Mom2Mom Sale? More like Mom2Mom Fail!
In an effort to start saving for a trip to Disney World in the year 2020, I have ventured into the world of Mom2Mom sales on Facebook. Yes, I know what you might be thinking – 2020? Isn’t that a long way away? Do you really think you can earn enough money to go to the Happiest Place on Earth by selling used muslin blankets? Let me start by explaining that we have a bigger family; I will be taking six people. If there is one thing I have learned from Disney regulars is that you can pay for convenience when you are there. Let me assure you, I am not crazy enough to think that I will earn all of my Disney2020 money through Mom2Mom sales, but I figure starting early enough can make a small dent along with other saving that I am doing.
The world of Mom2Mom seems intimidating and mysterious. PPU, EUC, NWT, NWOT, Smoke-Free, Pet-Free, WTH? (I had to look up most of these abbreviations.) I have a friend who is a Mom2Mom sale queen, so I got some good advice from her and asked around to find out which groups I should join. Finally, I took pictures of my first items to sell (Boppy pillows, for those of you with inquiring minds), and I was off to the races.
It’s been a couple of months, so I am obviously an expert now. As such, I am here to share what I have learned from my own Mom2Mom sale fails.
I need to buy a heavier door mat. This seems like an odd thing, right? Well, if you are into the PPU (porch pick up, for those of you unfamiliar with the lingo), this is worth its weight in gold. Literally. The very first thing I sold was a pink Boppy Pillow. I told the lady buying it that she could leave the money under the mat. Unfortunately, I didn’t consider that I had my cheap (read: light) Christmas mat out on my porch. Combine that with a breezy day, and eventually, one of the neighbor kids will hit the jackpot when they find my money.
I should not ask my partner for help. When I was out of town, someone FINALLY contacted me about a swing I had posted. It was my big-ticket item at twenty whole dollars so I wanted to make sure it sold. I asked my partner, Rob, to put it on the porch before he went to work. Needless to say, the buyer was messaging me from my driveway asking where the swing was. Thank goodness for a reliable babysitter! I gave you one job, Rob. One job!
I have no idea what people want. There have been somethings that I thought were shoo-ins to sell that never did. Christmas dresses in early December did not move. And there were other things that I thought were an absolute crapshoot and had a ton of interest. I didn’t know that muslin blankets and swaddles were so popular. People are also willing to drive really far for stuff. I had a lovely lady drive 40 minutes for a pair of toddler boots. Sure she may have been in the area already, but still. That’s some excellent momming. I still want to know why no one wants my new, in package, Tommee Tippee bottle nipples. Those things are like $5.99 at the store – I was selling them for $1.
I keep it small – no more than three items posted at a time. I get competitive with myself, so I have to be careful that I don’t post my kids’ entire toy box just so I can meet my savings goal. By limiting myself to three items at a time, I make sure that I won’t get overwhelmed by all of those sales.
I am a porch pick up person. I need to keep it as easy for myself as possible. In the beginning, I was offering to meet people during my cross-town commute. I thought that having the extra markets to sell in would be helpful. After one too many frustrating stops at Starbucks or Belle Tire that was “just off the highway,” I will be sticking to sales of convenience. Sorry to all you ladies on the Eastside who would otherwise be interested in the wares that I will be shilling.
I have yet to venture into Mom2Mom purchases. I have seen some items that would have been great, like a really cute pair of ladybug rain boots, but I have yet to post that I am interested in something. That will probably be phase two. Just need to figure out how I can bank those savings into my Disney2020 fund!
Anyone else Mom2Mom? What tips and tricks do you have for me? Any secret Mom2Mom groups that you can invite me to join?
Mom2Mom Sale Fail
