What’s this “Moms in Charge” Facebook group and why is it all the rage?

I was talking with a bunch of other new moms when a couple women started to discuss recent purchases for their little ones. They went on and on about all of the fantastic deals they found through the MICIT (pronounced “Mick-it”) Baby Facebook group.

NWT Hanna Andersson pajamas for a fraction of the retail price? EUC Double Bob stroller for only $200? I had no idea what language they were speaking or what exactly I had to do to be part of this group, but I knew I wanted in.

The Charlotte MICIT Facebook groups are designed for members to buy/sell items, and solicit/receive helpful advice. The groups are private, and members invite friends to join, so the idea is that it is a smaller, more exclusive and safe network of friends versus a wide open Craigslist concept.

Currently there are separate groups for buying and selling clothing and gear for babies, kids, teens, women, men, and home and business items. There are also the following discussion groups – Home & Décor, Beauty & Health, Baby & Kids, Tips, Tricks & Organization, Recipes, Travel, Craft & Handmade.

If you have something you no longer need, you can take a picture, write a short description of the item (size, condition, location for pick-up), and post it on the group’s newsfeed. Buyers can comment if they are interested in purchases. The buyer and seller arrange pick-up, most of the time conveniently from the seller’s front porch.

There are several groups like this – yard sale groups, neighborhood affiliated groups, etc. – but the MICIT private groups are purposely smaller to keep the degree of separation from friends low to encourage honesty and quality of goods. And wow is the quality good. This is a blessing and a curse – buyers have to move extremely fast to get the gems. We are talking items being claimed in minutes if not seconds. 

By some miracle I saw a post for those coveted Hanna Andersson jammies and got five pairs for less than the retail price of two. Behind me was a list of 12 other mommies, hoping I’d flake out and not claim them within the required 24 hour period. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I join?

You have to know a group member and have them invite you to the Facebook group(s).

How many members does MICIT have?

Each group has between 4,000 – 6,000 members.

Why is the waitlist to join so long?

If the group had a million members, the chances of you getting that Double BOB would be even lower than they already are with a few thousand member.

Do you have to live in Charlotte to be a member?

No, but if you are buying or selling you have to be willing to meet in the SouthPark area for pick-up/drop-off.

Do you have to be a mom to join?

No.

What do all of those acronyms mean?

• NWT/NWOT/NIB – New with or without tags or in box
• EUC/VGUC/GUC – Excellent, very good, or good used condition
• PPU/PU + Area – Porch pick up if you are in the designated areas covered by the group (xyz) or Pick up + area you’re willing to travel to meet a buyer if you are out of the designated area. Ex. PU South Park Mall
• Bump – a poster is “bumping” their post to the top of the news feed so more people can see it

• Interested/Next/Pass – Commenting “Interested” means you are interested in buying an item. Commenting “Next” means someone is in front of you, and you are communicating you are next on the list if the person “Passes”
• ISO – Posting that you are “In Search Of”… tell prospective sellers that you are looking to buy what they may be looking to sell. For example, “ISO accessories for my new BOB stroller”

What is the difference between a buy/sell group and a discussion group?

The buy/sell groups are where you can post items for sale and search for items to purchase. The discussion groups are meant for questions like, “Does anyone have quick and easy weeknight dinner recipes my 1 and a half year old won’t throw on the floor?” or “How to get a red wine stain out of my rug?” Think questions you would ask your friends, neighbors, or coworkers for real-time trusted advice. 

Any other tips?

This is for serious buyers and sellers only. If you break any of the stated rules, for example selling counterfeit or defective items, you will be kicked out. Also, tread lightly when it comes to soliciting advice, especially when it comes to immunizations, breastfeeding, and sleep training. Emotions run high and opinions are strong.

The best news of all?

The administrator of the group, who started MICIT Charlotte and helped it spread to Raleigh, Columbia, Atlanta, and beyond is working on a standalone website to provide functionality Facebook currently cannot. This includes improvements like being able to define your own community so you can decide who you want to buy from and in what location. There is also talk of a ratings system for buyers/sellers to help increase accountability. Best of all, it will remain free.