sub title: Pottery Barn taste on a garage sale budget, or, why I hate Babies ‘R Us.
Sometimes I think this baby’s first words will be “Wow, mom, you got a great deal on this stroller!” because, well, I did get a great deal on that stroller.
Lots of people have had babies. Like, lots. 100% of our parents did it. This works out pretty well for those of us who come along after others are done having their babies. Turns out, those lots of people have already bought the stuff you’re looking for, and they don’t need it anymore. Hallelujah!
Like all dutiful preggos do at some point, I took a trip to a baby superstore (where apparently they don’t sell babies, but rather, baby gear. bummer.) and began inspecting the goods. Getting the stroller off the shelf and trying to fold it up, seeing the stuff in person and picturing our nugget drooling all over it, and having an idea of what our family lifestyle ‘con bebe’ will look like made it a very productive trip. Notes were taken and much knowledge and advice was passed from friend S and her growing-so-quickly little one, L. I’ve talked before about how much junk there is available for purchase in the baby industry (which, again, doesn’t actually produce babies), but I have to say, it wasn’t as daunting as I thought it would be. I left the store informed, massive product list in hand.
Enter: l’internet (French for ‘the internet’. Original, oui?). I promptly compared the baby superstore prices with other listings of the same product. My findings:
Chicco Cortina Travel System in Discovery (color):
Babies R Us: $299 (before tax)
Ebay: $215 (free shipping)
Craigslist: $150 (pick up only)
Kidsline ‘Bunny Meadow’ Nursery Bedding:
Babies R Us: $175 (before tax)
Ebay: $115 (free shipping)
Craigslist: $55 for the bumper and comforter (pick up only)
Graco Pack & Play in Brentwood:
Babies R Us: $120 (before tax)
Ebay: $140 (free shipping) *ok, so it’s not always cheaper*
Craigslist: $75 (pick up only)
Look at those savings! Can I get an amen?! Not to mention that babies aren’t actually babies for very long (surprise!) which means some of the gear that is listed as “used” might as well have the subtext “only for the last 8 months”. Preach it, sister!
This one though, this one is the Denny’s grand slam of Craigslisting:
Da Vinci Anastasia Convertable Crib – Oak:
Babies R Us: $399 (before tax)
Ebay: $319 (free shipping)
…wait for it…
…wait for it…
Craigslist: $250 and it comes with the matching dresser/changing table – FREE! (Dresser costs $450 at Babies R Us)
Heavens above! Does that mean you got almost all of your amazing-looking nursery furniture for $250 dollars? Let me think about it…
Yes. Yes, that is what that means.
We’ll be picking up the furniture set this afternoon, so obviously these pictures aren’t of our nursery. Nonetheless, I can hardly contain one, enthusiastic “Praise Jesus!”
Now THAT’S some bargain shopping if I ever saw it!
Wow, that is amazing Allison!!!!! That is so exciting!! I am so going to look at Craigslist when it gets time for us to buy all this stuff. Or maybe I’ll just start looking now… :)
Way to go – Craigslisting got us a ton of baby stuff too. My Medella breastpump being my husband’s first Craigslist purchase. He even went to talk with the previous owner how funny is that?!