How to Shop on thredUP and Save Money
Tips for thrift shopping
Thrift shopping for clothing is a great way to save some cash. I used to thrift in local stores, or online with eBay, but for the past few years I’ve been shopping on thredUP.
ThredUP is an online store that sells secondhand women’s and children’s clothes (unfortunately, not men’s). People can sell their clothes to the site, and thredUP lists and resells them.
I haven’t had much luck selling my old clothes. But I do buy clothes from thredUP, and use them until they’re worn out. The site is convenient to use, and makes it easy to find what I’m looking for. I can search by brand, size, and color.
Buying secondhand is also eco-friendly. I like thredUP because their packaging is all cardboard and paper — no plastic.
Thrift shopping already helps you save money, but here’s how to stretch your dollar even further.
General hints
When you make an account, the site gives you a “favorites” section. You can click a heart and save each item for future reference.
If you put an item in your cart, it reserves it for 24 hours (with less time during a flash sale).
However, items in your favorites section are still visible to other shoppers, who can buy it out from under you. If you really want an item, it’s best to put it in your cart right away.
The site charges for returns ($2 per item, last I checked) so it’s important to limit them. I stick to brands I know my size in, and double check each item’s measurements to be sure they’ll fit.
Shop your “Home Warehouse”
You can choose to only see items in the distribution center closest to you. When you’re searching for items, click “Ways to Shop,” then “My Home Warehouse.”
The benefit of shopping in your “home warehouse” is that the items are a little cheaper, and they will come to you in the same package — which is more environmentally friendly than getting multiple shipments.
Explore the outlet
One of the site’s new features is an “outlet” section. If you buy five or more items, the site gives you 30% off each one. The more you buy, the more the discount.
Searching the outlet helped me get the best deals. Although thredUP is a resale store, some of their regular prices can be close to retail. Why should I pay $15 for a secondhand T-shirt when I can pay $1.80?
Recently, I needed to grab a few T-shirts, and there was plenty of selection in the outlet.
Searching the outlet helped me get the best deals.
The caveat is that outlet items are final sale. So I stick with items that are likely to fit, like tops and sweaters.
Hit the sales
Occasionally, thredUP runs a great sale. If you download the app, you can choose to be notified of coupon codes.
Sometimes, I “favorite” a lot of items I’m thinking of buying, and then wait for a sale. The downside to this is that other people might buy the items in the meantime.
A sale also might push me to buy when I don’t really need anything. But sometimes I do need some clothes, and a sale makes it easier to afford them.
Overall, my best tips are to shop the outlet, and buy familiar brands so you know what you’re getting. By shopping with a little knowledge, you can save a lot of money.
