I don't get it. We have Gymboree threads with THOUSANDS of posts. I hear of boards specific to Gymboree...What am I missing? What are gymbo bucks? Someone was selling them on ebay for over $100!! We have 1 or 2 stores here, but I haven't been yet. I feel i am missing out!

Don't feel lonely, Joan :lol: We don't have Gymboree either. And if we did, I wouldn't be addicted b/c I think there really cute stuff is only for girls.

I don't get it either. The only store around me is 45 minutes away, I think. I don't even know. We had one Gymbo outfit for Rebekah (was a gift) and it never fit her right so I never went back. Plus, it sounds so expensive!

I don't like their boy stuff so I just got into it. :lol:

I never buy anything full price :nono:

Gymbucks - basically it's Gymboree's scam to make more money :lol: During earning period for every $50 you spend you get a $25 Gymbuck. Most people buy the discounted stuff (usually 40-70% off the original price) to earn their Gymbuck. During redemption, for every $50 you spend, you use your $25 Gymbuck and only pay $25. Most people use redemption to buy clothes from a new line so you're getting them for 1/2 off.

Everything has great resale value too :aok:

I guess I fell to really becoming an addict at the end of last year when I figured out their sales and marketing schemes. .. emphasis on the scheme part there. :lol: So, I now know how to maximize my dollar there. It also didn't help that my daughter's daycare teacher worked there at night and always gave me the COF coupons, etc.

I really love their clothes for my daughter and when I figured out how to get them at low prices, I started buying buying and buying.

I think I'm starting to take a step back now though as I'm starting to get tired trying to figure out all of their different sales though. :crazy: The last ONE TWO FREE was so out there, that I just didn't participate!

However, with fall coming I will need to buy my kids stuff, and I do have some gymbucks, so I will be going back. :lol:

Cute, high-quality (usually) clothes, fun themes, lots of matching accessories (including shoes and hair things) and great sales - what's not to love? :biggrin:

Cute, high-quality (usually) clothes, fun themes, lots of matching accessories (including shoes and hair things) and great sales - what's not to love? :biggrin:

I agree... and the thing is, it's just plain fun. I spend a lot of time shopping for kids clothes, cheap, expensive, you name it. Gymbo has made an art out of the buying process. I think they understand more than most retailers that shopping is a game for a lot of women and they've found many ways to keep your interest up and your dollars rolling it. It's almost like hunting for women.

Although I agree that their boys clothes are iffy (love/hate for most people) Gymbo has maximized its sales potential with numerous lines, extensive accessories and mix and matchability. There's something for everyone to like. And although the clothes start out at an upscale price level, the sales can tremendous and who doesn't love a bargain.

I buy literally TONS of clothes at Baby Gap, but I can't imagine a board devoted to Baby Gap.

Bridget: "HI! I just bought some new khaki shorts!"
Friend 1: "Me, too! They are really khaki!"
Friend 2: "I wonder when their new fall line will be in? I can't wait for those khaki pants. My little girl just loves her khakis."
Clunk, end of thread.

:tongue2:

:lol2:

I don't get it either. Not at all. But I think that's simply because I don't have any girls, and I just don't feel the love for their boy stuff. My kids take a Gymboree class, so I've had those gymbucks to spend, plus we've gotten a few things as gifts. Their stuff wears pretty well, but I would never pay full price for it, and I personally like the look of Gap khaki shorts more, even if there's less to discuss about them.:)

I've never gotten it, either. :dunno: But then again, I've got a boy, so no girl things for me. For Julian, though, he grows so fast that I never wanted to invest a lot of money in things he'd be out of in two months. And great sales do me no good if I don't have time to figure them out. :lol: I'll agree that the girl stuff is mighty cute, though.

We dont' have a gymboree store here and since everything I have to buy for girls (b/c their boy stuff is nothing to write home about) I have to buy two of, I just can't afford it... Plus, my kids would only get it dirty and I can't justify spending that much on an outfit that would just get stained/ruined at daycare :dunno:

I usually buy Easter and Christmas stuff there, because they always have matching everything (shoes, hair stuff, purses, dolls etc) Makes for very cute pictures. Other than that, I can't afford to buy the stuff :lol:

Cute, high-quality (usually) clothes, fun themes, lots of matching accessories (including shoes and hair things) and great sales - what's not to love? :biggrin:

:nod:

I do have to agree that the girl's clothes are cuter than the boys clothes. However, I find that girl's clothes tend to be cuter anywhere you shop. Maybe it's just me. :dunno:

Plus, when you snag stuff on sale (anything 40% off or higher), you can get stuff for just as cheap or cheaper than target/walmart, etc. Gymbo stuff can be resold (and the resale value is high) and it generally holds up very well.

I was waiting for a thread like this...I don't get any of it either...girls or boys! I mean, I think some of it is cute for sure (and girl stuff more than boys, but that is across the board with kids clothes), but it's nothing that I go ga-ga over. :crazy: (Sorry to all my friends I just insulted!!) But I am happy to finally have an explanation of Gymbucks...even though I had to read it a few times and I'm still not sure I get it. Oh wait - maybe that's my problem...I'm not smart enough to shop at Gymboree!! :lol:

I don't really get it either. Sure the clothes are cute. But they seem pretty expensive. I hate buying the kids expensive clothes knowing they'll grow out of them so darn fast.

I guess I'm cheap. :lol: That's why most of the clothes my kids have are from garage sales.

Gymbo stuff can be resold (and the resale value is high) and it generally holds up very well.

:nod: This is how I convinced my DH it was OK to shop there. :lol:

I am a pro at getting stains out now so I don't worry too much about G getting any of it dirty!

I was waiting for a thread like this...I don't get any of it either...girls or boys! I mean, I think some of it is cute for sure (and girl stuff more than boys, but that is across the board with kids clothes), but it's nothing that I go ga-ga over. :crazy: (Sorry to all my friends I just insulted!!) But I am happy to finally have an explanation of Gymbucks...even though I had to read it a few times and I'm still not sure I get it. Oh wait - maybe that's my problem...I'm not smart enough to shop at Gymboree!! :lol:Ditto! :lol:

:nod:

Gymbo stuff can be resold (and the resale value is high) and it generally holds up very well.

See...I DON'T mean to offend any Gymbo lovers REALLY REALLY, but I just don't think about investing in kids clothes because of it's resale value. I think kids are cute in all clothes, even when their socks don't coordinate with their shirts, and I just can't picture going all out like that. For a wedding or special occassion? Sure. But for everyday use at home and trips to the park? Nah.

Ive never been in a Gymboree store *gasp*. We dont have one here. I think there may be a few in New Orleans? They have everything but I dont go there very often.. maybe once a year. Madison had a few pieces of Gymbo stuff that was given to her and I like it. I just cant imagin paying those prices for clothes she may ruin the first time she wears it (its happened). If we had a store here Im sure I'd shop the clearance. :lol: Gymbo stuff is cute.

See...I DON'T mean to offend any Gymbo lovers REALLY REALLY, but I just don't think about investing in kids clothes because of it's resale value. I think kids are cute in all clothes, even when their socks don't coordinate with their shirts, and I just can't picture going all out like that. For a wedding or special occassion? Sure. But for everyday use at home and trips to the park? Nah.

It's not for everyone. That's why there are many places to shop. To each his own. :) Some people don't like the "matchy matchy" look that is available at Gymbo. Some do. Most of the Gymbo stuff is not super dressy. My kids wear it every day. Today, my kids are wearing these outfits:

Avery:
http://www.gymbohaven.com/tropic23.jpg http://www.gymbohaven.com/tropic110.jpg

Sabrina:

http://www.gymbohaven.com/tropic92.jpghttp://www.gymbohaven.com/tropic110.jpg

I don't think they are dressy, just cute. Plus, I like the fact that I can dress my girls alike if I want. They have coordinating stuff in many sizes.

As for wearability, I let my kids play in their clothes, and at the end of the day, if there are stains, then they get pretreated. If it's a super messy day, I'll put the kids in other stuff, or even stuff I picked up at a yard sale for 25 cents each.

And by buying Gymbo, I basically dress my kids for free. How? Buy on deep discount, have my kids wear it, and then sell it on ebay/loops, whereever and get most, if not all of my money back. Sometimes I make a profit (usually on Enay.) So, I don't invest in it per se, but I do know that I can get most of my money back. I don't know too many people who buy stuff at full price. Most people wait for a sale or markdown. If I can get a summer T shirt at Gymbo for $5 on markdown or a summer t shirt at Target for $5, I'll buy the Gymbo tee shirt and can resell it. You can't say that about the Target t shirt.

See...I DON'T mean to offend any Gymbo lovers REALLY REALLY, but I just don't think about investing in kids clothes because of it's resale value. I think kids are cute in all clothes, even when their socks don't coordinate with their shirts, and I just can't picture going all out like that. For a wedding or special occassion? Sure. But for everyday use at home and trips to the park? Nah.Neither do I, but clearly lots of people do...and so I guess it's just a totally different market than some of us understand/are into? I also wouldn't go on ebay to buy my kids clothes (actually I don't like to shop online at all) but clearly lots of people do and do well doing so.

One thing I don't get that I'd love a Gymbo fan to answer: how long of a "life" does a piece of clothing really have? Meaning are people really into finding some of the older lines/styles and getting those for their kids...and is there no concern about things going out of fashion/about a line looking outdated? How long does a line of clothes typically stay out for before being retired?

(Maybe we should retitle this thread: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Gymboree Addicts but Were Afraid to Ask! :lol: )

Yes - up to a couple years old at least!

Some of the stuff from 7 years ago or so is fugly, but back a couple years and people snatch it right up :nod:

Cute, high-quality (usually) clothes, fun themes, lots of matching accessories (including shoes and hair things) and great sales - what's not to love? :biggrin:


This is my favorite thing about it. Like for summer Janelle has 4 complete splash outfits with the same stripe pattern. I can put the matching hair accessories on her, then if an outfit gets dirty, she still matches. :lol: Or like we have all of fox trot for winter...She can wear her cute little hat, and carry her purse, and then if her outfit gets dirty...same thing again. :lol:

So, what I was trying to say is I love all the mix and match opportunities and expecially all the matching accessories. Yeasterday I bought 4 outfits for janelle for summer, plus jewelry, a hat, and 2 sets of hair accessories that will match all 4 outfits...

I think the quality of gymbo is better. I also buy my kids clothes at kmart, wal-mart, etc but it seems that the gymbo wash up better. My family calls be the bargain queen- so when I buy gymbo I am not paying much more if any more for gymbo clothes that kmart or wal-mart. The resale value also helps alot.
And the fact that most of their stuff is adorable and matches also is fun!

Yes - up to a couple years old at least!

Some of the stuff from 7 years ago or so is fugly, but back a couple years and people snatch it right up :nod:


I'd say stuff basically from 2002 on is still cute and has a market on e-bay...older than that not really...the gymbo clothes from the 90's are scary! Though 2 kids in my mom's day care (a sophomore and a 3rd grader now, they are siblings) wore gymboree every single day till like first grade (they are both big kids and outgrew it by then) and I remember thinking it was cute then, so I think styles just change.

One thing I don't get that I'd love a Gymbo fan to answer: how long of a "life" does a piece of clothing really have? Meaning are people really into finding some of the older lines/styles and getting those for their kids...and is there no concern about things going out of fashion/about a line looking outdated? How long does a line of clothes typically stay out for before being retired?

(Maybe we should retitle this thread: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Gymboree Addicts but Were Afraid to Ask! :lol: )

IMO, Gymbo clothes (except for black, navy & red which have some typical fading), wash really well. I wash mine in cold on a regular cycle and dry some of them and hand dry some of them. Given the age of my kids and the fact that they outgrow stuff in several months, they dont wear it all that long, so it doesnt get *that* much wash & wear. When I am done, I give it a good wash and spot treat it and sell it.

Yes.....people are REALLY into finding older lines (and by 'older', they really arent *that* old, per se). Lines that were popular a few years ago (2-3) are totally not outdated. Occasionally, you can still find stuff NWT at times, believe it or not.

Like others posted, I shop Gymbo on sale only. And when their stuff is on sale, its no more expensive than Target or Gap or Old Navy or what have you. I also like that you can not only mix and match stuff from a line, but that with many pieces, you can line mix.

I am not too hot on the boys clothes....I think some of them are cheesy, but occasionally, I will pick up a cute striped shirt or something plain like that for $6 or $7. To me, that is pretty cheap. The quality of the t-shirts is awesome --thick, soft cotton.

And like Sabrina said, I totally can get my money back if I play my cards right. :aok: You cant do that when shopping at Old Navy.

How long does a line of clothes typically stay out for before being retired?


Ohh, the lines aren't exactly retired...they are released with a set amount and basically that is it, a store might get a couple shipments of replenishments of some items, but not always. Anyway, lines in full are usually around for at least a month, and you can get pieces of lines for longer, but by around 4-6 months it has all sold out.

I didn't really understand what people used to say about the "resale value" but since I've had to get on bidding war to buy a pair of tights from eBay, maybe there is some benefit to be had after your kids have outgrown the clothes. I watch these Gymbo mommies sell stuff on ebay and they always sell-- especially when they are in complete outfits. And I know even the worn clothes sell for more than what they paid for it. It's NUTS!!!!!

I want to have the option to resell (although I haven't done it and not sure if I'll ever get around to doing it). It's really a good system and works really well for people who work at it!

The matchy matchy stuff makes me buy a lot of things and even search for things that are sold out in stores. The Gymbo hunt is fun- even though I will whine all day about not finding an item.

Gymbo has a cult following and I think that's the main advantage there when it comes to potential buyers. People like the Gap and children's place but there's a different mania when it comes to the Gymboholics.

We all need to go to counseling. :lol:

See...I DON'T mean to offend any Gymbo lovers REALLY REALLY, but I just don't think about investing in kids clothes because of it's resale value. I think kids are cute in all clothes, even when their socks don't coordinate with their shirts, and I just can't picture going all out like that. For a wedding or special occassion? Sure. But for everyday use at home and trips to the park? Nah.

Just to clarify....I DO NOT shop like that for my boys. As I said, i typically dont like the Gymbo look on boys. Prior to having a girl, I had a bunch of random Gymbo (clearance) pieces for Aidan, but never got into it.
To this day, I'd still much rather dress my boys in Gap.

Ohh, and my kids don't outgrow clothes quickly, when caid was (he was in 12month clothes at 4 months old) I didn't buy him gymboree, I bought him clearanced TCP rompers... Anyway though, Kincaid ended up being in the 12 month size for just over a year, and Janelle has worn almost every size for at least a year, so I'm not buying clothes that they will outgrow in a couple months. And I'm also a pro at getting out stains as long as dh doesn't try to do the laundry. :lol:

I don't get the resale thing either. I think the resale prices are too high for used clothing, even if they are still in good shape. I look at all the Gymbo sale threads on here and I just can't see spending that much for second-hand stuff.

Plus....I have a girl but she is VERY independent about what she wears. It doesn't make sense for me to buy her a matching outfit because one say she'll want the top and then next day she'll want the pants or shorts. It's better for me to buy a bunch of tops and then neutral bottoms - jeans, navy blue, khaki, black - that can all mix and match. Otherwise, she'd be wearing a purple shirt and orange or pink pants and all the Gymbo addicts who saw her would be going crazy because the clothes weren't from the same line.

But when you have Gymbo obsessed people buying the resale (that they can then resell later), you get better prices.

I also find stuff at consignment stores. MUCH cheaper than Target/Kohl's/etc.

Gymbo is not for everyone. I will be honest and say that I buy the stuff for my kids not so much for resale but because I know that it will end up getting handed down for several kids. My daughter wore some stuff from my niece then we handed it to my other niece then another niece and then to a friend of ours. It has been worn by five different little girls and is starting to show some fading. I buy stuff for the kids at sears, target, carters and oshkosh outlets. I never ever ever pay full price for anything at any of those stores. I shop ahead for the following years when stuff goes on clearance. Trust me we would be broke if I paid full price for anything. Besides Emma is still wearing clothes I bought her two years ago and they are just starting to fit. I do think some of the boys lines are cute but not have to haves. Oh and I only buy sears clothes when I can get my parents discount and I try to buy land's end stuff on clearance with the discount. Talk about cheap.....land's end sweater for $1.

Also I buy gymbo for emma because I can get her bike shorts in summer and leggings in winter. The kid can not hold up a pair of jeans or regular pants for anything. She has absolutely no butt. At least she doesn't have to constantly walk around holding leggings up like she does jeans and I just don't have the time or the energy to be tailoring every pair of pants the girl owns.

I find this whole thing totally fascinating. What I think is that the people at Gymbo are doing a really, really good marketing job. Maybe I should ditch the high-tech marketing profession and head over there! (I wish!!!)

PS - check back with me on this whole Gymbo thing if Jax turns out to be a girl. :awink:

I'm also one that's not into Gymbo, but I think it's mostly because I have boys. I don't really care for their boys' stuff at all.

Also, I think I'm too lazy with laundry, and having to worry about keeping their clothes stain free is just too much work for me. If they stain something from Target or ON and I can't get it out, I don't stress about it. :lol: (maybe it's because I'm terrible at getting stains out that I'm this way? :lol: )

And by buying Gymbo, I basically dress my kids for free. How? Buy on deep discount, have my kids wear it, and then sell it on ebay/loops, whereever and get most, if not all of my money back. Sometimes I make a profit (usually on Enay.) So, I don't invest in it per se, but I do know that I can get most of my money back. I don't know too many people who buy stuff at full price. Most people wait for a sale or markdown. If I can get a summer T shirt at Gymbo for $5 on markdown or a summer t shirt at Target for $5, I'll buy the Gymbo tee shirt and can resell it. You can't say that about the Target t shirt.This makes total sense. But like Lyndee said, I'd probably never get around to doing the selling end of the loop. I know my limitations!! :updown:

Also I buy gymbo for emma because I can get her bike shorts in summer and leggings in winter. The kid can not hold up a pair of jeans or regular pants for anything. She has absolutely no butt. At least she doesn't have to constantly walk around holding leggings up like she does jeans and I just don't have the time or the energy to be tailoring every pair of pants the girl owns.


This is a big thing for us too...though...I don't think we could do it with leggings yet, since she needs a 3 for waist (smaller than the baby sizes cause it doesn't accomodate for the toddler pot belly or a diaper) and 18-24 for length, but it works great for bike shorts...and she will be able to wear these size 3 bike shorts she has now till she is like 6, I will just have to buy new shirts every season. :lol:

And like Sabrina said, I totally can get my money back if I play my cards right. :aok: You cant do that when shopping at Old Navy.

Darn right!! All the clothes I have sold online from other places I either got little to nothing out of them or they didn't sell at all. And since the fine invention of Ebay I thinke to myself "will I be able to resell that when I no longer need it" about almost everything I buy.

I only recently discovered Gymboree (6 months ago) and I have now resolved to buy pretty much everything for Abby there. I don't have a store near me but I buy off thier website and then the nearest store (30-45 min away) and everytime we make a trip out of town I check online to see if there is a Gymboree where we are going. If you get in when there are sales and get the gymbucks and redeem them they really do have good prices and good quality.

I love the looks of thier clothes and I really love that you can mix and match sets and they all have super cute accessories!! Abby loves to wear the matching sunglasses!!

And my final reason..... we are only having one child, so I certainly buy her way too much stuff and too many clothes. I love dressing her up cute and taking her places. And DH figures the $$ I spend on her clothes is way cheaper than more kids!!!:lol:

This is a big thing for us too...though...I don't think we could do it with leggings yet, since she needs a 3 for waist (smaller than the baby sizes cause it doesn't accomodate for the toddler pot belly or a diaper) and 18-24 for length, but it works great for bike shorts...and she will be able to wear these size 3 bike shorts she has now till she is like 6, I will just have to buy new shirts every season. :lol:

Emma needs a 4 for length but a 4 in jeans or regular pants are just way too big around the waist. And leggings are really easy to alter around the waist if I need to.

And the staining thing.....I absolutely can not stand stains on my kids clothes. If they get them dirty I change their clothes and wash them right away. I carry changes of clothes in the car at all times with stain stick. I don't care if the clothes are gymbo, sears, kohls, target etc. I don't want them to be stained. If I can't get a stain out then the item get thrown in the trash never to be worn again.

And my final reason..... we are only having one child, so I certainly buy her way too much stuff and too many clothes. I love dressing her up cute and taking her places. And DH figures the $$ I spend on her clothes is way cheaper than more kids!!!:lol:

:nod: ITA! :lol:

For an example of the great resale value of Gymboree, here's this:
I bought this sweater on clearance in March of 2004 (I think) and the leggings were bought by MIL (probably full price...she does that...). I paid $5 for the sweater, and I'm guessing the leggings were priced at $2 for $20 when MIL bought them. So, we spent $15 at most on this outfit. Katie wore the sweater all fall, winter and spring this past year - at least 10 times, but probably a lot more than that, and she wore the leggings at least 5 times. SO, assume 5 wears for the whole outfit. Here's a link to the auction I just sold it at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4746300227&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESO%3AIT&rd=1

So, for 5 wears (which is probably a HUGE underestimation), I paid a net of around $4 for the whole outfit. Not too bad. Whereas a sweater and leggings from Target might cost the same initially, but I'd probably get nothing for them on ebay, and I might get $2, if I'm lucky, at a consignment store. So the outfit from Target ends up costing a net of $13, vs. a net of $4 for the Gymbo outfit.

I hope that helps clear up the *investing* thing a little!

On the resale part of it, that only works if you are willing to spend the time to do the work. You need to take pictures, do the auctions, pack the stuff, and mail it. So let's say I could get an outfit for $10 less doing the Gymbo buy on sale/used and re-sell than a comparable outfit at Target or wherever. I figure I'm going to spend at least hour doing all the work on the resale, and my time is worth more than $10 an hour. (And of course being a guy, I really don't care how cute the outfits are :) )

Dennis

i buy it because i like it. i don't pay full price either but i will pay a decent price if i really want something. resale is just a bonus. i haven't sold on ebay yet, but i will ebay the leftovers from the stuff i'll offer up here and on the other board i'm on.

i have one girl, i will never have another so i am having fun dressing her now while i still can. it helps that i can afford it too.

oh, and prior to having a girl i thought the gymbo nuts on the bbb were loco :lol:. then i got sick of all the freakin' pink people were heaping on me. a p/g buddy gave me a gymbo outfit as a gift and it was all downhill from there.

:lol: Considering I just got a job that pays a pathetic $8.50 an hour, before taxes are taken out, my time isn't *worth* $10 an hour. :lol: But I know what you mean. I actually think the listing stuff, watching the auctions, etc. is kind of fun, though, and cute is important to me, so there you go. :lol: Different strokes for different folks.



On the resale part of it, that only works if you are willing to spend the time to do the work. You need to take pictures, do the auctions, pack the stuff, and mail it. So let's say I could get an outfit for $10 less doing the Gymbo buy on sale/used and re-sell than a comparable outfit at Target or wherever. I figure I'm going to spend at least hour doing all the work on the resale, and my time is worth more than $10 an hour. (And of course being a guy, I really don't care how cute the outfits are :) )

Dennis

I started buying gymbo when I was pregnant and fell in love with the layette lines. Now that my son no longer fits in the layette size I don't buy as much gymboree, but I still buy quite a bit.

Part of the appeal to me is that everything within each line goes with everything else. I don't have to think that hard about putting outfits together. The gap store in my area does not have as good of sales or selection as gymboree.

:lol: Considering I just got a job that pays a pathetic $8.50 an hour, before taxes are taken out, my time isn't *worth* $10 an hour. :lol: But I know what you mean. I actually think the listing stuff, watching the auctions, etc. is kind of fun, though, and cute is important to me, so there you go. :lol: Different strokes for different folks.

Yup, if you enjoy it, then it's not "work"!

Plus, when you snag stuff on sale (anything 40% off or higher), you can get stuff for just as cheap or cheaper than target/walmart, etc. Gymbo stuff can be resold (and the resale value is high) and it generally holds up very well.

This is a big part of it for me... I will buy stuff at Target for play clothes, craft clothes, etc. but if I can buy something on sale at Gymbo for the same price as Target, it just makes no sense to buy the Target thing b/c the Gymbo is so much better made and usually cuter IMO... plus, the stuff just wears really really well which is VERY important to me since I definitely pass it down the line, and I really like the sizing... it is quite generous as opposed to some other brands, so my girls tend to wear it for a LONG time.

See...I DON'T mean to offend any Gymbo lovers REALLY REALLY, but I just don't think about investing in kids clothes because of it's resale value. I think kids are cute in all clothes, even when their socks don't coordinate with their shirts, and I just can't picture going all out like that. For a wedding or special occassion? Sure. But for everyday use at home and trips to the park? Nah.

Full price, it is definitely on the higher side, but most of us in the big threads do our best to get the best deals we can, which is really part of the fun, and I'm sure Gymbo knows that that only fuels the addiction! :)

One thing I don't get that I'd love a Gymbo fan to answer: how long of a "life" does a piece of clothing really have? Meaning are people really into finding some of the older lines/styles and getting those for their kids...and is there no concern about things going out of fashion/about a line looking outdated? How long does a line of clothes typically stay out for before being retired?


I think some of the stuff has a pretty long fashion life... I tend to buy a lot of their basics, tee shirts, leggings, etc. and some of the pieces I have are from 2001 and I will definitely be passing them down to this new baby and probably will not have difficulty passing them on after she is done.

Plus....I have a girl but she is VERY independent about what she wears. It doesn't make sense for me to buy her a matching outfit because one say she'll want the top and then next day she'll want the pants or shorts. It's better for me to buy a bunch of tops and then neutral bottoms - jeans, navy blue, khaki, black - that can all mix and match. Otherwise, she'd be wearing a purple shirt and orange or pink pants and all the Gymbo addicts who saw her would be going crazy because the clothes weren't from the same line.

I am definitely a Gymbo addict, but my 3 year old picks her own clothes most of the time, and she loves nothing more than to wear purple pants with orange shirts, etc. It doesn't drive me crazy at all! :lol: I think I just enjoy the combos she comes up with!!

I actually buy most of Jakob's clothes at Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Savers. (They are very nice here, clean and organized!) But I love quality and often look for labels when I'm shopping at used clothing stores. I also Love a bargain, so I can see how getting quality products at a discount can be fun, fashionable, and economic.

How often do they give gymbucks? How often can you redeem them?

I get the resale thing completely! It is fun to sell on ebay. Yes, it takes time, but I'm at home anyway, and I'd rather be making a little bit of money than watching TV (though I just got hooked on Brat Camp, goodbye Wednesdays!)

BTW, I made $4000+ last year selling on ebay. It all adds up :)

You should start a Brat Camp thread. It's my new favorite. I don't think I've laughed that hard in a LONG time!

You guys have my wheels turning in my head...do you think if I started looking at the clearance racks at my gymboree here and putting the stuff on ebay we could make some money from that?

I actually think the listing stuff, watching the auctions, etc. is kind of fun, though, and cute is important to me, so there you go. :lol: Different strokes for different folks.

You're right...if it's fun for you, then do it! I can understand what you guys are saying. I'm just not into the time and effort it takes to resell, I guess. And I never buy clothes on ebay because I always feel like I'm getting screwed on the shipping, whether or not I really am. Good quality clothes are important to me, I won't argue that, and I'm willing to pay more (as long as it's a sale price ;) )for the rugged, basic stuff (sweatshirts, turtlenecks, jeans, etc.), because I know it will be passed down to my 2+ boys. I actually found a GREAT consignment shop nearby, thanks to a fellow OUALer (Eleanor :)), and buy a ton of stuff there, including some Gymboree stuff. But after they're finished with it, I plan to give it away to a deserving relative or friend or I'll donate it, or have a big garage sale simply to get rid of it...it'll give me great pleasure to do that!

And I checked out that gymbohaven site. I'll admit that those girls clothes are cute...but the discussion threads are a tad over-the-top for me.:scratch: :lol:

And I checked out that gymbohaven site. I'll admit that those girls clothes are cute...but the discussion threads are a tad over-the-top for me.:scratch: :lol:

I checked it out as well and I just wanted to post "THEY'RE JUST CLOTHES!!!!!", but I didn't think that would be received too well :)

I am SO glad this thread was started, becuase the whole gymbo thing always perplexed me too! :lol: Someone gave us an outfit for our son, but he already has a TON of clothes that he hasn't worn yet, so I figured we'd exchange it for something that he could wear next year.

I was SHOCKED when the cashier said that the little onesie someone had given us was $19.99! For a onesie!!! :ack: I exchanged it for two onesies from the clearance rack in a larger size, because I just didn't see any boy clothes that I liked at all!

(I guess if I had a girl, it *might* be a different story.)

Oh- and I have to agree that quality clothes are worth the extra price. When I was growing up, my mom would buy me five pairs of jeans from K-Mart that would fall apart before the school year was through. She could have spent the same money on just two pairs of quality jeans that would have lasted the whole year and THEN some!

Cute, high-quality (usually) clothes, fun themes, lots of matching accessories (including shoes and hair things) and great sales - what's not to love? :biggrin:

EXACTLY!! The main reason I love gymboree is because of the quality. I HATE when Lauren wears things once or twice and I wash it and it looks like crap. You can wash gymboree over and over and it still looks great. Which is another reason why you can resell the stuff so easy. I think its pretty simple to sell the stuff on ebay or wherever (and even easier to buy it on ebay :blush1: ) 95% of Laurens clothing comes from gymboree or janie and jack (a sister company).

See...I DON'T mean to offend any Gymbo lovers REALLY REALLY, but I just don't think about investing in kids clothes because of it's resale value. I think kids are cute in all clothes, even when their socks don't coordinate with their shirts, and I just can't picture going all out like that. For a wedding or special occassion? Sure. But for everyday use at home and trips to the park? Nah.

But some people are, including me. I love shopping for Lauren's clothes, I love matching her socks with her pants, with her shirt, with her hairstuff.. and I like it to look nice after one washing. Lauren wears her gymbo stuff to the park, it gets stains and 99% of the time I get the stains out. Yes, Lauren is always cute but that doesn't mean I don't want to dress her in what I consider cute clothing. I like Gap, but I don't think it wears as long and as well as gymbo and I think its just as expensive?!?

Why do gymbo lovers offend non gymbo lovers??? Thats what I don't get.

Why do gymbo lovers offend non gymbo lovers??? Thats what I don't get.

Gymbo lovers certainly don't offend me. I just can't really understand the obsession.

Gymbo lovers certainly don't offend me. I just can't really understand the obsession.

Exactly! I'm finding this thread interesting because I thought I didn't get it just because I'm a guy :)

You guys have my wheels turning in my head...do you think if I started looking at the clearance racks at my gymboree here and putting the stuff on ebay we could make some money from that?

Well you could, but its not as easy as you think it is. You have to know what people want, the popular lines, what people are selling on ebay, etc. Essentially, ya gotta know your gymbo and ya gotta know what gymbo is being sold on ebay and what people want :lol: (e.g.: like the cowboy hat will likely be a hot commodity someday, or that the frog layette line is veeery hot. things like that. THAT is what you make money from.).

I see my Gymboree 'issues' as somewhat of a hobby.
My boys are dressed probably 95% in Gymbo, but that is because it is fun to me. I can scavenge the clearance racks, obsess over sales, and sell our old stuff. It has become almost a game to me as to how I can dress the boys alike or coordinating and then sell stuff off and either come out even or ahead a little bit :)
This thread hasn't offended me in the least, the only time I get offended really about Gymboree is if I feel that someone is trying to belittle my hobby and my efforts, but I think everyone here has just been genuinly interested to see what the addiction is about :lol:

Yep, this thread hasn't offended me in the slightest. There are LOTS of obsessions that I totally don't get, so I understand *not getting the obsession*. :lol: I just happen to *get* this one! :lol:

We love Gymbo. Love how I can dress my girls the same or coordinating. Love how I can get every little matching accessory for it, if I wanted to,...from the hair pretties to the sunglasses and down to the shoes... :lol: It's fun, the clothes hold up REALLY well, and the resale value is great. :)

Some pple are into it, and some pple aren't....and that's ok. :) It's not like we're going broke over buying Gymbo...so it's all good! :lol:

I'm not offended.. this thread just struck me as odd?? :dunno:

I don't get it either :dunno: I buy my kids clothes whereever I find the best sale, usually off the clearence racks at Target or The Children's place. I have never really been into labels for clothing, I think it is just me though. It almost seems like a status symbol at least around here where I live and I don't want to get caught up in that. (I am talking around here, my town where I live IRL).

Although it might be different if we were rich and had lots of money to blow on clothes.

I do understand the Gymbo obsession, but I'm personally not obsessed. Honestly, I think it's because I'm just too lazy. :lol: I go in there if they're having a sale, but that's the extent of it. Most of the time that I go in there, I leave with nothing. :dunno:

I do understand the Gymbo obsession, but I'm personally not obsessed. Honestly, I think it's because I'm just too lazy. :lol: I go in there if they're having a sale, but that's the extent of it. Most of the time that I go in there, I leave with nothing. :dunno:

Oooh, you are good Stacey.. leaving with nothing!!! I am jealous!!! ;)

I see my Gymboree 'issues' as somewhat of a hobby.
My boys are dressed probably 95% in Gymbo, but that is because it is fun to me. I can scavenge the clearance racks, obsess over sales, and sell our old stuff. It has become almost a game to me as to how I can dress the boys alike or coordinating and then sell stuff off and either come out even or ahead a little bit :)
This thread hasn't offended me in the least, the only time I get offended really about Gymboree is if I feel that someone is trying to belittle my hobby and my efforts, but I think everyone here has just been genuinly interested to see what the addiction is about :lol:

That says it! My hobby is shopping!!!! So Gymboree fits right in. I had some friends over last night and after seeing Abby's closet and drawers full of clothes they all voted that I am in need of therapy for my serious addiction!!!!:lol: And I don't even had a Gymboree store nearby! Could you imagine if I did!?!?!?

Just had to come back and say I went to Gymboree. My eyes are now open! Awesome sale, cute cute cute clothes. Even the boys' clothes were cute. Thank God I don't have girls!! I GET IT!!

:lol: Welcome to the dark side! :lol: :devil:

Just had to come back and say I went to Gymboree. My eyes are now open! Awesome sale, cute cute cute clothes. Even the boys' clothes were cute. Thank God I don't have girls!! I GET IT!!
:lol: Glad you popped in & liked what you saw! :up: And it figures...I have two girls. Oh, the fun....the joy....the coordinating and matching of outfits....the money!!!!! :lol: