Buying used items is not only budget-friendly but also a sustainable way of living–especially when it comes to baby gear, which little ones outgrow so quickly. Enter Skiptee, which was founded last fall. It’s an online service that buys and sells used kids’ and baby gear. With a slightly different spelling, Skiptee means “trade” in Icelandic. Some of the most popular items are car seats and strollers (including popular and high-end brands like Bugaboo). To sell your gently used gear, schedule a time online, at your own convenience, for Skiptee to pick up your item for free. The item then goes through a rigorous checking and cleaning process, and once the item is deemed good to go, you’ll receive store credit that can be used the next time you go shopping online at Skiptee. If the item does not meet the site’s standards, Skiptee will gladly recycle or donate the item.
Co-founder Michael Katz, a parent himself, felt overwhelmed by the short usage of the things he received or purchased. Children are always growing, which means parents are shelling out a lot of money, as their kid transitions from a baby bouncer to a cool bike. Selling and buying things at a fraction of the price is important for the company. “You can get up to, in some cases, 80 percent back of what the item is worth,” Katz explains. “And parents spend so much money on baby kids’ gear, trying to stretch the budget, and that’s something we heard from our customers is really important.”
Skiptee also makes it convenient for you to buy and to sell. The company has gotten rid of figuring out how to get the items to the buyer, or as the buyer, how to get the item from the seller. “It’s a minimal time investment to get the maximum value back,” Katz says. “That’s what really sets us apart from others.”
Buying and selling kids’ clothes also go beyond the economics value. “There’s value and social responsibility for living a sustainable lifestyle,” Katz says. “It’s a good thing for items to be recycled and not to go to waste.” While we often recycle cans and paper, we often don’t think about recycling other products like toys and strollers. You’ll feel good not only getting money back but also doing your part for the world.
The good that comes in and out is of Skiptee is because the company holds its products to high standards. Katz compares Skiptee’s processes to the processes of certified pre-owned cars. There is a clear definition of Skiptee’s standard conditions. “We actually take items and process them in a rigorous quality control and quality insurance process,” Katz explains. “We sanitize them so items make sure that items haven’t been involved in recall, and that they are safe before someone purchases it.” If the item is not of resell quality, Skiptee will still take the item off your hands and donate it to charity or recycle it. A lot of the items that come in are also brand new, like unused baby shower items.
While the company may still be fairly new, Skiptee is quickly expanding. “Every time a customer is looking for something, and they can’t find it in the stores, all they need to do is tell Skiptee, and we’ll add it to the store,” Katz says. Items that Skiptee is looking to include in the future are bikes and sport equipments. As of now, Skiptee serves New York City, parts of New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut.
To learn more, visit skiptee.com!
