Is Thrifting + Reselling Ethical? | The Gentrification of Thrifting
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2020
- Thrifting has become incredibly trendy over the years, and critics argue that this popularity has made thrifting inaccessible to lower-income communities.
While thrifting is usually encouraged for environmental reasons, some people are now claiming that we should stop thrifting, or stop reselling.
While I think these arguments come from good hearts and real concerns, I don’t think they get to the root of the issue. So, I want to explore the ethics of thrifting (and reselling) in this post, plus give some tips for thrifting consciously.
A big thank you to Jade from LavenderHazeLA for joining us in this video!
TIMESTAMPS:
1:23 - Common Criticisms of Thrifting + Reselling
- 1:28 - Rising prices
- 3:33 - “Taking away clothes” from the needy
- 4:56 - Thrift hauls and overconsumption
- 6:07 - The ethics of reselling
8:49 - Interview with Jade from LavenderHazeLA
14:44 - More thoughts on reselling
15:40 - Benefits of the normalization of thrifting/some history
18:12 - Tips to thrift more consciously
20:17 - Final thoughts
CHECK OUT JADE'S DEPOP + INSTAGRAM!
www.depop.com/lavenderhazela/
*Now moved to her own website! www.lavenderhazela.com/
/ lavenderhazela
Styling process: • Styling Angels for Dep...
WHERE TO FIND ME:
Blog post version of this article: imperfectidealist.com/is-thri...
Instagram: / imperfectidealist
Sustainable Fashion Newsletter: artisanal-thinker-4862.ck.pag...
ARTICLES AND LINKS MENTIONED:
Goodwill valuation guides -
(2010) www.goodwill.org/wp-content/u...
(2020) www.goodwillswpa.org/UserFiles...
What happens to the clothes we donate -
www.treehugger.com/clothes-yo...
Leah Wise: Is thrift shopping sustainable and ethical? -
stylewise-blog.com/is-thrift-...
TIME Magazine article on the history of thrifting -
time.com/5364170/thrift-store...
Sarah Hawkinson’s “Mainstream thrifting: ethical or problematic?” - • mainstream thrifting: ...
My post on getting rid of clothes responsibly -
imperfectidealist.com/get-rid...
OTHER CREATORS WITH THOUGHTFUL VIDEOS ON THIS TOPIC:
Ash Tanya: The Gentrification of Thrift Shopping | Hauls & Overpriced Depop Clothes -
• THE GENTRIFICATION OF ...
Zahra Biabani: Is Thrifting Ethical? Let's Talk Conscious Thrifting -
• Is Thrifting Ethical? ...
Tiffanyferg: The Rise of Thrifting -
• The Rise of Thrifting
#sustainablefashion #thrifting #reselling
I often call resellers curators, because that is what good ones do in my area (Austin, TX). They have an eye for a specific type of aesthetic and therefore you are paying for their time and their eye as well as the product. The good ones also I purchase from find things in larger sizes which is very hard to do even at a conventional thrift store.
I love that term for it and totally agree, I'm lucky I live in a big city with an abundance of thrift/second hand options but I don't have the time or patience (or skill, really) to spend hours rifling through the large warehouses trying to find something that works. I'm happy to pay a markup to buy from a re-sellers curated collection
Thank you for talking about this and being so comprehensive! I don't see enough people talking about thrift stores rising prices being a result of rent costs and inflation rather than demand, because as you point out, there is never a shortage of clothing and donation. If anything with the rise of minimalism, the popularity of the KonMari method of tidying, and unfortunately the rise of fast fashion brands there is a larger and larger surplus of clothing.
This also just shows that consumers get so easily blamed for issues like these when it's actually the fault of corporations and plain old capitalism. Any situation that blames consumers for choices is always hiding something and Goodwill is the perfect example in this case.
Fantastic video and love that you included a reseller's perspective and also touched on the benefits of reselling as an accessible income for the disabled or otherwise unemployable!
Thanks for your thoughtful comment!
Rising rent and gentrification are linked.
Thrift stores know about resellers. Because of resellers, the stores hike the prices up. They 💯 are part of the reason. I volunteered, Ive heard mangers taking.
You have a point on the popularity of minimalism and konari method. The more people get rid of their unwanted items, The more stuff goodwill recives for their warehouse, yes goodwill has so much stuff that they have warehouses full of stuff
Resellers are doing a favor and making thrifted clothes more accessible, and creating more independent jobs. The rise of prices of said thrift stores clothes is because of inflation. Fish now becoming more than 10 bucks, the rising prices of eggs and dairy. Even homes are becoming more expensive
Also it's amazing that you featured an actual reseller and hearing her perspective was great!
This is such a complex topic and you explored it in an incredibly nuanced way. Thank you so much for putting together this video! I know I’ll be sharing it when I get questions about sustainability/ethics of shopping from thrift store resellers ☺️
Thanks so much for watching and leaving such a sweet comment! Really appreciate it :)
My mom works at a church thrift shop, so it's all volunteer / donation based, so not a cooperate shop. She says they get all kinds of people in the store. There is one lady who buys broken jewelry, especially beaded item, and then makes her own jewelry with the items. They will actually save broken items (as long as they won't cause a safety concern) for her that normally would be thrown out as it's broken. But then you get people who are There is also a college near by and they often get students moving into the dorms who need things like cups, plates, blankets, things they didn't think about needing or their stuff is being shipped and they have a need. Being a smaller town it's faster and easier to go to a thrift shop than to take a bus or train to something like a Walmart or target. Some times they get people sent over by the local career center looking for an interview outfit, which a lot of time they will give them the items for free to help out those who are really in need. When the hurricane hit Hati a few years ago there was one lady who came in and cleared out a lot of things to send down to help family / needy folks impacted by the disaster.
Its cool to see this girl with her own shop because she’s not really just reselling vintage items, but you buy a finished style from her shop which in itself is like buying a styling service on top of the clothes, plus all of the work that goes into finding the pieces and styling them together
Some of the thrifting channels I watch definitely buy more than they can wear. They usually gift them to other folks or resell on Depop or Poshmark.
I agree that resellers are a completely different market than thrift shopping. When I can't find what I want, or don't want to shop in person, I get online to search for it.
Where I live, there's definitely an excess. Even with dozens of resellers in town, there's way more donations than they could ever possibly list.
Yup, good point! If you're going to give it away or resell, then the hauls make sense (actually a great way to market your reselling business). Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts & experiences!
Great video! Thanks for listing my video on the same topic in your description. I've definitely had a lot of thinking and reading to do on the topic since posting that. I realise I did minimise the work it takes to curate, take pics, packaging and promoting products etc and resellers do deserve to be fairly compensated for that. I do think outside of the hauls and the people vastly overpricing basic things, it may not be as big of an issue as I thought at the time. But like you said, there is so much nuance to this topic as it continues to develop
Thanks for watching! It is a super complicated topic, and I can totally understand your initial thoughts, as they were ones I had myself (like I said, I used to think reselling as a whole was questionable). I think the problematic resellers are the ones we hear about most often, so I guess it gives the whole concept of reselling a bad vibe. It also really can vary situationally - I can get behind individuals reselling and making an honest living, but if you're wiping out the only thrift store in the area, that's definitely concerning. And the crazy hauls you brought up is such a valid point that needs to be discussed more!
Really loved this video and how you and Jade addressed so many questions I’ve personally been going through as a thrifter (who grew up low income and had to thrift for necessity) and now, reseller :)
Glad this could be helpful! I think it's an extremely nuanced topic, and I wish there weren't so much misinformation out there!
My mother bought antiques. She resold them. Antique dealers do the same. This idea isn't gentrification, colonization or anything new. It is if you steal an antiquity from an ancient site. The Elgin marbles, that were swiped from a Greek temple, countless Indigenous "artifacts" stolen from graves. This is different. That is highly unethical and illegal. It can be frustrating for myself sometimes, because I'm not upper to mid income. Getting cool thrift clothing was a trend for me before I found them in resale places for hundreds, and this was decades ago. Why won't people just quit presenting it as a NEW CRISIS? You want cool resale, get there before they do at a brick and mortar and dig around. You can still find bargains. It takes a bit more time
I buy old money brands and resell them, I’ve noticed people pay more attention to low quality mainstream brands that everyone has heard of and ironic part of it all the thrift stores charge more for mainstream brands 😂 I’ve seen an old money brands next to overpriced Tommy Bahama for 1/3 the price but can be flipped for 4 times the price of Tommy Bahama.
I always thought it was interesting how in environmentalism people claim individual action doesn't make a difference because corporations are just going to do whatever makes more money. But those same people claim individual action is to blame for thrifting prices because corporations aren't trying to make more money they're just raising prices to meet demand. It's like a Schodinger's blame game, individuals only matter when you can use their actions as an excuse to harass them.
Thank you for putting so much thought into this! I really love how you included different aspects of thrifting & even interviewed a reseller to show multiple insights on the topic. I will definitely use your tips & check out the resources that you've linked. Much love
Thanks so much! It's such a complicated topic, and I wanted to hit as many arguments as possible :) Really appreciate your sweet comments - made my day!
Thank you so much for the obvious time and thoughtfulness you put into this piece. So much good info and very even handed. Thank you also for introducing us to Jade, what an amazing young woman!
I'm so glad you found it thoughtful and even-handed! Jade is absolutely amazing and I feel lucky that she agreed to be in the video!
Thanks for this video on such a complex topic and for featuring a reseller in the interview! I have noticed in my own experience that many resellers actually come from low-income backgrounds themselves, which is how they develop their thrifting and curation skills as this is something you only really get with time and experience that higher-income people typically aren't interested in spending time on (which is why they are often the target audience of said resellers).
Anyway, will definitely be having this video on hand for future reference and will check out more videos from you :D
Your questions were so thoughtful. Thank you for sharing the message that sustainability is for everyone, and shedding the expectation of perfection.
thank you so much for this video! I always enjoy your content I think you are one of the only people that I follow that talks extensively about this kind of issues! I’m a reseller and I agree with all the points on the video! I will absolutely share this ❣️
Aww, thank you so much for watching/commenting/sharing! It means so much ❤️
okay, so I grew up in poverty and we thrifted back when it wasn't trendy and it was something you would get teased for. now that its trendy and the middle class and wealthy people are doing it, clothing is really picked over. I think reselling is a gray area. My mom finds nice jewelry and sells it online, and it helps her pay her bills on top of the 2 jobs she currently has. But jewelry is not a necessity like clothing is, she's not profiting off of something that another person needs and shes just making a little extra money to support herself with. What I kind of don't like is these reselling/consignment boutiques where they buy up all the desirable items, especially plus size items, so they can appear "inclusive" and mark them up so a poor person can't afford them. it's really a case by case thing.
Jade's story is so cool, as is her idea to sell fashion bundles inspired by her favorite characters! I loved hearing her perspective on this!
I think one also has to consider which part of country you are talking about. In New York and LA definitely the gentrification is there and thrift stores may be more of a necessity. Where I live, a college town in MidWest, honestly the thrift stores are often overflowing with goods. Most thrift stores actually want customers to just buy their merchandise.
But even there sometimes, the issue surfaces with reselling. My friend X bought a bunch of sneakers from a small super inexpensive community thrift store to resell. She has a car and can drive there easily and does so more frequently. While my friend Y desperately needed sneakers for cheap. She does not have a lot of money. She doesn't have a car and had to wait for me to take her to the store. Except she couldn't find any sneakers at that same thrift store. So it made me wonder about reselling.
Again I gave a very simplified example, and she probably might have gotten sneakers from elsewhere. And thrift stores have a lot of items to sell that goes beyond essential like sneaker, jeans, formal clothings etc, which if no one buys just gets trashed.
But thanks for your video. This is a necessary conversation to have. Many thrift stores also have causes they need money for. The thrift store I mentioned raise money for shoe coupons for children in K12 for families on assistance.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment! It's definitely a very nuanced topic. While I don't think reselling is problematic in general, I do think it's possible for it to become problematic. If you're buying all the essential items in low stock in low-income areas, that's not good. But if you're not doing that, I generally think reselling is a good thing, and it helps charity shops fund their social programs, as you pointed out.
That's why I included some tips for conscious thrifting towards the end, as I still think it's important to be mindful.
Thank you so much for taking the time to put together this video! You spoke so eloquently about a topic that is quite controversial right now, and I really appreciate the unbiased nature that you approached this with.
Thank you so much! I really tried my best to look at this objectively!
Accessibility for the physically/mentally disabled is not something I have thought of before. It makes sense that lots of people do not have the time to thrift, but I realize now there are also a lot of people who do not have the energy or cannot physically practice thrifting, and it seems important that if we want as many people as possible to thrift, we should make it just as accessible to thrift as it is to online shop on a fast fashion website.
I really appreciate this video and all the nuances presented! been loving your channel a lot :)
I think what people don’t understand is how much time and energy it takes to be a reseller: the amount of time it takes to source, cleaning (including washing, steaming or ironing, block them (sweaters-a long process of pinning and drying/reshaping), cleaning shoes with scrubbers-sometimes soaking, relaxing, and using special detergents and stain removers, as needed). We also often fix the item: mending hems, sewing on buttons, depilling (especially any sweater that has any type of synthetic in it will pill). We also need to fold, package, take photos (and even model to feature the item so buyers see what potential it has).
i really liked this video, it was very nuanced which i haven't seen from other videos about this topic, it's so good that you also interviewed a reseller too :)
Thank you so much! I'm glad you found it nuanced - I really tried my best to be balanced and address the different layers of issues!
This is such a nonproblem. There is so much clothing donated to thrift stores (goodwill) that the leftovers go to outlets (bins), then it goes to the auction (pallets), and then to textile recycling. After that, it goes to a landfill. Around 10% of donated items get sold - the rest goes downstream eventually hitting landfills. So the point is we need as many resellers and people shopping at Thrift stores as possible to give clothing its maximum life. The Thrift stores are there to support local communities, and hire people for employment.
Thank you!! I’ve been buying a lot of clothes from sellers on Poshmark (about once a month since July) and I was wondering if it was a better practice than buying new clothes. Thanks for the video again!!
No problem! Yes, buying from resellers is generally great, and you get to support a small business (the reseller). Just be careful of drop shippers and people who buy wholesale to sell on these apps!
Way more people need to see this!!
Edit: Jade has a nice name, wonder where I’ve heard it b4 🤔
I love your videos! I am currently educating myself with sustainable lifestyle and your channel is one of the discoveries that I found on this platform. Thank you. ☺❤
I'm so happy to have you here! :)
This is what ive been waiting for. Thankyouu
Thanks for watching and commenting!
The most I hear out at the stores is that because of the reselling the stores have made the prices higher.
I usually only go to resellers if i'm looking for a specific item from a specific brand, like when I wanted to buy some Coach sneakers with a specific fabric print on it.
Thank you for speaking about this 🙏🏻❤️ your outfit is cute aswell
Thank you for providing facts and links to your sources.
very educational, and well articulated, thank you for this informative video! :)
Thanks so much for watching and leaving a comment! 💛
You are so insightful, thank you...I also love your outfit!
Aww, thanks so much! It's a really old top of my mom's :) Thank you for watching and commenting
Wow, this was so interesting and informative!!!
Glad you thought so! Thanks for watching and commenting :)
Regarding pricing at Goodwill: I frequent a local spot that also serves as the sorting station for the region. I’ve become familiar with some of the longer-term employees and have learned about some aspects of how they do things. The people who are pricing items need to do it very quickly. They aren’t supposed to take longer than 3-5 seconds to decide on the price of an item. As you can imagine, coming up with a price that quickly doesn’t allow for very close inspection of the quality of an item, and so items can be priced very unreasonably (unreasonably high, or low). I’ve seen the same exact style of growler sold in the “Collectibles” section for $25, being sold a week later in the general store among the section for glass bottles for only $6. Pretty bummed seeing that after having paid $25, but it was still a good deal considering buying them new costs around $60. I’ve seen ceramics originally from Daiso being sold for more than what they cost to get them new from Daiso! But, that’s understandable given how cheap Daiso is. Here is a little secret, though: if an item is missing it’s price tag, they will re-price it at the register. There are times when I find something I really love, but I can tell it’s been way overpriced. In that case…I discreetly peel off the sticker, hehe. And then they typically price it more fairly at the register. Do not do this often, though, because the consequences are obvious. Like I said, I only do it for something I really like and know was over-priced. And I’m typically buying more things than just that item. I don’t really do this with clothing, though, since the price tag is usually attached with the plastic thingy.
As someone who has lived low-income as an adult for over a decade now, Goodwill allowed me to afford good quality things that I otherwise couldn’t. Furniture, kitchen appliances, cookware, a sewing machine, storage, clothes, a vacuum cleaner, decor, etc. If it weren’t for Goodwill, I would have needed to settle for super cheap, low quality alternatives that break down easily and are bad for the environment, or to save up and pay more for the better quality items that will last, but leaving me with little income for anything else. Stores like this allow low income people the ability to afford nice things. Although what we are saving in money we are losing in time. I spent two years of regularly visiting GW (often on a weekly basis) before I found a good quality cassette deck. That took a lot of time and patience (I wasn’t going just for the cassette deck. I have a running list of items I keep an eye out for whenever I go). If I had the financial means to just hop online or visit a local audiophile shop, I could have quickly and easily purchased the exact model I wanted in no time. That is a privilege. I didn’t even have the luxury of choice. Whenever a model happened to be there, I had to go online and do research on the spot to find out if it was even worth purchasing, and then hope that when I plug it in that it actually still works and won’t require repairs. So, when this is the reality of what it takes for low income people to be able to afford good quality basic things we all use, as well as some luxuries (got a super nice pasta roller for $20, and a Zojirushi rice cooker for $25 instead of $250), you can understand how frustrating it is to see someone load a Dyson vacuum into the trunk of their luxury car in the parking lot… But I get it, thrifting can be fun, and there are many collectors and hobbyists who do it in a way that isn’t taking nice things away from low-income people. If you can easily afford something nice, then please don’t buy it at a thrift store. Buy it new, take good care of it, and donate it when you’re done using it so that someone in need can give it a second life.
Regarding reselling: I used to be against this, as I’d often see people who were visibly well off would buy up high quality items, sometimes overhearing them talking in line about how much they can resell it for. Meh. Overtime, I developed an eye for, and began collecting, ceramics. Bowls, cups, plates, vases, etc. After awhile, I had acquired way more than what I needed for myself, but I was hooked on the hunt. I loved the experience of perusing through the shelves to dig out an unassumingly beautiful handmade ceramic item, signed on the bottom with someone’s anonymous initials and the year it was made, and I didn’t want to stop. But I also couldn’t justify collecting anymore. That’s when I considered starting to sell them. Because I was visiting so frequently, I would often notice some items that I really liked, but decided to leave for someone else, that remained on the shelves for weeks. I watched as people over and over again passed right by a ceramic item that stood out so significantly to me as an obvious treasure. I realized after awhile that most people just aren’t interested in those things that I’m drawn to, and that me being the one to buy them wasn’t actually really taking away from anyone. And it often wasn’t until I would put a piece I’d find along with other items I’ve collected, or staged in a certain way in my home, that people would then take notice of it’s beauty. I came to understand that this is the role of a curator: someone who is able to create a very particular idea, aesthetic, or experience, and determine which things fit into this very niche thing. Resellers, or curators, who are doing their job well are doing this for us. And for a lot of people it isn’t until after they see how something can be used or styled that they are able to appreciate it. That’s what a good reseller/curator does. They have the eye to see what others can’t, and the patience and knowledge required to find these hidden gems, and they doo all of this so that you don’t have to, which is why they should be fairly compensated.
Wow, didn’t think I had so much to share, lol, don’t even know if this will be read 🤷🏻♂️
I’m a reseller and if you’re ever hoping to buy from one, don’t be afraid to ask where they source from. As apart of the reselling community, i do think it’s time we have more accountability and authenticity with reselling. Goodwill, Salvation Army and other big corporations that green wash and use people with disabilities to promote their business are never ethical, and the resell community has some work to do with how we source and where we source from. I only source from local vintage stores, but I never truly knew about the gentrification of thrifting until this topic became more mainstream and I’m so grateful for it. Most resellers just want fashion to be more ethical, because we love fashion so much. But apart of that is changing the way we thrift and shop. Both sides of this argument are extremely valid, but finding a middle ground is the true answer.
Resellers that cater to alternative fashion are honestly a godsend to those who wanna dress how they want (especially j-fashion types), but don't have enough time to look through thrift shops or the money to buy brand new. They also give exact measurements of stuff so that you wont have to try on stuff that probably haven't been washed in a long while (skin conditions suck :( ).
Sure yeah sometimes prices get really high and maybe sell for the exact same price as brand new, but honestly there will be a time someone may sell the exact same thing for lower or even as a coordinated set.
I really appreciate this video and all the research you did to make such a well thought out analysis. I do have to mention though, since I’m 99% sure I’m going to start my own reselling business soon, what are plus sized people supposed to do if they want to be able to buy second hand clothing online too but there isn’t a big online presence of such for them? You said it’s not super ethical to buy plus sized clothes in bulk at a thrift store but I want to cater my business to all sizes, specifically plus size, since they are often overlooked and forgotten. As a plus sized woman I can confirm that I want to be stylish and have curated unique pieces in my closet just like straight sized people. What else can I do to not take away these clothes from plus sized people in my neighborhood? Also, I’d like to add, I am myself middle class but come from a low income family and am starting my business to help my family and save for my future. Thanks so much again! - Stephanie
Hi Stephanie! That's a really good point, and think that it would be best to speak with the managers of the stores you shop at. I have heard that some thrifts have a surplus of plus size clothing, actually. You could also ask when they're about to throw away stock, and try to shop at that time. I agree that it's important for people to be able to buy used plus size clothing online too! Not everyone can physically go to thrift stores to dig! Best of luck :)
imperfectidealist thank you for responding. I went picking for the first time for my business last weekend at a Goodwill and there wasn’t a lot of plus size clothing if I’m being honest, but I think it might be because I went to one in a very wealthy neighborhood (aka high end clothing doesn’t always cater to bigger people). I like the idea of asking managers as to how much plus sized clothing are they actually receiving and best times to go. I also was thinking of going to estate sales and looking around there for clothing because I don’t think a lot of people in general shop for clothing at estate sales, maybe I could find some plus size clothing there. Lastly, Ive been watching some RUclips videos on how to expand straight size clothing into plus sized clothing and now I’m even thinking of taking a sewing class so i can eventually alter thrift clothing! Anyways thanks again!
Some great points made here 🌿💚
Great video! Also love your outfit 😊
Thanks so much! The top is an old one from my mom :)
Your content is amazing!!!
Great presentation!!!
Thank you for this!
3:00 I had no clue about any of this! my goodwill hasn't really changed prices at all in my time shopping there as far as I'm aware 😳😳
Great video! Super informative 💖👍🏼
Thanks so much for watching and commenting! :)
Great video!
This was a fantastic video! Thank you!
Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching and leaving a comment!
My mother always picked us up stuff from second hand shops and I knew one other schoolfriend who's mother did the same. We used to get so excited telling each other 'i got it in a second hand shop!' I have noticed though in the past 2 years that items in charity shops are now the same as they are in vintage shops if not sold for more than they were in the original shop. So I don't shop there. I do know though that fast fashion industry's are buying up so much stock in the past 12-18 months that even vintage fashion buyers are finding it hard to find stock. So once they start reselling at some extortionate price under their brand name then people shopping out of necessity are goin to feel it. Unless of course these brands are just buying up stock because sustainable fashion is hurting their business 🤷♀️
So I’m a big Disney fan! I actually love older Disney clothes more than new ones and I try to only shop secondhand. The people that live near Disney end up with awesome Disney pieces in thrift stores and I can buy them that way. They don’t show up often where I am, so I’m happy to buy them from someone
Thank you for making this video
No problem! Thank you for watching and commenting
What if youve been thrifting your whole life ( before it was cool ) and sell vintage because I love it and cant fit into it all? I am the poor person that these conversations are about. I think I should be allowed to make side income out of thrifting.
That's exactly what the video is about :) I think it's perfectly all right if you're reselling. People don't realize that it's often lower-income and middle-class folks reselling who need that flexible job.
i love your videos omg
I love this channel
Fantastic video (commenting for the algorithm)
Over the years, I’ve noticed the rise of fast fashion clothing flooding secondhand market. So, I just do without.
I think the increase in price has more to do with a change in target audience than scarcity of clothing. Just like gentrification & rent, they raise the prices BECAUSE THEY CAN. Because they know there are a ton of affluent people who thrift now & they will pay higher prices. Most people who are jumping on the thriftimg bandwaggon have no idea how cheap the clothes were before it became trendy
In Australia - People who can't afford to shop at Thrift stores are easily able to obtain generous vouchers from the charities that run them. The individual can ring or a support worker etc. You don't need to provide proof or jump through hoops. They are even delivered to the door. They will also be given food and food vouchers. The mission of the thrift stores is to raise money for the poor for more immediate needs like food, housing, domestic violence support services etc.
For the most part the clothing is so cheap! Only in some circumstances will it be higher if the item is of value, they should sell it to make money for the needed services.
I've been very poor in the past and for me personally I could still afford it. Not as a habit or a hobby but as a necessity.
I started flipping on depop to help
Pay for medical costs when I was on disability. I'm so thankful I had that as an opportunity.
In my country everything that is left after resellers is crap. With holes, unwashable spots and etc. And even if I was to buy from a reseller I cant try the clothes on and buying without trying it on ends up in taking a place in my closet and I can't sell it because resellers have flooded the market and there's more clothes than buyers. So only the most popular resellers who constantly add more clothes are thriving and if you are a regular person and you want to sell a thing that you don't need anymore/don't fit in anymore or you need money at this period of time, you won't sell it. I spent def a few hundred bucks on clothes that don't fit me and can't sell them. And 200$ is a min monthly wage here. Turned out it's easier to lose weight to fit in perfectly great fashionable woolen trousers than sell them.
Isaiah 33:1
“Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.”
Resellers have 💯 caused the thrift stores to hike prices up. I'm not saying its the sole reason, but These stores KNOW what resellers are doing and the prices are going up because of that. You don't think they're checking ebay and depop etc
My nan used to work in one and her store started doing just this. And as a result, they increased the prices.
That does effects the poorest people who rely and need these stores.
Resellers just won't take accountability for it. All you'll hear is "its legal, I'm not breaking any laws, those people should of got there first, I don't care about those people" blah blah blah
I don't care that they're reselling to make profit. It's the result of causing price hikes that bothers me.
And it gets on my nerves when they buy an item for 2 dollars and then sell it for 50 or something, to them COMPLAIN that they didn't make enough profit.. Erm excuse me? What?
this! Forever fuck resellers I’m over this bitches
We might actually need legislation capping prices in thrift stores. Just a thought. Great video!
That's definitely what is needed....government forcing private companies to "cap" prices because Karens cant even.
@@WillmobilePlus Many thrift stores are charitable organizations, not regular private companies, that get tax deductions from the government. And they get their products they sell for free. It's because they're supposed to be providing services to communities in need. If they're no longer doing that, why can't the government regulate something that they give deductions to? Some people can't afford to clothe themselves and their kids at higher prices, and clothing is a necessity: People would be freaked out by people running around naked. So I don't think it's entirely unreasonable for the government to require charitable orgs, whose CEOs make a fortune while their employees get nothing, to cap their prices or have their deductions as charitable organizations revoked. It's not just people getting angry at high prices: It's about people in need being unable to afford necessities. I'm not sure how that gives you "I want to speak to your manager" vibes. If you have other solutions to this type of problem, by all means I actually am very interested in hearing them. :)
@@Viennafly1 They are indeed charitable organizations (albeit really testing people's patience with some of their CEO pay structures). They were not founded to be retail outlets for "poor people", however. The proceeds from those stores fund, along with direct cash donations, those actual charitable endeavors.
The only reason they were ever cheap was because up until 2009-ish, it was seriously considered a mark of shame to be seen "shopping at the Goodwill" if you were not poor. So the only people that did were those that had no choice. The prices back then reflect the popularity that these places did not have, because those stores had no one else that was going to come in.
Once the trends changed, the laws of supply and demand moved in. Also, as donating to them became more mainstream, these stores now routinely receive items and brands that they simply cant be expected to sell for the same as they did in the 80s. That's money they are losing for their actual charitable work. Since they cant legally deny people from coming in to shop, they would get eaten alive by resellers if they sold a NWT shirt from the mall for 25 cents.
But I do think that these stores should consider a program for people that are means-tested to have a steep discount on items with some sort of membership card from maybe their state government, or up to a certain amount and limited to 1 or two visits a month.
@@WillmobilePlus I like your idea of a membership card. But there is literally so much clothing they can't sell, I don't think there should be limits. So much of that inventory is thrown away. Supply far outweighs demand.
we have enough government intervention in our life already
I love how you kept thinking of things to add while editing because it shows the nuance of it all, you know? It's a complicated issue, but taking the idea of thrifting becoming gentrified and saying people should stop thrifting seems so backwards to me. We produce billions of items of clothing every year that end up in landfills in developing countries. There is no shortage of secondhand clothes. There might be a shortage of vintage adidas sweatshirt with cool prints in thrift stores partly due to resellers, sure, but there are still plenty of good, functional and pretty clothes left.
In my case, it's either thrifting or contributing to fast fashion. Since I don't want to over-do it with thrifting I'm forced to depend on fast fashion (and then I'm a villain). There's no way around it.
You should have interviewed someone who works at a thrift store. I work at a thrift store and I disagree with reselling. You know what these people do when their stock doesn't sell? They give it back to us to deal with. These clothes are meant for low income people...not for you to resell for 60 dollars. My store also has the ability to recycle clothes that don't sell and we send them to third world countries that need them. So...no. re selling is bad.
You should actually learn about what happens to the clothes sent to the Global South. Look up Ghana's Kantamanto Market, Chile's Atacama Desert. Our used clothes are not wanted in other countries, and it's actually harming them. There are plenty of clothes to go around. Also, it doesn't make sense to recycle clothes that can still be worn, and I did cite a former thrift store owner in this video.
Really? Then why is my program still taking them and asking for more? I kinda feel like you're talking out your ass without anything to back it up lol.
Also not all clothes donated can be worn. They don't just take the clothes and wear them where we send them, they get repurposed into something new.
@@imperfectidealistdoesn’t make it ok for resellers to stay charging astronomical prices for decently looking clothes.
As I live in a really small town and don't have a car, to the nearest second-hand shop I have 2 hours long way in one direction. So I would spend all day on the go and need to buy tickets, without any guarantee that I will find what I look for. Resellers are the only one possibility for me and personally I love buying from them. I know that they have experience, so I trust in their choices. And I'm thankful for their work, I don't see any problem with higher price. It's still cheaper than buying new.
In conclusion: capitalism sucks, overconsumption sucks, don’t take it out on small business babes!
Capitalism is great. It's why you have the products needed to type that it sucks unironically.
In the USA the only consideration is HOW MUCH CASH CAN WE MAKE! Ethics be damned!
It's true. To be able to get a pair of jeans for $4 now my store charges $12
Okay I have to stop and comment right at the beginning with Goodwills price comparison chart. I know it’s one year later but I doubt there price range per items were really accurately reflecting what they charge. I have had to go to a couple times this year and I can say the prices were way higher then their 2020 chart. I know because I made a mental note of the average price of each items category. I learned in general Goodwill is way more expensive then other thrift stores. Also they have horrible civil rights issues as I learned the other day from a RUclipsr (CC Marie) that company needs to change. Such as people with disabilities getting paid much lower then people without disabilities. Oh good, you go on to talk about these issues in your video. Yes we need to be mindful of what thrifts stores and shops we support.
Personally, I'm fine with reselling but I think there's an issue of ignorance and selfishness among resellers sometimes. It's also slightly strange when middle or upper-class people do it because they don't need the money.
I feel like what you fail to touch on is that the reason it’s being labeled as appropriation and gentrification, is because majority people who shop at thrift stores and second hand are working class, and the large majority of working class people are people of color, specifically black and Latino communities. This issue also is prominent in large cities like NYC, LA, SF, Miami, etc. that have large and underserved inner cities that consist largely of poc’s. Also the urban style or worn in style that is being popularized doesn’t give credit to the originators of these styles who ONLY had thrift stores as their source for clothing. People like Emma chamberlain (I love her btw) have reached peaks of popularity and success from thrift hauls etc. but how many poc’s do you see that get the same recognition? Or how many times has Emma Chamberlain or people who were inspired by her taken the time to find and give credit to the originators of this style and their creativity considering they only have the options offered by the thrift store? There’s another side to this whole issue, that not many people talk about.
Hey there, I agree that it's problematic when BIPOC aren't recognized for their creativity (when white people are), but I don't think that makes thrifting unethical. Like I mentioned, it's quite gross that thrifting is only popular when richer/white people do it. But I do think that the destigmatization is a good thing overall. It's like Chinese people getting made fun of for wearing traditional dresses, but white people being praised for wearing a Chinese dress. The problem is not necessarily that a white person is wearing a Chinese dress (if they're doing so mindfully). The problem is that Chinese people were made fun of for it. Hope this makes sense - you seem to be quite passionate about this, so let me know if you make any content on this particular angle, which is worth exploring :)
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@@imperfectidealist I don’t in particular, but I do watch a lot of poc content creators who discuss issues similar to it. Personally I perceive the rise of thrifting as a similar issue to gentrification which many would consider unethical. It’s the displacement of a marginalized group that is the issue. Of course some people will say the same thing for popularization of thrifting, it does have its benefits, but the people who are being displaced and marginalized are rarely the ones who reap any of those benefits. As a POC it still is a bit embarrassing to say that I purchase clothes from the thrift store despite how popular it is rn, and I remember a time when that was all my family could afford was clothing, furniture, etc from thrift stores. It’s also sort of a similar issue to cultural appropriation, while thrifting doesn’t necessarily belong to a specific culture the rise in popularity has a similar effect, the example you used is a prime example, Chinese people being made fun of or critiqued for wearing an oriental style dress because it is corny or tied but then when a white woman wears it at fashion week, it’s perceived as innovative and stylish. All those things are unethical, but if you don’t belong to the group that’s being affected by it, then you won’t perceive it as such.
@@PetitePollyPocket I think the question of whether or not it's unethical is not black or white - I've seen many people comment on videos that they're happy thrifting is more popular, as they grew up lower-income and no longer have to hide the fact they thrift (check out Sarah Hawkinson's video on this topic). And as a Chinese person, I don't necessarily think it's unethical for a white person to wear a Chinese dress (if they're doing so mindfully). In my opinion, again, the issue is not the fact that a certain thing has become more popular - the issue is that it was stigmatized or ridiculed in the past.
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If the popularization is actually causing issues to the original group, that is another story - but this video was about how we can't blame individuals for rising prices. They speak to greater systemic issues like corporate greed and a stagnant min wage. There is also generally not a shortage of good clothing in stores (which is a common concern), unless you're shopping in super low-volume stores (which I mentioned to avoid).
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You're right that it's wrong that certain things only become popular when richer/white people do it. But this is a larger issue that would require a whole other video just about this, and this isn't my niche in particular. Like I said, I'm happy to look at any content you create around this.
Ugh the Goodwill thing is so true. Good luck finding a $1 t shirt or jeans under $20. Unless the shirt is pit stained fast fashion, or the jeans have a crotch rip tbh.
Picking the best Items and leaving the crap for the poor, they would like to buy something nice once in a while.
Thrift stores are in it for the profit. You cannot deny that resellers promoting their “finds” and the small amount their paying vs. what they will sell the items for, does roll back to the thrift stores. They know they can raise prices for this alone. Vintage is now considered “uber chic” and resellers are charging disgusting prices for these items. For you to say lower income people don’t purchase or care to purchase beautiful vintage items is insulting.
Yes!
I never said lower-income folks don't care to purchase beautiful vintage items. I said that people shopping out of *absolute* necessity are often not going to buy the same things as those shopping for fun because they need the functionality. When you are extremely poor, you have to prioritize functionality. You are free to disagree with my analysis, but I don't appreciate words being put into my mouth.
Seeing the extreme rise in hate towards resellers recently has been making me very uncomfortable. I will admit that this is because I myself am a reseller. I see resellers all described as price gouging capitalist pigs who would screw anybody over for a quick buck. While I obviously can't speak for other resellers, for me at least thats just not true. I started reselling at 16 years old as a way to raise funds for the community service club I founded (this club provided free clothing for all students who needed them and was completely donation run). Now I resell in order to pay for college. I'm just barely 18 and other than reselling my only source of income is a campus job where I make less than my state's minimum wage and can only work 8 hours a week. Reselling doesn't even add much for income. I might make $10-50 in a month which I try to save for emergencies. I'm really not trying to engage in harmful practices nor am I trying to deprive people of clothing that they need. I'm not exactly sure how to end this comment. I'm still conflicted with myself over this.
Ignore them, it’s ignorant people pretending to care for the poor but in reality they just don’t want others to make a profit. A lot of resellers are actually poor and lower income and need this job to pay their bills.
Is selling is general ethical? All must be free, no markup. All grocery stores must not make a profit. Your premise is moronic, and against how everyone makes a living since for thousands of years.
Thrift stores are NOT for the poor. They are suppose to raise money to HELP the poor. "The concept of thrift dates back to the early 19th century when charities and religious organizations would collect second-hand clothing and sell them to raise funds for their causes. "
You can most likely buy NEW clothes from Walmart cheaper than paying prices at overpriced thrifts these days.
I haven't seen this yet but I'm sorry I despite 'vintage' shops. I always tell my friends to go to actual thrift stores, not 'vintage' shops
Thank you for being open minded with this. I don't see any problem with reselling, and minimalism has unfortunately became a cult. More and more items are ending up in land fills everyday and goodwill needing more and more warehouses for the amount of stuff people are giving away. Also the inflation thats happening now is infecting prices on everything right now, even on food and housing
Quantity DEFINITELY is a factor! Here in Houston TX you can look at the goodwill and see that at least half the rack is full of CRAP! While they have way more stuff than they can rack, most of the stuff is the low demand dross.
Isaiah 33:1
“Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.”