One bright spot of the pandemic has been the boom in online resale — where shoppers can snag great brands, including high-end luxury labels, at bargain prices.
Amidst the chaos and devastation left in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, a few bright spots have managed to emerge. One of these, BILLSHARK has discovered, is the availability of brand-name goods to be had online, sometimes for unbelievably low, bargain prices.
Stuck at home and bored, many of us apparently have decided there’s only so much sourdough bread you can bake. Now we’ve turned to cleaning out our closets, attics and basements. So much so that earlier this month many local thrift shops like Goodwill and Community Closet have had to call a halt to donations because their warehouses were full.
1 Resale Booming
Even before the pandemic hit, millennials were turning to resale marketplaces. They partly want to save money and reduce the waste stream cluttering the planet. But since the onset of the coronavirus shutdowns, the market for secondhand goods—especially clothing—has taken off.
“Consumers in general love getting great brands, including high-end luxury brands, at bargain prices.”
“Resale has been doing very well through the pandemic,” Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData’s retail division, told CNN recently. “Consumers in general love getting great brands, including high-end luxury brands, at bargain prices.”
Last month the luxury resale site The RealReal reported it had seen an increase of 27 percent in membership since the pandemic began, 37 percent of which were Gen Z or millennials. Consignment retailer ThredUp reported similar numbers in July, with a record-breaking 31 percent increase over pre-pandemic sales.
2 Traditional Retailers Join In
Many major retailers known primarily for their brick-and-mortar presence have also entered the online “lightly used” market, including Nordstrom, Macy’s, Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, Urban Outfitters, and REI.
Even Walmart has jumped on the bandwagon. It announced in May that it would partner with ThredUp to sell over 750,000 women’s and children’s “like new” or “gently used” clothing, accessories, footwear, and handbags through a special portal at Walmart.com. And many of the items featured will not be typical Walmart-style fare.
“From Calvin Klein and Nike to Coach and Michael Kors, this digital partnership enhances Walmart’s fashion offering with fresh brands at amazing prices that their customers will love,” ThredUp’s director of product management Jenn Volk said in a statement.
3 Top Online Sites
There are literally hundreds of resale retailers offering high-quality, “gently used” goods for sale. Some of the most popular online consignment shops include:
ThredUp
The RealReal
Poshmark
Vestiaire Collective
Worthy
Kidizen
Grailed
Depop
Everything But the House
4 Think Before You Shop
It’s easy to get excited by the amazing deals you can find when secondhand shopping, whether online or in person. But if you don’t want a closet or garage filled with things you’ll never use, follow these tips:
Shop need, not want. One thing Marie Kondo has done is to make us aware of the downside of buying things on the spur of the moment. This is how we end up with overstuffed homes that don’t “spark joy.” So rather than have to get rid of unwanted items, don’t bring them into your home in the first place. Shop your closet first to see what item(s) you need to complete a look. Stick to that list when buying. Just because it’s a steal doesn’t mean you will ever use it.
Be flexible. One problem with buying used is that the inventory comprises what people have consigned or donated. So unlike buying new, you can’t ask the clerk or check the website for that jacket you love in a different size. Secondhand shopping is entirely WYSIWTG: what you see is what they’ve got.
Compare prices. If you see a Stella McCartney dress for $350, before you add it to your shopping cart check around to see what it cost originally. You may find some items are not at bargain prices after all. You may even find it for less someplace else.
Check their return policy. Amazon and eBay have trained us to expect flexible return policies, but that doesn’t mean every website or store has the same policy. At Goodwill, for instance, you have only seven days to return an item, unused, and only at the same store you bought it from. Most of the better-known online sites will have generous return policies. But find out for sure before you click the “buy now” button.
Remember, if you need cash for a little retail therapy or any other reason, let BILLSHARK find some for you. Our professional negotiators know how to find hidden savings on your bills, and it costs nothing to let us try. So contact us today to save hundreds of dollars!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why has online resale taken off during the pandemic?
With many people stuck at home, shoppers began cleaning out closets, attics and basements, while millennials and Gen Z turned to resale marketplaces to save money and reduce waste. The market for secondhand goods, especially clothing, took off after the coronavirus shutdowns began, with sites reporting record membership and sales increases over pre-pandemic levels.
Which traditional retailers have entered the online resale market?
Major retailers known mainly for their brick-and-mortar stores have entered the online “lightly used” market, including Nordstrom, Macy’s, Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, Urban Outfitters, and REI. Even Walmart joined in, partnering with ThredUp to sell over 750,000 women’s and children’s “like new” or “gently used” items through a special portal at Walmart.com.
What are some of the most popular online consignment sites?
According to the article, some of the most popular online consignment shops include ThredUp, The RealReal, Poshmark, Vestiaire Collective, Worthy, Kidizen, Grailed, Depop, and Everything But the House. There are literally hundreds of resale retailers offering high-quality, “gently used” goods for sale.
How can I avoid overbuying when shopping secondhand?
Shop need, not want. Shop your closet first to see what items you need to complete a look, then stick to that list when buying. Just because something is a steal doesn’t mean you will ever use it. Avoiding spur-of-the-moment purchases helps you avoid an overstuffed home filled with things you’ll never use.
What should I check before buying from a resale site?
Compare prices first — check what an item cost originally, since some deals aren’t bargains after all and you may find it cheaper elsewhere. Also check the return policy, because not every store matches Amazon and eBay. At Goodwill, for example, you have only seven days to return an unused item, and only at the same store you bought it from.
A Pandemic Upside: Great Brands at Bargain Prices page context
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Online resale boomed in the pandemic, putting top brands and luxury labels at bargain prices. See top consignment sites and smart secondhand shopping tips.
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One bright spot of the pandemic has been the boom in online resale — where shoppers can snag great brands, including high-end luxury labels, at bargain prices.
Amidst the chaos and devastation left in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, a few bright spots have managed to emerge.
Stuck at home and bored, many of us apparently have decided there’s only so much sourdough bread you can bake.
Even before the pandemic hit, millennials were turning to resale marketplaces.
“Resale has been doing very well through the pandemic,” Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData’s retail division, told CNN recently.
Last month the luxury resale site The RealReal reported it had seen an increase of 27 percent in membership since the pandemic began, 37 percent of which were Gen Z or millennials.
Many major retailers known primarily for their brick-and-mortar presence have also entered the online “lightly used” market, including Nordstrom, Macy’s, Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, Urban Outfitters, and REI.
Even Walmart has jumped on the bandwagon.
“From Calvin Klein and Nike to Coach and Michael Kors.
There are literally hundreds of resale retailers offering high-quality, “gently used” goods for sale.
It’s easy to get excited by the amazing deals you can find when secondhand shopping, whether online or in person.
Shop need, not want.
Be flexible.
Compare prices.
Check their return policy.
Remember, if you need cash for a little retail therapy or any other reason, let BILLSHARK find some for you.
With many people stuck at home, shoppers began cleaning out closets, attics and basements, while millennials and Gen Z turned to resale marketplaces to save money and reduce waste.
Major retailers known mainly for their brick-and-mortar stores have entered the online “lightly used” market, including Nordstrom, Macy’s, Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, Urban Outfitters, and REI.
According to the article, some of the most popular online consignment shops include ThredUp, The RealReal, Poshmark, Vestiaire Collective, Worthy, Kidizen, Grailed, Depop, and Everything But the House.
Compare prices first — check what an item cost originally, since some deals aren’t bargains after all and you may find it cheaper elsewhere.
Our experts handle providers for customers and share updates throughout the process.
