Cleaning out my closet had been on my to-do list for ages, but I finally tackled it! It was a major decluttering mission, involving some serious self-reflection. Out went the party dresses from college (way too young for those now) and the jeans I’d been holding onto for a decade, convinced I’d fit them again one day (spoiler alert: not happening, and I’m okay with that!). I’m hoping these clothes will find new homes where they’ll be loved, not just reminders of diet failures and the relentless march of time.
Speaking of finding treasure in unexpected places, a friend of my mom once gave me some truly beat-up old shoes – literally falling apart, with chain details hanging off. She told me to just throw them away if I didn’t want them. But for some reason, I fell in love with these shoes. They’re incredibly comfortable, fit perfectly, and go with everything. One person’s trash, truly another’s treasure! I tried to glue the chain back on, which was a disaster, and eventually, I just ripped the rest of the chain off. Still messy, but I adore them. I’ll share a picture at the end as a reward for reading this whole thing!
My closet clean-out and my “trash shoe” discovery got me thinking: someone else out there might be looking for their own version of trash-to-treasure. And that’s where selling secondhand comes in. (Shameless Beni plug alert – because Beni is all about resale!).
So, let’s dive into my experiences selling clothes in LA. Consider me your secondhand selling guide, sharing my hits and misses so you can navigate the world of resale like a pro and find the best places to sell your clothes.
After my recent selling spree, I feel like a secondhand selling veteran. I’m going to walk you through my successful routes: The RealReal, Crossroads Trading Co., and personal selling, as well as my not-so-successful attempts with Decades, Wasteland, and Buffalo Exchange.
The RealReal
First up, The RealReal, a Beni partner (woohoo!). They offer a luxury consignment service, and the process was pretty smooth. They quickly assessed my items, checking designer labels against their accepted brands list. I could have done this myself beforehand, but honestly, their list is constantly updated, so it’s often easier to just bring everything in. While original shoe boxes aren’t mandatory, they are a plus. Buyers prefer them, and items are less likely to be returned if they come with the original packaging. Returns are a pain for sellers – you don’t get paid, and the item can suffer wear and tear from shipping. Plus, all that extra shipping isn’t great for the environment.
Overall, my experience at The RealReal was positive. They offered complimentary boxed water, and no one judged my pile of items that were clearly going to be rejected. As a seller, you start with a 55% commission, which increases up to 85% as you sell more. Payment happens after your item sells, and if it’s returned, you don’t get paid. They were also running a promotion on luxury branded jewelry with a 75% commission at the time. The only real downside is that The RealReal sets the prices a few weeks after you drop off your items. Your fancy Giambattista Valli boots you paid $3,000 for might be priced at just $100, leaving you with a $55 payout. However, generally, their pricing is quite fair. If you strongly disagree with a price, you can have the item shipped back, but again, more potential wear and tear. Out of all my secondhand selling adventures, The RealReal has been the most consistently positive experience when looking for places to sell clothes online and in person for higher-end items.
Crossroads Trading Co.
Next is Crossroads Trading Co.! My top tip for Crossroads: download their app. You can reserve your spot in line or check the wait time before heading over to sell. Rookie mistake alert – I didn’t know about the app and showed up with six bags to a five-person wait. I went to the Melrose location, which is a cool store to browse. From a shopper’s perspective, Crossroads offers great finds at good prices. You’ll find a mix of fast fashion brands like Zara and online retailers like PrettyLittleThing and FashionNova, alongside higher-end labels like Saint Laurent and Tamara Mellon. If you’re looking to buy fast fashion secondhand, Crossroads is a great option because you can assess the quality in person and feel good about giving clothes a second life.
When it was my turn to sell, I was surprised by what Crossroads accepted and rejected. The buyer seemed to price items somewhat uniformly in the $16-$42 range. For example, unworn $400 strappy heels (the style Kim K used to wear) and super worn, quirky yellow 2006 high-top sneakers were both priced at $32. Crossroads offers two payment options: 50% store credit or 30% cash. I opted for store credit and snagged a pair of $300 Saint Laurent checkered heels. They were boxed, authenticated, lightly worn, and originally retailed around $1200. Definitely a win!
Crossroads is excellent because you see the pricing immediately, can decline to sell items if you’re not happy with the offer (or try to negotiate), and get paid instantly. However, be warned – it’s easy to spend your store credit and then some! I’ve done three Crossroads selling trips, and each time, I’ve ended up spending more than my credit. (And if you’re curious about those Kim K heels I mentioned, I kept them and still have them – they’re a size 7.5 if you’re interested!). For those wondering Where To Sell Clothes for cash or store credit with immediate evaluation, Crossroads is a solid choice.
Personal Selling
Personal selling has been the most challenging avenue so far, despite some success. It’s a lot of work, and you’re responsible for all the marketing. Having a social media presence definitely helps, which I lack. Thankfully, my sister has a bit of a TikTok following. Through her account, we’ve sold a few items, but honestly, it’s so much effort that we’re considering sending everything to thredUP (they handle everything and donate what they don’t accept). My sister is also beta-testing a company that creates Shopify sites for influencers to sell their closets, which seems like a good option for those with a larger reach. Unfortunately, my sister’s reach isn’t quite there to make it worthwhile. The upside of personal selling is definitely the higher profit margin. You make the most money when you sell directly to buyers. However, it demands time and effort to photograph, list, and ship items, making it less appealing if you need a quick and easy way to sell clothes.
Decades
Decades was my first selling fail. As resale newbies, we were unprepared. Decades is known for high-end vintage, so we brought in two vintage gowns (Vera Wang and Carolyne Roehm from my mom), some nice boots, and a Mugler dress. The vibe was very “Devil Wears Prada,” and I instantly felt self-conscious about parking my beat-up 2010 Prius in front of their glass storefront. Despite the intimidating atmosphere, the sales associate was kind. He informed me they weren’t currently accepting black clothing due to an overstock, and despite loving “Carolyne,” they weren’t taking that brand either. Zero for four at Decades. Decades is definitely geared towards very specific, high-value vintage, so it’s not the place for a general closet clean-out.
Wasteland
I’ve tried Wasteland twice now, and both times felt like a comedy sketch. They meticulously examine every item, folding and sorting them into piles with seemingly secret meanings. Then, one pile goes back in my bag (the rejects, obviously). After creating several piles with their mysterious system, they pick up another pile, hug it like they’re about to price it, and then…stick it back in the bag and say, “Sorry, we won’t be taking anything at this time.” What?! It’s bizarre. On the plus side, there’s rarely a wait. They reject you quickly and strangely! Wasteland seems very selective and unpredictable in what they accept, making it a less reliable option if you want to sell clothes quickly.
Buffalo Exchange
If you plan to go to Buffalo Exchange to sell clothes, calling ahead for an appointment is highly recommended, as they usually have long waits. They accept a very random assortment of items and price them quite low. However, their selling prices are also very low, making it a good place to shop for affordable secondhand finds. I brought in about 60 items (admittedly biased, but Crossroads took most of them, so they must have been decent!), and Buffalo Exchange accepted only two, offering me around $8. But during the long wait, I did fall in love with a dress and ended up using my credit (and a little extra cash) to buy it. Buffalo Exchange is a mixed bag – low prices for sellers but also for buyers, and acceptance criteria can feel unpredictable.
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Overall, selling secondhand clothes in LA has been a worthwhile, though challenging, experience. Moving forward, I’m planning to invest in higher-end, better quality, name-brand items when I shop, as they seem to resell more easily. My ideal scenario would be a closet clean-out where I take everything to The RealReal, then bring whatever they reject to Crossroads, and finally ship the rest to thredUP. However, I’m still a novice in the resale world, so I’ll keep exploring and reporting back! I might even find myself back at Wasteland for more rejection – I’m strangely addicted to the process and curious about what they might eventually accept.
Thanks for joining me on this secondhand selling journey! As promised, here’s a picture of my beloved trash shoes:
