https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thrift-consignment-etc Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:36:47 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thrift-consignment-etc#post-355341 Wed, 25 May 2011 04:00:34 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 355341@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've wished for a solution to this problem myself, and posted about a possible new online site to sell on last week. I used to sell on ebay, and I at least got a reasonable return but as the economy slowed down a couple years ago people stopped buying as much, and they were much pickier, and then postage charges went up a lot, making my listings less appealing. I had also tried consigning some items to a local place - I ended up getting a few bucks, but not more than $20. I actually bought some stuff there - it was a nice shop but in an awkward location, so it never got the traffic it needed and ended up closing. </p> <p>If you have hipster/college kid clothes you can do OK at Buffalo Exchange or similar, and if you have genuine designer stuff there's got to be a market for it, but for anything else it seems like the time isn't worth the money you get back. </p> <p>Hey, Angie and Greg, want to come up with an online swap solution for YLF? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thrift-consignment-etc#post-355252 Wed, 25 May 2011 02:08:56 +0000 Medicechic 355252@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks guys! I think I was just more annoyed that it wasn't the brands or styles as I saw similar items in the same brands around the store... Probably just the fact that I didn't have enough to be worth it and a few of the things were plain, but nice layering t-shirts, long sleeve shirts etc. One pair of shoes I'd worn once were Nina brand... I saw a different pair of Nina brand when walking around the store. So I know it wasn't the brand that was the problem. One pair of pants I'd probably worn once or twice, so they were in good shape, but the tag said Hol 06, so they said they were too old. I just donated everything to a local thrift store.</p> <p>On a good note, I had a pair of shoes I'd bought once when I was desperate for an event. They were a whole size and a half too big for me. I found them in the back of my closet at my parents house the other day and gave them to my best friend. They fit her! I was just at her house and saw a cute dress in her closet. She said she hadn't worn it because she didn't have shoes for it. Now she does! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thrift-consignment-etc#post-355196 Wed, 25 May 2011 00:53:00 +0000 rosee 355196@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>MaryK, funny story! But I would bet the consignment store got it directly from the Goodwill, lessening one link.<br /> I bought a camel angora hand-knit cardigan in the late 80s at Value Village and later donated it back to the store. A few years later, my then roomate is wearing it!!! She bought it at a consignment store -- where it was in between, we do not know. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thrift-consignment-etc#post-355180 Wed, 25 May 2011 00:39:08 +0000 MsMary 355180@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>BTW, funny story: I recently donated a bunch of stuff to the Goodwill, and found one very distinctive sundress for sale at the consignment store a week or two later! LOL It's been on quite a ride -- I bought it on eBay a couple of years ago, never wore it, donated it to Goodwill, and somebody apparently bought it there and took it directly to the consignment store! Hopefully whoever buys it there will finally cut the tags! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thrift-consignment-etc#post-355156 Tue, 24 May 2011 23:40:10 +0000 annette 355156@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We have had "Naked lady" parties where you do a clothing exchange with friends. Otherwise I donate. Getting everthing ironed and organized is rarely worth it to me. Hard to let some of it go, though, even if it doesn't look good on me! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thrift-consignment-etc#post-355144 Tue, 24 May 2011 23:28:20 +0000 rosee 355144@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sorry, to hear about your experience. I can understand the consignment stores being choosy to keep inventory under control. There are usually others that will take the things which some stores don't, depends on their clientele. Like MaryK, I find it easier to donate than to consign much of the time.</p> <p>There are good consignment stores out there, by that I mean they operate ethically and are very style and business conscious. I can also tell you way to many horror stories as well. To be brief, there are consignment stores in my town that I definitely avoid and spread the news of how they treated past consignors. </p> <p>One woman purposely keeps bad consignor lists /accounts and keeps the profits to herself. She ripped off my friend by an estimated few hundred dollars (not including the money my friend lent her to help set up her business). I was warned and asked to test her for a student journalism article. I brought her over 20 items and kept a list of everything that she accepted. I also checked her store regularly to keep tabs on my items. When it came time to get paid, the amount was ridiculously low. When I questioned her, she denied anything and when glancing through her accounts list, she accidentally turned to another page that had my items listed -- under a false staff member's account! I showed her my list and she was stunned. Eventually she did pay me out (over $100). We were going to publish the article, but were then warned that she hangs out with some seedy types, and it might not be healthy to do so since she doesn't like being crossed. Word of mouth works too. She is still in business but I let people know to avoid her if possible. I've heard others speaking negatively about her too, people I don't know, so it sounds like she has developed quite the reputation in town. Don't think she'll last too much longer.</p> <p>There are others that I would consign to, but usually I just shop there. I've found that it's often better to just donate clothing to a worthwhile charity or person. I'd also rather shop thrift than consignment: the prices are usually better and if you learn the thrift store's stocking schedule, you can come in on those days too, when all the resellers are trying to grab the best stuff for themselves. I've scored some great brands -- even designer -- from my local Value Village, Goodwill and Women in Need and other thrift stores. It takes work, but it's worth it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thrift-consignment-etc#post-355032 Tue, 24 May 2011 19:40:13 +0000 MsMary 355032@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My favorite consignment store is super-picky about what they'll take, plus you have to bring at least 30 items, plus it all has to be freshly cleaned and on hangers, and to top it all off their prices are super low and you only get half of what they sell it for. So every single time I do the cost/benefit analysis, I decide to donate and take the tax deduction. I think the economics work out about the same and the hassle factor is significantly lower. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thrift-consignment-etc#post-355002 Tue, 24 May 2011 19:23:54 +0000 Inge 355002@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm sorry Medicechic. I'm on a different continent but it seems that the consigment situation is similar over here. The stores only take high(er) end brands and the clothes have to be in really good condition. I've also had shoes refused, if the owner feels it doesn't fit in with what the customers are looking for, then there's nothing you can do really... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thrift-consignment-etc#post-354996 Tue, 24 May 2011 19:20:25 +0000 Medicechic 354996@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Anyone ever sell anything to consignment stores? I had some nice stuff in really good shape that I tried to sell, just because it didn't fit... was told too old and too plain. most of it was Eddie bauer. Cute shoes that had been worn literally once. Seriously? I ended up just donating all of it. I wasn't looking for a lot. Even $10 would have been nice and I'd seen a pair of shoes I liked that I would have spent it on. Just had to vent. </p>