https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:12:52 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1840906 Tue, 29 Aug 2017 21:28:05 +0000 Christina F. 1840906@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've used ThreadUp, but the payouts have gotten worse over time, and it took 6 weeks to process my last bag. It's good for getting a lot of stuff off my hands at once (not easy in NYC without a car) but on the last bag I got about $22 when I expected more like $50. In the future I'm going to try a consignment store near my office. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1840886 Tue, 29 Aug 2017 19:13:27 +0000 Koko 1840886@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I REALLY REALLY appreciate the Slowre recommendations. It actually solves a problem I didn't fully realize I had. Considering much of my clothing purchases are now limited to small production/ethical leaning/higher-quality brands like Cuyana, Everlane, etc. the average consignment shop doesn't really know how to value these items and the average customer is unlikely to be familiar with these brands. I can't believe Slowre exists! Thanks again to everyone for your tips and input!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837948 Sun, 20 Aug 2017 10:09:11 +0000 Style Fan 1837948@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another vote for Slowre at Gretchen`s Closet.&nbsp; She takes slow fashion.&nbsp; I really support what she is trying to do.&nbsp; There is also the style exchange on YLF.&nbsp; I have not had great experience with consignment stores.&nbsp; I have bought great stuff at consignment stores though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837916 Sun, 20 Aug 2017 02:59:29 +0000 Gigi 1837916@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've sold at two different consignment shops in my city. I think I get 40-50% of the tag price. It is a lot of work getting things ready to sell, but I truly need the money, so I do it.&nbsp;</p> <p>I have a spreadsheet where I keep track of items and how much I pay for them. This past spring/summer I put my consigned items in a separate spreadsheet so I could calculate how much they cost me when I initially bought them. Then I compared that number to the checks I got from the consignment stores. I got about 10 cents back on the dollar.&nbsp;</p> <p>I mostly wear and sell midpriced items: Club Monaco, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, etc. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837865 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 23:16:45 +0000 K.M. 1837865@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Greyscale</b>, thanks for the clarification! I guess my store is a true consignment store. I would much rather have a second-hand shop that bought my clothes upfront. Not everything I bring in sells, and then I have to go back and retrieve the money (or unsold items), which I often forget...</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837854 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 22:36:30 +0000 jill58 1837854@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I too was going to suggest Grechen Reiter at Slowre. &nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="https://slowre.com">https://slowre.com</a>&nbsp; Her blog -- &nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://grechenscloset.com">http://grechenscloset.com</a>. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837844 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 21:52:37 +0000 Jenn 1837844@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As someone who has sold craft goods, both wholesale and on consignment, 50% of retail is what I'd expect for wholesale where a shop takes on the risk. On consignment, I get the bigger portion, 60% to me, 40% to the store. At least one consignment venue I use gives 70% to me.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837833 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 21:11:38 +0000 Jenni NZ 1837833@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Koko, I suspect that whether it's worth it depends on both time and how tight your finances are. In NZ I think we call consignment "sell on behalf"- they take your things and sell them on your behalf, then keep a percentage. I called into a new vintage store in my local area recently. She had some beautiful stuff from the 80s and earlier. I am not particularly wanting to sell my beautiful 80s pieces like my Thai silk suit (blouse/skirt) and toning jacket, but if I were, she said she would keep 60%, "because I have a retail space". I would get 40 %. That didn't seem a very good deal to me! I thought at least 50/50 would be fairer! What do others expect? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837827 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 20:45:47 +0000 Anonymous 1837827@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree, <b>Koko</b>. &nbsp;But there is always a little room to experiment with different trends/styles. &nbsp;I bought my first pair of white jeans at Old Navy just to see if I would actually wear the trend. &nbsp;I found white jeans to be indispensable.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837805 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 19:01:04 +0000 Koko 1837805@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks everyone! I had a sinking suspicion that the time/effort may not be worth it. I guess it's another lesson about not adding things to your closet that you don't truly love...... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837789 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 17:06:12 +0000 JAileen 1837789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I donate to a non profit thrift store that supports several great programs, including a food pantry for low income seniors. It's true that I have to eat the cost of my mistakes, but I bag it up and drop it off, and it's out of my hands. I also volunteer regularly in the thrift store, and it's funny to see my things come through. Also, we give a donation slip for tax purposes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837780 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 16:17:31 +0000 Jenn 1837780@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had decent luck selling off my maternity clothes on eBay, many years ago. I've also sold some shoes and bags there. I just signed up for Poshmark to clean out some of my holding zone pieces in sizes that no longer fit.</p> <p>Packing up and shipping pieces works for me. &nbsp;I sell online for a living, so I'm at the post office to drop items several times a week and already have a system for label purchasing and printing at home. (Of course, the bad part of that is that is that any proceeds get lumped in with my other online income, and I end up paying taxes on it.)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837776 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 15:57:20 +0000 Janet 1837776@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I occasionally have success selling stuff via eBay or consignment, but more often I try to give items away to someone I know will love it (my nieces are frequent recipients). I'll donate as well. But selling takes time and effort, so I usually reserve it for high-end pieces (I.e., designer shoes, a DVF dress, etc.). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837774 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 15:52:25 +0000 Greyscale 1837774@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Consignment means they essentially give you a space to display your clothes, and if it sells, they give you some money and keep a cut. </p> <p>Crossroads etc pay up front and then it's out of my hands. If it doesn't sell, it's their problem. But they do consignment for a few higher end things. Which can work out in your favor - basically it's too risky for them to pay up front for e.g. a dress they'll price at $200, but the flip side is you keep a higher cut of it because they don't have to factor in their financial risk like they do when they buy up front. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837765 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 15:38:49 +0000 K.M. 1837765@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Greyscale,</b> I too had the demoralizing experience of having most of my offerings rejected by my local store... I'm getting more of a sense of what they like now after a few years but they never take everything I bring. No fast fashion, nothing that has any tiny imperfection, and everything needs to be brought in cleaned, pressed, and hanging (not folded). I've made the most money with shoes.</p> <p>Also, <b>Greyscale</b>, what's the difference between a true consignment store and a second-hand store? I do believe my local store is consignment but reading your message I became unsure.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837762 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 15:31:28 +0000 Greyscale 1837762@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I sell a lot of old clothing (...and buy a lot too). Last week I finished a big purge and made $275 for my trouble, which was enough to make me feel a little less bad about the revolving door of my wardrobe. </p> <p>I sell mostly to local trendy second-hand stores. Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange are chains (mostly local to SF) that buy recent, mid-range clothing, things you could buy now. They're picky: they want things they know will sell well, and no fast fashion. Their customer base is trendy college students and young professionals, not necessarily fashionistas. I sell the truly designer stuff at Wasteland, another local store that focuses more on distinctive designer things. </p> <p>Just for a sense of how the money works out - Crossroads gives 50% of their tag price in store credit or 30% in cash. Wasteland gives 35% in cash. Both are very picky but when Wasteland does buy things they price them pretty high. Crossroads would put a price tag of like $20 for a Madewell sweater; Wasteland might not buy that sweater but would price an Allsaints sweater at $50.</p> <p>I have no idea how pricing works elsewhere or online. </p> <p>Oh, and I tried a fussier, true consignment store once and almost none of my stuff sold after being in display for months. I decided consignment is less appealing than selling up front. </p> <p>I have considered selling on Poshmark but the effort of individually selling things is off putting. I think they make shipping easy though. No way I'm doing eBay - I'm horrible about shipping things. I've also considered one of the ones where I mail a box in and they sort through and take things. I might do that for The Real Real (very designer) but otherwise I'll stick to my local brick &amp; mortar places. But it does take a lot of time to go sell things to stores in person (there's always a line).</p> <p>Finally, there are a few smaller online venues. There was an instagram group where I sold a few trendy things and kept the whole selling price. And I came across the blog Grechen's Closet (via YLF) that has its own resale site for "slow fashion". (Everlane is a brand they like to sell for sure.) Finally, there's the off-topic Style Exchange thread here at YLF but that's less focused on making money and more on finding things a new home for a small price. (But hey if any of your Everlane stuff is black and XS let me know. )</p> <p>Trying to sell can be exhausting and demoralizing. Crossroads used to reject almost all my clothes, but as my own clothing budget increased and as I learned what they like, my success rate went up a lot. Before I sell, I go through and de-cat-hair everything and even steam or iron things that are high value but wrinkled. I fold things neatly and keep them in boxes until enough piles up to go sell. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837756 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 15:19:06 +0000 Anonymous 1837756@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just plain donate it ... either to the Good Will, Women's Shelters, or very good friends. &nbsp;It is an energy/time thing. &nbsp;I just don't have the energy to bother with trying to sell items. &nbsp;However, that is me. &nbsp;If you have the energy, I would certainly suggest you try. &nbsp;You could become really good at it and recoup some of your money. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837747 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 14:54:03 +0000 K.M. 1837747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I also only ever sold locally, through a consignment store. The store sets the price and keeps a percentage (which is only fair), so I don't get a whole lot of cash for each piece. My store also decides which pieces they want. I find it worth it when I have several nice pieces, and then I donate the rest.<br />I heard people use Craigslist and Facebook groups to sell locally, but I never tried. <br />As kkards said, the expense and hassle of mailing have kept me away from ThredUp or Ebay, but I read that some people willing to put the time in do well on Ebay. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837743 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 14:44:32 +0000 kkards 1837743@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>i've sold some stuff, but to say i've recuped wardrobe costs --well, that would be a big no....i've sold locally because i'm not sure that its worth the effort having to mail stuff off....in my experience you are going to get about 40%-50% of what the resale value is.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/selling-gently-used-clothing#post-1837741 Sat, 19 Aug 2017 14:35:33 +0000 Koko 1837741@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just "kon-Marie'd" my wardrobe and have a bag of gently used clothing that I would like to sell. Has anyone successfully recuped some of their wardrobe costs by selling unwanted clothing? If so, did you use a service that you would recommend? I'm seeing a lot of promotions for ThreadUp, for example. My stuff isn't designer but it is good quality (think MM Lafleur, Cuyana, and Everlane stuff). Any tips would greatly appreciated!! </p>