5 of The Best Online Platforms To Sell (And Buy) Clothes
Millennial women are always on the lookout for clothing brands that align with their personal style and ethos. In recent years, online platforms have emerged as a viable way to find and sell clothes. Here are 5 of the best online platforms to sell (and buy) clothes. Whether you're looking for a new wardrobe or just want to get rid of some old clothes, these platforms will help you do it in style!
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Have you ever sold or bought anything at a consignment shop? No? Well, then, get ready – because this post is about to change your life. Consignment shops are the way to go for a money-savvy, planet-friendly consumer. Not only because they are the best place to find a bargain, but also because they are great for sustainability.
When I first started buying used clothes, it had nothing to do with sustainability. I was shopping at Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange, snagging brand name labels, and significantly reduced rate. The more I learned, the more enthusiastic I became to grab pieces from old collections or discover bargains on new ones.
As sustainability has become my number one priority in my lifestyle, today, except for a few essential items like socks, underwear, t-shirts, shoes, and sometimes jeans, I buy used for most of what I wear. When I started shopping this way, it took a great deal of searching to locate what I wanted. Now the search is easier than ever.
In the past decade, there have been plenty of peer-to-peer fashion marketplaces or full-service consignment shops that have popped up online, making available a vast and easily accessible selection of used clothes spanning a range of brands, styles, and price points.
Over the years, I've come to realize that buying used is more critical than ever. The fashion industry produces immense amounts of waste, nearly 100 million tons a year, by one estimate, and it isn't slowing down. The fashion industry keeps producing more clothes to satisfy an appetite for constant newness that they've helped shape.
It feels more impactful to stop creating the need for consumption. I think that's a big part of sustainability, the over-consumption of everything.
The contrast between buying secondhand and shopping in a glossy brand flagship has blurred pretty significantly as online resale sites like Depop, Poshmark, or The RealReal, all of which launched in 2011, have made buying used clothing as appealing and straightforward as ordering groceries on InstaCart or ZeroGrocery. Browsing product listings often feels more similar to shopping at a department store website.
Consignment marketplaces, like Twice, Poshmark, and TheRealReal, are going head to head with the original online consignment shop, eBay. Poshmark, Twice and others allow you to sell your clothes and more online. Except where TheRealReal differentiates itself from some of the others is its exclusive focus on designer goods, similar to ThreadFlip. It's worth pointing out that this focus caters to a specific audience.
There are many excellent online sites where sellers ship their items into the company, while with others, sellers list and ship items themselves. Either way, online consignment stores are an excellent way to purchase items at prices way below retail.
If you are interested in either buying or selling, here is our complete guide to the top 5 online consignment stores worth checking out:
Poshmark
Poshmark is different from most of the other online consignment stores on this list because there is no middle man. It's become my go-to for reselling and buying. Using the Poshmark website or app, anyone can go on the site and list the items they wish to sell for free. Once the item sells, Poshmark takes a small cut or percentage of the profits.
There are no brand requirements to sell on Poshmark, although fakes and replicas are not permitted. With nobody viewing the items before they are listed for sale, purchasers are protected via Posh Protect. Should an item arrive that is different than described, or if it never comes, the purchaser will receive a refund.
The great thing about using Poshmark is that because there is no middle man, you can offer items for exchange to sellers and sellers will occasionally lower their prices for you. Additionally, when you sell an item with Poshmark, the site will send out a pre-paid envelope with which to mail it, so the seller does not have to worry about shipping costs.
ThredUp
ThredUp is a sizeable online consignment store that offers clothing, shoes, and accessories for women, as well as clothing and footwear for babies and kids. ThredUp caters to shoppers of all sizes, as plus-size, petite, and maternity clothing are all sold on the site. Because of the full range of brands accepted by ThredUp, the site often has the best prices out of all of the online consignment stores. It has everything from the clothing lines carried at Target to brands like Reformation, Madewell, and Everlane.
Besides incredibly low prices, one of the biggest perks of using ThredUp is that it has a great referral program. For every new user you refer to, you will receive $20 in credit to spend on the site. Additionally, ThredUp offers many coupons that are valid for both new and returning purchasers.
If you wish to sell your items on ThredUp, you can request a postage-paid bag that you can use to ship your items to the company. ThredUp pays out up to 80% of the retail value on items it accepts. If it rejects things, then it ships them back to you for free or donates them on your behalf.
The great thing about ThredUp is that in recent years, they’ve partnered with major brands like Madewell and Reformation to create resale programs. Each brand resale program works similar to ThredUp where you can get started on a Clean Out Kit or visit a Resale Shop of the individual brand, send your clothes, and they’ll buy back items. In the end, you’ll get credit to shop at that particular brand.
The RealReal
TheRealReal is a combination flash sale site and online consignment store. It sells high-end designer clothing, shoes, and accessories from brands like Gucci, Oscar de la Renta, and Jimmy Choo at incredibly discounted prices. More recently, this site has started selling authentic art as well. Most sales at The RealReal last only 72 hours, and some items tend to sell out within minutes of sales being posted.
While the brands that are sold at The RealReal can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, brand new, the prices at The RealReal are generally quite reasonable. Another plus to shopping this site is that they frequently offer coupons for an extra 20 to 40 percent off everything. With the additional cards, the prices at The RealReal are easily some of the lowest ever offered for some of the brands they feature.
Selling items with The RealReal is natural. Be sure to check out its directory of accepted brands, and then you can ship the things that you would like to sell to the company. If and when an item sells, you will be paid up to 70 percent of the selling price.
LetGo
LetGo is a good place to start if you want to sell and make money from various items you’re no longer using – from electronics to clothing. All you need to do is snap photos of the items you want to sell, then start a chat with potential buyers.
Chairish
Do you have vintage furniture you no longer need? Chairish is an online consignment store that can help you make money out of it. And it isn’t just furniture, you can also sell décor and art. Chairish sells unique, one-of-a-kind pieces to design lovers and interior designers and helps them sell vintage and gently used pieces as well. Founded in 2013, Chairish delights over one million monthly shoppers with its expert curation of exclusive and diverse inventory, spirited attitude, refreshing shopping experience, and award-winning customer care. With 1,000+ new arrivals daily, it’s no wonder Architectural Digest named Chairish the #1 “can’t live without decorating app” that “will change the way you shop for furniture online.”
Depop
Depop combines elements of online marketplaces and social media – and is very visual. You can sell anything you like on there – from used vintage fashion to art and records. Depop is more like a social shopping platform that's a little bit eBay and a little bit Instagram. In fact, the app is designed to closely mimic the latter.
Most Depop users sell old clothes and vintage garments. If sellers are successful enough, sometimes they’ll start their own brand and distribute it exclusively through Depop. The app is similar to other social resale apps such as Poshmark and Thredup, but Depop has distinguished itself by courting young users.
National Consignment Shops
If you prefer to buy and sell your items in person, there are plenty of brick-and-mortar consignment shops. Chances are, one or more of these shops will have a location near you.
Crossroads Trading
Another great consignment shop to pop into is Crossroads Trading. They have plenty of shops across the U.S. However, you don’t have to sell your clothes in-store – you can just mail them.
Buffalo Exchange
Buffalo Exchange is a physical consignment store, where you can shop or sell your used clothes. Selling clothes is easy – you can either mail them to Buffalo Exchange or pop into the store with your items.
The Wasteland
If you’re looking to sell your used clothes and live in California, The Wasteland might be a good option. There are stores in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica – and all you have to do is pop into the store with the items you’re looking to sell.
Plato’s Closet
If you’re looking for a place to sell teen clothes, it’s worth checking out Plato’s Closet. It is one of the most well-known national retail stores. To sell, find your nearest store and bring in your gently used clothing and accessories. The team will review and create an offer based on their condition and brand.
Conclusion
So, whether you’re a fashionista looking for new wardrobe additions or just need to purge your closet of some old clothes, here are five online platforms that will make it easy and fun to sell (or buy) used clothes. Have you tried any of these? Let us know in the comments!
This article was first published in June 2017 and updated by our editors June 2022.
