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ThredUP is the largest thrift and consignment shop on the Internet, but is it right for you? In this thredUP review, you’ll learn my experience with buying, others experience selling, and some alternatives to get you high fashion at low prices.
I’ve been shopping thredUp for several years and while I don’t buy clothes often I’m an outspoken advocate for buying them secondhand. I’m not perfect but I try to buy as much used clothing as possible.
My Honest thredUP Review
TLDR: It’s been years since I hit publish on this thredUP review and I can honestly say I still love the site. It’s not perfect but it allows me to shop secondhand without going into a thrift store (I’ve got bad allergies and if I forget a Claritin I’m a mess.) So keep reading if you want my honest opinion of thredUP.
Shopping on thredUP
The thing I love about thredUP is the selection. It has more inventory than I can count and just keeps expanding. It started with women’s fashion and has expanded to accessories, kids, and maternity.
Last time I bought a work blouse, 2 summer shirts, and a pair of shorts and I found my favorite maternity dress there. Everything is great quality and delivered quickly, even around the holidays. All items were wrapped in their signature tissue paper making the unboxing part of the experience.
For me, thredUP is a once a year treat for a vacation, special event, or because I hate all my clothes. Their prices are higher than Goodwill (which is pretty expensive itself nowadays) but 1000% worth it for the quality and ease of use.
That’s why I so highly recommend it. Not everyone wants to (or has the time to) drive all over digging around thrift stores to find quality pieces. *Raises Hand* ThredUP makes saving money and buying secondhand accessible to more people and Mother Earth loves that.
Selling on thredUP
To get high-quality items people have to sell high-quality items, thredUP accepts less than 40% of the items they receive. I’ve seen a ton of bad reviews of their selling process and payouts and while I have personally not sold to them I can empathize with their frustration.
So many people are trying to sell that it takes around 40 days for a “Clean Out Kit” to process. And if you want your items back it’ll cost you $10.99. So if you’re going to sell to them, make sure it’s stuff you’re sure they’ll buy.
I would only sell to thredUP as a last resort. If you don’t have a resell store like in your area then thredUP would be a good option. But I might even try selling them on eBay first if you have the time. Otherwise, don’t expect more than $1 for any of your average items.
Alternatives to thredUP
Plato’s Closet and Clothes Mentor are the brick & mortar versions of thredUP. Plato’s is more casual, younger styles while Mentor is business casual and mature female fashion.
Prices are comparable but there’s never a shipping cost. As for selling, you get more cash back and you get it in less than a day. These stores are the superior alternative for selling and have great, albeit different inventory.
Poshmark is another alternative that I haven’t used but many people have great experiences with. It’s also where I’d sell clothes if I needed to.
ThredUP is for women a little too old for Plato’s but not mature enough for Mentor. ThredUP also has maternity and kids which neither of those stores carries. But Plato’s does accept men’s clothing. So depending on what you want to buy or sell, there’s something for everyone.
thredUP Coupon
You can use my thredUP referral link to get $10 off your first purchase – no minimum required! I hate it when stores make you spend $50 to get a deal. If you spend less than $79 all you’ll pay is around $5.99 for shipping. I hope you enjoyed this thredUP review!
Jen Smith is a personal finance expert, founder of Modern Frugality and co-host of the Frugal Friends Podcast. Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Lifehacker, Money Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, Business Insider, and more. She’s passionate about helping people gain control of their spending.
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