By Sabah Karimi
GOBankingRates.com
WWR Article Summary (tl;dr) Resale shopping is on the rise, there are more than 25,000 resale, consignment and nonprofit resale shops in the United States. These days you don’t even have to go to an actual brick and mortar location, the resale industry has migrated online, making recycling clothing a simple and efficient process.
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If it’s time to clear out your closets and push the refresh button on your style, don’t overlook the option of selling used clothes online. It’s easier than ever to send your used clothes to an online consignment store, and many sites like thredUP, Poshmark, Tradesy and SnobSwap will get you good money for those gently used items cluttering your closet. You can get rid of your unwanted clothes, shoes and accessories and earn some extra cash to build up your savings account, or pay for that next shopping spree.
Here’s your guide for where to sell used clothes and to using online consignment stores.
WHERE TO SELL USED CLOTHES ONLINE
Resale shopping is on the rise, there are more than 25,000 resale, consignment and nonprofit resale shops in the U.S., according to the Association of Resale Professionals. And the resale industry has migrated online, making recycling clothing a simple and efficient process.
Augmented marketplaces that include sites like Poshmark, Tradesy and The RealReal are replacing traditional online marketplace platforms such as Material World, SnobSwap and others that sell clothes online. It’s an increasingly competitive market for online resellers, the consignment store Threadflip shut down in January 2016 because it just couldn’t keep up.
You can shop online consignment stores to find a great deal or sell your clothes online to earn some extra cash. You can also save money by repurposing those thrift store finds like the founder of ReFashionista does, transforming basic pieces into something new and trendy.
Follow along to find five popular online consignment stores where you can sell used clothes.
POSHMARK
If you have a large collection of vintage items or pre-owned designer clothing you’re finally ready to part with, make use of Poshmark’s services to get those items off your hands. Upload photos of your items to create listings on the site and when the item sells, you’ll get a shipping label from PoshPost so you can send the item directly to the buyer. As long as you use the shipping label provided, the package is insured. Any orders of $400 or more require a signature upon delivery
Poshmark charges different fees, depending on the amount of the sale. For sales under $15, you’ll be charged a flat rate of $2.95. For sales of $15 or more, the fee is 20 percent of the listing price.
THREDUP
When you’re ready to clean out your closet, you can order a Clean Out Kit for $9.99 from thredUP. The kit includes a bag you use to ship your items, and you can fill it with anything from women’s and kids’ apparel to shoes and accessories in “great condition.” Make sure to remove any stains and sew up holes because the store won’t accept items with stains, holes, pilling or signs of wear.
You can schedule a bag pickup or drop it off at a FedEx or USPS location. You’ll get an email when the items were received, which can take up to three weeks, and an estimated processing date if you will be receiving a payout. The company’s proceeds go in part to charity and in part to cover the costs of its recycling and waste-reduction efforts.
TRADESY
As long as your used designer clothing and other designer items are in good condition, Tradesy will help you sell virtually anything in your closet with a few screen swipes. You simply upload an image of the item to the site and if you don’t know what price you should ask for, Tradesy will give you a selling price suggestion.
You’ll get a free shipping kit when the item(s) sell. The company deducts 14.9-percent commission from each sale when you keep your earnings on the site and 17.8 percent when you cash out to PayPal, your debit card or your bank account.
THE REALREAL
Unlike many online consignment stores, The RealReal is the buyer: It purchases items directly from you instead of listing them in a marketplace for sale. You can browse the designer directory to see what types of items The RealReal accepts.
If you have 10 or more luxury pieces that fit the bill, you’ll want to make use of The RealReal’s white glove service, which includes a home pickup by a “luxury manager” and is available in most areas. If you have fewer than 10 items, you’ll get a prepaid FedEx shipping label you can use to send all your items in for authentication and pricing.
Once the company checks the items for authenticity, it lists them in the designer directory and you’ll receive payment when they are sold. You can earn up to 70 percent of the sale price of your items, according to The RealReal.
SNOBSWAP
SnobSwap is an aggregator of designer boutiques that carry high-end pieces and trendy styles so you have access to a larger inventory of available items at any given time. Its boutiques are located throughout the nation and they are all accessible online. SnobSwap accepts only designer brands that are listed on its site.
SnobSwap offers a slightly different approach. You consign with one of its boutique partners: You make an appointment at the boutique to show your wares, and the items get placed in the store and listed on the site. If you decide to consign online, you can request a “luxury garage sale” representative to walk you through the white-glove consignment service. The company schedules at-home pickups in many major cities and offers drop-off options at partner boutiques.
CASH FOR USED CLOTHING
It might be worth checking to see if some gently used clothing that no longer fits or you know you won’t wear again are worth selling to an online consignment store. The process is so easy that it’s silly to let that stuff clutter up your closet. In just a few clicks, you could be making some extra cash!
