Summer of Sisterhood: Why you should sell your gently used baby & kids gear

Daniel and Michelle Lehman with their two kids

A few years ago, my wife and I were moving apartments in NYC, and realized we finally had to find a new home for all the baby and kids gear our children no longer used. Our storage space in our basement was overtaken with old strollers, high chairs, excersaucers, toys, you name it. As I looked around one day, I saw that all the other families in our building had the same build-up. I headed upstairs, and went online, figuring I'd find the go-to website for gently used baby gear but surprisingly, it didn't exist.  We talked to our friends, and found that everyone had the same issue - lots of great stuff their kids outgrew, and no where to put it. In New York, like in most cities across the country, space at home is limited - yet for many of us, the gear we purchase for our kids is not. To make things worse, it's all so expensive! And so we thought, wouldn't it be great if parents had a place to go to buy and sell the best brands of gently used baby and kids gear? In addition to recouping costs, and saving space, it would be a great way for people to recycle and do something good for the planet. Thus, the idea for reCrib was born. 

In the past ten years, kids gear has become highly designed, and with that comes better quality and higher prices.  It's not uncommon for a new crib to cost $1,500, or a stroller, $1,000.  So we spend all this money, and within a year or two, we're done with it. Imagine being able to make back 50% of your investment , or more? Uh, why wouldn't you? 

So, here is our proposition to you. It's summertime.  Take stock of all the stuff that's collected in your kids rooms, basement, attic, and garages - and evaluate what to keep, sell, give away, and throw out.  As much as we have memories of our high chairs and cribs, there's really no reason to hold on to them when your kids are now ready for things like playing soccer, doing hip-hop, and learning to surf.  Let it go, say "bye-bye"! We promise, it will feel good!

We all want to do something positive for the environment, and recycling your baby and kids gear is such an easy way to do so.  We've learned to do so with our plastic and glass bottles and newspapers, why not this too?  Plus, we've made it really simple to do on reCrib. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your post: 

• Be as descriptive as possible. In this case, too much info is a good thing.  
• Please list any imperfections, so the buyer is in the know.  Don't worry, we all have our flaws!
• Don't be shy to say how much you love the item.  It may be contagious.
• Take multiple images of your item (show any defects).  
• Be realistic. List your item at the lowest price you are comfortable selling it for.
• Be flexible. If the item doesn't sell after a period of time, try lowering the price. 

Hope to see you (or really, your gear) on reCrib soon! 

About reCrib:

 reCrib is the online marketplace for the best, gently used baby and kids gear – the must-have cribs, beds, changing tables, dressers, strollers, highchairs, bouncy seats, bicycles, and more.

 reCrib.com is for people who want the highest quality – design and brands – for their kids, at the best value, and for those who want to sell the items they no longer use.

That’s exactly how the idea for reCrib was born. Parents Daniel & Michelle Lehmann were clearing out the gear their two kids outgrew, and were surprised to find there wasn’t a go-to online marketplace for used kids gear. With reCrib, Daniel and Michelle have created an easy-to-use site for parents to buy and sell the best gear around, world-renowned brands and the coolest and most popular designs.

It’s smart and simple. Recycle your stuff, reclaim your space, recoup your costs. Why wouldn’t you