Staying Fit
In this March 12, 2019, file photo thousands of garments are stored on a three-tiered conveyor system at the ThredUp sorting facility in Phoenix.
AP Photo/Matt York, File
If you're the type who could never imagine yourself buying used clothing, it's time to reconsider. Many major retailers — including Nordstrom, Macy's, Eileen Fisher, Patagonia and REI — are selling lightly used clothing or plan to do so. Among the most recent arrivals is the biggest U.S. retailer of all: This spring, Walmart started selling used clothing from popular brands online.
Behind the boom is a shift in consumer sentiment. About 70 percent of women polled by the online retailer ThredUp this year said they have bought or are open to buying used clothing, up from just 45 percent four years ago. The bottom line is value: Here is a way to get top labels and great designs at bargain prices.
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But it also helps that so many new buying opportunities have emerged beyond neighborhood thrift shops. The online resale clothing market was booming even before COVID-19 shut down brick-and-mortar stores.
Ready to explore? Here are many of your best buying choices. Just remember to research return policies, which often come down to no refunds and no exchanges. And read merchandise descriptions closely, especially notes about an item's condition and measurements.
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Your SecondHand Glossary
Common abbreviations
- EUC Excellent used condition
- NIP New in package
- NWOT New without tags
- NWT New with tags
- PP PayPal
- RV Retail value
- TTS True to size
Major retailers
To see what Walmart is up to, go to walmart.com, select Clothing, Shoes & Accessories from the Departments listing, then Pre-owned: ThredUp. Other retailers with online used-clothing stores include Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, Urban Outfitters and REI. As brick-and-mortar retailing recovers, look for offerings at Macy's, Nordstrom and JCPenney, all of which put sales of pre-owned clothes on hold as the pandemic grew.
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