Last year, I wrote this post about selling clothes to consignment shops, in particular Daisy Exchange and Plato’s Closet. Since my first visit, I have taken clothes to Plato’s Closet several times. Over the last few visits, my impression has increasingly declined. My most recent visit led me to return to Daisy Exchange to see if my experience there would be any better. I have learned from my past experiences that these stores don’t typically purchase black and brown items. They want colorful and young. I’ve also noticed in the past that if the item was from Old Navy or Gap, purchased within the past year, that they would usually take it.
Plato’s Closet
Last week, I took a large bag full of clothes to Plato’s Closet. I was surprised by the number of guys in line to sell clothes. I’m not sure what the male demographic is there, so I can’t say if a guy’s experience would be any different. But I did witness the clerk tell the guy in front of me that his khaki’s were too dressy. He kept telling her they weren’t dressy but she wasn’t buying it. When the clerk reached my bag of clothes, I watched as she haphazardly tossed my clothes back in the bag without returning them to their neatly folded condition. This was the first visit that I felt like my stuff was not treated with respect. Then the clerk called my name and told me that she could offer me $7 for the two items she would take. She told me that my clothes were “too grown-up”, a comment I found amusing because the two items she took were probably the most “grown-up” of everything in the bag. The bag was full of color, including a pair of red jeans from Urban Outfitters. I was shocked that they wouldn’t purchase a pair of colored jeans, one of the hottest clothing items this season.
Daisy Exchange
After my experience at Plato’s Closet, I decided a return trip to Daisy Exchange was in order. After all, the Oklahoma City store has recently relocated to a new much larger location. I was impressed when I walked in the store at how much more room the new location has. I felt like I could actually step back far enough to really see what they had to offer. I also noticed that they seemed to have quite a few new items that must have been close-outs from other stores. I say this because they were large groups of the same item in different sizes. Most of those items were probably something that would only appeal to a 10-year old girl, but they did have some knock-off Burberry scarves that got my attention. When I returned to the counter, the clerk told me that she had only taken a few items and could offer me $10.20. She didn’t tell me which items she had taken but I could tell that the bag was nowhere near as full as it had been when I gave it to her. I was planning on donating the rest of the clothes anyway, so I took my money without question. From what I could tell, she took at least two sweaters and two pairs of pants, including those red jeans. So maybe I’m not so crazy after all.
I think my days of selling clothes at Plato’s Closet and Daisy Exchange are over. I usually leave feeling old and insulted. I don’t feel like either establishment is very respectful of their sellers. If you would like to sell clothes at such a store, I have two recommendations. First of all, the clerk can make or break your experience. If you don’t have a good experience with that clerk, return at a later time and try out a different one. I have held onto items and brought them back to have them purchased on the second or third trip. Second, if you are over 20, they are probably not going to be interested in your stuff, even if it belongs to your 13 year old daughter. I recommend bringing the 13 year old daughter along to add an aura of youth to your stuff.
Have you sold clothes at either of these stores? What’s your experience?
Maria flores
I took 2 full bags of areopostale,victoria secret,forever 21, and alot of “in” brands. But they took all my clothes and gave me only $21. I was kinda embarrassed to tell them that my clothes were in really good condition , so i just left. I know is a bussines but they charge $10 or more for a shirt that they paid not even a $1.