As parents we make a huge number of decisions for our children every single day, and one that many of us spend time on is their outfit. We are now lucky to have a huge range of choices available to us for how we (continuously!) restock their wardrobes…the only issue is finding out which options work best for you and your family.
Over on the grid, we asked parents how they felt about buying preloved clothes on vinted, and we weren’t surprised to hear that many love it. Of course we think renting is the way forward, but that doesn’t stop us loving second-hand shopping too. Cost, sustainability and practicality are all key factors, so let’s get into the pros and cons of renting vs buying preloved…
Cost effectiveness
Renting baby clothes can be a very financially savvy choice, especially when our little ones grow out of things at the speed that they do…Rather than investing in an entire wardrobe of items that will only fit them for a matter of weeks, renting children’s clothes will allow your family to access much higher quality clothing at a fraction of the cost – over 80% off of retail value on most items with Borro plus only one postage fee.
On vinted, the cost is at the seller’s discretion and whilst generally items will be cheaper here than they are at retail value, there’s no guarantee that you will find what you need at the right price. You do get the chance to barter the price by making offers which can lead to a great bargain if the seller is feeling friendly. Then again you are paying one upfront cost for an item (plus fees and postage) that may potentially not fit them within a month or so. However if you resell it once you’re done with it, you could end up making some of your money back! Over on the grid, one mum told us ‘I haven't made loads doing it but it's always been enough to buy the odd pair of toddler shoes etc and we have a local locker drop off that I can walk to which makes it worth it. I also sold stuff for pretty cheap so it sold!’ so all in all it can be timely but worth it? Unless you find things from multiple sellers…another mum said ‘It's been good for shoes and coats but I haven't bothered with anything else as by the time you pay postage It's not always worth it.’
Sustainability
Obviously at Borro we are big on extending the lifecycle of all of our clothing, so naturally we love that vinted keeps some clothing in the loop. Re-selling items that would otherwise be thrown away means that it’s one less item that will be sent to landfill that ultimately doesn’t need to be there. To make the most of those items, you need to re-sell them or donate them to a charity store (if they are in a good enough condition once you’re done with them). One mumma on our insta said: ‘I still try to sell it but have found it to be so slow in actually selling baby stuff. Adult stuff seems to be quite different though’.
By comparison, at Borro we aim to take that hassle away from busy parents and ensure clothes stay in the loop for longer - just pop them in the post back to us when you’re done with them. Once they have been checked and cleaned, we ship them off for another family to enjoy and continue the lifecycle of that piece of clothing. We also only stock eco-friendly fabrics like 100% GOTS cotton which is not only better for the planet but better for our children’s skin too – a big mum win.
Time cost
Renting clothes for our children generally means getting a subscription box with a set amount of clothes in it, but with Borro what you get, and how much you get is entirely up to you. Borro is set up much more like a catalogue, if you only want sleep suits, but you want a bunch of them, you can simply shop by that category. Which makes it a much more time efficient way to get your baby’s and toddlers clothing sorted.
Generally, this is the biggest issue with shopping on vinted. And I have known this struggle with my own children…shopping on vinted can be much easier than shopping in charity stores time wise due to filtering tools, but often sellers don’t properly label their items, and to be most effective you’re ideally looking for bundles (a Vinted needle in a haystack). Before you realise it, you’ve lost an hour to doom scrolling, trying to find that one sleepsuit you like in the right size and for the right price. Vinted can be amazing for one off purchases if you find the right thing, but the minute you’re looking for several items, the cost of your precious time adds up.
Our verdict
Both methods have their benefits, and while we would always suggest renting as the overall winner, that won’t stop us hunting on vinted for a decent bargain every now and then.
