By ERIN TURNER
I don’t know about your kids, but my boys went through growth spurts this last month or so. Perfect timing…NOT! I had just gotten them all new jeans when the weather cooled this fall and now they all are ready for the floods because their pants are too short!
A couple of weeks ago, I discovered a new online consignment store called ThredUp.com. I had seen a $15 off coupon for the website so I checked out since the coupon didn’t have a minimum purchase. You know what that means, right? Free clothing!
Thredup is an online consignment store focusing on sizes from 12m-18 yrs. Their clothing which is either new or slightly worn is priced 50-80% off new retail prices. They really encourage their customers to send in items which still have tags. So, as you are shopping you will find lots of pieces that are completely brand new.
When I received my package of clothing, it was impressive. All the clothing was neatly folded and then wrapped in tissue paper with a cute little sticker…just like I would have gotten at Nordstrom’s counter. The clothing didn’t have that thrift store smell which I fully expected. The items were in terrific condition and a couple of them still had tags on!
I purchased a pair of Addidas athletic shorts, a Starter rash guard t-shirt with tags, a pair of Arizona board shorts with tags as well and a pair of Joe Boxer swim trunks. My total for all of these was $20.46 which is great but with my $15 off coupon, I ended up paying $5.46! Now, I couldn’t combine a free shipping code (which they are offering right now: SHIPDEC12) with my $15 coupon, so I did pay $6.95 for shipping. Wished I they would take more discount codes, but heck I still only paid a total of $12.41 for high quality new items! Really, I’m not going to complain.
Thredup has strict requirements on the quality of clothing sent to them. They run each item through a 12 point inspection looking for rips, tears, flaws, pilling, holes, stains, fading, odors and just plain over-wear. The company prides themselves in having a staff of experts who sort and itemize each item before sending them through rigorous inspections. They also weigh the functionality and fashion of a piece of clothing before allowing it to hit their website.
They also don’t accept lesser brand names. So you won’t see discount store brands. There are lots of GAP, Old Navy, Nike and other well-known brands. They also require the clothing to be washed and thoroughly dried before sending to them.
Included in my package was a large bag with prepaid postage! They had included very clear directions on how to stuff my bag with new or gently used kids’ clothing or shoes and to send back to them for either credit at the online store or receive cash via Paypal. How cool is that?
So, whether your kids have gone through a growth spurt and you need new threds for them or you are cleaning out their closets in preparation for new clothing at Christmas, you will want to check out the fastest growing online consignment store! I think you’ll like it!
As a perk for reading today’s blog, here is a code to get you 20% off at Thredup.com now through the holidays. When you check out, type the code into the discount box. Code: holiday20
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Erin’s got tons of tips for saving money, couponing, and sticking to a budget in her blog archive. And be sure to check out the Missoula Save it Club.
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Erin Eisenman-Turner is proud to be a native Missoulian. Along with her husband and three sons, they raise chickens, pigs, rabbits, and vegetables at Turner Family Farms in the Orchard Homes area. When the farm chores are done, the coupons clipped, and the blog written, you can find Erin exploring Montana, collecting antiques, and trying to maintain a well-run, happy, and organized home for her family.
