No one should sell their stuff at this place! Have a garage sell for goodness sakes! Or try selling your REALLY nice things on Ebay!

Posted 15 Oct 2009 by hotredhead

They have to buy your used things for less so they can sell them for more, so they can make money to buy more and new things. It's the same idea as Play It Again Sports. You don't have to get the money either, you can get store credit and use that towards other items. Just because you are too cheap, doesn't mean the place isn't a good business.

Posted 15 Oct 2009 by emily907

you appearantly completely missed the point. It has nothing to do with being cheap!!! Its common sense that you obviously lack! If their USED stuff is more than NEW stuff at walmart and freddys then its a bad business. I assume you work there and thats why your defending it. I get and im sure hotredhead does too that they have to make a profit, BUT giving garage sale prices for things your selling over new prices is crazy. I love Play it Again... they make sense

Posted 15 Oct 2009 by afchick

I never said I worked there or shopped there for that matter. I bring my stuff in and occasionally will buy something if they have a good price. I am a stay at home mom. If you don't think that they are a good business, then take your business elsewhere. There are plenty of people who enjoy the things they have and are going to keep them in business. Also, if you think they are bad business people then go check out Play It Again and realize its the SAME people running it. They are just starting out and when you start a business you have to make a profit to make it in a small town like Fairbanks. If you don't make a profit, you fail. Like I said, don't give them your business if you don't like how they operate, but don't say they aren't a good business because you ARE cheap. Oh, and where are you going to find garage sales in winter? You are definitely in the small percent of people in town who don't like this store. I'm done debating this.

Posted 16 Oct 2009 by emily907

The thing about Once Upon a Child, and any consignment store, is that they're offering YOU a service. You may get confused and think that you're the one offering them the service since they're paying you for your goods, but you're paying them by selling them the goods for cheaper than you could get on your own.

You're paying them for the convenience they offer. It's very convenient if you don't want to go through the hassle of posting an ad in the paper and then waiting for someone to contact you, or god forbid on Craigslist then having to deal with all the people who never follow through after contacting you. It's also very convenient if you just don't want to wait until summer to have a garage sale.

I recently purchased a stroller from them. They were asking $80 for a stroller that easily costs $125 when new. They gave me 10 dollars for my originally $40 stroller which was too small for me to comfortably use. I ended up paying $70 dollars for a used $125 stroller that had no visible wear on it. Very good deal if you ask me. The deals are there... you just need to find them.

In closing, I don't think they're a bad business. People may not like selling their items for the prices they're asking, but they're not forcing you to sell to them. I personally hate the hassle that comes with selling things on my own and am thankful for the service they offer.

Posted 16 Oct 2009 by reddanak

I think their business idea is great. i agree that some items are a little over priced. but yes, they do need to make money. go there and find the good deals. and buy the other things you need new at walmart and freddys if their prices are lower.
i think this business will do well in the winter... but garage sales might hurt their business in the summer.
i do like to shop here for good deals, so i hope they stay open, and price their items well.

Posted 11 Mar 2010 by tivvylyn