Honest Kidizen Review: Is It Legit?

Last Updated on October 29, 2024 by Erin

UPDATE: Kidizen announced it was closing its marketplace effective 10/29/2024. This was an incredible online community for so many years but is no longer available. If you are still interested in selling kid clothes online, you might want to check out this post I wrote.

Are you looking for an honest Kidizen review? Wondering if it’s legit?

Since joining Kidizen, I have made 176 sales and earned several seller “stamps” including Classic Insider, Indie Fan, Sporty Fan, Hipster Fan, and Rocket Shipper 🙂 I’m not a professional reseller, just a full-time working mom who wants to save money and make a little bit if I can. Let me give you the inside scoop and share with you the honest pros and cons of selling and buying on Kidizen.

In this post, I’m also going to give you a beginner’s guide to reselling with Kidizen. They were the very first reselling platform I used and one of the easiest to navigate, in my opinion.

I have been reselling my kids’ clothing for 4 years now and it is has helped me save and make a good deal of money. Reselling can seem a lot more complicated than it really is and I remember as a beginner thinking there were so many ways I could potentially screw it up. If I’d known how easy it actually is, I would have started much sooner.

**This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you). Please see my full disclosure policy for details.**

What is Kidizen?

Kidizen is an online marketplace where moms and families can buy and sell secondhand kids’ clothing and other children’s items. It was founded in 2014 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Kidizen is available as a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices, as well as a website. It allows parents to create their own “shops” and sell their gently used kids’ clothing, shoes, accessories, and toys. You can also find maternity and womens’ clothing items. Buyers can browse items by size, brand, category, and other criteria, and can also follow their favorite shops to see new items as they are listed.

Kidizen has built a strong community around its platform, with a social component that allows buyers and sellers to interact, share photos and stories, and offer support and advice to one another. The platform also offers a built-in payment system and shipping labels, making it easy for both buyers and sellers to complete transactions.

Overall, Kidizen provides a convenient and sustainable option for parents looking to buy and sell kids’ clothing, while also building a sense of community and support among its users.

Sounds pretty great, right? It absolutely is!

Kidizen Review- The Pros

You will save so much money on high-quality, name-brand kid clothes

Kids grow quickly, and their clothes can become too small or worn out before they are even used to their full potential. Reselling these clothes can help moms recoup some of the money they spent on them, which can be used to buy new clothes or other necessities for their kids.

It’s a fantastic sustainable practice

By reselling kids’ clothing, moms are participating in a more sustainable option by reducing the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills. It’s estimated that the fashion industry is responsible for around 10% of global carbon emissions and 92 million tons of textile waste each year. By reselling clothes, moms are helping to reduce this impact.

You are helping other families

Reselling kids’ clothing can help other families who may not be able to afford new clothes for their children. By selling gently used clothing at a lower price, moms can help ensure that other families have access to affordable and quality clothing options. On Kidizen, parents can post particular items they are in search of and sellers can get them connected with those items. I’ve seen mamas of kids with sensory needs asking for certain brands of pajamas because their kid prefers them but they’re hard to find. It’s pretty neat to see moms helping other moms in this way!

It encourages decluttering

Reselling clothes encourages moms to declutter and get rid of clothes that are no longer needed. This can help create more space in the home and make it easier to keep things organized.

It’s so easy to do…I promise!

Reselling kids’ clothing is easier than ever thanks to the growing number of online marketplaces and consignment stores. Moms can sell clothes quickly and easily from the comfort of their own homes, without having to spend a lot of time and effort on the process.

Related post: How I Avoid Spending Money on Kid Clothes

Kidizen Review- The Cons

I don’t have any major cons, but it wouldn’t be an honest review without sharing the things I wish were different.

1. The website is not nearly as functional as the app, so you really need to operate almost completely from the app.
2. The prices are higher, but it’s because most sellers are offering free shipping. This is factored into the price. It makes the price seem higher than if you were buying on a different app and paying shipping.
3. The marketplace fees are 12% + 50 cents once the transaction is complete. If the seller pays for shipping, a portion of that fee is returned. Sometimes I forget that I need to factor that in when creating a listing price. There are fees on all selling platforms, so this isn’t anything unique to Kidizen.
4. You need to be fairly social on the app in order to get your listings seen. Again, this is common on most selling platforms. Kidizen seems to be more social that other platforms, though. I would recommend staying active in the “feed” and sharing your listings, and others’ listings as well.

All things considered, it’s definitely worth giving Kidizen a try.

How to get started selling on Kidizen

Ok now that we’ve gone over my Kidizen review, let’s start selling! Here are the basic steps:

1. Download the app: Kidizen is available as a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices. Download and install the app from your device’s app store.
2. Create an account: Once you have the app installed, create an account by signing up with your email address. You’ll need to create a username and password and fill out some basic information about yourself.
3. Set up your shop: To sell items on Kidizen, you’ll need to set up your own shop. You can do this by going to the “Sell” tab and following the prompts to create a new shop. You’ll need to provide some basic information about yourself, such as your name, address, and payment information.
4. List your items: Once you have your shop set up, you can start listing items for sale. To do this, go to the “Sell” tab and select “List an item.” You’ll need to provide a description of the item, including its size, brand, and condition, as well as photos and a price.
5. Ship your items: When a buyer purchases one of your items, Kidizen will provide you with a shipping label. There are three weight classes available for shipping (under 8 oz, 8-16 oz, and under 2 lbs.). All you need to do is pack up the item and drop it off at a post office or shipping center.

Seller tip: items tend to do better on Kidizen when you offer free shipping. Don’t forget to consider the cost of shipping when you make your list price. When you offer free shipping, the cost of a shipping label will be deducted from the sale.

Tips for Great Listings on Kidizen

Creating a good listing on Kidizen is important to help your items sell quickly and to keep your customers happy. Here are some tips for creating a successful listing on Kidizen:

Take clear and detailed photos

Good photos are crucial for selling your items on Kidizen. Take clear, well-lit photos of your item from multiple angles, and include photos of any wear or damage.

Provide accurate measurements

To help buyers ensure that an item will fit their child, provide accurate measurements of the item. This might include measurements for the chest, waist, and length, for example. If you don’t want to get this detailed, at least tell buyers whether the item fits true to size or is on the small/large side.

Be descriptive

When creating your listing, be as descriptive as possible about the item. Provide details about the brand, size, color, and any other important features. Also, be sure to mention any wear or damage, as this can help set realistic expectations for the buyer. I always “round down” when describing the condition of the item. I would rather buyers be pleasantly surprised and give me a good rating.

Price competitively

Look at other listings for similar items to get an idea of what price to set for your item. Be competitive with your pricing, but also make sure you’re not pricing your item too low. Don’t forget to factor shipping and marketplace fees.

Offer bundle discounts

To encourage buyers to purchase multiple items from your shop, consider offering bundle discounts. This can be a great way to move more inventory and keep your customers happy. You can even indicate which of your listings HAVE to be part of a bundle. This is perfect for your lower-priced listings.

Respond promptly

When a potential buyer asks a question about your item, be sure to respond promptly. This can help build trust with the buyer and encourage them to make a purchase.

Use hashtags

Hashtags help buyers find specific items they are looking for. Kidizen also has “Hash Flashes” that are similar to Poshmark Parties. When I use the hash flashes as a guide for items I should be tagging, I tend to get more views on those items.

Seller tip: don’t be afraid to list things that aren’t in great condition. These items can be listed in “play” condition. There are plenty of buyers out there looking for things they can get a huge discount on, and their kids can wear out.

Seller/buyer terms to know

There are a lot of acronyms out there and it can get pretty confusing. Here’s a guide to some of the commonly used ones I’ve seen on the app in listings and in the social media feeds. Kidizen is a very social platform!

• NWT- New with tags
• NWOT- New without tags
• VGUC- very good used condition
• GUC- good used condition
• NIP/NIB- new in package or new in bag
• HTF/HSA- hard to find/highly sought after
• IRL- in real life
• OOTD- outfit of the day
• BST- buy sell trade
• PSA- public service announcement
• ISO- in search of
• PIF- pay it forward
• IMO- in my opinion
• RV/MV- retail or market value
• OOAK- one of a kind
• SFPF- smoke free pet free
• TTS- true to size
• PSN- pending ship notice
• OBO- or best offer
• NFS- not for sale
• COMPS- comparable sold listings
• WW- wash wear

The basic items you need in order to sell

Overall, the materials needed to sell on Kidizen are fairly basic and can be found easily online or at most office supply stores.

• You will need a smartphone to access the app and your phone camera to easily take listing photos
• Polymailers– so many cute options out there! You could also recycle any polymailers you might receive from Amazon. Just make sure you remove the previous labels and barcodes.
• Packing tape– use it to tape the shipping label to the package and seal the package up tight
• Printer– I do not have a fancy label printer. I just use our regular inkjet printer and tape the label to the package.
• Kitchen or shipping scale so you can determine shipping costs. I’ve used the Amazon basics version and it hasn’t failed me yet.
• Bonus, but not needed. I bought self-sealing cellophane bags to protect clothing inside the polymailers. Sometimes those packages go through ringer while being shipped!

How do I get paid in Kidizen?

Kidizen pays sellers via direct deposit to a bank account. Here’s how the payment process works:

1. When you make a sale, Kidizen holds the funds in your Kidizen Wallet until the buyer receives and accepts the item.
2. Once the buyer accepts the item, the funds are released to your Kidizen Wallet. From there, you can transfer the funds to your bank account.
3. To transfer funds, go to the piggy bank icon on your shop profile and select “cash.”
4. The withdrawal process usually takes 1-3 business days, depending on your bank or card issuer.
5. You can also use your earnings to shop in Kidizen. I have used this process to buy items for my kids and myself.

Kidizen charges a 12% commission on all sales, so keep that in mind when setting your prices.

If you still have questions after reading through my guide, you can access the Kidizen Seller Handbook here. It’s an incredibly useful tool. Follow Kidizen on Facebook as well for more tips and support from other sellers.

Kidizen Review- Final Thoughts and Suggestions

Summing up, Kidizen is a great way to save and make money while practicing sustainability and helping other families. It’s fairly easy to get started with selling and requires very few supplies. I’ve included some helpful tips for selling but there’s a very helpful seller’s guide available on the app and website.

Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have about Kidizen and I’ll be happy to help 🙂

Don’t forget to share or save this post to refer back to later.

Sincerely,

Erin