Consignment v. eBay v. Donation - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Consignment v. eBay v. Donation

Rosie

Veteran

I have a bunch of items I'm getting rid of, some of which are in good shape. In the past I've always just donated my clothes (the good ones) but recently I sold some on eBay with success. I feel like it might be a lot less work to try to consign items but I have no experience with it.

Has anyone done both? Have a preference? Do you think donating is just better to do, money aside?

General

29 replies

Latest reply was from Mellllls

Debbie

Veteran

I give it away. The consignment shop I didn't have much luck with and with ebay I don't want to ship it.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

If you have a lot, you might want to consider those ebay stores. I believe they will handle the shipping and everything for you- of course, they will also take their cut.

Sarah Baker

(website)

It just depends on the amount of money you hope to get back, I think. I haven't ever tried consignment stores because I have a cat and most consignment boutiques will not accept clothing from homes that have pets. I have sold a few things on eBay but have usually spent more in shipping costs and trips to the post office than it was worth to me. I usually donate my clothes to pass on good thrift store karma.

DressLover

Veteran

I do a combination of Ebay and donations. I began by listing everything and if it didn't sell after two relists, I donated it. I have discovered with time that any item I don't think will sell for at least $10 plus shipping, I don't list and I automatically donate it. It just isn't worth the time to list, answer questions, and ship on the cheaper items.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

How about a neighborhood garage sale? You'd get more than donating it, less than consigning it and maybe have some fun too.

Beth

Veteran

I usually just donate my clothes either to Goodwill or to the local humane society thrift shop. I've thought about consigning some of my nicer clothes, but it seems like too much effort for too little money and I figure donation is helping a good cause:)

marianna

Veteran

I just consigned a bunch of stuff. They sent me an invoice listing how they priced everything and it seems really fair. They are selling my stuff for a retail value of approx $750, and I get 50% of that if everything sells. Some of these items I'd have no chance selling on eBay. I use eBay frequently for desirable name brand items that are in demand and I know will sell. The hard-to-sell stuff I consigned. (Although the lady at the store told me I'd have no problem selling my stuff because it's all really nice!)

Rosie

Veteran

So many good responses! Thank you! I live in an apartment building in sort of a downtown area so a garage sale unfortunately would be hard. I think I will end up doing three piles of stuff bound for each location.

Marianna, did the consignment store take items that were not in perfect condition?

marianna

Veteran

Rosie, I honestly didn't bring anything that was in bad condition. I consigned a few Banana Republic sweaters and I'm sure some of them had slight piling, but they took them anyway.

I'd recommend researching the consignment store first. Read Yelp reviews, go take a look at what they sell, etc. You'll get a pretty good feel for what they will take and won't take.

Rosie

Veteran

Thanks! It was slight pilling I was curious about. I will do some research. Appreciate the help, ladies!

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Do they have a Clothes Mentor near where you live? They sell brand name to upper-end items like a consignment shop, yet they pay you up front, so you need'nt wait for the money. They are also a good place to pick up items- they have a wide variety- from clothing to jewelry to handbags....

Mellllls

Veteran

By the time I'm ready to get rid of something, both myself, my mom and my sister have all rejected it. I feel at that point, if none of us want it, it's either not in good enough condition to consign or ebay or its dated. So I donate. I just don't feel right about putting a price on things like that.

taylor

Veteran

For me I always give away...just feels good. But honestly alot of people I know consign and they do quite well:)....no help here.

Rosie

Veteran

I will have to look up Clothes Mentor. I'm not sure but it sounds great. Thanks.

Some of the stuff is in good shape. I think I just have to figure out what I want to get out of it. I will probably donate most of it and then sell a select few items. I NEVER donate clothes that are really funky, though. I always want to feel like something good or useful is going to a good home that needs it.

Do you guys have a limit for the shape clothes to be donated are in?

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Donate everything- many charities turn things they can't sell into rags that they use for different programs. You can make some calls to find out which ones locally do this.

Rosie

Veteran

Oh really, Khris? I didn't know that. I always try to turn my funky shirts into rags, but there are only so many I can have. This is super info. I will definitely call.

taylor

Veteran

Most of my stuff is in pretty good shape. I give to people I know , or out on the curb it goes:)

marianna

Veteran

I guess it also depends on your financial situation. I consign because I need the money, not because I'm heartless. If I didn't need the money I'd donate more!

Rosie

Veteran

So I called this consignment store and was sort of shocked by how they do business. They have very limited hours for appointments (fine) but then the lady told me they were all booked for June. They do not take consignments in July. Would I like to book an appointment in August? Umm, no, I don't want all these clothes sitting around my apartment for two months.

I understand limited space/time, yet it makes no sense that they turn people away. They potentially miss out on great merchandise and they have lost me as both a seller and buyer!

marianna

Veteran

Rosie, that's frustrating. Sorry. You should fly out to Chicago and I'll take you to my consignment store.

I'm picking up my first check today, actually. Yay for spending money. Err... savings money, right? Heh.

Rosie

Veteran

That is great that you are getting money! See, this is where teleportation would come in handy...I could just jaunt over for a consignment store trip!

I'll give another place a try, and if I'm not happy with it I may make my way to the place in Willow Glen you told me about as I have to be in the South Bay Saturday anyway. (Well, I guess Peninsula, but still.)

agrace

I find consingment stores to be mostly frustrating. Marianna, to me you are having the exceptional experience! And I'm happy for you

But Rosie, for me, I have not had good fortune consigning. I find a lot of the 'chain' consignment stores to be an UTTER waste of time.

The individually owned boutique style ones I have gone to are okay, but the most recent one I went to and ended up consigning at did not give me a list of the stuff they had, which I think is a no-brainer. I think they should write down everything that they take not just for themselves but for the customer as well. Then, there was also not any sense of what stuff would sell for. Also, it said on the contract that they are not responsible for 'lost or stolen' merchandise. My point is that I can lose/ give away my clothes myself. Consigning for me has been a headache.

I have done decent on ebay, mostly with new with tags stuff. I'm not willing to spend the time to sell a used Gap shirt on ebay b/c it would take too much time so that type of stuff I'll either sell in a yard sale or give away. Incidentally, a couple years ago I had a yard sale and made about $200 from used clothes! I never expected that but my clothes sold really well.

Good luck with what you decide.

Rosie

Veteran

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I have to figure out what to do, how much time I want to put into it. Basically, I got new specs which blew most of my shopping budget (now have to get lenses, etc.) so selling the stuff would really help out!

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I donate all my clothes. But I also make sure I keep a good count all year long of exactly what I am donating, then I use It's Deductible to calculate how much I can write off.

My husband and I lost 120 pounds last year and donated our entire wardrobes: it came to 17 huge boxes. It was a win-win. The people at the Home of The Sparrow were thrilled to see me, for one, and I was thrilled by the size of my write-off: over $4000.

I figure if the IRS ever challenges me, I have a list of all that we donated, and before-and-after pictures to prove our case. LOL!

Rosie

Veteran

Wow, Kristen! That is awesome! I haven't itemized my deductions in the past (usually allow my parents to donate the stuff for me) but I might this year.

120 pounds!!

judy

Veteran

I have consigned at a store here in Seattle, Driftwood...one downtown and one in Madrona...where she gives you 50 percent of the price of the item sold. It worked out really well for me for the things that I didn't want or that didn't fit but were still good brands and in nice condition.

Other times, I've sold at Crossroads too. I notice you live in Oakland, Rosie and there is one there : http://crossroadstrading.com/c.....llege.html

My Crossroads here is really picky, but the good thing is that they do give you cash...more in trade, though. I forget the ratio, it's probably on the web site. They only buy in season, where as the consignment store takes whatever she thinks she can sell at any time.

The rest I donate. Mostly what I end up donating are household things...dishes, comforters etc...at my local Value Village that has a drive up.

Good luck!

April

Veteran

Rosie, I think consignment varies a great deal. The store I use is very selective about what they'll take, but no appointment is needed and they spell out exactly what the rules are (minimum of ten pieces, no more than a couple of seasons old, no items from discount stores unless items are pristine or very special, etc.) They ask what you would prefer them to do with items that are unsold after 60 days -- you can either pick them up or they will donate them for you.

So I look at it as "I'll try to sell it, and if it doesn't sell, it's being donated anyway."

As for charity, I don't donate anything that is damaged or so worn that no one would want it, but anything else is fair game.

Also, do you have a Buffalo Exchange near you? They buy your items (or not) on the spot, no waiting to see if they sell before you get paid.

Rosie

Veteran

Oh, great that Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange pay up front. Frankly, I would rather that then have to wait, even if it means I get a little less money. Then I can just donate the rest.

I just always thought consignment would be easy! It is much more complicated than I anticipated.

Mellllls

Veteran

I was surprised at how much difficulty I had finding a place to donate around here! A lot of places aren't currently accepting clothes because they have so much. It is really disheartening.