Important Information for tagging and pricing.....

At TOT TRADE you have choices....for now! Do what is easiest and best for you!
You have the choice to....

We do request that you choose ONE way that you do your cards. Processing of the cards is delayed when consignors use both methods of pricing their items.

1. Use our online bar-coded tagging system. Only 110 cardstock paper is accepted (works best and is most widely available). No 'regular' printing paper will be accepted. This is for your safety....tags done on anything other than the cardstock paper will easily rip and tear. (please review the merchandise preparation instructions below) Tags must be entered by NOON on Monday, March 15th, 2010.  

2.  Use our tagging template. It's easy and fun too! (keep in mind all tagging requirements below apply when using our tagging template so please review the instructions provided below.) Only 110 cardstock paper is accepted. No 'regular' printing paper will be accepted. This is for your safety....tags done on anything other than the cardstock paper will easily rip and tear. (please review the merchandise preparation instructions below)

3. Hand write your tags - We will accept any handwritten cards this season but we strongly encourage our consignors to use the online tagging system we provide. Soon the online tagging will be mandatory. Give it a try....its easy and even fun! Thank you for understanding. Only 3x5 index cards will be accepted, nothing else. Any color is accepted.
                                                  
If you choose to handwrite your own tags, follow the directions below.

Masking Tape  REQUIRED: : As an extra way to secure the return of your unsold items should a tag be lost, Tot Trade is requiring that you write your consignor number only on a strip of masking tape and tape it on everything you bring to the sale. On your clothing items place the tape on the inside of your clothing garment (at the collar where the size tag is). If you have a matching set, please put the tape on both pieces. You can tape the bottom of shoes and on any flat surface of your other items. This is a requirement. Please make sure you do this with all your items, even if they are in bags. With our increase in consignors it is inevitable that sometimes tags will come off, Tot Trade just wants to always return items to consignors when tags are lost. This just gives us another way to identify your items. This system works great and greatly reduces the number of items with missing tags and keeps the LOST TAG section to a minimum.  

Safety Pin: Only a one inch or larger safety pin is accepted. Tiny pins do not stay closed. Attach pin vertically, up and down, in the center of the card. We will have you put the correct sized pin on your items and will also have you re-pin them if they are not pinned correctly.

PRICING: YOU SET THE PRICE! Price to sell keeping in mind the quality, name brand and condition of your items. TOT TRADE suggests starting at 1/3 of the original price. Price your items in $1.00 increments. No .50, .99 please. We suggest 1/2 price for your larger outside playground equipment. Please no mark through on your card. If you make a mistake, use a new card, or whiteout. If you use the online tagging system, remember the information is held in the barcode. Do not mark through those cards. This is for your protection. All cards must be legible. TOT TRADE reserves the right to price any item that doesn't have a price.

The most helpful advice we can suggest to you for pricing is...

• "Shoppers aren't going to pay for your memories." Don't overprice your items because of sentimental attachment. 

• If you are unsure of how to price your larger items i.e.. furniture, outdoor play equipment, prepare your card, leave the price blank until drop off and one of our trained staff will help you determine a "winning" price for your item. We observe that many times, consignors will "short change" themselves on outdoor play equipment. Let us help!

• We highly recommend you let your items discount. If priced "fairly" it's going to sell at full price anyway. The purpose of the sale is to move items out of the house, and for you to make money. Don't "out price" yourself and lose sales. Do you really want to load it back up and take it home?

• Some of you aren't going to believe this, but we see this ALOT. If you are going to donate your unsold items, PLEASE let it discount. We see this scenario alot! Give it every chance to sell before it is donated.   

$3.00 Rule: If your single hanging clothing item can't bring $3.00 on it's own, please pair it with something that will bring it to this amount. You may do groupings of "like items" (ex. shirts).  

Information on Preparing Individual Items for the sale

CLOTHES must be hung on plastic or wire hangers with the hook pointing to the left and the tag on the right shoulder if you are facing it. (Make a question mark with the hanger.) Feel free to use the wire hangers, any size, on the smaller clothing sizes as well. Wire hangers take up less room on the racks. We actually prefer them. Please group all clothing items by size and gender for easier inspection and placement at drop off.

SHOES must be tied in pairs by shoelaces, not boxed. Laces and shoes must be in excellent condition. Attach tag with a LARGE safety pin, ribbon or zip-tie through shoelace eyes. The appearance of our shoe area is important to us. Shoes will simply not sell unless they are in impeccable condition. We are specifically looking for Spring/Summer dress and casual shoes for this seasons sale. Limit of 4 pair per size. Group these items together for drop off. Bring only your best.

LOOSE ITEMS must be in clear Ziploc type bags with the tag attached to the OUTSIDE of the bag with a safety pin. Be sure to identify each item on your index card in case the ziploc bag gets opened so we can identify the items that belong together. Please group these items together for drop off.

TOYS, NURSERY/KID FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT must be in working order (batteries included) and clean.  Small parts should be bagged and taped to the main part very securely.  Use HEAVY tape.  A packers tape is the best, most others will not hold. Batteries must be included with all battery operated items. (Pick these up at the Dollar Tree) Please group all "like" items together. No stuffed animals will be accepted unless they walk and talk. No exceptions. They will be pulled from the sales floor and donated. Build-A-Bear and Webkinz are accepted. 

PAJAMAS - We have determined that pajamas, all sizes, do sell better on hangers. Do not bag any pajama's.

CLOTHING SETS Pin sets securely with pants hung on the backside of the shirt and pinned at the waist on the hanger. (both pieces can be viewed without unpinning the garment)

Spending a little "extra" time getting your items ready will mean more $$$'s for you. Button all buttons, zip all zippers, snap all snaps, sew loose hems or seams. Items that are cleaned, ironed, and  starched, with all pieces attached, sell much better! Present them at their best!