If you’re expecting a baby or just want to refresh your baby gear and get rid of, say — that used car seat you bought on Craigslist for next to nothing — now’s the time to get a good deal. The Great Trade-In Event is going on at Babies R Us and Toys R Us stores nationwide through February 10, 2013, in stores only.
The Great Trade-in Event is designed to call attention to used baby items still in circulation that may have been recalled and other safety concerns raised by older or used products. Swapping out used gear and buying new helps ensure that the baby products you’re using meet the latest safety standards, which change frequently.
The deal: During this limited-time offer, you can get 25% off a new car seat, stroller, travel system, high chair, play yard, bassinet, walker, infant swing, bouncer, entertainer, crib or toddler/twin bed if you bring in a used one. And there’s no limit. Cart in multiple used items from this list to receive the 25% discount on each new qualifying item you purchase.
No paperwork necessary. To get the 25% discount, you don’t need a receipt or to have originally purchased the item you’re trading in from Babies R Us or Toys R Us. That means that if somebody gives you a hand-me-down crib or car seat, it’s perfectly legit to trade it in at Babies R Us for a new one for a 25% savings. You’ll need one coupon per trade-in to score the savings though. Coupons are available in the store on the day of your trade-in. Don’t have anything to trade in? No problem. During the Great Trade-In Event, all baby gear as well as toddler and twin beds are 15% off.
The catch? Many top baby gear manufacturers, such as Combi, Chicco, Bob and Baby Trend, are participating in the Great Trade-In Event. But many aren’t. The program excludes Maxi-Cosi car seats, doorway jumpers, Baby jogger, Bugaboo, Mamas & Papas, Peg Perego, Phil & Teds, Quinny and Unbeatable Price items. Britax is participating but offering just 15% with trade-in. Still, that’s a savings of $37.50, for example, on a $250 Britax Marathon car seat — not bad.
Stay tuned.If you miss the Great Trade-in event this time around, no worries. The program is typically held more than once a year. Learn about the next Great Trade-in by signing up for email alerts at babiesrus.com. Bonus: You’ll also get notices of Babies R Us’ fabulous and frequent cyber sales, which can net you discounts of 20% and more on everything from diapers to furniture.
Sandra Gordon
Sandra Gordon is the author of nine books, including Save a Bundle: 50+ Ways to Save Big on Baby Gear and the 8th, 9th and 10th editions of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products. Besides helping new parents gear up for less, Sandra blogs about shopping for ShopSmart magazine and writes about health and nutrition for major magazines and Websites, such as Parents, Arthritis Today, Self, Your Teen, Productopia.com and Vitality. Sandra grew up learning about saving money. Her Midwestern mom, a home-ec major, ran an efficient household, which included couponing, rebating, eating lots of leftovers and laundering Ziploc bags to reuse them. Sandra isn’t quite as frugal but she does have the good-deal gene.
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