Proof that my area is not cutting edge... - YouLookFab Forum

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Proof that my area is not cutting edge...

Peri

Veteran

I just took 12 things into consignment and the only things they wouldn't take were two pairs of flare jeans. She said "I know flare legs are coming back in, but we only take skinnies".

Coming back in? Don't we think they are back in already?

No complaints, I like this shop and I knew jeans would be iffy anyway...someone would need to be my height as well as my size because I have already hemmed them. Plus they have racks of jeans already. I just think it's funny that she would be so sure no one would buy flares that she wasn't even willing to put them out. Why does she think no one would be glad to see flares in their sea of skinnies?!

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14 replies

Latest reply was from

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Save them and take them back in a few months

always trying

Veteran

first of all, i can uderstand where they are coming from. As long as flares are featured with heels flares will not be too popular-at least in my thinking..and second I find consignment shops wierd-at least in my area. Took two pairs of booties-one faux leather inexpensive -was given $10.00 for them,and the other real leather very nice was rejected. no explanation as to why and also rejected was a very nice sweater that was too small for me-was a gift with no return info-but good label and quality. Then was asked if I had any jean jackets, or jeans. I said no and walked out-never to go back. Another supposedly high end consigned shop just opened a short while ago. They have a store full of some of the ugliest things I have ever seen, and everything seems to be around $39.00. Also weird.

ClaraT

Veteran

I think that you have to be thick-skinned when consigning. Sometimes a store will reject something that is in good shape and current (but maybe not a good color for you), then you'll see a dingy Gap tee on the rack. That said, consignment stores rely on getting stuff that'll sell--in my area (SF Bay), I haven't seen flares much yet. Next year I think! I'm impressed that they took everything else--you must have good items!

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

As a previous consignment store owner, I truly don't understand that logic. She can't possibly know they won't sell unless she's tried it with no success.

Sal

Veteran

Interesting. I have had mixed success with consigning and rarely do it. I got $10 for $200 jeans and $10 for a $40 top so I don't understand? The local place here is aiming at uni students, people in their 20s, and they sell a lot of ASOS which I suspect people cannot bother returning to the USA.

I now donate to thrift shops and hope someone snaffles a bargain, or let someone else try to make money on it by reselling. A friend of mine has a business hunting thrift shops for good brands and reselling on Trade Me (NZ Ebay).

I think your success rate is pretty good Peri.

Marlene

Veteran

I sell quite a bit at consignment shops. I go in to drop off an armload at the beginning of each new season. I have learned that it is best to not think the process through or take anything personally. They will take what sells and what they need in their shops. I have had plenty of times tried to drop off stuff that was nearly new and still in style only to have it turned away because they already had enough of that in the store. Sometimes I ask if I should bother bringing it back at a later time and they might offer an explanation...wrong season, doesn't sell, whatever.

My best consignment story is from when I first started consigning about 15 years ago. I brought all my suits and work wear into the store since I had just "retired" when I had my first kid. They did, in fact, take most of it but rejected one particular suit. Why? Well THAT would never sell in this store. It felt very judge-y. And weird...it was a chanel-inspired suit and very versatile. It was also less than a couple years old and I bought it at Nordstrom so it was pretty decent quality. Rejected. So I walked out with it draped over my arm. Another customer saw it and bought it right out of my hands. I made the transaction right in the store, right in front of Ms Rejection. So my lesson from that was the person in the consignment store may not be 100% accurate about what sells and what is cutting edge at any particular time. So best not take it personally.

Peri

Veteran

Oh, I don't take it personally! It doesn't matter to me, just a chance...or not...to get some money back on used clothes.

I try not to think about how little money it is compared to what I paid...after all in most cases these are things I got some good wear out of and just don't want any more. Today I did take a few "mistakes" I just didn't want to look at anymore...things that weren't right for me but I didn't know it at the time. For those, yes, pennies on the dollar. Live and learn. I'm too lazy and low tech to go through Ebay selling, so this is the best I can do.

I donate plenty of things, but I'm at the point in the long purge process that this is the good stuff. So getting a little back for it makes sense to me...I'd rather that than get nothing because in my area, and for these items, I think thrift stores don't really draw the women who are in real need, just the well off bargain hunters. I don't particularly want to donate to that set!

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

At my consignment store it depends who is there. The owner takes all my stuff but the local college girls have rejected Tory Burch and APC items. I think because they don't recognize the names.

lisaflex

Veteran

ummlila hit the nail on the head! just depends on who is at desk, if they research it, if they truly know real brands, good brands...it all depends...i consign often, different things to different stores...just depends.

i was looking for a coach cross body for my 13 yr old (her request...lol) i did find one at a good price ($32 hardly used and dd just loves it) but i did spot (and knew immediately) a coach crossbody that said it was real...no way it was real (i was a true coach girl back in the day...lol) and they claimed, no, its real...i passed on that one even though it was super cute (i just could tell it was fake....)

i hate looking thru racks at a consignment and having to pass over target, old navy, cheap stuff, snagged worn cheap stuff...but they just passed on a $300 wrap dress i was wanting to consign...dont understand it...

on bootleg or flares - there is an over abundance in every consignment store i have been in over the past month....if your consignment store is trying to have the younger (ie college and a bit older) crowd, they are not into the bootleg/flare trend yet...they will be, give em time lol

i have one that i consign at (they send me a check every three mths) and if they dont take/want it or it doesnt sell after a few mths, they donate it to a battered womens shelter and send me the form for the tax write off for whatever it was that didnt sell...all good in my book....give/take, give/get, give back....

sometimes the stores that pay you on the spot instead of a consignment check, take things a bit easier if just looking to unload.also - dont forget about your local hospice or cancer society store - they are a great place to donate

Thistle

Veteran

Too funny! Angie makes us fashion forward

puppycat

My local consignment store just closed (building they were in was sold for condominiums, owner is retirement age and ready to move on.) Bummer... I did very well there with about two dozen random items I brought in at the beginning of summer. The owner was quite knowledgeable about brands and styles but she told me at my first appointment that classic/"timeless" styles do not sell for her. For example, she commented on a a gorgeous but very plain Eileen Fisher black silk tank dress "simply beautiful, but it's too boring for my customers...if it's not interesting on the hanger it doesn't sell....now if it were pink or royal blue it would fly out of here." She refused my white Issey Miyake jacket and pants ensemble because they were "too eccentric" and my Acne jeans because they were "too edgy". On the other hand she was positively ecstatic to get my 3+ year old Anthropologie dresses and Lululemon gear. i also brought in some size 18 NYDJ jeans from my heftier days and she pounced on them and sold them the next day. Go figure.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Very funny!
They wouldn't take boyfriend jeans either, then, right? The whole boyfriend trend just passed by unnoticed, I'm guessing.

catgirl

Veteran

I just had a long conversation with my Nordstrom SA about how bootcuts never went out of style here, and how she has to convince her buyer that bootcuts and Dansko clogs are a local uniform.

Anonymous

Consignment shops never seem to want my stuff or my daughters' stuff - even if it's in great shape and still in style - so we no longer bother.