Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

How Much Should You Pay for Used Cloth Diapers?

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How much should you pay for used cloth diapers?
How much should you expect to get for them if you’re the seller?

Buyers want deals and sellers want fair value, so knowing the re-sale value is very important. Exactly how do you determine the price of a used cloth diaper? Two years ago, I started working on a guide for pricing used cloth diapers to help out buyers and sellers. Then came Mary Kate and I put it on the back burner. This summer, it was finally done!

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from buying and selling diapers for more than seven years it’s this – there’s no generally accepted pricing gauge. Some people refuse to pay more than 50% of the retail value, but many others are perfectly happy with shelling out 75% or more for something they really want. Either way, you are still saving money! Factors like closure types and colors can greatly affect perceived value, too.

My new pricing guide is based mainly on averages, just to give you a general idea of re-sale value.

But first, a few pointers:

SELLER TIPS

  • Be prepared to get low ball offers and don’t be offended. This happens no matter what you’re selling – used diapers or a used car!
  • Be willing to go lower as time goes by. Do you really want to keep storing the diapers?
  • Consider throwing in a small freebie to tempt buyers.

BUYER TIPS

  • Be knowledgeable about what you are buying, and use the current market for leverage (i.e. “Would you consider taking less for Diaper X because they were just discontinued and are now on clearance at most retailers?”)
  • Ask questions no matter what condition the diapers are described as being in. Even if it says “excellent condition” I will inquire about elastics, staining, etc.
  • Know when to buy new. Sometimes, the asking price is so close to retail that you might as well go ahead and get something brand new. You’ll likely also get free shipping and rewards points to boot. And don’t forget Black Friday; the deals on new diapers are amazing – sometimes more than 50% off!

Without further ado, here’s my pricing guide. Bookmark it because I’ll keep it updated! If you would like to dispute a price/value, please contact me. Thanks for your help!

 

Is It Worth It to Cloth Diaper Just One Child?

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Is cloth diapering worth the time and effort if you’ll only be using them for one child? Yes, I think so, and here’s why.

Even if you only diaper one child in cloth, you will keep thousands of dirty diapers out of landfills. And you will still reap big financial benefits. Enter your unique numbers into the Thirsties Calculator; you could realize up to $2,000 (or more) in savings.

You might ask, “What about the water and energy I’ll use washing the diapers?” I’ve got that question answered here.

And after your cloth diapers have served their purpose, you can still re-sell and get some money back. Can’t do that with disposables! One way you can maximize your money savings if only cloth diapering one child is to buy used. That way, you’ll save significantly on your start-up costs.

And there are still a few MORE reasons that most families are really happy they choose cloth, no matter what their family size:

  • Your cloth diapering experience can help other families who have questions or need support.
  • Cloth diapers are adorable, beautiful, stunning, (insert your adjective of choice) and just plain fun to collect purchase.
  • You will meet new friends and broaden your horizons by being a part of the cloth diapering community.
  • Cloth diapers have helped out a lot of babies who were sensitive, or allergic, to disposables.
  • Cloth diapering families help support other families and small businesses with their purchases.

So while it is true that the benefits multiply for each child that uses your diapers, never forget that even a single diaper change makes a positive impact!

What are some reasons that you’re happy you gave cloth a try?

 

 

 

 

 

This content was previously published at the Kelly Wels blog and has been updated.