Knowing how we assess items helps you bring your best box — and earn the most for it. We're taking less and being choosier, so a few minutes with this page before you pack can save you a trip.
The 30-Second Check
Hold each item up in natural light and ask:
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Would I buy this preloved? If not, leave it at home.
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Is the fabric smooth? No pilling or fuzzing.
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Does it hold its shape? No stretched necklines, cuffs, or waistbands; no thinned knees.
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Is it clean? No stains, odours, pet hair, or yellowing.
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Is it complete? Pyjamas in matching sets, toys with all their pieces.
If it passes all five, it's probably a great fit for us.
Condition Tiers
| New with Tags |
Never worn, original tags still attached. Maximum payout. |
| New without Tags |
Tags removed, but genuinely unworn. Maybe your kid tried it on once and staged a protest. We get it. |
| Excellent / Like New |
Worn a handful of times. No signs of wear, staining, or pilling. |
| Good Used |
Gently used with very light wear or small, unnoticeable marks. Still plenty of life left. |
| Play Condition |
Structurally sound, with visible marks or stains from actual childhood. Daycare happens. Craft time happens.
✅ Quality outerwear (Patagonia, MEC, Reima, etc.): yes, please. That stained jacket is the perfect daycare choice for a lot of families.
⚖️ Boutique brands: assessed individually, and may earn a reduced payout.
❌ Box-store brands: please don't bring these. |
What We Do Not Accept
Condition
- Pilled, fuzzy, or worn fabric
- Stretched, misshapen, or shrunk items (including bodysuits)
- Thinned or worn-through knees
- Stained or damaged box-store items
- Pyjamas that aren't a complete, matching set
- Items with excessive pet hair or odour
Categories & brands
- Box-store bodysuits (Carter's, Costco, George, and similar). There are simply too many of them out there.
- Rococo bodysuits
- Unlabeled sleepwear (this goes directly to textile recycling)
- Hand-knit items
- Flannel receiving blankets
- Underwear
- Unidentified fabric pieces. If we can't tell what it is, we can't sell it.
- Shein, Temu, PatPat, or similar fast-fashion bulk
- Maternity clothing from unbranded or fast-fashion sources
Safety
- Carriers without safety labels or from unknown brands
- Items with known safety recalls
Toys & Books
We're extra picky here. Many toys are the "I paid way too much for this" item, and sadly that doesn't mean they'll sell well secondhand.
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Toys: boutique-quality, open-ended pieces (think Grimm's, Sarah's Silks, Janod, PlanToys). Clean, complete, and with no missing parts.
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Books: great titles with intact covers and pages. No writing, tears, or water damage.
Not sure? Send us a photo before you bring it in.
Cleaning & Presentation
The better an item is presented, the better your offer. Please bring items:
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Freshly laundered: no odours, no pet hair, no yellowing. If it's been in storage 6+ months, wash it again.
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Spot-checked: look at it in natural light before packing it up.
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Laid flat or folded once in half: not crumpled, not origami-folded.
- Buttons, zippers, and snaps done up.
Items needing cleaning may get a reduced payout or be declined.
Box-Store Brands: Pricing Rubric
This is our framework for standard box-store brands that meet our condition standards. Boutique brands are priced individually.
Item Type |
Est. Resale |
Your Buyout |
Unacceptable (stained, pilled, damaged) |
— |
$0.00 |
Shirts, socks, hats |
$1.00 |
$0.10 |
Sweaters, leggings, specialty basics |
$2.00 |
$0.60 |
Jeans, sleepwear, shorts, dresses |
$3.00 |
$0.90 |
Rompers, kid pants, fleece sleepers |
$3.45 |
$1.00 |
Dresses, sweaters, rompers |
$4.15 |
$1.25 |
Jeans, button shirts |
$4.95 |
$1.49 |
Kids bonus items |
$5.95 |
$1.79 |
Box-store sizes 3–18 months move slowly. We'll still accept them in excellent condition, but expect reduced offers in this range.
What We Love to See
We're building Prince George's best curated preloved collection, one that helps families build real wardrobes for their kids. We especially love:
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Made in Canada: Little & Lively, ROWE, Parade Organics, Mini Mioche, Jax & Lennon, and others
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European & Scandinavian: Wheat, Reima, Noppies, Souris Mini, Deux par Deux
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Premium boutique: Kyte Baby, Loulou Lollipop, Jamie Kay, Rylee & Cru, Pehr, Tea Collection, Jan & Jul, Ivivva, Perlim Pin Pin, Peekaboo Beans
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Outdoor & technical: MEC, Patagonia, The North Face, Columbia, Helly Hansen, Stonz, Hunter, Bogs, Kamik (play condition welcome!)
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Tween-friendly adult clothing: did your kid under 14 wear it? Then yes.
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Well-cared-for box-store basics in timeless styles: Gap, H&M, Zara, Bonds, OshKosh, especially sizes 2Y and up in solids, dresses, sleepers, and leggings
- Great books and boutique-quality toys
Thank you for helping us keep Nest & Sprout full of things families truly love. 💚
