Trading clothes for cash

By Andrea Olsen

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Tucked back in the depths of your closet there’s that one forgotten shirt — the one that you always skip over when you’re picking something to wear for a night out. The one with the tags still on it.

It’s the one that looked so cute when you tried it on, but once you brought it home you hated it. Now, you never wear it and seeing it always makes you feel a little guilty.

Everyone has at least one of these items in their wardrobe, but why not turn it into a positive thing?

Many stores in town buy back your gently used clothing, offering you cash or store credit in return. So that impulse buy that's taking up space in your closet can be traded in for some extra money or something you like better.

Kim Livingood, Lawrence junior, has been trading her clothes since she was in high school. She says she comes as often as twice a season to both Arizona Trading Company and Plato’s Closet hoping to get cash for her old clothes. Not only does she sell her old clothes back but she regularly shops at each store to find new items for her closet. She says it’s a great way to make extra money and a great way to save money as well.

If you've got a shirt that's making you feel guilty, here’s a rundown of local resell stores to help you get started. Let the closet purging begin.

photo

Photo by Amanda Kistner

One person's trash, another person's treasure: Trent Thompson, Overland Park junior, shops at Plato's Closet, 3514 Clinton Pkwy. Stores such as Plato's Closet, Wild Man Vintage and Arizona Trading Company give you the opportunity to sell your old clothing, or trade it in for what they have in stock.

Plato’s Closet

3514 Clinton Pkwy

Good for: Those super high Steve Madden heels that kill your feet because you bought a half-size down. (But they were on sale!) Or those Ed Hardy shirts you thought were so cool until you saw Jon Gosselin wearing them.

Plato’s Closet specializes in name-brand clothing, so if you have a lot of high-end labels this may be your place. They give cash on the spot for what you bring in, and there’s tons of selection if you’re interested in buying.

The clothes are inspected based on style and condition as well as whether the employees think it will sell in the store. Allyson Nichols, Leawood senior who works at Plato’s Closet, says the business prices clothes based on the brand first, then the condition. So, a high-dollar brand will start you off with more cash back and then the condition of the piece gives you more on top of that.

Nichols says Plato’s Closet takes clothes no more than two years old and they have to be in pretty good condition. The business also takes accessories from shoes to belts to purses to jewelry.

Wild Man Vintage

939 Massachusetts St.

Good for: The vintage floral mini-dress you bought for last year’s Woodstock-themed sorority party. (There's a new theme this year.)

If you have a collection of vintage clothing in excellent condition, Wild Man Vintage would love to buy some of it.

Lacy Myers, Kansas City, Kan., nontraditional student who works at Wild Man, says they offer money for older styles, specifically the 1970s and 1980s. She says they do take some newer things from Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, depending on the style and condition.

But don’t be fooled by the fact that Wild Man’s clothing is older, it still has to be in good condition. Neesa Hussain, a Wild Man employee, says employees always check the seams and zippers for tears and signs of wear. The business buys clothing based on the season and according to what it already has in stock.

Once employees price what they want to buy back, you have the option of taking 40 percent of it in cash back or 60 percent in store credit. So, if all of your items would sell for $20, you could get $8 in cash or $12 in store credit.

Fall styles

What styles Lawrence stores are looking for this season

Neutral colors

Knee-high boots

Name-brand jeans

Anything plaid (men's and women's)

Men’s Western shirts

Clothes with ruffled details

High-waisted skirts

Military-style jackets

Winter coats (men's and women's)

Arizona Trading Company

734 Massachusetts St.

Good for: All of those men’s button-downs you had that are gaping between the buttons. (Looks like your bar tab at the Wheel has been affecting your waistline.)

Arizona Trading Company covers everything from vintage to high-end clothing, as long as the items are current styles. Lisa Roberts, an employee at ATC, says the business takes both unique pieces and good name brands, as long as employees think it will sell. ATC buys its clothes seasonally, so if you’re looking to trade now, bring in fall styles.

Like Wild Man Vintage, ATC gives you two options for your money. You can take 35 percent in cash, or take 60 percent in store credit. Roberts says the business keeps your store credit on file for up to six months, so it doesn’t have to be used right away. Justin Wilson, Wichita senior, used his store credit to buy what he says is his favorite sweater of all time, and a couple other items.

“Trading your clothes gives you something for nothing, because otherwise I would have just thrown away those unwanted clothes,” Wilson says.

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