There are so many reasons I love consignment shops.
You can find some incredible deals on clothing, accessories, and shoes, while also recycling the stuff you no longer need. It’s a win-win.
In This Article
My Shopping Rule for Consignment Shops
I don’t shop for clothing all that much anymore because I’m focused on spending mindfully and saving the rest. However, every now and then, I get the urge.
My spending rule is to stick to consignment and if I want to buy something, I can only do it after I sell a few things to the store.
This not only minimizes my shopping costs, it also keep my closet in check. There’s nothing I dislike more than a closet full of clothing I never wear.
So far, it’s worked out well and I highly recommend this method, if you’re trying to kick your shopping habit.
Online vs. Actual Consignment Stores
I’m lucky to have a lot of options near me because I live near San Francisco — my favorites include Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads Trading, and Wasteland.
These days, however, you don’t need to live in a big city to have access to recycled fashion. All you need is a smartphone to get rid of the stuff you no longer want or need.
This article will detail the best online consignment shops in addition to popular consignment stores located in large cities.
The Best Online Consignment Shops
1. Poshmark
Poshmark is an app, but you can also use the desktop version to browse through items like clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry, and other accessories. Technically it’s not a consignment shop, but you can find gently used clothing and accessories for a pretty good deal.
The app is great because it’s really easy to communicate to the buyer or seller, and it’s easy to like items, ask and answer questions.
If you’re using it to shop, you can create a filter to only show clothing and shoes in your size.
There are even Poshmark parties that you can partake in to see new items from your favorite sellers.
How to Sell on Poshmark
If you want to sell on Poshmark, you can snap the photo and post directly from the app. Poshmark charges a flat fee of $6.95 and takes a 20 percent cut of the final sale.
When you sell your item, you print out the premade shipping label from Poshmark and drop it off at the mailbox. When the buyer receives the item, they are required to inspect it and then “accept” it. Then you get paid.
For items that are priced lower than $15, Poshmark charges a flat fee of $2.95. For more expensive items, Poshmark takes a 20 percent commission fee.
When your item sells on Poshmark, they provide you with a prepaid shipping label (just print it from your printer) so you can ship your item to the buyer.
For a complete review of how to buy and sell from Poshmark, see my review of it. I also noted which gently used designer items I’ve had luck with while selling my stuff (see the section that says “5 clothing brands that tend to be high in demand”).
2. thredUP
thredUP is the world’s largest consignment and thrift store that sells clothing for women, kids, and even sells maternity wear.
I personally haven’t used thredUP, but decided to see what it was like. Once I signed up, I did some cruising on the site. I first checked out the designer section to see what kind of items they had.
For example, I saw a pair of black high top Prada tennis shoes for $149 and Christian Louboutin diamond encrusted heels for $1,599.
Shipping is free for orders over $79.
If you want to get rid of your stuff, they have a “Clean Out” section on the top navigation that allows you to order a “Clean Out Kit” which consists of three options.
- Free Donation Bag: This means you’re willing to let go of all the stuff you ship to them and whatever thredUP doesn’t take, they will donate to charity
- Free Standard Bag: Whatever items thredUP accepts, they will pay you for. The rest will be sent back to you but the processing time is up to three weeks.
- $16 Expedited Bag: You get paid for the items thredUP accepts, but $16 will be deducted from your earnings and whatever is left over will be processed within a week
Sellers receive anywhere from 5 percent of the sale price for women’s items valued lower than $14.99 to 80 percent of the price of goods expected to sell for $300 or more.
thredUP has a payout estimator if you want to get an estimate of how much your stuff is worth, before sending it to them.
3. The RealReal
Do you have a lot of high-end luxury items? Think: Rodeo Drive, not the mall. A few examples include Burberry, Chanel, and Hermes.
If so, check out The RealReal, which is one of the top online consignment stores for designer duds.
Just like thredUP, you request a shipping bag that comes with pre-paid postage so you can drop off your clothing at the post office. They also offer in-home pick up.
If you successfully end up selling your items online, you get paid based on a scale.
- Sales with less than $1,500 receive 55 percent of the commission, along with items priced lower than $120.
- If you sell an excess of $10,000, you receive a 70 percent commission
- An 80 percent commission is paid for fine watches and all Hermes Birkin bags
If your item doesn’t sell after a year, it will be sent back to you. (You pay for shipping.) Otherwise, the unsold items may be donated to charity.
There’s also a free price estimate tool on their site that gives you an idea of how much you could receive before sending your items in.
4. Worthy
Worthy is a great place to sell your fine jewelry on consignment. You can sell anything from diamond rings to watches to bracelets. Here’s how it works.
You send your jewelry pieces to Worthy with their secured delivery program. When it arrives, your jewelry will be checked in and placed in Worthy’s tracking system.
From there, they’ll have any stones graded by a professionally certified lab. After that, they’ll clean and polish it and take professional photos.
Then the pieces will go on Worthy’s auction site after you work with Worthy reps to determine a price. Once it sells, Worthy sends you your money, minus their commission.
Worthy’s commission rate is between 10 percent and 18 percent, depending on the sales price of each piece of jewelry you list with them.
5. Chairish
Chairish focuses on selling chic and antique furniture and home accessories. Like any consignment shop, you start by listing your item. Once it sells, Chairish gives you your profits minus their commission rate.
The company gives you tips for photographing and listing your items. Commission rates vary based on your seller status. For new sellers with less than ten items listed, you’ll pay a 30 percent commission.
The commission rate goes down if you move up to a higher seller status. Chairish guides you with pricing as well via the site’s help center.
Payment is made using PayPal or Direct Deposit.
6. Vestiaire Collective
Vestiare Collective is an online consignment shop that helps you sell men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, and you can even sell jewelry. The site does feature some children’s clothing as well.
You start by listing the items you want to sell using the Vestiaire Collective app. The company’s website says the app is easy to use and that you can list your item in about 60 seconds.
Vestiaire Collective’s curators will optimize the photos you use in your listing. Once your item sells, you ship to Vestiaire Collective for free.
The team’s staff checks each item for quality and authenticity and then ships it to the buyer. Once the transaction is complete you receive a payment of up to 80 percent of the sales price. The site isn’t clear on how they arrive at your commission percentage.
7. Rebag
Rebag helps you sell designer handbags. If you’re interested in selling, you can upload your photos and get an online quote. If you like the quote, you can get a free shipping label from Rebag and send your bag in.
Once they examine your item they’ll email you letting you know they want your bag and that it matches the description you sent in. Then they’ll pay you via check or ACH deposit. If you decline their offer, they’ll send the bag back to you at no cost to you.
If they find the bag is in different condition than from what is expected, they’ll send you a revised offer. You can accept or reject the revised offer. If you reject it, they will send your back back to you.
Note that Rebag typically only accepts bags in near perfect condition.
8. Tradesy
Tradesy helps you sell designer bags, shoes, and clothing. You start by listing your designer item with Tradesy’s easy app. It just takes a few minutes.
Tradesy will help you with setting your price and photography hints. Once your item sells, they’ll help you decide on a shipping method.
After your item has been received by the buyer, Tradesy will pay you at least 80 percent of the sales price. Tradesy will send your money to your bank account, or give you the cash as credit to buy designer items on Tradesy.
9. Mercari
Mercari is an online store that helps you sell items such as designer handbags, clothing and fashion items, electronics, toys, and more. You handle listing (it’s easy and takes just a minute or so) and shipping of the item once it sells.
Mercari helps you with shipping by offering shipping choices at reduced fees. Or you can offer free shipping and Mercari will deduct the shipping fees from your payment. Fees you pay are based on a number of factors. See the Mercari website for more details.
Once your item sells, you get paid via Direct Deposit or Instant Pay,
Related Article:15 Apps Like Mercari
10. eBay
eBay is a great place to sell your designer clothing and make some extra money. Their platform for used goods is huge with millions buying and selling items like clothing to artwork to cars.
When you sign up for an account to sell, you get 50 free listings a month. When your items sell eBay takes a 10 percent cut of the final price. Keep in mind there may be additional fees for certain types of payment methods.
When you sell on eBay or anywhere else for that matter, be sure to take really good photos. See what your competition is doing and make sure your photos are clear, are taken in bright light, and easy for an online shopper to get a feel for.
Whenever I list on eBay, I always put a tape measure along the edges of the item when snapping the photo. It makes it easier for both the shopper and the seller to quickly reference how long or wide the item is.
If the item is small, like jewelry, include an easily identifiable item in the photo, like a coin. It helps the potential buyer understand how large or small the item is since it’s sometimes hard to tell from the photo.
When you sell on eBay, you can easily see what other sellers have priced the item for, and in order to stay competitive, consider shipping it for free and selling it for a few dollars less.
If I desperately want to get rid of the item or think it won’t sell, I use the “Best Offer” option and set it to automatically accept offers 20 percent lower than what I’ve priced it for.
Popular Consignment Stores (Near You)
If you’re interested in finding a “consignment shop near me”, here’s a heads up on what to expect, as well as a few tips.
- Avoid weekends as most places tend to get crowded and the wait is long (usually over 30 minutes)
- Don’t bring your entire closet! Sift through the best items that are gently worn
- Focus on bringing your name brand or designer labels
- Stick to items that are in season
- Bring your state-issued ID or driver’s license
- You must be 18 or older to sell
The consignment stores on this list give you cash on the spot, rather than the giving you a cut of the sales when it sells. You would typically get 30 percent of what the store would price the item for. If you take store credit you’d receive 50 percent.
As an example, let’s say you sold a shirt that the store priced at $19. You would make $5.70 if you took the cash or $9.50 in store credit.
Here are some highly-rated consignment stores in various cities across the U.S. Some of the stores listed have multiple locations in different states while others are specific to that particular city.
11. Buffalo Exchange
Buffalo Exchange was definitely one of the pioneers of the consignment trend and now has locations in 20 states. The store has been around since 1974 and is one of the best places for consignment shopping.
Since the store has multiple locations, the ones in the fashionable areas like New York City’s East Village and Los Angeles’s La Brea location are always worth a look.
If you want to sell at Buffalo Exchange, it’s on a strictly first come, first serve basis and if you come on the weekends, it’ll be crowded.
In the California and New York locations I’ve frequented, you simply wait your turn in line, rather than putting your name on a list. Sometimes the wait can be very long, about 45 minutes to an hour.
Whatever items you sell you receive 30 percent of what they price it for, if you want cash, and if you choose store credit, you get 50 percent. You’ll have to show your driver’s license or ID when you’re selling.
They mostly take gently worn designer labels and look for items that are in season, so if it’s summer, leave your winter stuff at home until fall rolls along.
In my experience, they can be picky about what they buy. If the item is worn out and not a designer label you’re probably better off donating it.
According to their site, they are always on the hunt for plus size items, menswear, jeans, t-shirts, button-ups, dresses, shoes, sweaters, jackets, designer, vintage, jewelry, and athletic wear.
They have stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington.
12. Crossroads Trading
Crossroads Trading is similar to Buffalo Exchange but the buying process is more streamlined. When you enter the store, you sign in (usually through an iPad) and they call you when they’re ready to look through your bags.
Just like Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads looks for gently worn designer labels that are in season and trendy.
Similar to thredUP, Crossroads offers a mail-in service for people who don’t live near a location. You request a pre-labeled bag, fill it up, and drop it in the mail. You can expect the processing time to be 1-2 weeks and whatever they take, you get a check for 30 percent of the items or 50 percent if you take store credit.
According to their site, they are looking for designer labels from Madewell, Topshop, Anthropologie, Lululemon, Kate Spade, J.Crew, and Zara. They do not accept items from Old Navy, Forever 21, Target, or Walmart.
Crossroads locations in the U.S. include California, New York, Illinois, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Washington D.C. Most of their locations are in California.
13. Plato’s Closet
Plato’s Closet has lots of locations in the U.S. and focuses on clothing for 20 somethings and teens. They focus on trendy clothing, shoes, and accessories, rather than vintage fashion.
Examples of brands they regularly accept include H&M, Billabong, Steve Madden, Tory Birch, and Nike.
14. Wasteland
Wasteland is one of my favorite consignment stores. I’ve successfully sold a lot of my vintage designer items but shopping there is also really fun because they seem to have a lot more unique items that you wouldn’t be able to find in other consignment stores or the mall.
According to their site, you can drop off your bags and the average wait time is about 5 to 20 minutes. They look for items that are in new or almost new condition.
Wasteland pays 35 percent of the total marked prices.
According to their site, if they don’t buy your items it means they have too much of it already or it may not be in season.
15. Beacon’s Closet
Beacon’s Closet is an awesome local consignment shop in the New York City area with locations in mostly Brooklyn and one in Manhattan. They pay the highest percentage of any consignment store — 35 percent in cash or 55 percent in store credit.
If you want to sell there, items should be gently used, clean, and in excellent overall condition. They also recommend that you don’t bring more than four large bags when you sell.
You have the option of dropping off your bags and returning later to see what items have sold. Beacon’s Closet buys 7 days a week. You must be 18 or older in order to sell and have a valid ID or driver’s license.
Whatever you don’t end up selling can be donated by the store.
16. GoodWill Finds
Your popular neighborhood consignment store, Goodwill, has an online retail avenue known as Goodwill Finds. It takes everything you love about big name online retailers, but with Goodwill’s merchandise.
You can shop for women’s, men’s and children’s clothing. They also have sections for jewelry, electronics, home goods, and so much more.
They also have a clearance section if you are looking for even more savings. And, even better, you get ten percent off your first online order!
The best part about shopping with Goodwill is their mission. They are committed to serving members of the community by providing the jobs and skills to succeed.
They are also passionate about reusing goods and delaying trips to the landfill. Goodwill estimates that they have diverted 3 billion pounds of used goods from the landfill!
17. Kidizen
If you have kids you know firsthand that they just won’t stop growing! You buy a cute outfit, and they only wear it once before they outgrow it. This is where Kidizen comes in.
Kidizen is the largest retail marketplace to buy and sell new and gently used fashion for kids.
You can locate clothes by stage (baby, toddler, etc.) or you can shop by category (clothes, shoes, accessories, etc.). They even have books, toys, diaper bags, and maternity wear!
And the deals they offer are unmatched. You can shop for clothes under ten dollars for sizes newborn – 4T. And you can find kids options for 5+ years olds at just under fifteen dollars.
They carry top brands like Patagonia, Abercrombie, Baby Bjorn, Carter’s, Southern Tide, etc… You name it, they have it!
18. OfferUp
OfferUp is an online portal and app where you can buy and sell just about anything locally. Simply type in the search bar what it is you are looking for and out pops so many different options for the item.
You can filter it by new, reconditioned, or used. You can even buy cars using OfferUp.
All communications are done directly via the OfferUp app. So there is no need to provide your phone number or other potentially identifying information.
You can ask for more information regarding the condition of the product, or you can even try to negotiate the price. You also have the option to view the profiles of the sellers and their ratings from previous transactions.
Items can be shipped, but for the bigger items that require face-to-face meet ups OfferUp has a list of “safe trade spots.” Law enforcement agencies have deemed them to be safe locations for in-person transactions.
19. Depop
Depop is an online consignment clothing store “that’s transforming fashion one item at a time.”
They have menswear, womenswear, jewelry and other beauty options at reasonable prices. They also have art, sports equipment, books, and a plethora of other odds and ends.
It is definitely more on the trendy side, and has a very social media vibe across the platform.
Listed items are attached to a profile of the seller which tracks how many items they’ve sold through Depop and how active they are.
Every transaction is covered with buyer protections through Depop.
So if the item you purchased just doesn’t arrive, or if what you received is significantly different than what was described online, you will get a full refund for what you paid so long as you report the claim within 180 days of the date of purchase.
This service is offered to everyone when the transaction is completed via the Depop app.
20. Re-SEE
Re-SEE is “the premier online destination to shop exclusive and authentic Vintage and second-hand fashion and luxury handbags.” They were founded and are based out of Paris, but they do offer shipping worldwide.
However, if you ever do find yourself in Paris, you are more than welcomed to frequent their vintage shop. Keep in mind it is by appointment, though.
Every item listed for sale on their website is personally curated by Re-SEE and fully authenticated before being posted.
One unique feature of Re-SEE is that you have the ability to filter the items by decades. So if you are looking for a specific fad or trend from a different era, it is very easy to find on their website.
Keep in mind, this is a luxury website. So although it is technically a second-hand website, the prices are still rather steep.
Since they are based out of Paris, the shipping costs are more than your typical online purchase.
The shipping charge still seems reasonable, though, since they use DHL as their courier service. For example, on a purchase of 2 handbags, the shipping charge was €38 (about $40).
If you find a steal for something you’ve always wanted, at least the shipping cost isn’t astronomical.
Why Sell Items At Consignment Shops?
Selling at consignment shops is such a great idea. If you are looking to declutter your house, closet or shed, but the items are still in good working order, using a consignment store to take your goods just makes sense.
They usually provide less stress and inconveniences, and also virtually no risk to you. You can recycle your items and avoid unnecessary items ending up in the landfills.
It also helps you save so much time so you can have more time to finish the spring cleaning before you lose the motivation.
Consignment shops are also good if you are looking to make a couple extra bucks or even start a side hustle. There are some retailers that will take your items and offer you cash upfront.
Or if you use some online second hand marketplaces, they will take care of all the legwork, and only take a small percentage of the transaction once the sale is complete. So you are still able to make a nice chunk of change.
Selling at online consignment shops has become trendy these days and people are really enjoying the side hustle!
Summary
So before you can stand to look at your overly stuffed closet one more time, start taking out all of the items you no longer wear and get moving on selling them at one of the consignment shops mentioned in this article.
Whether you choose the online or in-store route, you have tons of options to recycle your fashion and make some extra money in the process.
