ThredUP Resale Review: A Sustainable Way to Refresh Your Wardrobe and Earn Cash

As a fashion enthusiast always on the lookout for great deals and extra income, I've become a devoted fan of resale platforms. Among them, ThredUP stands out as the world's largest online thrift store, offering a convenient way to buy and sell high-quality pre-owned clothing. If you're looking to declutter your closet while earning some money and reducing waste, ThredUP might be your perfect solution.

What is ThredUP?

ThredUP operates a unique recycling program that lets customers fill a pre-paid bag with gently used items and get paid for them. To sell, you simply request a Clean Out Bag, fill it with your unwanted clothes, shoes, and handbags, and ship it off. ThredUP then photographs and lists the qualifying items on its website for sale. While some items may be new with tags, most are pre-owned, each assigned a condition rank such as 'new with tags,' 'excellent condition,' 'minor fading,' or 'needs cleaning.'

Why I'd Use ThredUP Again

The primary appeal of ThredUP is its sheer convenience. The entire process is streamlined: they send you the bag, you fill it, and drop it at the post office. Within a few weeks, you receive an email outlining the items they've accepted and your payout options, which include ThredUP shopping credit, a Discover gift card, or cash via PayPal. Your items are listed on consignment, meaning you can even request them back if you change your mind.

ThredUP accepts a wide range of name brands, including J. Crew, Banana Republic, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Lululemon Athletica, Free People, Lilly Pulitzer, and Madewell. If they decide not to buy some items, they'll donate them on your behalf, saving you the hassle of making trips to donation centers. This feature is particularly appealing if you've been procrastinating on clearing out your car's trunk full of clothes.

The Downsides

While ThredUP is incredibly easy, there are a few caveats. Processing can take longer than expected—my bag took about four weeks, though they estimate two. You can pay an extra to expedite processing to one week, but that fee might not be worth it if your items don't sell for much. Given that ThredUP prices items at discounted resale value, your payout might be modest. For instance, I sent a mix of brands from Forever21 and Target to North Face and Nike, and my total payout was after a .99 bag fee.

Despite the modest returns, I view ThredUP as a smart alternative to donating outright. It's a way to earn a little extra cash while keeping clothes out of landfills. Have you tried buying or selling on ThredUP? I'd love to hear your thoughts. And if you're interested in shopping the items I sold, using my referral link gives you off your first purchase—and I receive a gift card as a thank you. It's a win-win!