Hi friends and lovers. I asked y’all on Instagram if you’d be interested in a blog post about how I sell my clothes at Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads and other “buy/sell” retailers. And the response was overwhelmingly positive, so here it goes.
If you aren’t familiar with Buffalo Exchange or Crossroads (they’re effectively the same business model with different names, from here on referred to as “Buffroads”), here’s a quick breakdown. Buffroads is a fashion resale retailer that buys and resells used clothing. You can buy used apparel as well as trade in your own used clothes. Your clothes are bought in-store by a trained buyer, and then you receive a percentage of the value of your clothes in cash or store credit. You receive either 50% in trade (store credit) or 30% in cash (33% at Crossroads).
It looks like nowadays you can also mail in your clothes to Crossroads. While this idea sounds cool, I only recommend it if you are a seasoned seller.
I have been selling my stuff at Buffalo Exchange and Crossroads for the last 10+ years. I go at least 3 times a year, always at the beginning of each season. Sometimes I have more luck than others, but usually I am able to leave with a decent amount of cash, or some new (to me) loot. Here are my tips and tricks for successfully offloading your pre-loved pieces and walking away with some cold hard cash money.
- Comb through your pile and organize your pieces by season. Sell your goodies at the beginning of each season. If you’re not sure which season Buffroads is buying for, call or check their website. They are totally transparent about what they are looking for, so you can even ask them questions about styles and trends they are currently buying.
- Consider the wearability and trendiness of each piece. Items that are mass-market friendly will sell better than anything niche (funky vintage doesn’t usually fly). You likely won’t have much success selling anything on the edges of the wearability spectrum, like fancy gowns or sleepwear.
- Make sure your clothes are clean and in good condition. Look for stray threads, missing buttons, snagged hems, and make sure your garments are free of stains or other marks. Shoes: clean soles thoroughly and spot clean the uppers.
- Neatly fold and/or hang everything. Pack your clothes neatly and organize them by style (shoes in one bag, dresses/tops together, pants together). Presentation makes a big impact.
- Wear a cute outfit. Seriously. This sounds stupid, but I swear it makes a difference.
- Lastly, once you’re in front of your buyer, be helpful and nice. If the brand of one of your pieces is obscure, tell them where you bought it and how much it was. Let them know if any of your pieces are high-quality fabric (silk, cashmere, wool, etc). If they choose not to buy a piece, feel free to ask them why. Their insights can help you better prepare your haul for next time.
Do you ever sell your clothes at resale stores? What tips and tricks have you learned? Share them with me in the comments!
PS: If they don’t buy all or any of your clothes don’t take it personally! There are forces beyond your (or their) control at play: current trends, their inventory levels, the season, what they bought earlier in the day, etc. Don’t get discouraged!
Pants: Topshop via Buffalo Exchange | Jacket: Topshop via Nordstrom | Boots: Modern Vice | Tee: vintage | Backpack: Zara | Disco Boot Pin (on backpack): Color Theory Shop | Earrings: ISLYNYC | Sunnies: ZeroUV
4 Comments
Erica Lynn
March 14, 2018 at 9:59 pmGirrrrl I basically made a living off of buying from second hand shops and reselling to Buffalo!
Totally agree that looking your best when going in helps out SO much. How you present your items to sell matters too- fold it! Cuff (don’t cut!) those sleeves if that’s how they look best on the body. Repair any small hem or iron the item if it needs. Put delicate items on the top so they aren’t smashed and wrinkled.
Don’t take it personal! Honestly, keep in mind that yes, you no longer wear the item, and other people might feel the same about the style. It’s nothing personal, they’re a business that needs to stay afloat and can’t afford to buy “iffy” items.
If you have something worth a bunch, consider consignment. Both Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange do have consignment options (I’ve made a pretty penny off of those.)
Ok. This isn’t my blog so I’ll stop. Everything you said was 100% true to my experiences with both companies!
Xoxox-
buttpartyerica
Steal4Style
March 19, 2018 at 11:01 amWow, I wish I could sell my clothes to second hand stores. But in my city these kind of stores are really fussy, and it’s almost impossible to sell something. Great post, and great tips. Have a nice day!
Steal4Style.com
Lisa Braden
September 13, 2019 at 6:20 pmNeed to part with my disabled husband’s suit coats and dress pants, since they won’t allow him to work anymore. We live in Hyde Park, NY and can’t find any clove by locations. I’d like to mail them if possible, to Crossroads. The sizes range from 46″-52″ waists and mix and match suit coats for 6’1″ man weighing 200-300 lbs. please let me know when and to where I should send them.
clothesandpizza
September 21, 2019 at 11:54 amHi Lisa, I would recommend giving Crossroads or Buffalo Exchange a call, or check their website, to see if they offer any mail in services. I seem to remember that one of them does (I think maybe Buffalo, but I can’t be certain). Best of luck! xo