working with consignment shops

This past fall, I decided I would look into retail consignment. My husband and I have talked about downsizing, and that, for me, would mean a much smaller closet. With that in mind, I decided that I would try to sell some of my clothes with the help of resale boutiques. I tried both online resale and local consignment shops.

One of the online stores I worked with was TheRealReal.  They sell designer clothing, and the entire process is rather simple. Someone came out to my house and picked up several items. I could follow along online as to how the items were selling.

When a few of my items were reduced to a price lower than what I had preferred, I called and requested that they return the items to me. It was a very simple process, with no hassles, and they were returned.

Do your research

Look at the store’s websites and read their reviews. Different stores prefer different styles and brands of clothing. Some stores cater to high-end designer merchandise, while others cater to more affordable fashion. I tried several different types of stores, bringing them higher-end designer clothing and some of my less expensive trendy items.

See how they rate, google them, and read all the reviews, good reviews versus negative reviews. Most of the websites have answers to all the common questions you may have right on their site, which will save you a lot of time. Understand that most of these stores will set the pricing for you. Also, most stores or online shops prefer to keep your item active for 90 days. This also means towards the end of the time frame. Your items will go on sale at half the price they are marked. This means less of a payout for you.

Understand how they work.

The consignment shops are looking to make money, too. Now more than ever, consignment stores are gaining popularity.  We are learning that second-hand and consignment shops are more eco-friendly and better for the environment.  Secondhand furs and leather are better for the earth than new synthetic items from plastic and chemical use. Unfortunately, I just learned that “faux” leather or “faux” fur really means plastic.

Your items need to be cleaned and pressed. All buttons are attached, there are no stains, no smelling like old perfume or cigarettes, and no snags or tears. After all, if you were to purchase something, you would want it in great condition.

All the local stores will only take items in season, most of which are by appointment only. I would suggest you call ahead so that you aren’t lugging clothes back home.

Stay in touch

Almost all the stores want to keep your items in stock anywhere from around 30-90 days. Do not expect them to call you and tell them a check is waiting. You need to follow up. After that, you either pick up what hasn’t sold, or you can donate it. I do not know how the donation process works and whom they actually donate to, so I preferred to pick up my clothes and bring them to a local charity that I have worked with in the past.

Have a clear understanding of how you will receive your payout.

I did receive a written contract from each of the stores that I worked with. However, some locations were far more detail-oriented than others. A few shops had provided written contracts with each individual item and what they were selling it for. The written and detailed contracts made it very easy to keep track of what was sold. Some shops will split higher-end designer items 50/50, although most will do 40/50, meaning you get forty percent of the amount your items sell for.

In the end, I made a little money, $300. Everyone I worked with was nice and accommodating. I have to say I have mixed feelings about selling my clothes. I had seller’s remorse, and rightly so, as I could not see items going for a lot less than what I paid for.

Also, some of the nicer items I thought about selling had fond memories attached. Yes, I’ll admit I am sentimental about my clothes. It’s really a toss-up as the convenience of letting a resale shop do all the work and then just handing over a check is quite nice, but you need to get past the separation anxiety, which is where I struggled.

In conclusion, consignment shopping may not be for me. I earned much less than what I actually paid for most of my items, and that wasn’t worth it to me. I prefer passing these items along to my family or donating my items to a worthy charity.