21 Jun Are Resellers Gentrifying Thrift Stores? | Scoop Sorority
In the last decade, fashion has become an important aspect of consumer and social media culture, with current Gen-Zr’s taking huge interest in thrift stores and second-hand shopping. And many have become resellers, selling their thrifted clothes for profit.
It’s easy to get caught up and be inspired to shape your dream wardrobe with the wide variety of aesthetics and unlimited access to fashion archives via Tumblr and Pinterest.
With second hand stores, the racks of vintage and pre-owned goods are your oyster. However, something has gone amiss.
In recent years, thrift store prices have gone up and continue to rise. Moreover, your chance of getting a Pinterest board fit in under eight dollars seems less likely. Are resellers to blame?
Depop, Poshmark, Mercari: The New Mall
With the rise of Depop and other reselling marketplaces like Poshmark or Mecari, it’s becoming more and more evident that resellers are buying bulks of clothing from thrift stores, and inflating it’s original price.
Something that was once an alternative — maybe staple — for individuals with lower income to source quality clothes for a buck, is now a place where resellers swipe up bulks of garments for their Depop stock.
Are resellers gentrifying thrift stores?
Well, in short, no. There is no substantial evidence that proves resellers are the main cause of the rising prices in second hand stores.
Additionally, the majority of resellers are more than likely lower-income individuals who strike up re-selling as a “full-time gig.”
According to PYMYNTS, many in the “gig-industry” are living paycheck to paycheck and than “70 percent of gig workers don’t just view pay advances as a means to cover immediate expenses and bills. They also view them as a means to smooth out the uneven cash flow that is often inherent in juggling ad hoc jobs.”
Many resellers often sell for a living wage rather than a quick buck, and bulk-buy clothing to withstand their stock/inventory. Purchasing stock to resell on virtual marketplaces is an alternative and safe route to earn money.
Goodwill: A Favorite Corporate Thrift Store
Though major-chain stores, like Goodwill, have seen a steep price rise, local thrift stores or smaller antique shops have remained the same. But, why is that? Is more money being donated to charity, per company motto?
According to Medium, less than one-eighth of Goodwills’ the company’s profit goes toward charity. In fact, most of the store’s profit are used to pay its “top leaders.”
So no, “@Y2kPrinxxess” isn’t the reason prices have gone up.
The Takeaway
In all, reselling should actually be encouraged more. Not only is it better for the environment, it is a great way to make money, especially in times like these where many are left jobless due to the pandemic.
Yes, thrifting and reselling have grown in popularity in the past year. But overall, it’s the potential entrepreneurship and job skills that are instilled from reselling on these apps that should be celebrated.
Do you buy from resellers? Drop a comment below and tell us why or why not!
Be sure to check out our latest article on forgotten fashion icons of the 90s and early 2000s.
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