Preparing your items

Supplies you may need

  • Wire Hangers for clothing (hangers not needed for online event) 
  • Safety Pins 
  • Clear Packing Tape 
  • Stretch Wrap 
  • Cardstock paper 
  • Zip lock bags 
  • Zip Ties 
  • Batteries for things that need them
  • Rubber bands 
  • Light bulbs for items that need them

Watch our short videos about preparing items.

Watch Videos

How to Prepare items 

Preparing Clothing

  • Hang on wire hangers

  • Hanger makes a  question (?) mark when facing you

  • Tag placed on top right of clothing

  • Jeans folded for Teen/Adult event ONLY

  • Bras MUST be Hung on wire hangers

  • Need wire hangers? You can order them here.

 

Preparing Books/Dvds/Games/Puzzles

  • Use clear packing tape to keep boxes/cases closed

  • Use Stretch wrap on wooden puzzles

  • For groups of books use stretch wrap

  • Use painters/masking tape to tape tags onto books.

Preparing Bedding

  • Hang blankets on hanger except for receiving blankets

  • Use string, painters tape or stretch wrap to keep sets together

  • Use large zip loc type bags for larger sets

Preparing Shoes

  • Fasten together using zip tie or safety pin

  • Smaller children shoes can be put into zip loc bags

  • Use stretch wrap to keep shoes together

Preparing Other Items

  • Any item with parts, put parts in a zip lock bag, tape bag closed & attached to the item.

  • Tape ALL zip lock bags closed

  • Use Stretch Wrap to secure items together.

  • Anything that needs a light bulb to work, must have a working light bulb

The goal is to keep things that belong together…. to stay together.  Secure parts to items. Tape the top of zip loc bags closed.

Things to know

  • Prices start at $2
  • Things need to be CLEAN and in good order.
  • Furniture that you mark as NOT Donate MUST be picked up or you will be charged a $25 fee. We have to inform the charities of what furniture items are marked for donate after drop off so they can prepare for what they could possible have to pick up and items that are left at pick up that were NOT mark for donate the charity can not take.
  • We do not accept computers, tablets, printers or gaming systems. These items are difficult for us to test.
  • Do NOT intentionally hide stains or problems with an item. If you are caught hiding a stain by folding the item in a certain way or putting it in a zip lock bag or putting it in between  other items, you will be charged a fee and will be subject to an inspection process during drop off at the next event.  We want shoppers to be confident in shopping with us and when they buy something that you have hid a defect and/or stain, this causes us that shopper to potential NOT come back to Hippos which means YOU lose a chance to sell your items!  Let’s work together NOT against each other.