Shopping at our top picks for the best online thrift stores will save you money on used, secondhand or vintage clothes as well as make an immediate positive impact on the planet.
A great deal on some simple and trendy affordable vintage clothing in your price range is a smart and conscious consumer choice. It reduces the environmental burden of fast-fashion.
Thrift shopping for great deals on secondhand clothes at thrift stores is also a great way to avoid retail prices and instead of nearly new clothing being dumped into landfills it gets worn and reworn. It’s a win-win.
So, we’ve done a deep dive on the most popular thrifting stores online and we’ve come up with the best choices for online thrifting shops. That way you can shop with confidence every time. Thrift store chic has never been more attainable!
LINKS TO THE BEST ONLINE THRIFT AND VINTAGE CLOTHING STORES
- ThredUP
- Vestiare Collective
- Patagonia Worn Wear
- Poshmark
- Ebay
- Etsy
- Asos Marketplace
- Depop
- Refashioner
- Tradesy
- ShopGoodwill
Thrift Shops For Buying Secondhand Clothing Online
ThredUp is our top pick. Hands down. It’s a great company and their risk-free welcome offers make it a no-brainer to try their service at least once. But it’s not the only decent online thrift store on the interwebs. So let’s jump in and take a look at all of the best second hand stores online.
If you want to SELL your used clothes effortlessly we currently recommend Flyp. You can download the Flyp app here.
ThredUP
ThredUp is an “online consignment store” and their motto is “secondhand clothes, firsthand fun”. We like that and we like Thred Up a lot.
James Reinhart founded ThredUp, in San Francisco, in 2009 to get rid of his old clothes. [source: growwire]
Fast forward to today and they don’t sell any men’s clothing at ThredUp. It’s only women’s and children’s clothes. You can find thousands of brands in their stock lists and they have millions of items for sale every day in their online thrift store.
You won’t find much in the way of vintage items, but you can find a lot of pretty much everything else. The sales process is simple and straightforward. We also like the fact that you can almost always get a $10 free credit if you hunt around on Google.
So you can try their service and buy a whole item for nothing. That’s a really positive way to bring in the customers.
To sell your clothes via ThredUp, you order a Clean Out Kit (which is basically a big bag that you fill with clothes – which must be on their “accepted brands list”) and they provide free shipping to send it back.
You can either take the money in cash or you can use it as store credit which makes shopping even easier. You can ask them to return anything that they don’t accept or to recycle it for you.
You can also use their selling service to donate to charity instead of taking the money for yourself. Awesome!
Patagonia Worn Wear | The Big Name Brand’s Other Half
You’ve probably come across Patagonia’s outdoor wear brand and Worn Wear is their other brand which deals exclusively with secondhand clothing (and adventure gear). They sell men’s, women’s and children’s clothing.
Patagonia’s green credentials cannot be disputed. The company has regularly chosen to take the hard road from a business perspective in order to do the right thing by the planet.
They famously have a “zero growth” business model which is designed to work in harmony with the environment.
Speaking of “zero”, we love zero-waste online stores, so check out the best of them here.
We love the secondhand Patagonia gear that they sell which is often barely used.
They are happy to take worn or even torn articles in and they repair them before they sell them in their online thrift store. It’s also very affordable.
Our only minor complaint is the lack of a specific search function on their site.
You can narrow down by category but not by a specific type of product. We hope that will change in the future.
QUICK FACTS
You can get some amazing bargains in your local thrift stores or consignment shops, but you might have to visit several times because there’s no official stock list in these places – you turn up and you can pick from what they have.
That can make the process of “thrifting” a bit exhausting. The good news is that you don’t have to do that anymore. This is the internet age. Thrifting is moving online too.
You can do all your thrifty shopping from the comfort of your own home which means you can see more of what’s out there and have it delivered to the door when you order.
In fact, the online thrifting market is growing so fast it can be hard to keep up with the best vintage stores.
Poshmark | Bringing Peer To Peer To Thrift
You need a smartphone to access Poshmark as all shopping is done via their Apple and Android apps.
It’s a very easy way to get into online thrifting and we think it’s much more fun than some of the other more traditional business models.
They have over 25 million items for sale at any given point in time and from almost every major brand name so expect your vintage finds to skyrocket.
One thing that makes Poshmark different from the rest is that it has enabled the facility to haggle with a seller – so, you might just be able to get that dress you can’t afford at a price range you can afford.
Out of all our picks for best online thrift stores, Poshmark is the only one we hadn’t heard of but we were thoroughly impressed.
It’s easy to find stuff you want on their site and the search function is excellent.
There’s some really good value product to be found.
Ebay | Don’t Write Off The Internet Giant
Ebay is one of the oldest secondhand and thrift platforms on the Internet of any real size.
Sadly, its once sterling reputation has been somewhat tarnished over the years which is a shame because there’s a lot of fantastic products on the site and often at the lowest price point of any thrifting site.
It is fair to say that there is the occasional dishonest seller on Ebay but as long as you pay using PayPal and follow the Ebay guarantee instructions – you don’t need to worry about that as you can always get your money back.
From a seller’s perspective – Ebay is often the cheapest platform in terms of overall fees to sell your secondhand stuff and you can sell more than clothes on Ebay.
Etsy | Vintage Clothing Kings
Etsy, of course, has a reputation for beautiful handcrafted items from around the world. It’s a place where seller’s creativity can really thrive.
However, it also has a super section of used and vintage clothes and there’s less competition for online thrift store on Etsy than on some of the other thrifting sites.
If you want to sell your clothes on Etsy, you can, but it is a bit more of a complicated experience as you will need to set up your own shop.
We figure that most people are gong to sell their stuff on other thrift platforms unless they are already running a creative business that can benefit from Etsy.
Rummaging through Etsy’s little clothing stores makes it feel like a real life thrifting experience. If you love vintage clothes you’ll love Etsy.
We really like the review system which gives you a very clear indicator as to the character and veracity of the seller.
It is also a truly global marketplace which means you can benefit from Etsy’s services where other brands and online thrift stores fear to tread.
Online Thrift Shops on Etsy
Etsy is host to numerous shops that sell thrift and vintage clothing. Here’s our top picks for secondhand and used clothing on Etsy.
ASOS Market | Inclusivity Specialists
ASOS Marketplace is a British brand which has arrived in the United States too.
We love the fact that clothes that are sold on ASOS are always modelled by a truly diverse range of models and we really respect the effort to be truly inclusive.
The clothes on ASOS are generally very good and they specialize in vintage apparel.
However, the top quality products also command a top quality price range and ASOS isn’t quite the bargain that some of the other thrifting sites are.
The trade off, of course, is that products bought from ASOS tend to last longer.
You can’t sell your stuff on the ASOS marketplace unless you run your own online vintage clothing business.
Then you will need to go through their corporate approval process to enable your shop to use their marketplace.
Depop | Instagram Meets Thrifting
Depop is an odd thrifting platform. It’s probably slightly ahead of its time.
If you think Poshmark crossed with Instagram – you wouldn’t be far off the mark. Depop makes it enjoyable to browse because the products are all presented to you in an Instagram-style feed.
Be warned, this an edgy platform for “fashion creatives” and not everything on there is suitable for children.
However, it’s all eye catching and there’s no doubt that if you like your fashion to be in people’s faces – this is the best platform of them all.
Individuals of a certain stripe will love Depop.
The social media trend continues after purchase with the ability to share the news on what you bought, how it looks, etc.
There are lots of ideas here that we’d like to see the thrifting market as a whole pick up on – after all, isn’t fashion really about strutting your stuff in front of others?
Refashioner | Designer Vintage Thrift
It’s not cheap but Refashioner is the thrifting store that connects you with the best of designer vintage clothing.
Their pricing isn’t ridiculous either, but it does accurately represent the state of the online vintage clothing collectibles market.
If you’re looking to create a style from days gone by, there’s no more authentic way to do it than with Refashioner.
Everything that they sell is top quality and they have a reputation for delivering items that last for a very long time after purchase.
The company is also involved with tackling the ethics problems of the wider fashion industry and for that reason alone they ought to be on your list for online thrifting stores to check out! Enjoy your vintage clothes treasures!
Tradesy | Designer Brands For Women In Thrift
There are plenty of bargains on Tradesy but most of them are still pretty expensive.
They deal exclusively in designer fashion and luxury items for women.
The lowest end brands on their site are similar to Zara and the high end stuff is all Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton.
They offer a guarantee that the products you buy on their site are 100% authentic.
If you feel they’ve failed to properly explain what it is that you’re buying – they will give you a complete refund, no quibbles.
Sellers will find that Tradesy is a very user-friendly platform to shed their excess designer gear and it’s one of the few thrifting sites that allows you to sell used-wedding dresses, etc. too.
You take photos of things, send them to Tradesy and they publish them and then send you a shipping kit when an item sells.
We really like the ability to create your own “style feed” on Tradesy which means that you can get recommendations that really help you to develop your own style and ensure that your wardrobe really does you justice.
ShopGoodwill.com | The High Street Thrift Store Goes Online
It would be remiss of us to do an article on the best online thrift stores without talking about the original thrift store brand and where it’s at.
Goodwill was a bit slow to go online but now they’ve arrived, and the store is not too bad at all.
They’ve opted for an Ebay style bidding model which means that you can run into similar issues as you do on the Ebay platform and therein lies the rub.
Goodwill’s online presence has left a lot of shopper’s dissatisfied with the outcome of the shopping process.
It appears that the problems that plague Ebay are on Goodwill in force and that there’s less fallback to the shopper or seller than there is with Ebay.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t find a good deal on the Goodwill store, but you will need to do your homework before you decide to deal with a seller.
Other Options
If you want more of a rummage sale feel to your thrifting experience you should check out EBTH (Everything But The House). They bill themselves as “a uniquely curated, carefully authenticated and ever-changing assortment of uncommon art, jewelry, fashion accessories, collectibles, antiques & more.”
FAQs
What is the most popular online thrift store? ›
- 1) Thredup.
- 2) Depop.
- 3) The RealReal.
- 4) Tradesy.
- 5) Urban Renewal.
- 6) Patagonia Worn Wear.
- Also, Looking for more secondhand shopping? Check out these 22 thrift shops!
New York City ranks as the country's No. 1 city for thrifting, with an overall score of 85.62, according to the report. That's well above the city in the No. 2 spot, Houston, Texas.
What is the biggest thrift store in America? ›Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, United States--Claiming 74,000 square feet of space, Community Thrift Store & Donation Center's main goal is to raise money that is then distributed to a variety of local organizations, including schools, churches, temples, synagogues, and non-profits; it sets the world record for being the ...
How popular is thredUP? ›But investors aren't the only ones who value thredUp — consumers are hooked too. As of Q2 2021, the platform has over 1.34 million active buyers and processes some 1.22 monthly orders.
Who owns thredUP? ›James Reinhart is the co-founder and CEO of thredUP.com the nation's leading marketplace to buy and sell high quality used apparel. James graduated from the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School in 2009.
What is the best day to thrift? ›While there's no “perfect” day to shop second hand stores, many regulars swear by shopping early on Monday and Tuesday. Homeowners tend to drop off garage sale leftovers on Sunday nights, making for new finds. Plus, the weekends are more crowded shopping days, so employees look to restock early in the week.
How do you thrift like a pro? ›- Create a thrift list. Keep track of the types of items you're looking for in your life. ...
- Pinterest away. Not sure how to wear that beautiful vintage blazer with the shoulder pads and crazy print? ...
- Know your measurements. ...
- It's all about the hunt. ...
- Be flexible.
- Wear form fitting, thin clothing so that you can try on the clothing you find over the clothing you're wearing in the store. ...
- Always get a cart, or bring your own bag, to carry the items you find. ...
- Go to a few thrift stores, particularly the local ones. ...
- Try something different.
Atlanta has the most thrift stores, clothing donation centers, and flea markets per 100k people of the top 5, while Columbus has the highest rated flea markets.
Where is the biggest Goodwill in America? ›SEATTLE — The Evergreen Goodwill flagship in Seattle is the largest Goodwill store in the world.
What state has the most Goodwill stores? ›
How many Goodwill locations are there in United States? There are a total of 4245 goodwill locations in United States as of April 21, 2021 The state with the most number of Goodwill locations in the United States is Houston with 35 locations, which is 1% of all goodwill locations in United States.
Where is the largest Goodwill in Pennsylvania? ›The St. Lawrence outlet is now the largest distribution center in the 22 counties Goodwill serves in Pennsylvania.
What does ThredUp do with clothes that don't sell? ›If an item is sold and then returned, thredUP resets the item's consignment window. If an item sells a second time, you'll be paid immediately. If an item doesn't sell within the set timeframe, you won't be paid for it. If you didn't choose return assurance, any unsold items will be recycled or sold later by thredUP.
Whats the difference between ThredUp and Poshmark? ›With Poshmark, you'll always have control over your own inventory. With thredUP, if an item doesn't sell, and you want it back, you'll have to pay a reclaiming fee. Pricing is yet another difference between Poshmark and thredUP. With Poshmark, you get to choose the price for your item, whether it be high or low.
How much will ThredUp pay? ›According to their website, approximately 40% of your items will be accepted, and from that, you'll make 5%-80% of what an item sells for based on its listing price (this is for up-front payouts). For consignment items, you'll make 20%-95% of what an item sells for based on its listing price.
Does ThredUp wash the clothes? ›Unfortunately, clothes are not washed at ThredUp.
Are the clothes on ThredUp used? ›“ThredUP wants your stylish, high-quality & gently used clothes that are freshly laundered, brand name women's and children's clothing, handbags and shoes in like-new condition.” Of all the clothes that I sent to ThredUP, a whopping 40% of them were either brand new or worn less than 7 times*.
Can I sell used clothing Walmart? ›Instead of new clothes, it's selling used. Walmart today launched a site selling pre-owned women's and children's clothing, accessories, footwear, and handbags in partnership with Thredup, one of a crop of used-fashion sellers online.
How often should you go thrifting? ›Go a few times a week until you find exactly what you need. If you are thrifting for your own wardrobe just because you are wanting to incorporate more second hand items into your life, you probably can get away with going just once a week.
What is a goodwill discount? ›Goodwill Coupon means a coupon offering a discount or rebate to an Affected Person for a future purchase of a Company's products or services that is provided to such Affected Person by a Company in connection with a Privacy Breach.
Does goodwill restock everyday? ›
Does Goodwill Restock Every Day? A goodwill store that receives donations every day restocks every day. On average, Goodwill stores restock once every three days, with Monday being the most common restock day among all the branches across the country.
What do you flip at thrift stores? ›- Books and Textbooks. Generally, individual books aren't a huge moneymaker, but book lots traditionally sell very well at online auction sites. ...
- Picture Frames. ...
- Video Games. ...
- Brand-Name Clothes or Clothing Lots. ...
- Pyrex and Glassware. ...
- Sporting Equipment. ...
- Records and Record Players. ...
- Anything With a Tag.
Most secondhand stores don't wash the clothes before selling them. Donations are typically washed before they're donated, but we still recommend giving them a good cleaning when you get home. Even if the clothes are washed before they hit the thrift store floor, people will have since touched them.
Can you make money thrifting? ›If you enjoy bargain hunting or thrift shopping, you can turn your hobby into a profitable side hustle, or even a full-time job. Flipping -- or Thrift Picking--is the act of purchasing items from thrift stores, yard and estate sales, and reselling them for a profit.
How do I start thrifting? ›- Make a Plan Using Your Smartphone. ...
- Sell Your Pre-Loved Garments First. ...
- Dress for the Occasion. ...
- Shop With Cash Only to Avoid Impulse Buys. ...
- Save Time by Scanning the Aisles. ...
- Tailor Your Thrift Store Finds. ...
- Make Friends With Your Thrift Store Staff.
There are many different places you can thrift fabric. Your local second-hand store is the most obvious. This could be the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Value Village, or your neighborhood second-hand store, to name a few.
How do you get into thrifting? ›- Sell before you buy. ...
- Find out the store's specialty beforehand. ...
- Dress appropriately. ...
- Give yourself a clear goal. ...
- Get your items tailored. ...
- Know when the stores restock. ...
- Avoid impulse buys. ...
- Learn how to discern quality.
The Mexican capital is in the midst of a golden age of thrifting. As soon as you touch down in the beautiful and chaotic metropolis that is Mexico City, you'll notice that its residents are impeccably dressed.
What does Thrifted mean? ›Simply put, thrifting means to go shopping at a thrift store, garage sale, or flea market where you'll find gently used items at discounted prices. Thrifted items have been loved by a previous owner, but are usually in good shape with enough life left to be useful to a new owner.
Does France have second hand shops? ›Today the demand for second-hand clothing is bigger than ever. In Paris alone you'll find dozens of shops specializing in everything from luxury vintage couture to cheap thrift clothing called “friperies”. With an overwhelming amount of options, it's easy to get lost.
What is the largest Goodwill in the country? ›
one-minute tour of the biggest. Goodwill store in America.
How many Goodwills are there in the US? ›There are 165 autonomous Goodwill organizations throughout the United States and Canada. Each one operates independently and each has its own territory.
How many Goodwills are there in the world? ›| Founded | 1902 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Number of locations | 4,245 thrift stores (2021) |
| Area served | 17 countries |
| Products | Retail |
| Key people | Steven C. Preston (President & CEO) |
GREAT FINDS IN-STORE AND ONLINE
This year alone, we've helped keep hundreds of millions of pounds of unwanted goods out of landfills. And, with 42 retail locations across Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, a Goodwill store is always nearby.
- Always read the description.
- Check the condition of the item (Used, Good, Like New, etc.)
- Make note of any disclaimers.
- Look for the dimensions.
- Don't forget about shipping and handling costs.
An Instagram Thrift store is an online platform where people have access to thrifted, pre-owned and upcycled items of clothing and accessories.
How big is the thrifting industry? ›What is the market size of the Thrift Stores industry in the US in 2022? The market size, measured by revenue, of the Thrift Stores industry is $10.8bn in 2022.
How do I use thredUP? ›- Order Your Clean Out Kit. Create an account or log in to thredUP. ...
- Pack Up Your Items. If you choose to get a shipping label emailed to you, you can start packing up your items right away. ...
- Send in Your Bag And Wait for Processing. ...
- Wait for Items To Go Through the Bidding Window. ...
- Monitor Your Items. ...
- Get Your Payout.
While there's no “perfect” day to shop second hand stores, many regulars swear by shopping early on Monday and Tuesday. Homeowners tend to drop off garage sale leftovers on Sunday nights, making for new finds. Plus, the weekends are more crowded shopping days, so employees look to restock early in the week.
What is ThredUP looking for? ›
“ThredUP wants your stylish, high-quality & gently used clothes that are freshly laundered, brand name women's and children's clothing, handbags and shoes in like-new condition.” Of all the clothes that I sent to ThredUP, a whopping 40% of them were either brand new or worn less than 7 times*.
Is Shein a reputable brand? ›Shein is a reputable online retailer. If you're shopping from the US they have a great return policy (free return shipping on the first return package from your order within 30 days). Shein is one of the fastest growing online retailers (making the front page of the Wall Street Journal in summer 2021).
Is Kiabza legit? ›Kiabza is a website for pre-owned fashion launched by Kayman Ventures Private Limited. It is a unique marketplace for people to buy and sell branded, authentic & hand-picked pre-owned fashion.
How do I start thrifting? ›- Make a Plan Using Your Smartphone. ...
- Sell Your Pre-Loved Garments First. ...
- Dress for the Occasion. ...
- Shop With Cash Only to Avoid Impulse Buys. ...
- Save Time by Scanning the Aisles. ...
- Tailor Your Thrift Store Finds. ...
- Make Friends With Your Thrift Store Staff.
Thrift clothes, also known as okiririka or bend-down-select are clothes that have previously been used by someone else and sold into the marker to be sold again.
Is thrift shopping becoming popular? ›However, the culture behind thrifting for clothes and wearing thrifted items has become more popular in the past few years. According to the 2021 Resale Report, in 2020, 80 percent of consumers said they were open to purchasing second hand products, a 16 percent increase from 2019.
Why is thrifting so popular now? ›Different people have their reasons for choosing thrifting as an alternative to fast fashion. By purchasing secondhand clothing or home goods, you can save money, find unique pieces and reduce your carbon footprint. Many individuals and families rely on local thrift stores to find clothing at affordable prices.
Why does Gen Z thrift? ›Gen Z sees thrifting as a lifestyle, the report explains. "Thrifting feels emblematic of the way Gen Z strays from the beaten path," Refinery29 Fashion Market Writer Eliza Huber said in a statement. "They want to be independent. They want to save the planet.
Does ThredUp wash the clothes? ›Unfortunately, clothes are not washed at ThredUp.
What happens to items that don't sell on ThredUp? ›If the consignment item does not sell within 84 days: You will have an additional 14 days to reclaim your item. If you do not reclaim your item within the 14 days, the item will be owned by thredUP.
How long does it take to get money from ThredUp? ›
Please note that it can take 1-3 business days for your deposit to transfer to your bank account, and up to a week if it's your first time using Stripe.