Piccolina

I am a huge advocate of REUSE & RECYCLE and supporting LOCAL (non-​profit) 2^nd-​hand stores. I am also a queen in the court of the 2^nd-​Hand world. That being said, I knew what I wanted when I went to Piccolina’s — they had what I wanted… AND even though it was extremely pricey for 2^nd-​hand shoes — I bought them anyway.
Seeing as how I had seem the same exact Teva sandals (the same day I purchases at Piccolona’s for $ 50 NEW) — I was not paying retail for a 6 & 3 year old for summer shoes! I bought 2 pair of Teva’s and Lands End water shoes — TOTAL = $ 36.50
I usually shop around — but seeing as how everyone is buying up spring & summer items NOW, I knew if I had waited, looked around elsewhere AND THEN returned, none of the shoes I purchased would have been there on my return visit.
The store smells like USED stuff. I don’t shop HIGH-​END retail — but most of the place I frequent don’t smell like dirty garments. I would like it better if all the stuff was washed and then sold. Especially since this is a consignment-​type store. You make the rules — PRE-​WASHED, NO STAINS, TEARS, ETC before we will accept your items… It’s not that tough.
Also, the store is pretty pricey for 2^nd-​hand stuff. I bought an adorable Mini Boden denim skirt for my daughter at another local store — $ 2 — Piccolina’s for a similar skirt (which also had a stain!) $ 9.
I don’t think I will shop here often — I can get better deals elsewhere… But I am glad for what I did get — even though I spent a lot for used!
The staff was just OK — not super friendly — didn’t even acknowledge me until I got to the register… I was there for a good 30 minutes with 2 rowdy kids, really? Not even a «HI THERE»??? OK…
It was toward the end of the day!!! He was probably just glad that I bought my stuff and got my 2 rambunctious kids out of his store.

Nice people always working behind the counter. It’s a clean and pretty well organized place. Although the owner apologized for lack of stock and their over abundance of stock waiting to be put out, I thought it looked just fine. They have a sweet little location. Not a huge space, but they make it work. There is a changing room and a restroom for customers. This place is great for expectant parents on up to young children for buying, selling and trading.
They can only accept certain items and brands that they are low on at the time, so don’t be butt hurt of they can’t take all your items. There are lots of little baskets, nooks, shelves and cases with an assortment of everything. Take your time browsing because the staff is never pushy but happy to help when asked.

Very rarely am I compelled to write a review. Especially one that’s unfavorable. However, I’ve had a feeling of unease that’s been nagging at me since I left Piccolina. Let’s start with the good: I’ve been shopping here for years. So much so, I know they carry high end items at reasonable prices, hence my frequenting here often. I also know they don’t accept Target or Walmart clothing for exchange — NOT that I shop at either one — however I do know they’re selective with what they take in for credit or consignment. That being said: the bad: I’ve saved all of my now ten month months old babies high end, nice, lightly if ever worn clothing for trade in. I’ve saved this stuff all spring and summer. Kept the clothes nicely folded, placed in specific order for continuity and ease of going through items. Some of the items were clothes that I purchased at Piccolina, that my baby never wore. All are brand name. Hanna Anderson, Nordstrom baby, Gap, Amy Coe, Gymboree etc, etc. Out of all of the very nice, barely ever worn clothing that fits this stores criteria for trade in, they only took six items. Not including any of the items or shoes (that my baby never wore) that I actually purchased at this location. Not only that, but the clothes I brought in were haphazardly thrown in to the bags I brought them in. No attempt at refolding, literally wadded in and stuffed completely out of the order they came in. I had these clothes perfectly kept for months and in the span of five minutes I had a pile of jumbled clothing returned to me that I had to iron and fold again because by the time I got home they were so wrinkled. AND as I was perusing the isles waiting for my loot to be gone through, I noticed there were hardly ANY cute little girl clothes in the sizes I was exchanging. So Piccolina would rather carry a tacky Juicy Couture sweater that shouts Juicy on the front that some amazing fall and winter pieces from Nordstrom? Ok. And to top it off, I had other furniture items I specifically called about the day before to see if I could bring in. The guy I talked to said «no problem we have lots of room «- however without even looking at the item, when I mentioned to the counter girl I had something else to bring in she snapped (and I mean snapped — NOT nice) «Sorry — I don’t have room for that «Really? You don’t have room after your sales associate told me the evening before you did and it was only half an hour after you opened?
Sadly, my experience was so disheartening I will not be shopping at Piccolina anymore.
The funny part? I brought these same items to another high and baby store the same day and almost everything was taken in.
Sorry for the long review. But sometimes you just have to share your negative experience to get it off your chest and out into the universe so it stops nagging you. And that’s what I left Piccolina with. A very bad feeling.

I really like both locations of this store, but have had more luck at this one. The staff is helpful and the selection plentiful! As with any resale store it’s always hit or miss; I don’t always find what I’m looking for but never walk out empty handed. I love that they have higher end brands, and (almost) everything is so gently used it looks new.

I much prefer this location of Piccolina.
Not only do I generally find the staff here to be more friendly/​helpful I prefer the layout, and less cluttered feel that the Woodstock store offers. This is a great place to find good quality used kids stuff, but they do tend to be a bit pricier then other stores in town.
They do however pay better for items/​trades then some of those less expensive joints. You can use your trade at either store, which is sweet as the Clinton shop seems to carry more heavy duty gear (strollers etc.)