The official thrift/discount store bragging thread - Part II (May 2015 - Sept. 2018)

[snackbandit]

Ill be heading to California in a few weeks and wanted to sell some clothes to the resell shops, like buffalo exchange, wasteland, etc. Anyone know what each of them values the most/will take more readily?

My rule of thumb is: Wasteland first, Crossroads second, then Buffalo. Then repeat the next week with on a different day w/ different associates buying.

 

[va230815]

Just a PSA, for those who don't know. Who knows, maybe you all do and I was late to the party. But J Crew Ludlow is a gold mine
I just sold my 3 piece suit for $350, meanwhile i couldnt sell my Isaia for 250

Edit: I also sold a Ludlow suit jacket for 120

 

[va230815]

My rule of thumb is: Wasteland first, Crossroads second, then Buffalo. Then repeat the next week with on a different day w/ different associates buying.

Thanks! Any anecdotes about what each of them specifically like specifically, other than whats been stated?

 

[kbadgley84]



What's the drill on replacing prescription lenses from a thrifted pair of glasses to turn them into regular sunglasses? Is this done at most eye glasses places? Cost?

Find a mom and pop glasses shop, switched from rx to regular on a pair of vintage Versace and it cost me about $50 and 20 minutes, lenses crafters wanted $125 to replace them

 

[snackbandit]

Thanks! Any anecdotes about what each of them specifically like specifically, other than whats been stated?

Wasteland prices the highest, but they're pretty selective of what they take in. Mainly high end designer, non-vintage labels. Crossroads takes in almost everything else. I usually take the 50% store credit value at xroads instead of cash. Buffalo usually picks up the scraps. Again, this is a super general guide and each store really has their own nuances.

 

[bpk1]



Hoping maybe one of you could help me figure out who this VV tie was made for - it's a custom collection piece - and my googlefu isn't working:

Thanks in advance!

Figured out its for a local country club - specifically
http://www.huntingtoncc.org/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp
Thanks to @double00 , appreciate it!!

 

[GMMcL]



First time running some CT shops... meh day. Found an entire rack of Canali Exclusive NWT sport coats and suits (literally a dozen of the thing) -- ALL OF THEM with some sort of major damage -- holes, cuts, etc. Still had the basting on the shoulders and sleeves, a crime I tell you! I found one grey birdseye Canali 'travel' SC that fit perfectly, couldn't find any problems... hit the checkout and find a 2cm hole in one sleeve

Welcome to CT. Hope you liked the prices.

Word is there's some crew that comes through and hits stuff like that that made it to the floor priced too high -- kind of an FU to the pricers who effed them.

It's dangerous up in the streets of Fairfield County. Be safe out there.

FWIW, you haven't been missing much. This area's been pretty well cleaned out every day I've gone out lately.

 

[ChetB]

Speaking of Buffalo Exchange:

Portland OR dudes, there's a Kamakura Ivy OCBD for $18 downtown. Small, white. Good pickup for personal use.

 

[Koala-T]

I've got a stack of things to take pics of, but here's a few shoes I found this week:

(BIG UPS to @txwoodworker for the heads up on these Sutors. Got em through a phone bid at Goodwill in store auction for a great price)

 

[the2ndhandman]

I think the whole buffalo thing is a waist of time personally. The money to front $7 for one shirt and say I buy $100 in shirts and i make $14 profit per shirt on a realistic average.That means i profit $100 in shirts The time and energy collecting them and driving there and standing in the hour long line is time waisted. I would rather just buy the things off the rack there to turn the profit. I mean if it's a good deal it's a good deal. You could also spend the three hours thrifting that you spent screwing around with all of it to thrift and hope to hit a jackpot find of some kind. It only takes one decent thing to find to make the same profit or more without the same upfront cost. Just my take I mean last time I was at one of those stores some guy sold his cucinelli boots for $65 and he was stoked to find some crappy j crew shirts.

 

[kbadgley84]

Not my listing, don't see the come up often so I figured I'd put it up and there's an OBO on em

 

[Cj52racers]

I wish those would fit me. I'd glue them on and never take them off.

 

[noob in 89]

PSA: You guys have been killing it at a time when it takes me one hour to leave a thumb on mobile. I feel I've let you all down...please know I'm thumbing your awesome finds in my heart.

PSA 2: How do you tell if a Dragon's Lair hat is vintage?

PSA 3: Holy ****, Courtney Cox, Campbell Scott, and Alex P. Keaton all sharing the screen on Family Ties, I **** you not...

 

[Letric]

Okay time to spit some knowledge on yas.

Lately I've pulled back from Buffalo Exchange and other resale shops. I used to supply them hardcore... Selling 15-30 items each visit, and generally walking out with 3-5x what I spent on those items. At my height, I was selling maybe 70-100 items a week. It's a good racket if you get things super cheap, and get good rates when selling. I've probably sold Buffalo / Crossroads / Redlight Vintage like 700+ items in the past year.

The last time I went in there, they priced **** really low for some reason though. The problem is that you usually get a different "Buyer" each time, and they price **** pretty randomly that way. Sometimes you might get lucky and get a girl who will price your sub-par selvedge at $55+ each, and you walk out with bank... But that's rare. They have general "Pricing Tiers" that you have to learn about over time, and eventually you learn what not to buy.

It's not worth it if you're getting items for $5+ each, because you will most likely get $6-8 per item on average in cash. The thrifts in my area typically price J.crew **** over $10, so those are a no-go unless for personal wearing. If you're getting really prime stuff for trade-ins... It can be worth it sometimes... But generally that stuff is worth more to sell on eBay or consign at times.

However... if you can get really prime J.crew, Rag & Bone, Theory, etc pieces for like $3 each or less, it CAN be worth it. Though typically I will only sell there if I see some **** on the racks that I want, like RRL denim or Raybans or something. I generally keep a box of "Buffalo Fodder" in my car for those times. If I don't really see anything I want in there, I save the box for another day. If I'm strapped for cash that week, I might say ******* and dump the whole load and cash out.

I'd say for most casual thrifters, it's a no-go unless you just wanna get rid of some stuff and take a chance that they will want it. One thing that helps is to at least press shirts and stuff before taking them in. Pressed / Folded items really make a big impression on them, and they price it higher. When I bring in my stuff, that's how I do it. If you bring in a trash bag filled with wrinkled stuff, it kinda turns them off. If they DO purchase anything out of that bag, it will be the lowest pricing tier. It's worth it to spend 2-3 hours on a load of 20+ items to take in... Unless your time is super valuable.

Like @the2ndhandman has said, it's not really worth it for most hardcore thrifters because your time is better spent at other thrifts copping more stuff. I usually only resort to Buffalo at the end of the night, or in dry times.

If people have more questions about Selling at Buffalo / Crossroads, hit me up. I have probably sold more items to them than anyone here, so I know most of the ins and outs of the business there.


Also... Been meaning to post some haulage, but have been feeling like crap lately. Will post soon. Cheers.

 

[SpooPoker]

Appreciate the info on the whole situation ^^ and all of you. I think its not worth the time invested for me personally, but thank you for the input - maybe Ill train my daughter J. Crew labels and start her in that hustle