What Happens to the Things You Let Go Of? Consignment vs. Resale

Crossroads Trading, Houston, TX

When you're decluttering a closet, one of the hardest questions can be: What should I do with the things I'm ready to let go of? For some clients, consigning or reselling clothing, handbags, shoes, and other higher-value items can make letting go a little easier. If something was expensive or still has monetary value, recouping some of that investment can feel better than simply donating it.

I see this firsthand when working with clients. In fact, I'm heading out on a large consignment trip for a client this week, taking items they've decided to let go of and handling one more step in the process for them. If you're considering consigning or reselling your own things, it helps to understand the difference between the two and, just as importantly, when the time and effort may or may not be worth the potential payout.

Consignment

Consignment shops work as brokers on your behalf and usually deal with more high-end items or luxury brands. The pay scale varies but let's say it's 55%/45% (them/you). Upon your approval of the terms, they will then price your items and keep them on their sales floor for a season; your dress or bag may be marked down every few weeks to get it sold.

For our purposes: you consign a newish pair of Golden Goose sneakers that cost $500 retail, they price them at $300 with $135 going to you once sold. They could be marked down to $200 and your payout would be $90 with a further markdown possible. Another note on consigning: it can take weeks or months to receive any payment on your items. Accessories such as shoes, handbags, and jewelry tend to give you the greatest return on your consigned items; clothes are drastically underpriced unless it's a hot or coveted item.

Resale Shops

Buffalo Exchange, Plato's Closet, and a newcomer (that I love) Crossroads Trading are the most recognizable resale shops but they differ in what they accept and their payout is different (and smaller) than consignment sales. Buffalo Exchange accepts and sells items based on trends and the items don't necessarily have to be a big name brand. Trendy but also somewhat vintage or "older" clothes dominate here; Crossroads accepts items in season and currently on-trend (so less funky) with a little more upscale selection. Crossroads also consigns if you have a more valuable item, terms are similar to what I wrote above. From season to season and as trends change, you can look on their website to see what they’re currently looking to buy.

Payout for resale shops: they offer a higher cut if you accept store credit rather than accepting a cash buyout, ie. $50 in store credit or $30 in cash but the payout is done immediately. That being said, don’t be surprised if you bring in 25 items and they accept 6-10 of those pieces and they offer you $30 on what was maybe $500 in your retail purchase price.

Summing Up

Ultimately, the best choice depends on the item, its potential value, and how much time and effort you're willing to invest in selling it. Consignment and resale can make sense for certain pieces, particularly higher-value or desirable items, but sometimes the time involved simply isn't worth the potential return. Donating can be the better choice when your priority is getting the items out of your home and giving them a useful second life.

When I work with clients, I help them look at the whole picture, not just what an item might be worth, but whether pursuing that value makes sense for them. Ultimately, the decluttering process allows you to shed that which no longer serves you and getting it out (no matter where) frees you to let go and enjoy spaces with less clutter and more peace and clarity.