Let me go through some of the things I see and I know have been experienced. I hope this information will help you survive the second hand trade and get the best value for your money.
1. Know the product you are buying.
Are all the right pieces with the nappy?
This is so important. I constantly see parents with nappies and they cannot make sense of them. I have discovered, often the wrong pieces are sold with a nappy. Basically, a seller takes a cover and adds random boosters or inserts to it. Suddenly the nappy does not work as well, or the inserts don't fit properly.
I have seen our ruffle cubs sold with one rectangle booster insert and the combination called a nappy. It is not, and it will not work very well. Sadly, from my perspective, this then reflects badly on our brand as the unknowing parent believes they have 'tried' our products. This goes for any brands. A nappy is a combination of the cover design and the absorbency.
I have also seen our nappies sold as the nappy, and the second booster (which comes with the nappy standard), pulled out and sold like its an extra piece. So the listing would read for example '5 Baby Bare nappies PLUS 5 extra boosters'. You get the idea with where I am going - Make sure you know what you are buying!
My Advice: Before you buy something, make sure you know what you should be getting. If a nappy (for example our AI2) comes with two inserts, do not settle for the seller keeping one for them self and just selling you the snap in. Nappies are designed to work based on how they are sold.
Which version of a nappy are you getting? Is it a second or faulty?
Identify the product. I have seen people selling nappies we sold as seconds for more then they ever retailed in our store. Likewise I have seen nappies described as newer then they could possibly be, or a wrong version of the nappy. This is really sad, but it happens. Whether its on purpose or not, you are still paying for something that is not accurately described or for more then it was ever worth.
My advice: Ask the seller if they are seconds or have any faults. Do not assume because its being sold second hand that its cheaper.
2. Get Photos
Elastics? Stains? Pilling? Smells? Many of these factors you cannot see in photos (or they can be hidden). But you can get a good idea about the condition. Make sure you see pictures of a nappy inside and out. Unfortunately smells are very difficult to photograph, so you may not know about these until they arrive. I have heard of, and been told about plenty of nappies that have gone straight from the post to the bin because of the putrid condition they arrive in.
My advice: Ask for photos and ask specific questions about marks, stains, smells etc. This may give you a come back if you need to make a PayPal claim. Do not assume every one treats their nappies with the same love you do.
3. Check the price - are you getting a bargain?
Can you get it on sale cheaper? Or for just slightly more?
The RRP on a product may be $25. But if you can get that item on sale for less, you should factor that into the second hand price. We are currently running a sale with our nappies at $16. During this sale I saw a mum be sold 5 of our nappies for more then the current sale price.
Will the cost of postage outweigh the savings?
Many business subsidise postage. We certainly do. We charge a flat rate $5 on post. Sometimes when you pay the full postage rate (say $13 on 3 nappies for a 3 kg satchel, thats $8 more), you are getting much closer to the price of brand new nappies. Keep this in mind, especially if you are buying from multiple sellers. Think if you buy from 2 sellers that postage is double. You may be able to find several brands in a retail shop and pay a lot less post. For example Apikali sells a range of brands and postage is only $5!
4. Consider what you lose buying second hand and factor it into the price
I am often asked what someone should expect to pay for one of our nappies second hand. My advice is, a nappy is worth to you what you feel the drop in value has been considering the following:
- You have no warranty. So even on a brand new nappy, excellent condition nappy, nappy that was worn once or twice - there is no warranty. If a snap falls off, if stitching comes undone, you have no warranty.
- You do not know the history of the nappy (whats it been washed in, was it bleached to make it look cleaner for selling. What stains, smells etc does it have)
- The nappies won't last forever. Some of the use is already gone. Like a car, they have a life of so many km's - so consider part of that life and use has already occurred.
- It is a used item. As such, it is immediately worth less.
So if you are saving just a few dollars a nappy, then adding in postage, then adding in the risk associated with the fact it may not arrive as described - what is the real value? Determine what you think the real value is and stick to it.
5. Pay with PayPal
Do not pay direct deposit unless you know the person. This bit is in bold. Once you put money into someones bank account its gone. Think of the extra small amount of money you may pay to cover PayPal fees as insurance. Getting a PayPal account is extremely easy. If someone says they don't have one, well find someone else to buy from.
PayPal will help you if your item does not arrive, if its not as described (hence why you need to ask all the questions before you buy it about condition etc) and they will give you your money back if you can show it is not as described.
We all like to think other mum's are like us - fair, generous, honest. The sad truth is, they are not. I have seen numerous scammers, I've been scammed myself. It hurts - financially and emotionally. It is not limited to business because I've seen even the most savvy, cloth nappy connoisseurs admit to having been had by a seller. So please, protect yourself and your money. I am so sad when I see mum's tricked into buying nappies (or anything) that is unuseable, dirty or not as you thought.
So there you have it. In a nutshell:
- Be Informed.
- Determine a fair value based on RRP, condition of the product, no warranty & post costs.
- Pay with PayPal
Enjoy Shopping with these little thoughts under your belt,
Jenny
