Buyer beware

This past week had me thinking about recalls. I was shopping with my nephew in one of those 2nd hand stores that people donate to for charity. I can't remember which one it actually was, but we went into a Savers, Goodwill AND Salvation Army that day looking for Harry Potter books. Any way, as we were heading up to the check out counter, I looked at some of their baby gear. They had a bumbo that was recalled. No big deal, I let the guy know at the counter and went on with my day.

Later that night I started to think:

1. Did that guy really listen to me when I told him it was recalled? Did he take it off the shelf?
2. What if someone had bought it before I told him? 
3. And how many of recalled baby items were sitting on their floor?

Being a 2nd hand store manager and a buyer, we check every item that comes in. If something is recalled, we tell the person it was recalled and give it back. Some items, like the bumbo, I can easily get the recall piece for. Others, like a drop side crib, we don't take the risk. Some people have no idea their item was recalled.

I took a short survey of mothers in a few of the groups I am in on Facebook. A lot of them don't look up recalls for their items. Granted, most of them do register their big ticket items and should get contacted if there was a recall. Many admitted that if they were selling their item (to a 2nd hand store or donating) they don't look up any recalls for it.

After reading some of the responses, it made me think..

Facebook market place is a popular place to sell baby equipment. Do people keep track of recalls if they are selling it online? Do people do their research before buying something online?

So, I'd like to take a moment to share a few ways as to our we find out if a product is recalled. 

I literally google it. I will type in Bumbo Recall into the google search and it will tell me what, if any, recalls there are. Usually it will take me to the Bumbo website where I can request a recall piece to fix the issue, sometimes it will take me to the .gov websites that list all.

If there is a year on the item, like a stroller, I will type in 2011 BOB Jogger Recall.

We check recalls.gov often too. This site allows you to sign up for emails, which we get too, that list the most recent recalls on all items. 

If you shop in our store, or any other Children's Orchard nation wide, we check and double check our toys and equipment to make sure they haven't been recalled. Even some clothes and shoes have been recalled. Please be extra careful buying from other places or online. Most people are honest and would never knowingly put someone's child in danger, but some people don't care or are just trying to make a quick buck.

If you have any helpful tips for people concerning recalls, please feel free to comment below!

Note: this isn't meant to make anyone feel like they aren't doing everything they can to keep their child safe. It is being written because of what I have seen recently at other 2nd hand stores and on Facebook market place. 

Online shopping/ Stores closing

Last night, while watching T.V., I saw multiple ads for online shopping. While I was watching the commercials, I was also on Facebook reading how everyone is sad that stores are closing.

As a someone who works in a small business, a brick and mortar business, I can tell you exactly why stores are closing.

We have become too reliant on online shopping. I know, I shop on Amazon too! However, because I work in a store, I force myself to go to a few stores before turning to Amazon. 

If we continue to shop online, we will continue to see stores closing. And what happens when stores close? We lose jobs!

Please do my store a favor. Shop in stores! Shop small, local businesses. Support your neighbors who own businesses. 

The Children's Orchard franchise once had 100 stores nation wide, we are down to less than 30. Stores are closing left and right for us, and other stores! 

Think of stores as being on the endangered species list. Pretty soon we will be extinct, if we don't do something about it. Please, shop in small stores like us!

From a grandmother's perspective (Stephanie): It's a good learning experience for children to be out in stores. It is a good place to teach them how to behave in public. If we don't teach them, no one will. It helps them learn how to interact with people: have eye contact, speak with adults or other children. We can teach them to respect other people's property.

America's Stonehenge, Salem NH

Monday, right before the new school year started, we visited America's Stonehenge in Salem NH.

Prices: $12 for adults, $7.50 for 6-12 year olds, $10 for seniors, Free for under 5. (some libraries have FREE passes!)

My sister-in-law brought her 3 kids (8,5, and 3) plus another 8 year old. This was the perfect outing! Educational, hiking, and fun all wrapped up together!

The kids all loved the Kid's Gemstone Dig. Here the kids dug in the dirt to find pretty rocks, which they were allowed to take 3 home each. Any other artifacts had to be left on the bench. We spent a good chunk of our visit digging in the dirt.
 

After the kids finished their digging for gemstones, we started a little hike to the different sites:

 

 

We got to view the ruins and explore. There was an informational sheet that explained each site.

We found a rock that said Share A Smile, each of the kids HAD to share a smile! :)

 

 

After hiking around the place, going off on different paths that followed the sun sets during times of the year, we ended with the Sun dial.

All in all, we had a very fun visit. We will defiantly be visiting again! We highly recommend this place for any age, but keep in mind it is a lot of walking. We should have used the back pack carrier for the 3 year old, next time we will make sure we bring it!

Online Selling?

Are you selling your children's stuff online? Facebook groups, craigslist, even yard sales are a lot more work for less money! Did you know, you could easily bring your child's clothes, toys and equipment to us and get money right then and there?

I have spoken with friends who sell online or at yard sales, and I have also sold at both. Here are a few things that is better when selling to The Children's Orchard!

1. Less time spent dealing with selling!  Between taking photos, posting to the numerous sites you use and waiting for people to respond or show up, selling things can take hours or days! If you brought the items to us, you could save yourself some time. We look at it when you bring it in, and let you know right then and there if we can buy it!
2. Meeting a stranger somewhere or having them come to your house can be dangerous! Selling to us is safe and convenient. We are located in a plaza with many people around plus we have only a few buyers, so you work with the same people over and over again

When you buy online:

1. You never know if the item has been recalled, unless you constantly check the list of recalled items. The Children's Orchard does that for you! We NEVER have recalled items in our store!
2. You can't return something if your child doesn't like it or it doesn't fit! Here, at the Children's Orchard, we allow you to return things! We know it's hard to shop with and for children. Kids are picky and they grow fast!
3. We go back to meeting a stranger somewhere. You never know who is placing the item online! We live in a dangerous time, why risk it?

Why waste your short time with buying and selling online? Come into our store and do both at the same time!

Support small and local businesses before they all close up!

Winter clothing...

I just want to take a moment to tell people about our winter outerwear! As you can see in the photos below, we sell used winter coats, snow pants and boots that look almost new for a fraction of the price! We carry all the great brands, from the brands selected for this blog to LL Bean, Lands End, Burton and more! You can save anywhere from $30 to $100 on certain brands! Why spend full price on a jacket that the kids will only wear a few times? Come on in and save a fortune! Plus, if you bring in ones they outgrew, we will pay you for them (we pay you a third of what we will sell them for in a check form, plus a little more in store credit). Not only do we have already discounted items, but we have at least 2 sales a month! Imagine the added discounts you can get by shopping with us!

This SPYDER 2 in 1 jacket sells for $165-$190 new, we sell it for $89.99! You save $75-100!

This Columbia snow pants sell for $75 new, we sell them for $24.99. You save $50!

These Boggs sell for about $85-$100 new, we sell them for $49.99. You save $35-$50!

These Kamik boots sell for about $70 new, we sell them for $19.99! You save $50!

Melissa and Doug Sale

I know I already posted a blog about the amazing toys that Melissa and Doug puts out, but now I want to say how great the company is!

We are a small business, part of a small franchise (about 30 total stores nation wide), and Melissa and Doug is helping us out (along with a few other small businesses). They are reducing their prices to us so we can give everyone 30% off this holiday season!

The sale runs from December 1st through December 15th!

Thank you Melissa and Doug for helping us pass on great deals to our customers! You are making some children extremely happy this holiday season!

Black Friday shopping? STOP!

Are you out fighting the crowds right now for Black Friday steals? Well, stop! We have everything you need for gifts, clothes and equipment for your child this year! We carry NEW and USED items at an amazing discount!

NEW:

• Melissa and Doug toys
• TY Beanie Boos and Teeny Ty stuffed animals
• Snow Stopper Mittens
• Hair accessories
• Clothing

USED:

• Toys
• Fisher price toys
• Cars
• Kitchen sets
• Doll houses
• Melissa and Doug toys
• Little Tikes toys
• Equipment
• exersaucers
• bouncy seats
• bumbos
• changing tables
• cribs
• strollers
• high chairs
• Clothing
• Preemie to size 12 years
• Holiday wear
• Dresses and suits
• Every day clothing
• Carters
• Abercrombie
• Gap
• Janie and Jack
• Mini Boden
• Gymboree
• American Eagle
• Nike
• Under Armour
• Shoes
• Snow wear
• Snow suits/pants
• Ski jackets
• Boots

Why stand in line at the mall when you can get amazing items right here? Not only are you helping the environment by buying resale, you are helping small businesses and the community!

On top of the already discounted items, we have sales!

Upcoming sales:

• Black Friday Weekend Sale
• November 25th through November 27th
• Pick a turkey at checkout for your discount
• 40% off, 20% off, $10 cache card or a FREE book!
• Gift Card Sale
• November 25th through December 24th
• For every $50 gift card you buy, we will give you a $10 gift card!
• Melissa and Doug Sale
• December 1st through December 15th
• 30% off all NEW Melissa and Doug toys
• Fill A Bag
• December 10th 10am to 2pm (or while supplies last)
• Fill a bag for $7 
• We will have bins separated by size and by gender and each plastic grocery bag is $7. 
  Feel free to bring your own bags. We will be selling reusable bags that can be filled as well! Reusable bags can be brought from home, price will be told once we see the size.
• If you bring 3 non-perishable food items, you will receive a larger bag to fill!
• Holiday clothing sale: details to come!