Are You Ready to Sell Your Used Clothes But Not Sure Where You’ll Get the Most Profit?
Do you have clothes that you are DYING to get rid of?
Are you pained at the thought of giving them away when you are already low on cash?
I hear ya! Cleaning out your closet can feel so rewarding. But, that feeling goes away when you still have those bags of clothes hanging out in your garage, waiting to be sold. Selling your used clothes doesn’t have to be so complicated or scary.
Thanks to Mari Kondo and her awesomeness, the Konmari method has traveled far and wide across the world helping people to “spark joy” in their lives by getting rid of the things that don’t do just that. Similarly, The Minimalists started their movement of minimalism to encourage people to live with less.
All of sudden, it’s “cool” to get rid of your stuff. Now how about turning it into money?
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Should You Sell Your Used Clothes or Donate?
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I was introduced to both the KonMari method and minimalism back in 2016. I was struggling with keeping up with basic chores around the house. Piles of laundry flooded my entire house.
I was overwhelmed, quick to anger, and a huge hot mess of a mom. So, I gathered up all of my clothes and threw them in the middle of the living room.
I was determined to get rid of anything that didn’t fit me, spark joy, or wasn’t useful.
I sure hope I’m not the only one with a pile like this. Anyway, I gathered up all of my clothes, organized them, and got them ready.
At this same time, I started my journey to getting out of debt. Donating my clothes would be the quickest way to get them out of my house but I also wanted to make some cash for my first emergency fund.
The thought of losing out on a potential profit got me thinking of all the different places I could sell my clothes. So I got to work.
I have found that selling used clothes will give you the most profit when selling at a variety of places. Instead of focusing on one platform to sell, focus on selling your items on many platforms to expand your reach.
Here is a comprehensive list of places for you to sell your clothes along with tips on how to make each platform work for you.
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12 Places to Sell Used Clothes for Cash
#1. Facebook
Facebook is one of the largest social media platforms out there. With the introduction of Facebook groups in 2005 and the Marketplace roll-out in 2007, Facebook has become an integral part of buying and selling.
Facebook groups– Selling your used clothes online using Facebook groups is one of the easiest ways to get the job done. Most communities and towns have a community yard sale page where it is only for locals which means that almost everyone is within driving distance, even perhaps walking distance. This makes it super convenient for both the buyer and seller.
How to: simply search for “yard sale pages” in your community using the search feature and request to be added to the group. Once accepted, make sure to read the group rules so you don’t get booted out for reasons unknown to you.
Take a picture of your items, create a description, then chose a price and post it. You have all the control as to how you want to go about the sale.
You can either post it as a First Come First Serve (FCFS), Or Best Offer (OBO) or simply go down the line from whoever commented first. Just be sure to write that into your description so that your buyers know ahead of time.
Facebook Marketplace– The Marketplace is another way to get your listing out there. Using the marketplace is very simple. Facebook even has it’s own payment service which you can connect to your debit card or your PayPal account.
How to: Take a picture of your item and write a compelling description. Name your price and post it. Facebook will show it to people searching for items in close proximity to your city. If someone is interested in your item, they will send you a private message. You can either accept or decline the offer. All negotiation takes place in the messenger app.
#2. Ebay
Ebay has been around for over 22 years! It’s still one on the best ways to sell stuff online. Even though it’s interface may seem like a dinosaur compared to newer online selling sites, it’s still very user-friendly. Ebay takes only 10% of the final value.
How to: Take a few pictures of the clothing item in good lighting. Research what your item is going for and mark your price accordingly. Write a very detailed description, including measurements.
You can either chose to cover the shipping yourself but I would try to incorporate the shipping costs into the price itself and offer “free shipping”. It sounds more appealing. If you have an item under 1 lb, it can be fairly cheap. Otherwise, use flat rate shipping boxes.
Also, you can choose to auction your item or offer only a “buy now” option. Unless your item is designer brand, going with the buy now would result in a better profit for you.
There is slightly more work that goes into selling used clothes on Ebay but in the end, it can result in some decent cash.
#3. Local Consignment Shops
Local consignment shops can offer an easy way to quickly get rid of your used clothes. Most shops are looking for gently used or hardly worn clothes that are trendy and in season. Don’t try to sell your sweater in May.
Buffalo exchange– they offer sell in-store and sell by mail options. If you take your item to the store, they offer cash or trade-in on the spot. If you chose to go the mailing route, the process can take up to 2-4 weeks. Buffalo exchange takes 25-30% off the selling price for cash options and 50% for In-store trade or credit.
Twice as Nice– this company offers only trade-in value. Bring in your clothes clean, folded, and neat. The buyer will go through them and offer you your trade-in value which you can use at any other location. This company also gives discounts to military, elderly, and foster children/parents. I spoke with one employee over the phone and she stated that one woman had $3,000 in trade-in value, wow! Now, who knows how long it took to get there. It’s worth a shot to take them in and find out.
Little Bird Nesting Company– Little Bird Nesting is a consignment shop for babies and kids up to 8 years old. Take in your pre-washed clothes in a container, stacked up. (They don’t actually like them folded, it takes longer to get through them all). Keep all outfits and matching clothes with their pairs, it just makes it simpler for everyone. They will go through your clothes and offer you cash or trade-in on the spot. If you chose the cash option, you will earn 25% of their retail value. The trade-in value is much more at 70%.
#4. Yard Sale
Having your own yard sale to sell your clothes is another option. Here’s the thing, people that go to yard sales expect to get things for pennies on the dollar. So don’t expect to get much. In my opinion and experience, it’s best to sell lower-end clothing from WalMart, Target, Ross, etc. if they are still in great condition. Most consignment shops and online sellers won’t take those items anyway and you’re better off donating them. But, if you price the items right, you just might get some decent cash.
How to: Have a “clothes only” yard sale. This targets people who are looking specifically for clothes at cheap prices. Hang your clothes on a clothes rack so that people can quickly see what you have to offer. Sort them by season, then by size. Then, place stickers with the prices on them so that the buyer knows what you want for it. This eliminates the guessing work and makes it easier for the buyer. Place a sign that bundles items together like “buy 5, get 2 free” or something like that. The goal here is to just get rid of the clothes that probably wouldn’t sell anywhere else.
#5. Craigslist
Craigslist is a bit like Ebay, it’s been around for decades. Like Ebay, Craigslist works through your email. Once you list an item, a buyer who is interested will send you a message through email or phone.
How to: Set up an account with Craigslist. Once your account is set up, you’ll need to take good pictures of your clothing. The better the picture, the quicker it will sell. Make sure to include a detailed description of the item(s) so that the buyer can quickly decide if he or she wants to buy. If the buyer has to ask a lot of questions, then they are more likely to keep scrolling past your listing. Be sure to include things like brand, size, measurements, and condition. Pick your price point and list it. When someone is interested, you will receive a message and you can then schedule a time to meet.
#6. OfferUP
This is an App that allows people to buy and sell locally. All negotiation and messaging is done through the app. Payment is done privately, however, in some areas, there is an in-app payment option that links to a credit card. Most people like the cash-only option, the choice is yours. There is no fee associated with using the app and OfferUp doesn’t take a percentage of your earnings.
How to: Download the App on IOS or Android. Setup your account which will need to be verified through Google or Facebook. Take quality pictures of your clothes, pick your price and post it. It can take less than 30 seconds to get your listing up and running. You can provide as much detail as you want. Again, quality descriptions will sell faster than those without them. Since OfferUp shows items locally, you can schedule a meeting date and time to your prospective buyer.
#7. LetGO
Just like OfferUp, LetGo is an online app that allows users to buy and sell locally. That means, no hassle with shipping. All messaging is done through the app. LetGo does not have in-app payment options so you’ll have to arrange that privately. Again, cash is usually the best and safest way to go to sell used clothes. LetGo also offers ratings of previous sellers and buyers so that you can avoid those “flakers” and “scammers”.
How to: Set up a verified account through the app by linking your Google or Facebook account. This is to make sure you are a real person. Then, you can start uploading pictures. Upload up to 5 pictures for each listing. Select the right category for your items and write detailed descriptions. You can write up to 1,500 words if you need to. Once a user is interested in your item, they will message you through the app’s interface and from there, you can arrange a meetup date and time.
#8. Swap Meet
Did you know, you can also sell used clothes at your local swap meet? A swap meet can introduce you to a lot of people in one day, especially on a busy weekend.
How to: To sell at a swap meet, you’ll have to pay a fee usually $15-20 for space. It is first come first serve, so try to get there early. Set up your space, if you have a clothing rack, it’ll be easier for prospective buyers to see all of your items compared to having them folded on a table. If you have a ton of clothes and expect to make more than the fee then go for it. If not, then it may not be worth your time. But, it is another option if you like to haggle and interact with people face to face.
#9. Instagram
Yes, really. Instagram is becoming a place for people to buy and sell. Just checkout the hashtags #buymycloset and #shopmycloset to see what I am talking about.
How to: Create your own hashtag to keep things simple. This way, people can shop your entire closet. If someone is interested, they will send you a DM and from there, you can arrange your payments in private. I have not tried this but I think I will give it a try soon!
#10. Swap.com
This is one of the many online consignment shops. It offers a generous 70% commission rate and it does all of the work for you. That means that you won’t have to take pictures, research price points or write detailed descriptions. But, that also means that you won’t get as much money back in return.
How to: Print out a shipping label or request an inbound box. They will go through your clothes and let you know which ones were accepted. Swap will price your items and list them for you. Once your item sells, they will send you a portion of the payment. The fee for sending a box is $11.90 and you can earn up to 70% of the commission.
#11. PoshMark
PoshMark is an online consignment shop dedicated to affordable fashion. Here, you’ll find high-end brands for very affordable prices. That being said, don’t try to send in your Target brand clothing, you won’t get anything for them. To make the best of PoshMark, stick to name brand clothing such as Chanel, Michael Kors, and the like.
How to: Sign up using your Google or Facebook account for verification. Once in, you can go to the Sell on Poshmark button. Upload pictures of your clothes, write a description and set your price. Messaging is done through the app and once you make a sale, they will send you a prepaid shipping label. Buying and selling is done through Poshmark.
#12. ThredUp
Thredup is another online consignment shop. You’ll do great selling on ThredUp if you have higher-end and designer clothing. Don’t expect to get anything for your mall-style clothes, you’ll be very disappointed. ThredUp has a very tight acceptance rate at 40%. Which means half of your stuff will most likely be rejected. This is excellent for the buyer as ThredUp only accepts high-quality items.
How to: Request a clean out bag to be sent to you. You have a few options to choose from at that point. You can choose the straight up donation bag, the free standard shipping bag, or the expedited shipping option. After that, you will be able to purchase resell insurance. This means that items that were not accepted will be returned to you for a fee of $10.99. If not, ThredUp will keep your items and donate them accordingly.
ThredUp has one of the lowest commission rates, starting at 5%. You can earn up to 90% for designer brands. You can use their payout estimator to see how much you MIGHT get for your item. Once they receive your shipment, your payout will either be upfront (if they are high quality, in-season, and trendy) or consignment (meaning payout will be processed once the item sells). Your payout can be in the form of donation, store credit, or PayPal.
With the advancement of technology, selling your used clothes is easy, quick, and painless. The places listed above will really help you reach your financial goals sooner by allowing you to make some extra cash.
What is your favorite place to sell used clothes? Comment below!
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