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How many clothes do you have lying in your closet that you haven’t worn or used in a long time? If you haven’t worn them for more than a year, it may be time to find new owners. Why not make some money in the process of finding new owners for your clothes? It’s a win-win-win-win situation, you know?
Win1: It makes the new owners happy because they get to buy clothes they like at bargain prices.
Win2: The thrift store businesses will thrive.
Win3: You can get paid and have a decluttered closet in which only your favorite clothes are hanging.
Win4: It is more environmentally friendly to find new owners for your clothes than to throw them away.
2 major ways to sell clothes
In-Store
This is probably a classic way to sell the clothes you don’t wear anymore. This is how it works; you take the clothes you no longer wear to a second-hand clothing store, and the store staff assesses your clothes. If you are satisfied with the price they decided for your clothes, you will receive cash in exchange for your clothes.
Pro:
– Because it’s face-to-face business, sometimes you can negotiate the price.
– Quick cash. You will be get paid on the day you bring your clothes to the store.
Con:
– You have to bring your clothes to the store and wait for a while until they decide on the prices.
Here are some popular stores that have many locations in the U.S.
Plato’s Closet
One of the largest second-hand clothing stores. They buy casual men and women clothes intended for teens and young adults, such as forever 21, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Nike, etc.
However, even if the clothes are not from popular brands, they will buy the items if they suit their tastes. I brought clothes that I bought abroad and they bought them. So just bring everything and let them decide what they take.
CROSSROADS
They buy from casual to business casual clothes for both men and women. You can either receive 50% in-store credit of what they price your items to sell for in the store or 30% in cash. You can spend the store credit on any CROSSROAD store in the nation.
They also offer consignment on your high-end brand items. You can receive up to 70% of the price the store sells for in cash.
Buffalo Exchange
They buy men and women clothes: plus sizes, everyday staples, vintage, designers, dresses, athletic wear, and even costumes! They pay 25 % of their selling price in cash or PayPal or 50% in a Digital Trade Card, which is store credit. Currently, you need to book an appointment to sell your clothes. This is for safety and to give you the most out of their service.
Local Thrift Shop
There is always a local thrift shop. Chain stores are easy to get information on their websites, and they have a well-established system, so you know what to expect. However, there are usually certain rules that are set in all stores, so there may not be that much flexibility. On the other hand, local stores are usually privately owned, so if things go well, they might buy more items and be more flexible in your price negotiations.
Online
There are so many online thrift stores now, and selling clothes online is becoming the new norm. Mainly, there are 2 types of stores: one is you send your clothes to the store and the store will do the rest, such as listing, sending the items to the buyers, etc, the other is you list your clothes on the thrift store platform, buyers buy your items, you send them to the buyers and get paid.
Pro:
– You can sell clothes from wherever you are.
– Potential of becoming a successful side hustle if you can get the hang of it.
Con:
– You only get paid when buyers buy your items, so it may take some time to earn money.
Here are some online thrift stores you might want to check out.
thredUP
You might have seen the TV advertisements for thredUP. It’s an online thrift store where they list your clothes and buyers buy them. They take any fashion item that meets their condition criteria. Here is how it works: you send your clothes to threadUP in their specialized bag called “clean out kit” or your own box with their shipping label, they inspect your items and list the approved items on their online store, and you have the option to decide on prices. (They also give you suggested prices.) The payout rate is here. Since thredUP has been receiving a huge amount of clothes, they say it will take a while to process and list your items on their website. Their condition criteria are relatively high. On average, 50% of the items received get approved to be listed. One thing you might want to consider is that they charge you $10.99 if you have them return your items to you.
Swap.com
Another online thrift shop store that’s similar to thredUP, but they take well-known brands for men, women, and children, such as Adidas, Coach, Hollistar, Kate Spade, Levi’s, Tory Burch, etc. They do everything for you once you send your clothes to them; however, you have to pay for the services they offer. You can find the cash-out rate is here.
Depop
Depop is an app that provides its users a platform where they can sell and buy fashion items. It also plays a role of SNS, so being creative when you list your items is the key, just like Instagram. If buyers like your style, there is a chance you can make big sales. The app is user friendly, and you can create your account and list your items in just a few minutes. Depop charges you 10% of your sales, and you have the option of purchasing their shipping label, having the buyers pay for it, or doing the shipping yourself.
Poshmark
Similar to Depop, Poshmark is an app you can use to sell your fashion items. The fee Poshmark charges is a little different from Depop. They charge $2.95 for the item under $15 and 20% of the sales price for the item over $15. So you might want to be careful when pricing your items. The good thing about Poshmark is that the shipping cost is on the buyer, which is a flat rate of $7.45. It becomes a bit of a price game when you factor in the shipping label paid by the buyer and the commission on the sale.
Facebook Marketplace
Do you have Facebook? Then try Facebook Marketplace! This is the easiest platform to sell your items. Basically, Facebook provides the marketplace, and everything is on sellers and buyers. They don’t charge any fee, so all the money you sell is yours to keep. If there is any cost involved, it is only for shipping, but this can also be negotiated with the buyer.
I have a post about Facebook Marketplace, please check it out.
How We’ve Made $1,134 on Facebook Marketplace
Tips to make more money by selling clothes
If you were the buyer, what kind of second-hand clothes would want to buy? Clean, look new, and match your style, right? The key to preparing to sell your clothes is to consider what kind of clothes you would want if you were the buyer.
Wash the clothes, iron them if necessary, and neatly fold them.
It’s a basic courtesy when selling your clothes. Unwashed and/or wrinkly clothes could negatively affect your sale. One small effort can lead to great success, so wash them, iron them, and fold them neatly when you sell your clothes.
Do not use trash bags! (for in-person sale)
If you want people to buy your clothes and make money, you should treat the clothes with care. Don’t use trash bags when you take your clothes to the store. You use trash bags for throwing trash away. In the case of selling your clothes, you may be getting rid of your clothes, but you are not throwing them away, right? Even if you have washed, ironed, and folded your clothes neatly, if you put them in a trash bag and take them to the store, all your efforts may be ruined. Store clerks don’t enjoy rummage through a trash bag. Use a basket, box, or hamper. This is a minimum of respect to the thrift store.
Take into account the season.
Think of demand. Naturally, winter clothes are more likely to sell in fall and winter. Even though there are no restrictions, in which season you sell your clothes could affect the result of your sales, whether in person or online. I once took some winter clothes to a thrift store in mid-summer and was told to come back later because they were out of space to store the clothes until the season came.
What to do with the clothes that didn’t sell
Unfortunately, sometimes not all of your clothes can find a new home for them. In such a case, you can donate them! I think the US is a very progressive country in terms of donations. For example, there is always Good Will, the largest donation company in the U.S. Moreover, you can get a tax deduction by donating your items. Nothing is wasted.
Do you sell clothes you no longer wear? What kind of hacks do you have to sell your clothes?
What is your favorite thrift store?
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