Car seats wear out and fail over time. Now is the time to learn about the car seat trade in programs many retailers are offering that not only help parents get rid of old car seats, but also give them the chance to buy new equipment at a discount.
What Should You Do With Your Old Car Seat?
Retail Trade-In Programs and Events
Several retail outlets have initiated car seat trade-in programs and events that enable parents and guardians to bring in old car seats for recycling or trade-in incentives. Retailers like Target and Walmart annually organize trade-in events for old car seats, which allow parents to bring in any used car seat to get a discount on a new one.
Reuse Them
If your car seat is still in decent condition, there are a few things you can do to keep it in use. Consider donating it to a local charity or shelter, or selling it second-hand online. However, remember to check if the car seat meets safety requirements and expiration dates before recycling or reusing them.
Recycle the Car Seat
If your car seat is no longer functional, do not attempt to sell or donate it as it can be dangerous or unusable. Thankfully, most car seat trade-in programs and events collect old car seats for recycling afterward. Rather than taking up space in a landfill or posing a safety issue, the materials can be returned to the production cycle.
Target Car Seat Trade In
Target announced a car seat trade-in event in April, where they offered a 20% off coupon for online and in-store purchases of new car seats, strollers, and select baby gear.
Where Can I Take The Car Seat?
Target stores are the only authorized drop-off locations where old car seats are accepted by the retailer. Finding a Target that participates in car seat trade-in programs isn’t challenging as more than 1,000 Target stores in the US participated in the event.
Target’s Event Duration
The Target car seat trade-in event typically runs for three weeks in April and September of each year. However, the dates may vary each year.
What Type of Car Seats Does Target Accept?
The trade-in program run by Target accepts all car seats with no exceptions. It is assumed that the deal covers recalled car seats, infant carriers, convertible car seats, and even booster seats. The program comes with a limit of two car seats per household to start with.
Walmart Car Seat Trade In
Walmart offers its customers a trade-in program allowing them to exchange their old car seats for Walmart gift cards. Walmart collaborates with recycling company TerraCycle to separate the parts of the car seats, which can then be recycled.
Where Can I Take The Car Seat?
Walmart’s car seat trade-in program is done in almost all Walmart stores throughout the US except in brand-new Walmart stores. Customer service representatives often handle queries about the cars seats’ recycling or exchange when it comes to Walmart.
Walmart Event Duration
In recent years, Walmart has run its trade-in event from September to the end of October each year. The event generally lasts two weeks in most Walmart stores.
What Type of Car Seats Does Walmart Accept?
The program run by Walmart accepts any car seat models and types available on the market. Walmart accepts all types of car seats, infant carriers, convertible car seats, and booster seats. Walmart used to require expired or damaged car seats before accepting them for an exchange, but now the conditions may vary.
Amazon Car Seat Trade In
Amazon’s Car Seat Program allows customers to trade in gently used car seats in exchange for a 20% off coupon on a new one. The used car seats are then recycled through a partnership with TerraCycle, a global leader in recycling hard-to-recycle materials. The program is available to Amazon Prime members and can be accessed through the Amazon website.
Where Can I Take the Car Seat?
With the Amazon Car Seat Program, you can trade in your car seat online. Simply visit the program website, select the car seat you want to trade in, print out a shipping label, and send it in. Once Amazon receives your car seat and verifies its condition, they will email you a 20% off coupon for a new car seat.
Amazon Event Duration
The program is generally offered for a limited time only – usually a few weeks. Keep an eye on the Amazon website for announcements about upcoming events.
What Type of Car Seats Does Amazon Accept?
Amazon accepts a variety of car seat brands and models, as long as they meet the following criteria:
- The car seat must have been normally available for retail sale in the US.
- The car seat must be currently listed on Amazon.com.
- The car seat must not be expired or damaged.
- The car seat must not have been recalled.
Buy Buy Baby Car Seat Trade-In
The Buy buy baby Car Seat Trade-In Program is similar to Amazon’s program, offering customers a 20% discount on new car seats in exchange for their used ones. Unlike Amazon’s program, Buy buy baby’s program is available to all customers – you don’t need to be a member or have a specific credit card.
Where Can I Take the Car Seat?
To trade in your car seat, simply bring it to a participating Buy buy baby store. You can find a store near you on the company’s website. Once you bring in your car seat, you’ll receive a 20% off coupon that can be used in-store or online.
Buy buy baby Event Duration
The Buy buy baby Car Seat Trade-In Program typically runs for several weeks, with announcements made on the company’s website and social media channels.
What Type of Car Seats Does Buy buy baby Accept?
Buy buy baby accepts a variety of car seat brands and models, as long as they meet the following criteria:
- The car seat must not be expired or damaged.
- The car seat must not have been recalled.
Best Buy Car Seat Trade In
Best Buy is generally known for its electronics, but the retailer has been expanding its range to include baby gear. Their car seat trade-in program is an excellent way to recycle old car seats and obtain discounts on new products. In 2021, Best Buy held their trade-in event from September 12th to September 25th, in partnership with TerraCycle.
Where Can I Take the Car Seat?
arents looking to participate in the trade in program had to bring their used car seats to a participating Best Buy store. The car seat had to have been expired, damaged, or simply not needed. In exchange, the customer received a 20% discount on a new car seat purchase from Best Buy. Notably, the discount applies to all car seats they sell, including convertible, booster, and infant car seats.
Best Buy Event Duration
Costco’s car seat trade-in program is an event that lasts for almost an entire month from mid-September to mid-October.
What Type of Car Seats Does Best Buy Accept?
With the trade-in program, Best Buy accepted all types of car seats, including those that had been damaged or expired. It was also not mandatory to purchase a new car seat immediately on the same day as the trade-in event.
Costco Car Seat Trade In
Costco members can bring their expired or damaged car seat to any participating Costco warehouse and receive a $30 Costco Shop Card, which can be used to purchase anything in-store or online. Note that only one trade-in permitted per membership.
Where Can I Take the Car Seat?
As for where you can take your car seat, not all Costco warehouses participate in this program, so make sure to check your local Costco’s website or call them before heading to the store. Once you arrive at the store, bring your car seat to the designated location for the trade-in event. Costco will take care of recycling the old car seats.
Costco Event Duration
Costco’s car seat trade-in program is an event that lasts for almost an entire month from mid-September to mid-October.
What Type of Car Seats Does Costco Accept?
According to their website, they accept any brand of a car seat except for booster seats. If you are unsure if your car seat is eligible, contact your local Costco store.
Meijer Car Seat Trade In
Meijer is another large retailer that offers a car seat trade in program. In partnership with TerraCycle, they offer parents an excellent opportunity to recycle old, expired, or damaged car seats in exchange for discounts on new ones.
Where Can I Take the Car Seat?
To participate in the Meijer trade-in event, parents had to bring their old car seats into any participating Meijer store during the event period. This year, Meijer partnered exclusively with TerraCycle to ensure that all traded-in car seats are appropriately recycled and not destined for a landfill.
Meijer Event Duration
The Meijer car seat trade-in program was a one-week event held from September 19th through September 25th in 2021.
What Type of Car Seats Does Meijer Accept?
Meijer accepted all types of car seats, including expired, damaged, or outgrown ones. In exchange, customers received 20% off any new car seat purchase. Similar to Best Buy, Meijer’s offer extends to all types of car seats, including convertible seats, booster seats, and infant car seats.
TerraCycle Car Seat Program
Parents generally find themselves in a bit of a bind when their children outgrow the car seat they currently use. While most local recycling programs don’t accept them, TerraCycle presents an alternative.
What is TerraCycle?
TerraCycle is a recycling company that specializes in developing unique methods of recycling or upcycling materials that aren’t typically recyclable, like car seats. They’ve even gained attention for their work with difficult-to-recycle items, like cigarette butts and single-use coffee cups.
Where Can I Take the Car Seat?
TerraCycle provides drop-off locations for old car seats all across the United States. The easiest approach is to visit TerraCycle’s website and locate a collection site near you. Depending on the area you live in, there might be one situated around a retail store.
Terracycle Event Duration
TerraCycle hosts numerous Car Seat recycling events year-round lasting almost 180days. Once again, using their website is your best bet in discovering Terracycle events near you!
What Type of Seats Does TerraCycle Accept?
TerraCycle accepts any car seat brand, version, and style. They ask that you discard any attachments, like the straps and padding, before bringing your car seat to a drop off location.
Additionally, because of the weight, size, and shipping expense for car seats, TerraCycle does not accept mail-in donations for this program.
Clek Car Seat Program
Clek is another car seat recycling program that operates similarly to TerraCycle providing convenient ways for parents to safely dispose of their car seats.
Where Can I Take the Car Seat?
Clek offers numerous ways to dispose of your car seats. To begin with, they facilitate a major recycling program through a partnership with local recycling facilities within your region.
Visit their website and enter your zip code to find Clek-supported recycling centers near you.
Event Duration
Clek does not mention any duration of recycling events on their website. However, if you are inclined to participate in a Clek recycling event, feel free to check their website for upcoming dates and times.
What Type of Car Seats Does Clek Accept?
Clek only accepts their own brand for recycling. Please note, per Clek’s website, “Clek is committed to sustainability and has a recycling program for the recyclable parts of your expired Clek car seat. We will do our best to ensure non-recyclable parts are disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.”
How To Get Coupons For Trade-In Programs？
To take advantage of the discounts offered in trade-in programs, you should do some online research about upcoming events that would be ideal to attend. Once the event is approaching, you should always check with the retailer’s customer service department for trade-in requirements, incentives, and the conditions that come with them.
Conclusion
Whether you attend a trade-in program or opt for recycling or reusing, it’s essential to deal with your old car seat properly to avoid causing harm to the environment. This guide to car seat trade-in events and recycling companies ensures it is easy to determine the best option for your family while still making an effort to contribute to the environment’s well-being.