Where can I sign up?
Our sign-up form for the autumn sale can be found here
I am already signed up as a seller and would like more tickets, how can I get them?
You can request more tickets here
What kind of items can I sell?
Please do not put anything into the sale which you would not be happy to give to a child of your own, we are not able to check every item that is brought to the sale, so ask that you read and observe the guidance below carefully.
- We can accept preloved baby’s, children’s and maternity clothes, toys, baby and nursery equipment.
- Prams, pushchairs and buggies can only be accepted for sale if they carry a permanent safety mark.
- We reserve the right not to display items that are of poor quality. These will be removed from the sale and put aside for collection at the end of the sale.
- We do not accept
- items which are not fit for purpose (eg, poor condition clothing, broken toys, incomplete sets and puzzles)
- clothes with a drawstring
- hand-knitted toys
- sit in baby walkers on wheels
- mains electrical goods (battery-operated ones are fine)
- cot mattresses
We are unable to insure items which do not belong to us and as a result sellers should note that all items are entered at your own risk.
Occassionally tickets become seperated from goods, we do everything we can to reconnect them and have a lost property section at the end which you should check on your way out.
How do I prepare my items for sale?
We will send out full guidance on pricing up your items after sign-up but here’s some headline for reference now
- We will send you labels by email to attach to your items for sale
- You will need a printer to print out these labels. If you do not have your own printer we recommend visiting a local library as they often have printing facilties
- Items can be sold individually or in bundles.
- Toys with loose parts should be placed in clear, well sealed bags.
- Please check all games and jigsaws are complete and seal boxes. Then mark the ticket COMPLETE so the buyer knows they have been checked. If there is anything missing please clearly mark that on the item/label.
- Clothing bundles can be safety pinned together or put them in clear bags. This helps people to see what they are buying.
- Things sell better if they are clean and pressed.
Do you have any advice on pricing items for the sale?
The price for the item is totally up to you, but please remember that the item is second hand and people are looking for bargains.
Sometimes it’s better to put on a lower price than to get the item back. A good guideline is to name a price that you would be willing to pay yourself.
How much does it cost to sell items at the sale?
We aim to keep costs for sellers as low as possible whilst still ensuring we are able to make a profit for our wonderful charities. We charge per item for sale and then a small commission after certain takings thresholds, this is inline with other sales such as the NCT. All of our profits after operating costs go to local children’s charities.
The ticket costs are detailed below:
| No. of Tickets | Price |
|---|---|
| 50 | £19.00 |
| 60 | £22.50 |
| 70 | £26.00 |
| 80 | £29.50 |
| 90 | £33.00 |
| 100 | £36.50 |
Commission is charged at 10% above the following thresholds.
| Number of Tickets Purchased | Commission Thresholds |
|---|---|
| 50 | £25 |
| 60 | £30 |
| 70 | £35 |
| 80 | £40 |
| 90 | £45 |
| 100 | £50 |
When do I drop off my items?
Items can be dropped off at Polwarth Parish Church between 6.30pm and 8pm, the evening before the sale. We do not have any storage facilties so are unable to accept anything before this time.
When must I collect my unsold items?
Unsold goods must be collected between 1:45pm and 2:15pm on the day of the sale. We hire the church for a set number of hours and must return it as we found it within a very short turnaround hence the short pick-up period.
We do not have any storage, and are therefore unable to store anything after the sale.
Please do not enter the church before 1:45pm – this is for the security of everyone’s items.
Please check your items before you uplift them as they occassionally can get mixed up with other people’s. Please also check the ‘lost property’ table at the exit for misplaced items or items where the label has fallen off.
Failure to collect your items will result in you not being allowed to sell at future Polwarth Pre-Loved Sales and the proceeds from the sale being held back until your items have been collected.
Can I donate unsold clothes?
Generally yes. We have been lucky in recent sales to have Kids Love Clothes join us at the end of the sale to collect unsold clothing. We will keep our social media updated to advise if Kids Love Clothes will be there.
Note you must return to pick up your items to hand them over to Kids Love Clothes.
When will I receive my proceeds?
We aim to total all proceeds and make payment within 2 weeks of the sale. Please be patient with us, the committee are a team of 5 full time working parents and as a result we are not able to turn things around any faster.
I don’t want to be a seller, do you accept donations?
Yes, we welcome donations! Please drop off your items on the Friday afternoon and evening before the sale at Polwarth Parish Church. To ensure all items find a home and avoid landfill, please consider the following:
Acceptable Items:
- Preloved baby, children’s, and maternity clothes
- Toys
- Baby and nursery equipment
Items Not Accepted:
- Poor condition clothing or broken toys
- Clothes with drawstrings
- Hand-knitted toys
- Sit-in baby walkers on wheels
- Mains electrical goods (battery-operated items are fine)
- Cot mattresses
- Prams, pushchairs, buggies, or bicycles not in good repair
- Car/bumper seats
Please only donate items you would be happy to give to a child of your own, as we cannot inspect every item. Thank you for your support!