FAQ's

Are children allowed at the public sale?
Children are allowed at the sale but please keep the following in mind:

It will be VERY crowded and aisles will be narrow making it hard to maneuver strollers. Parents are asked to keep their children close. Please do not allow them to play with the toys. If your children breaks an item we will ask you to buy it (it wouldn’t be fair to our seller otherwise).

What methods of payment will you accept?
We will accept cash, local checks, visa, Mastercard, Discover, & AMEX at this sale. A valid MD driver’s license will be required for all checks. The check writer’s name and address must be pre-printed on the check. All returned checks are subject to applicable bank fees.

Who is eligible to shop the preview Sale?
Volunteers who work 4 hours may shop Friday beginning at 5 pm followed by consignors at 7 pm. In addition we have a limited number of passes available for first-time moms at 7PM. Click here to register for our first time moms pass.

Is it really worth it to volunteer for 4 hours to receive a pre-sale pass?

Definitely, we receive thousand of items for consignment at the sale.  Our Friday night pre-sale is by far our busiest time at the sale.  By volunteering, you will be able to shop the sale first between 5-7pm on Friday evening.  Lines are minimal and you have 2 hours to shop from the largest choice of items!  Many of our volunteers help out just for this benefit and it is well worth it!!

Am I permitted to bring a basket, bag or something else to fill while I shop?
You are welcome to bring a basket (laundry or other), box/bin or any bag that would not be mistaken for a shopping bag. We will be providing Large bags for your shopping convience.

Are strollers permitted?
Strollers and wagons are permitted. Please remember that our aisles will be narrow and packed with great children's items. ALL STROLLERS MUST BE CHECKED IN AT THE DOOR.

What is a children’s consignment sale?
A children’s consignment sale is a GREAT way for you to rid your home of the things your children have outgrown and earn some money. We are not a garage sale and you do not have be present during the sale to sell your items. You are consigning with us for a several days (versus a season in a traditional store). We sell items on your behalf and handle everything from the venue & advertising to merchandising and shopper payments.

How can I register to become a consignor?
If you would like to register for the upcoming sale please Click Here to register for the upcoming sale. 

How much will I earn on my items?
You will earn 50 % on all of your sold items (less a $5.00 administrative fee collected at registration). You may earn a up to 60% by becoming one of our VIP VOLUNTEERS. Click Here to Volunteer. Items are offered for sale at full price on  Friday and Saturday. Select items are offered at half price to the public Sunday. You are NOT required to sell your items at the half price sale. See consignor information pages for more information.

Why should I consign rather than sell at a garage sale?
TotSwap offers many advantages over garage sales. First, we offer over 25,000 items in all different categories under one roof. A person would have to shop garage sales all year to find what they will at one of our events. Another advantage is quality. We inspect all items prior to putting them on the sales floor. People know they will find quality, name-brand items at our sale. People are willing to pay a little more for quality, name-brand items they will know they will find in excellent condition.

What can I consign?
You may sell just about anything baby or child related. Items include, but are not limited to, clothing, shoes, outerwear, dress up, toys, dance outfits, uniforms, books, videos/dvds, infant gear, outdoor play, bikes, infant furniture, maternity clothing/accessories and more. Refer to our Consignor What to Sell page for specifics.

May I consign maternity clothing?
Yes. But we do have a limit to the number of items we will accept, no more than 20 per consignor.  So pick your most in style items and price them to sell.  

Is there a limit to the number of items I may consign?
No, but there is a 20 item limit to the number of maternity items consigned. There is no limit to the number of other items you may consign. We reserve the right to limit the number of identical items if space becomes limited. We accept items on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Are there items that you will NOT accept from consignors?
Yes. We will not accept items that we deem are not in very good to excellent condition. Clothing must be free from stains, tears, pulls, fading and excessive wear. We will not accept undergarments or stuffed animals with the exception of battery operated (i.e. Tickle Me Elmo). No fast food toys. Any item that does meet our strict criteria will be sent home at check-in or pulled from the sale floor and stored until pick-up.

How do I know what to price my items?
You must price each item for at least $1 and prices must increase in whole dollar amounts. We offer you some pricing suggestions on the website but as a general rule, you should price things 1/4 - 1/3 their original retail price. Popular or name brand items can be priced higher. You are the best judge, price an item for no more than you would be willing to pay for that same item.

Where can I find children's hangers?
You will need child size hangers which can be found at most local children's clothing stores including the Dollar Store and WalMart.  We have had a number of consignors that have also been successful with asking clothing stores for hangers.

What is my consignor number?
When you register you will be assigned a consignor number that will be the first initial of your LAST name followed by the last four digits in your phone number. For example; S0433 (Smith at 788-0433). Click Here to register for the upcoming sale.

I have consigned previously, will I need to re-tag items?
No, but if you used our bar coding system (My Consignment Manager) you will have to transfer previous items into the Fall 2008 sale in order to receive credit.  This can be done from the "Manage Inventory" page of My Consignment Manager.

When and where should I drop off my items before the sale?
Items may be dropped off to us Thursday & Friday before the sale. There is some important information regarding drop off available on the website. For more info Click Here.

Will I need an appointment to drop off things?
No. Please allow at least 30 minutes. 

Do I have to pick up my items after the sale?
No. You can elect to donate all or select items. However, We CANNOT store your items after the sale. If you would like your unsold items returned, you MUST pick them up at the designated pick up time. Any items that have not been picked up after the designated times become the property of TotSwap and may be donated. Sorry, there are NO EXCEPTIONS to this as we must be out of the facility and cannot store your items.

By what time on Sunday do items have to be picked up?
Consignors need to arrange to pick up any items they would like back. Items MUST be picked up Sunday of the sale between 2:30 – 5:30PM. Doors will close by 5:30PM No Exceptions! Items left after 5:30PM on Sunday become the property of TotSwap. Sorry, no exceptions.

Will TotSwap provide a tax receipt of items I donated?
No, we do not have the capability to do this.

When will I receive payment for my sold items?
We will be mailing checks within 5 businss days of the close of the sale to the address you provided at registration. Please note that any check not cashed within 90 days of issue will be cancelled.

Can I get my tags back?
No. Our online tagging service will allow you to print reports of what you sold, for how much, what you donated etc. This will eliminate the need for us to return your tags to you. If you would like to track the items that have sold you may use the reporting features of MyConsignmentManager.

Will you provide me with a list of items that sold?
If you would like to track the items that have sold you may use the reporting features of our online tagging service, MyConsignmentManager.

What if I find that an item is missing?
We do our best to keep tabs on every item that comes through our doors. However we cannot be held responsible for items lost before, during or after the sale. The best defense against theft and loss is volunteers. The more help we have on the floor, the less opportunity for theft.

Do I have to volunteer in order to consign?
No. You will still earn your consignor preview sale privileges.

What will I receive in exchange for volunteering my time?
Click Here to learn more about Volunteering.

May I bring my children with me during my shift?
No. It will be too difficult for you to work and watch the little ones at the same time. Plus, it is too hard to keep the little ones away from all of the wonderful toys.

Do I have to be a consignor in order to volunteer?
No. You do not have to be a consignor to volunteer at the sale. We welcome the help and will reward you with a preview shopping pass.

What if I need to change my shift?
You are allowed to change or cancel your shift up to 7 days before the sale begins. To change or delete your shift, Click Here and login to the Volunteer page. First, check the box and click “Remove me from selected shift”. Next, select a new shift.

What will happen if I do not complete my scheduled shift OR cancel my shift 7 days or less before the sale begins?
If you volunteer, we are counting on you to follow through. In the event a volunteer does not fulfill their obligation, or find a comparable replacement, the volunteer will not be allowed to participate as a volunteer again or participate in any future preview sale. Please understand that these guidelines have been put in to place to maintain a high quality sale.