Save on Kids' Clothes (and make them last) with KidVantage!

I don't buy my boys many clothes. That doesn't mean, though, that they don't have many clothes. They do; most of what we receive comes as hand-me-downs from friends, or from my mother, who works at JC Penney and has great access (plus an extra 20% discount) to clearance racks. But when I do need to shop, I turn to Sears. Why? The reason is simple: KidVantage.

This program costs nothing and yet saves you so much. When I do purchase brand-new clothes, I buy them on clearance (By the way, March is great for winter clearance; August-early September is when you'll find the best prices for summer stuff). At check-out, the cashier asks if I want to put these on KidVantage. I have no clue why anyone wouldn't. As I already said, it's free. The cashier just enters your phone number and registers your purchases in their computer. No credit card, no loyalty card, no oath to buy from Sears 'til-death-do-you-part, nothing.

Here's where the beauty of the program comes in: if the item wears out while your child is still in that size, Sears will replace it with a similar item--for free. Some examples for you: I bought my baby a clearanced overall set one fall. He wore it the next fall, but it ripped near the diaper snaps. I took it in and walked out with a brand new, full-price overall set, thanks to KidVantage. Another son wore out the knee in his camo-pants. Sure enough, KidVantage replaced them with a similar pair. I also had a coat replaced, which seemed to be mis-sized, as well as a few other pairs of pants.

KidVantage is great for parents of boys (girls, too, I'm sure), since they can be so hard on their clothes. Knees wear out quickly. Isn't it great to know you don't have to buy a new pair of pants? It's even better when you save money by buying the first pair on clearance (you can replace it with a similar pair in the same brand, even if it's not on clearance.). I believe the program is for items that wear out only; stained items would probably not fall under the guarantee. Sears will replace Levi's jeans under KidVantage, but only if you have the receipt. You do not need the receipt for other items.

Here is an article I found that offers more information.

I could not find this on the Sears' website but found it on another website that had quoted the Sears' site in 2008:

The KidVantage® Club offers the Wear Out Warranty. When your baby grows up and your kids clothing or kids shoes wear out before they are out grown, Sears will replace them for free.

By buying clothes on clearance and using KidVantage, I can outfit my kids in new clothes and pay less than I would if I bought more worn items at the thrift store. (I just paid $1.19 for a new long-sleeved 3T shirt for my son). KidVantage definitely works for me!