My Experience With Shopping on ThredUp
My tips for shopping on the largest online thrift store!
My love for ThredUp really started when I did a “no/low buy” challenge a couple of years ago. I didn’t buy any newly manufactured clothing, and the little that I did buy was secondhand. I enjoy going thrift shopping, and ThredUp seamlessly brings that experience online.
What is ThredUp?
ThredUp is an online consignment and thrift shop for women and kids, selling clothing, shoes, and accessories – they have everything from Gap to Gucci. They claim that their prices can be up to 90% off retail value (I’ve definitely scored some incredible deals). Their mission: “Inspiring a new generation to think secondhand first.”
What is the quality like of ThredUp garments and accessories?
ThredUp inspects their pieces before accepting them, and each item’s condition is marked on their site. I tend to only buy garments that are “Excellent, could be mistaken for new” or “New with tags”, but I’ve purchased several that were in “Fair” and “Good” condition.
I’ve only been disappointed once, when there was a slight pen mark on a sweater that I hadn’t noticed in the pictures online – I was able to easily return it!
One thing I really like about ThredUp is that they’ve partnered with Rent The Runway to sell gently used contemporary designer clothing. I’ve picked up a few pieces from this collaboration and was impressed with the prices I was able to snag them for + the quality of the items.
I know some people are turned off by the idea of secondhand being dirty, but this personally doesn’t bother me. ThredUp claims to only accept clean clothing (though I’m not sure how they can enforce this), but I always wash my used clothing purchases before using them anyway!
Can I return items if I don’t like them?
Yes, I’ve found the return process to be really easy, and it’s about ~$10 for shipping. With that being said, they do charge a small restocking fee for certain items.
My ThredUp shopping tips:
Their platform is HUGE, they literally receive thousands of new items every day. Here are my tips:
Shop the brands you know and love and filter by size. For instance, I know my sizes at Aritzia and Club Monaco very well, so I’m not hesitant about the fit being off. I will never buy another pair of Aritzia Cohen pants or Power blouse at regular price again.
Save searches so that you’re only buying what you really want – it can be so tempting to just browse on the site for hours and pick up things because they’re a good deal! Instead, I have searches saved for my wardrobe staples (Aritzia in my sizes, Club Monaco in my sizes, Tory Burch in my sizes, etc.) as well as my favourite splurge items (Stella McCartney shoes, Ferragamo purses).
Use the “heart” function to save everything you love to your favourites. That makes it super easy to take inventory of what you’ve been eyeing and what’s worth investing in.
Use a promo code. ThredUp always has promotions going on, so make sure you get that discount!
I’m not getting paid to write this review (but I really should be, 80% of my wardrobe is from ThredUp at this point!!) I just genuinely love the website. I’ve used it in both Canada and the U.S. and had positive experiences with both, although shipping did take longer for Canada (and you can expect duties :( womp womp).
Just a few of my favourite purchases from ThredUp include:
Outfit details:
Outfit 1:
Hat: Anthropologie
Sweater and pants: Aritzia via ThredUp
Bag: Ferragamo (!!) via ThredUp
Boots: Timberland via ThredUp
Outfit 2:
Sweater: The Gap
Waxed denim: AG Jeans via ThredUp
Loafers: Stuart Weitzman via ThredUp
Bag: Ferragamo (again!!) via ThredUp
Outfit 3:
Beret: The Bay
Sweater: Aritzia via ThredUp
Sweetass leather pants: Just Female via ThredUp
Boots: Zara
Outfit 4:
Leather blazer: Carine Roitfeld x Uniqlo via ThredUp
Sweater: Madewell via ThredUp
Jeans: The Gap
Loafers: The Bay
Outfit 5:
Sweater: Anthropologie
Suede mini skirt: Understated via ThredUp
Tights: Sheertex
Boots: Vintage
Outfit 6:
Jacket: Whistles via ThredUp
Sweater and faux leather: Aritzia via ThredUp
Boots: Nordstrom rack