The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

5 Online Consignment Shops for Selling Your Unwanted Fashions


Spring is the perfect time to clean out your closet - so why not make a little extra cash in the process? After all, if you're a Budget Babe, you've waited for sales, clipped those coupons and made sure you bought your wardrobe at the best price possible. Donating unused items is easy (and tax deductible) but selling your gently used clothing, shoes, bags and jewelry is a great way to recoup a portion of what you've spent - and give you some spending money that you can put towards new purchases. Here's a round-up of 5 online consignment stores - some I've used, some are new-to-me - where you can list and sell your unwanted fashions. And of course you can always shop at these fine retailers, too, especially if you're looking for genuine designer goods at a discount. Got a consignment shop tip? Tell me in the comments!

1. eDrop-Off
Owner Corri McFadden is a Chicago entrepreneur, fashion maven, and star of a new reality series on VH1, House of Consignment. She is also one of eBay's top sellers! Watch on Wednesday's at 10/9 c as Corri and her team go through thousands of dollars worth of luxury items to be sold through her eBay store, eDrop-Off. I've used them once in the past to sell a designer bag and the process was super easy - they handled every step of the process, from pick-up to listing to fulfillment. Your items have to meet certain criteria, and eDrop-Off keeps a portion of the sale, which is typical. Take a look at the inventory in Corri's eBay store, eDrop-Off.

2. Linda's Stuff
Linda Lightman, founder and CEO, started the business over 11 years ago selling her son's unwanted video games out of their Pennsylvania home - and the company has grown leaps and bounds since then. According to Linda's Stuff, they are the number one seller of designer fashion on eBay, listing over 1,000 items daily. They've even worked with celebrities like Paula Abdul. For details on how to list, consignment fees, etc. visit the Linda's Stuff eBay store.

3. The Real Real
Julie Wainwright from San Francisco started the site in June of 2011 and since then membership has doubled every month. The Real Real combs the most fashionable closets around to give members free, insider access to the world's best previously owned jewelry, accessories and clothing – from Hermes and Chanel to Balenciaga and Lanvin. Many celebrities have consigned their clothes with The Real Real including: Paula Abdul, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Garner as well as Whitney Port and Molly Sims with all proceeds going to charity. According to The Real Real, they are "the only high-end consignment boutique online where you can both buy and sell your clothes." It's set up like Gilt and Rue La La, rather than an eBay store. I'm looking forward to shopping this site myself, as I've heard rumors about bargains like a Givenchy skirt going for $50.

4. Thread Flip
This just-launched website (like, yesterday) is a community marketplace for buying and selling apparel and accessories with a "deep social commerce, technology and fashion experience." With a few clicks, users can upload images of pieces straight from their closets and sell clothing, shoes, bags and jewelry, creating (at least in theory) a vast marketplace of thousands of new pieces every day. And if you are too busy to upload and sell on your own, the company is launching a White Glove Service enabling women to send in their clothing and have Threadflip take care of the rest. I'm hoping Threadflip succeeds, there's a definite need for this and so far, I haven't seen other sites succeed. Dig 'N' Swap is still around but never quite worked out for me.

5. Closet Groupies
Another new site, still in beta, Closet Groupies is a site that lets you sell and buy clothing with a social angle. Founder Kelly James says "it's like Etsy for fashion. On Closet Groupie our members are selling items from their closets directly to other members in a fun and chic way. It's like being able to shop in your most stylish friends' closets anytime you like!" The idea is you get to "know" the people you're buying from by seeing their profile and all the items in their "closet". Follow your favorites to become a groupie. There's no limit to how long your item can be listed since it's not an auction. E-mail the Closet Groupies team a photo and details about your item and they'll list it for you! I just signed up but have yet to sell anything.

Image at top: Some items for sale at Closet Groupies.
Comments
There's a great new startup that just launched - Closet Raid - where you can sell, swap, or donate clothes from your closet online. I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of great second-hand items :-)
#1 Kimberlee (Homepage) on 2012-04-18 13:49 (Reply)
Thanks for the list! I know tons of people who are all about this stuff
Shasie of Live Life in Style
Enter my Lia Sophia Giveaway
#2 shasie (Homepage) on 2012-04-18 14:58 (Reply)
I kind of loving the idea behind Threadflip, but i'm not loving the $7 per piece shipping, even if you buy from the same seller...Hmph.
#3 Megan, The Frugalista Diaries (Homepage) on 2012-04-18 15:35 (Reply)
ThreadFlip doesnt take returns, either.
And prices seem high.
#3.1 Julie on 2012-04-23 16:38 (Reply)
There's also Smashion that does the same type of thing.
#4 Kat (Homepage) on 2012-04-18 18:22 (Reply)
Thanks for the tip - and I just found out about an app that lets you sell your clothes called PoshMark - I just downloaded it, hopefully it's cool.
#4.1 The Budget Babe on 2012-05-01 20:24 (Reply)
And here's another:

http://www.bonanza.com/fashion_exchange

Have yet to try but they'll pay cash for your clothes!
#4.1.1 The Budget Babe on 2012-05-03 13:56 (Reply)
thought i'd share too, i like shoprdr.com
#5 Grace on 2012-10-09 09:20 (Reply)
I have used Thread Flip to sell & have sold a bunch of things.Unfortunately,they take 20% of the selling price. This is why the prices are high.The sellers have to add the 20% into the price. I have also used Copious & have not sold as much,but their % cut is much less.
#6 Debbie on 2012-12-07 13:18 (Reply)
My favourite online consignment shop is wwww.kimandkerriscloset.com
Great products and really great prices!
#7 Rene on 2012-12-10 20:19 (Reply)
Try out LeThrift.com and look at their designer auctions. Tres chic.
#8 Kathy on 2012-12-26 23:15 (Reply)
www.ShopMieux.com is the best!

Mid-range & designer brands like Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Free People, French Connection, Anthropologie, Nasty Gal, etc. for cheap... even as low as only $10!

You can also send your clothing to them & they'll give you cash!

ShopMieux is by far my favorite & most trusted online clothing store. Customer service is the most personable I've ever received... even inside an actual store.

I hope this helps!
#9 Mackenzie on 2014-02-11 23:09 (Reply)
Thanks, I just bought a great sweater on that site. didn't know about it.
#9.1 mary on 2014-07-04 14:55 (Reply)
Yet another site you may want to add to the list is Resld @ http://resld.com. Note that their specialty is working with the physical consignment stores (yes, they are still around :-) ) only as I was able to buy from them, but not sell my items on their site.
#10 Cathy on 2014-03-27 19:10 (Reply)
Thanks for the list....
#11 Kenny Mathews (Homepage) on 2014-09-04 05:45 (Reply)
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