Looking for stylish clothes, popular toys, high quality books, baby gear and kids’ room décor, all at deeply discounted prices? Welcome to September – basically the Super Bowl for bargain savvy shoppers in the market for gently used clothing, accessories and gear tailored for the tween and under set.
This year, consignment sale season in Vestavia Hills kicks off with Kids’ Korner Consignment Sale, benefitting Mountain Chapel Preschool, and is followed by two-dat events at Mountaintop Community Church and Vestavia Hills United Methodist.
To help you map out your fall consignment sale shopping, we’ve collected a handy reference guide for the sales taking place in our city.
Kids Korner
Where: Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church
When: Wednesday, Sept. 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; 5-8 p.m. (half off of select items)
Market on the Mountain
Where: Mountaintop Community Church
Student Center (Formerly the Family Life Center)
When: Friday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (select items 25 percent off)
Whale of a Sale
Where: Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church
Lighthouse Gym
When: Thursday, Sept. 25, 5-9 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 26, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
(select items 50 percent off noon-2 p.m.)
Tips for consignment shopping
- Use the early part of the month to make your “wish list.” What items do you need the most? By the second week of the month, you should be ready to grab your shopping bags, your wish list and your checkbook.
- Plan to invest extra time in studying your items before you approach the register. “Gently used” is a subjective term. While it is a matter of practice for most consignment sale organizers to carefully screen and reject any items that are out of style, stained or in otherwise poor quality, some items inevitably slip through.
- Do your research on each sale’s shopping rules. For example, some allow shoppers to use strollers and laundry baskets, whereas others do not. Payment policies also vary. Know in advance which sales accept credit cards and which ones are cash or check only.
