I recently received this question in my inbox and thought I’d throw it into a post to get some feedback from you guys! I’ll share my knowledge, but it’s limited. If you have some great advice, I’d love to hear it. Here’s the issue:
I have a question. I live in a rural area. Very rural. Not many people will drive 15 miles from town for a garage sale. Do you know of any way to sell clothing other than eBay?
Thanks,
Vickie
There is some serious cash to be made selling your stuff to others via the interweb! So many new sites have popped up over the last few years, but there are few tried and true sites that have stellar reputations and I think will earn you the highest amount for your old clothing and accessories! If eBay isn’t your thing and most won’t travel out to you so Craigslist is not an option, Tradesy.com, ThredUp.com are my favorites. Turn those threads into cash with just a little bit of work. You can do this with your kid’s closets as well as yours and increase your earnings.
But those are the only sites I’ve used. What have you tried and loved? Any other advice for how someone living in rural America can sell their clothes? Share below!
~Mavis
Angela says
We have some really great local Facebook sites that I have been using to do a major household declutter project. We I’ve in a rural area but I have a friend who lets me use her porch in town for the swap or I will meet someone when I’m in town running errands at a local shopping center. I sell women’s and kids clothing that way, usually in “lots” to make it more worth my time to head into town 🙂
Holly says
swap.com
Linda says
I tried Thredup for the first time this year and am not impressed. I sent the prepaid bad with in style clothes from Anthropologie & a few pieces from Ann Taylor & J Crew. After the shipping charges I was left with a $2 or $3 credit. They didn’t accept everything to sell. I will not use them again as I could have done better consigning my clothes locally.
I tried Thredup because blogs I follow repeatedly recommended them, but now I wonder if any of the bloggers have ever actually tried them? I also wear a small size that doesn’t sell well in my area, so thought online might be better for me, but clearly it wasn’t!
Phil M says
Ebay is the way to go! Recently they’ve updated their UI which makes it super easy to sell your clothes. I’m always shocked at how much people will pay. I just sold a pair of my wife’s old Loft jeans for $35 plus shipping!! She was going to donate them.
A few tips:
– Look for similar clothes, see what they sold for. Search for an item, using the filters on the left search for SOLD listings.
– Look at completed listings for what is included in the post, size, condition, color, age etc.
– Use eBay’s shipping calculator and print your shipping labels through them. Saves a lot of time and money.
– Take multiple photos from different angles – use a plain background.
– Don’t put a buy it now price, I’ve found people are more likely to bid if it’s just an auction.
– Include a handling fee, for buying packing materials etc, I usually add $1-2
– If the eBay site intimidates you, use their phone/tablet app. It’s pretty fool proof
Diana says
I save up my clothes until I have quite a bit and then take them to a consignment store in the next town over. It’s close enough that we go fairly regularly so it’s not a big hassle and they sell much better than in our smaller town. Plus that store will pay you out in cash not just store credit. A few months after I dropped my things off I call and check my balance and then next time I’m in town I stop by and pick up my cash. I do the same thing with a children’s consignment store for my kids’ clothes after they out grow them. Though with theirs I just use the store credit to get more clothes since they are constantly outgrowing things!
Ellie says
In our rural county, we have a Facebook group called xx county barter and sale. You would be amazed at what gets sold and traded here. The group is private, posts have to be approved by admin, but it now has almost 20k members. In our 10k town. People sell their products, used clothes, chickens, puppies, furniture, baby clothes lots, rentals, but also post if they need something, are looking for recommendations or even for donations. I have sold so many things there in the past.
Lisa L says
If you have anything name brand, Poshmark is another good option. You can also list makeup, shoes etc on that site. I listed three things a few weeks ago and all three were sold within 24 hours. Cash is direct deposited.
Mel says
I’ve never sold anything on Poshmark, but about half my wardrobe is from there. I love it.
Jennifer says
Poshmark!!!!
I’ve been selling for just under a year and have made ~$100 a week. It takes very little time and effort and you don’t have to pay for shipping or shipping supplies!!! It’s also helping me my minimalist goals of decluttering my clothes.
Now I’ll shamelessly promote my closet: Poshmark @jlcarpe3
Amber in Bend Oregon says
Thredup is a great resource to BUY from but seriously don’t expect much compensation when you sell to them. Think about it, they have to turn a profit. So they pay about a dollar out to you for something they will sell for ten. Bloggers recommend them because they receive credit $ when used as the referral, normal buyers can receive this too. I purchased a lot of my 5 kids clothes from them and loved the experience. With selling, I learned my lesson. Same with our local upscale consignment shop. But you have to keep in mind that you don’t have to put yourself and children in an unsafe situation, as you do when selling via craigslist just to make a couple bucks. Unfortunately, that’s the world we live in. Try hosting a clothing swap at your rural elementary school or church!
Sue R. says
My clothes are so worn out by the time I’m done with them that I don’t think anyone would want them!!
KAYTHEGARDENER says
Me too, I buy them at the thrift shops in the first place!!
Cecile says
Get together with a bunch of people from the nearest town and host a garage sale at the local fair grounds or speak to a local grocery store about using their parking lot before store hours…this will get people in to their store too!
Lee says
You could investigate “LetGo”. There is an app and a website. My old co-worker uses it quite often.
Living in a very rural area, I have had some success in the past with local consignment shops. Its tough because you have to wait for things to sell, then pick up your cut of the sales.
I have heard Facebook groups are very popular.
And finally – I end up driving an hour and a half to the nearest city to test out Plato’s Closet and Clothes Mentor. Sometimes they may take a few things. Whatever is left, I may partner with a friend in the “city” for a garage sale at their place.
Carrie says
I also live in the country, I collected up my clothes and stuff and then rent a building in town and have a garage sale. Swap.com is ok if your stuff is perfect or like new. I like posmark too.
Suzanne says
I’ve bought and sold things on Poshmark. I buy my clothes there or at my favorite thrift store.