Did you know there was a National Consignment Day? Yes, that’s right. It’s the first Monday of October. In fact, not just settling for one day, The Real Real has designated October National Consignment Month. The idea is to promote consignment shopping as a sustainable way to shop, earn income on preloved items and also help extend the lifecycle of unworn clothing. Whether you are in the market for a new look or wanting to clear out your closet of a few designer gems, consignment is a great way to explore both avenues. To help you, I’m sharing 5 places of where I’ve either bought or sold luxury items over the internet.
Before I give my list, I wanted to share my thoughts on why I consign. Luxury resale has become quite prevalent over the last few years. This holds true for all facets of the fashion industry including clothing, jewelry, bags and accessories. Consignment is a smart way to attain some quality pieces often at a substantial reduction off retail. In addition, many people are embracing the of sustainable luxury. Preloved pieces can become part of the circular economy. What’s no longer worn but in great condition can be new to someone else. Which is a much better alternative than ending up in an oversaturated landfill.
While I appreciate the sustainability offered through consignment, I have my reasons for my consignment shopping escapades. First, I like the idea of finding high end luxury pieces at a discount. I think I appreciate something more if I got it at a great deal. Second, many of my finds are from previous seasons and cannot be found currently at retail. Designers dictate what’s on trend or hot for a particular season. But what if I missed it when it was originally sold and think it’s perfect for now? I can look at past seasons and hunt for things through consignment shopping that I think will work for today. And as a seller, I can earn a pretty penny by selling items I no longer wear. I can get rid of clothes that no longer fit (too big or too small) or I’ve grown tired of and score a little cash in exchange. It’s a great way to free up my closet and I try to purge my closet every 6 months. Need advice on how to purge? Check out my post from 10 years ago. Although it’s an older post, my thoughts still ring true for today.
So where do I find my great finds or sell my items? There are a couple places locally that I’ve used but I found I do much better working over the internet. It offers a broader reach and I’ve had success using 5 different sites. These are eBay, Poshmark, Grailed, Rebag and The Real Real. While there are other places for there are other places that to consider, these are the places that I have had experience with. For the record, I’m considering sites where I’ve bought or sold peer to peer as consignment shopping.
eBay
eBay is perhaps the largest peer to peer selling site on the internet. I have found some excellent deals as well have sold numerous items over the years. While eBay can be a great avenue to either buy and sell, it’s a larger platform and sells everything not just fashion related things. It can be daunting. When buying large ticket items, consider buying those that have the Authenticity Guarantee checkmark. Once purchased, eBay will authenticate your purchase and send it to you directly. This is some added protection as I have received fake items in the past. If you sell, be aware you must handle all aspects of the selling. This includes the listing, selling and shipping of your merchandise and eBay gets a cut of the sale base on the final selling price. There are some 3rd party companies that will sell your item for you however they will also take a percentage of the sale.
Best Find: New John Lobb William Monk strap
Current Obsessions
Poshmark
Poshmark is similar to eBay however it is more geared to clothing and accessories. This selling site is also a peer-to-peer shopping site and its selection can be daunting as well. They offer free item authentication and free shipping on all items $500 or more. The idea behind Poshmark is the ability to shop your favorite fashionista’s closet. Choose a friend or a boutique you admire and you’ll be able to shop everything they have to offer. There are all Posh Parties which are virtual buying and selling events that happen in the app. You can browse, buy, and even list together with friends. With a wide variety of themes and brands, there’s a Posh Party for everyone! I tend to use Poshmark when I’m searching for something specific. While I’ve purchased a few things, I’ve never sold through Poshmark.
Best find: Gucci Logo Blazer
The Real Real
The Real Real is one of the largest online consignment shops. Founded in 2011 by Julia Wainwright, it is one of the top sellers of authenticated luxury goods. In addition to its huge online presence, the company has brick and mortar stores throughout the United States. While I am a fan of the Real Real, there are both pros and cons for shopping and selling through this site. The pros: The company has a huge selection of new and used luxury item and generally offer sales or discount codes as incentives to buy. For selling, they handle all aspects of selling and have several methods to receive your items for sale. They offer at home pick up, in store drop off or shipping services to get your items. On the con side, the company’s authentication process has been called into question where some consumers have reported receiving fake items and the company has even settled a lawsuit over authentication claims. Other issues involve the accuracy of the item descriptions and pictures to assess the quality of goods being sold. Sellers may find their commission on sales are much lower than anticipated. However, that’s something to consider. But it’s the price to pay as the Real Real takes out the hassle from selling on your own. Despite these risks, follow a “caveat emptor” approach. Consider looking for new or pristine items, examine pictures carefully and review the return policy. Some items are listed as final sale.
Best find: Hard to find 2017 Burberry luggage bag
Grailed
Grailed is a curated secondhand marketplace for streetwear and luxury fashion. Another community-based, peer-to-peer platform, it was built for enthusiasts, by enthusiasts in 2013. The business grew almost exclusively by word of mouth, primarily amongst those who are into archival designer fashion (think Raf Simons, Helmut Lang and Rick Owens) and streetwear (rare Jordans, Supreme, BAPE). Grailed has one of the largest selections of inventory for both popular and hard-to-find items. Originally the site had those edgier fashion brands primarily for men but now, you can also find much of the higher end designer brands. They’ve also started selling women’s fashions.
Best find: 2020 new with tags Gucci cropped jacquard sweater
Current Obsessions
Rebag
Just like the name suggests, Rebag got its start reselling preowned luxury bags. It sells authentic second-hand bags from the most sought-after brands. The company only accepts bags from an exclusive list of fewer than 50 designers — Gucci, Prada, and Chanel among others. While bags are its focus, the company also sells jewelry, apparel and shoes but on a much smaller scale as compared to some of the other sites. The selection from men is much smaller however they tend to carry a good selection of pristine and newer bags. Rebag also offers its Infinity Exchange program. Under this program, you purchase a bag and use it for up to 12 months. After that time exchange it for a credit worth 60 – 75% of its purchase price and apply the credit toward a new bag or accessory. Now that’s taking consignment to the next level.
Best find: Mark Cross Fitzgerald East West Tote
