#Real Review: How to Thrift Without Going to a Store — Why I Love ThredUp
Thrifting is a form of pure art and talent. Finding pre-loved fashion requires an eye for good catches, a bevy of brand information in the back of your head, the ability to think (and grab!) quick and agility for reaching top shelves and digging in bins. It definitely takes a lot of resources to finally create that perfect outfit you’ve had in your mind. Yep, the one that’s just… “wow”. If you’ve read anything on my website, you know I’m a sustainable kind of shopper, conscious for the environment and my (pre-loved, Marc Jacobs) wallet.
I’m also not one for sacrificing my sense of fashion and style for that.
So, I turned my head to thrifting and renting high-fashion pieces and classics that never go out of style. It keeps my shopping budget under control and also helps me experiment with my looks without putting a bunch of fast fashion in a landfill. If you want to do the same, I have some serious tips on finding thrifting gems without even going to a store!
How to Thrift Without Going to a Store
One of the things I get asked on Instagram is, “But you only get these thrifts The first step is to figure out where you want to look for these fashion pieces.
Let me just preface this by saying that thrifting isn’t as easy as going to a store and coming out with bags full of $5 clothes. That’s like a scene out of a Lifetime movie (hey – anybody need me to write that?). You have to know what you’re looking for and pick stores known to be the hiding spot for these fashion gems. From designer bags to Louboutins and vintage scarves, you can find anything when it comes to thrifting.
Nothing beats the joy of finding a fantastic deal, and amazing discounts are around in every corner at thrift stores! Clothing, home décor, chairs, shoes, jewelry, books, games, and much more for the family members all on sale. It's a nice feeling to know you're getting more for your money by shopping at a thrift store rather than a commercial business.
ThredUp: The Online Thrifting Fix
ThredUP is an online thrift shop. You can purchase and sell used clothing, and any goods that do not meet thredUP's selling standards are given or recycled. I appreciate that every piece of clothing is used rather than ending up in a landfill, where it would add to our rising greenhouse gas problem.
Here is my thredUP review and also how my opinion on their platform and service quality!
My Review of ThredUp
It's simple to use thredUP, really! All you need to do is register an account on thredup.com and order a clean out kit. You will be given a complimentary pre-paid bag to fill with your undesired clothing, jewelry, shoes, purses, and accessories. Once you’ve filled it with everything you want to sell, the bag is then delivered to the post office.
Then they will evaluate your articles on three factors:
It should be slightly used
It should be from popular brands
It should be fashionable
If it fits their criteria, they will send you a payout. If you’re on the buying side, you can simply scroll through the selection available, click buy and put in your details! It’s soon on your way. I must say that they really simplified a tough online thrifting process into a flawlessly smoother one. I love that.
How Does ThredUp Work?
Pros Of ThredUp
Works From the Comfort of Your Home
If you don’t have any good thrift stores in your town or you don’t want to head out to stores, or even if you can simply thrift from the comfort of your home. It’s easier, faster and much more comfortable. No more searching through racks hopeless, you get to pick and choose from your phone or laptop!
Search By Brands
My favorite part of using ThredUp is that it lets you scroll clothes based on their brands. Looking for a specific Balenciaga? Simply select the brand in the filters and look through. It saves so much time and takes you right where you need to be.
Saved Searches
This is my absolute FAVORITE aspect of ThredUp. As opposed to searching store after stoere hoping the perfect seller finds you as a perfect buyer, you can save searches and get a reminder when new things are in stock! I have saved searches for YSL, Balenciaga, Lululemon and Celine right now and I love that it pings me when new stock shows up. This feature is even better than eBay or Poshmark, in my opinion.
A Simple Process
ThredUp features a simple signup which begins your thrifting journey. If there’s anything I love, it’s a hassle-free shopping experience. With ThredUp, I get just that. I sign up, look through and add to cart. Everything is just much better to go through and I truly appreciate how it was designed with the user in mind.
Cons Of ThredUp
The Website Can Be Slow
Laggy website really makes ThredUp disappointing at times. It’s a common complaint amongst users and the website could really use an upgrade to make user experience so much better.
You Only Get 1-2 Photos
You just have a few photographs to browse at, and you can't zoom in to see what the products look like. So, it's a gamble for those who want to be sure they're purchasing the perfect item for their outfit.
