How thredUP Works: Mail In Clothes for Cash or Shop Quality Secondhand Items

thredUP is one of the largest online resale platforms for women's and children's clothing. Unlike Poshmark or Mercari, where you personally photograph and list each item, thredUP handles the selling work for you. You request a free "Clean Out Kit" — a bag that thredUP mails to you — fill it with clothes you no longer wear, and send it back. thredUP's team inspects each item, photographs it, and lists it on the website. You receive a payout based on what sells.

The tradeoff is that thredUP's payouts are a lot lower per item than what you might earn by listing items yourself on Poshmark or Mercari. thredUP takes a large percentage of each sale — in some cases keeping 80 to 90 percent — because they are doing the photography, listing, storage, and shipping work on your behalf. Common lower-value brands may be accepted but earn very little, while in-demand or high-end brands earn a larger share.

On the shopping side, thredUP is an excellent destination for finding quality clothing at much lower prices. Their selection includes clothing from name brands like J.Crew, Banana Republic, Lululemon, and Anthropologie, inspected and graded by condition. Items are searchable by brand, size, color, and condition, and most items are priced at 70 to 90 percent below their original retail price.

One feature that sets thredUP apart is its "Goody Boxes" — curated boxes of clothing selected based on your size and style preferences that arrive at your door for you to try on. You pay for what you keep and return the rest using an included prepaid bag.

thredUP is a particularly good fit for anyone who wants to clean out a closet without the effort of photographing and listing items individually, and who values having someone else handle the logistics. It is also a solid shopping resource for anyone buying clothing on a budget.