ThredUp is having a sale for 30% off for today only so Scarlette is modeling one of the outfits I got from them for y’all. I am crazy for all things sweet baby girl clothes. I rarely shop but when I do, I just pick over the clearance rack at Gap Kids because they practically give those clothes away. That’s how I ended up with a glittered chihuahua emblazoned tank top. Scarlette loves her puppy.
A few weeks ago Tiffani introduced me to ThredUP, which is a children’s clothing swap-by-mail site. Maybe y’all already know about this site and this post is just like that time in junior high when somehow everyone but me knew that Adidas sandals were IN and any other shoes were so totally out.
Anyhow, I couldn’t find a lot of online reviews about it so I’m writing one myself because I like being informed before I try something new. I am not what you would call a “risk taker.”
If you are interested in clothes for the kiddos, you can click here to expand the post and read my thoughts about the site. If not, you can just be all “OH MY GOSH KA’s BABY IS SO CUTE” so because seriously, that never gets old.
ThredUp sends you some free flat-rate USPS boxes, you stuff one full of clothing and list it on the site for free. When someone picks your box, the site generates a pre-paid shipping label and you ship off your stuff for free. If you see a box YOU want to pick, you pay $5 for the box and $10.95 for the flat rate shipping.
Your first box is free and you can earn credits by listing clothing in hard-to-find sizes or by referring people to the site (so I’m totally using my links here but if you’re not comfortable signing up through them, feel free to skip them and go right to the site itself!)
The most recent box I received had 13 pieces of clothing in it. I had credits built up so the box itself was free, which I think is the best way to do it. That meant I just paid the $11 shipping fee. I liked all of the clothes I received with the exception of one outfit that wasn’t really my style. So that was like paying less than $1 for each piece. Somewhere my math teachers are applauding me for those difficult calculations. Here are my tips for getting the most out of the site.
FOR PICKING ITEMS
Pick from rated users. The site lets people comment on and rate boxes they’ve received so if a user has great feedback, you can feel confident that you’re going to get a good box.
Look for photos. This is the one thing the site could improve on, they don’t have the option of uploading photos. Savvy users have gotten around that though by uploading pictures of their box’s contents to flickr or photobucket and posting the link in their item description. If you’re picking a box, look for boxes that have photo links.
Search. You can search by size, color, season and brand so that you can have more control over the items in your box. I did a search for 3 month sleepers because that’s what I needed. The site also lets you list books/toys so you can search for those as well. I think it’s a great way to get a box full of books for your tween.
Read the descriptions well. Good users list their items in great detail so there should be no question about what is in the box. And make sure you’re checking the season of the items, you don’t want to end up with a bunch of long-sleeve tops in the middle of summer.
If you find a box you like and they don’t have photos, send them a message asking if they can send you photos and more details like whether or not the clothing is from a smoke free home. Most people are happy to give you more information and if they aren’t, don’t swap with them.
If you are listing items, just reverse all of the above and apply it when putting together your listing 🙂 Be really wordy with your descriptions and take pictures! Make sure the clothes you pack up are great quality – ThredUp forbids holes, stains or visible fading and you’ll get a bad review if you send something that isn’t in good condition. Roll up your clothing so that you can fit more in the box, boxes with lots of pieces get picked first! Also, post the link to your boxes on ThredUp’s facebook page (and your own!) so it gets seen by even more users.
I think it’s great for keeping things decluttered around here and bringing in some gently used items. I won’t get all of her clothes from there but I will probably get a box each season + ship off clothes as she outgrows them. There are definitely better deals to be found at garage sales, consignment shops and on clearance racks if you search hard enough, but if you are really picky when choosing your ThredUp boxes and make use of credits and discounts you can get some great stuff for really cheap. The big advantage for me is that I don’t have to leave the house. I’ve ended up with one box that wasn’t so great, which was a bummer, but I picked from an unrated member w/no photos so lesson learned. Stick to my rules for good boxes 🙂
The 30% off is today only so if you’ve been thinking about trying it out, it’s a good time to start.
Disclosure: No one asked me to review this site, I just liked it and thought I’d pass on the info. The link included is my ThredUp affiliate link. If you decide to sign up for the site, think about using an affiliate or referral link so that you can build credits!
