Here are 17 places online (or in person) where you may be able to see your used garments.
Where to Sell Used Clothes in Person
It is generally easier to sell your used clothes at a brick and mortar store. If you don’t know where to look for options, check out these places where you can sell your used clothes in person:
Buffalo Exchange (also online)
Buffalo Exchange is a national chain that buys and sells gently-used clothes. At the time of this writing, there are 34 storefronts scattered throughout 19 different states and Washington DC. They accept many styles of clothing as long as they are in good condition to be resold. To sell your clothing at a local store, simply walk in with your box (or bag) of clothes.
If you don’t live in a city with a Buffalo Exchange (or just don’t want to leave your home), you can sell your used clothes through their “sell by mail” program. While it will probably take several weeks to process the clothing, you will receive an estimated 25% of what they believe they can sell it for in cash through PayPal. If you would prefer store credit, they will give you 50% of the value.
The Buffalo Exchange has been around since 1974 and is committed to recycling clothing in order to reduce waste and help the environment. Many stores often donate surplus items to local charities or help the community in other ways.
2. Plato’s Closet
Run by Winmark Corp, there are nearly 500 North American locations for Plato’s Closet. They tend to buy and sell styles that are popular with teens and young adults. If you have a surplus of H&M, Nike, American Eagle, Obey, of Abercrombie & Fitch items, you may be able to find a home for them here. They also purchase several accessories or even shoes.
3. Style Encore
If you like the way Plato’s Closet is run, look into Style Encore. They accept name brands similar to Calvin Klein, Spade, Banana Republic, and Coach. There are several stores across the United States.
When shopping at Style Encore, you can utilize the help of one of their stylists to help you find outfits that fit your body type and make you look good.
4. Clothes Mentor
Clothes Mentor buys and sells used fashionable women’s clothing up to size 26. (They also buy and sell maternity wear) They specialize in designer brands. You can often find items from Saks Fifth Avenue, Banana Republic, White House Black Market, and Armani. If you have accessories, shoes, and handbags that are from high-end name-brands, you can offer them as well.
Similar to Style Encore, Clothes Mentor will give you a stylist who will help you find the outfit of your dreams. There are over a hundred stores scattered across the United States.
5. Uptown Cheapskate
With at least one location in 22 states, Uptown Cheapskate buys and sells trendy clothes aimed at young adults. If you trade in clothes, you get a 25% store credit. The store typically buys brands similar to Levi’s, J-Crew, H&M, and Urban Outfitters. They are willing to purchase clothes, accessories, and shoes that are both trendy and in good condition.
6. Once Upon a Child
Once Upon a Child is another Winmark clothing store aimed toward children. There are nearly 400 stores throughout the United States and Canada. In addition to clothing, the store also purchases and sells a lot of baby gear and toys. It is a great way to offset the costs of parenting.
7. Local Antique Stores or Consignment Shops
You can also look at local shops in your area. Some stores are happy to sell things on consignment and you can earn a few extra dollars. You do need to pay attention to any listing costs, as some stores will charge you “rent” to list your items.
8. Garage Sales
You can start off selling your clothing haul at your own home. Gather everything you want to sell and advertise a garage sale (or yard sale). You may be able to sell off a few things before moving on to other options.
Where to Sell Used Clothes Online
There are several places you can sell your used clothes online. You need to make sure that you accurately describe your clothing before sending it in. Here are some options:
1. ThredUp
Selling over 35,000 name brands, ThreadUp accepts all clothing (including Plus-size, maternity, and children’s clothes. They also accept accessories, shoes, and jewelry. After requesting a “Clean Out” bag, you can fill it with high-quality name-brand items and return it to ThredUp. At that point, one of their staff will sort your bag, then pay you. ThreadUp seems to keep about 40% of the clothes sent to them to sell. Other clothing is donated or recycled, or you can pay $9.99 to have them returned to you.
2. The RealReal
If you have high-end designer clothing, you can sell them on consignment through The RealReal. You can earn up to 85% depending on what you have and if it sells. You can either visit one of their stores in person or used a prepaid label to ship the items. If you live in one of the larger cities with a location, they have a service that will pick up your items from your home. Anything that isn’t sellable will be donated to charity.
3. Relovv
Relovv buys and sells clothing, accessories, shoes, and bags for both men and women. They won’t sell “fast fashion” as they advocate against it. They know that fashion is the second most wasteful industry in the world and try to combat that by reusing clothes and finding other ways to help. Every sale made through Relovv saves 500 gallons of water. As long as your posts are to their standards, you can make sales on the site. They will even pay for the shipping!
4. Tradesy
Tradesy focuses on women’s clothing, including luxury items, wedding dresses, purses, and accessories. Their app is simple to use. You can quickly take images of your clothing than post them to the app using keywords to help others find them. Tradesy will enhance your photos to make them more marketable. As a seller, you will earn 85% of the sale. Even if a buyer decides to return the item at a later date, Tradesy will handle the claim as long as your listing was accurate.
5. Material World
To sell on Material World you will need to request a “Trade-In Kit.” After you send in your luxury designer-label apparel and accessories, Material World will send you an itemized offer for them. When you accept the offer, they will pay you immediately. If they don’t accept some of your items, they will either return the items to you or donate them to charity. Material World sells items on a “monthly box” system. You can use their calculator for an estimate on how much you would receive for an item.
6. LePrix
LePrix also specializes in buying and selling designer labels. To consign with them, you will need to request a free consignment kit. List the items you want to sell so that they can make sure it is within their brand. They will pay for shipping. They also have a few boutiques in select cities where you can consign your clothing.
7. Poshmark
You can also earn by selling your designer clothes on Poshmark. You upload images and set the prices and keep 80% of the selling price. You can sell clothing, accessories, and shoes on this website. When an item sells, Poshmark will provide a pre-paid, pre-addressed shipping label.
8. eBay
eBay has been an online seller since 1995. You can upload pictures of the items and people can either purchase them or bid on them. You pay .35 cents – 10% per listing and send the item off when you are done. eBay is a still a very popular choice for selling anything you don’t need around the house anymore.
9. Social Media
You can also sell your clothes on social media. Most towns have a local buy/sell page where you can post images of your clothing and prices. You can also use the hashtag #shopmycloset on Instagram and sell by taking bids in your comments, then selling through PayPal.
Maximize the Profits from Your Clothes
Here are a few ways that you can maximize the profits from your clothes:
Donate Clothes for a Tax Deduction
An alternative to selling your clothes is donating them and taking a tax deduction. A summary of these tips from Consumer Reports include the following:
Keep Your Receipts
Always ask for a receipt when you donate items. Charities will often itemize what you have given and will occasionally offer an estimated dollar value to them. Depending on the value amount, you may need to offer the IRS a little more information about your donation.
Research the Charity
In order for your donation to be accepted, you must choose one that is IRS-qualified. You can look up the charity using this tool.
Use a Valuation Tool
If the charity doesn’t value your donation for you, you can use a valuation tool to come up with an estimated value. It is important that you never overvalue your donation.
