshouse.com/apps/photos...toid=151615652

14 inch roof slats and roof connector pieces

http://www.nanshouse.com/apps/photos...toid=151615653

Bins of four inch sticks, one inch sticks, roof toppers and windows.

http://www.nanshouse.com/apps/photos...toid=151615654

That's the part of the collection that's out. I have another few hundred pieces of the four inch and 7.5 inch tripple slot sticks and accessories in storage for when they want to build a full fort. I'm too lazy to get it all out. They are a pain to photograph.

I think I could retire off of my lincoln log collections.
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MsMe 06:12 AM 03-16-2012
I thought we had a great collection of Logs...but Nan for the win!! IF I ever want to get rid of mine I know who to call
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nannyde 06:19 AM 03-16-2012
Originally Posted by MsMe:
I thought we had a great collection of Logs...but Nan for the win!! IF I ever want to get rid of mine I know who to call
It has taken MANY years of pouring through ebay to find the right lots and a lot of money buying and shipping the pieces I really didn't want.
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DaycareMama 09:53 AM 03-16-2012
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
One of the daycares in my area closed down recently. She e-mailed all our local providers and set up an "open house" for them to come look at all her stuff. She put everything in groups or "lots" and sold everything within 2 days! She also offered stuff to her daycare parents.
We had someone do this also... I bought tons!
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MrsB 10:06 AM 03-16-2012
Originally Posted by nannyde:
10.5 inch sticks plus 13.5 inch sticks

http://www.nanshouse.com/apps/photos...toid=151615651

7.5 inch sticks

http://www.nanshouse.com/apps/photos...toid=151615652

14 inch roof slats and roof connector pieces

http://www.nanshouse.com/apps/photos...toid=151615653

Bins of four inch sticks, one inch sticks, roof toppers and windows.

http://www.nanshouse.com/apps/photos...toid=151615654

That's the part of the collection that's out. I have another few hundred pieces of the four inch and 7.5 inch tripple slot sticks and accessories in storage for when they want to build a full fort. I'm too lazy to get it all out. They are a pain to photograph.

I think I could retire off of my lincoln log collections.
Oh my goodness Nan! That is amazing!

"Hello my name is Nan and I am a lincoln logaholic"
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nannyde 10:08 AM 03-16-2012
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Huge-Lot-of-...item337153f720

This is a great example of the kind of lots you find with Lincoln Logs. 210 bucks and only three of the long sticks.
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My3cents 10:36 AM 03-16-2012
oh my goodness this is funny. Don't you find that, we cherish some of our favorite toys.

Couple of my favorites that I have enjoyed building upon are....

my peekaboo blocks. I only don't like that they like to throw them and they are very hard. When they play with the block, they love it. but....when it becomes a climbing toy.....ugh.

Duplos- I have a good amount of these. I need to take out some of the smaller pieces- love this idea.

Trains- have built up a nice collection of these. Took out my train table because it was a climbing hazzard and they actually had more fun building on the floor.

Dollhouse- I have the big huge step 2 doll house and I love looking for furniture that will be played with for this.....and of course the dolls.

Movies- I am not a big tv person. I have no cable hooked up. I do have a huge video collection and love some of the Einsteins- Julia Clark, Wiggles, Gymboree, Hap Palmer sing alongs, Fisher price, little people, Winnie the Poohs, and I do have most of the Disneys- but not my favorite for my littles. My only issue is the space that is used up housing these. Most of the time if I put one of these on its more for back ground noise and they will look for a little bit and then move on. It's not an everyday thing for us.

Music- I would love to add to my cd collection of music with music that doesn't sound the same. For the love of our children are one of my favorites, its a mix of all different artist singing childrens songs and they don't all sound the same.

Books- this is an area I am big on. I have tons of nice books. Have been working on my board books because they hold up so well. I love books that have beautiful illustrations.

Kitchen area- I too love big play food and kitchen pieces, always looking for a step up from what I have and non choking items. Why do they make some of this play food stuff so small.

I like where this post went- found it neato skeeto that others like their little collections too
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Tags:closing, selling daycare items
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