27.9.08

buy/sell/rage!



This dress and coat are a couple of my scores from my most recent Beacon's Closet venture. I am seriously in love with the dress, it's another one of those rare finds that doesn't need to be hemmed or taken in. And it has amazing buttons and a big floppy collar!



Several people remarked in my last post about their experiences with Beacon's and other similar places, and as a matter of fact I feel like this is one of the few places in life (sigh) where I actually have a valid basis to comment:

I worked for almost a year at a buy/sell/trade place in San Francisco (called Crossroads Trading Co.), and I'll tell you this: it's a tricky business. Being a buyer can be really exhilarating at times, it's sort of like having a thrift store brought to you special delivery. But it can also be really, really terrible and exhausting. Crazy people badger you to take their awful, dirty things, then get deeply offended when you have to turn them down. People demand their items back if you price them below what they think is "fair", or insist on speaking to your manager. And customers NEVER seem to understand how much clothing depreciates. Maybe you paid $200 for that jacket, but you're only going to get $15 in cash for it and that's just how it works. There's simply a limit as to how high these places can price things, and it sucks feeling like you're getting short-changed, I know, I get frustrated all the time, but just try and remember--it's better than nothing! And if you ever have something that's really nice and you really care about, my advice is skip buy/sell/trade and hawk it online.

Anyways, I've been on both sides of these places, and I feel like I've gained some seriously valuable perspective. I used to get so peeved when buyers would pass on things that I would have bought had I been working there, or priced them much lower than I would have (ok, I still do). But really, my advice is: let it go. Buyers have it hard enough as it is, believe me. Ok, phew, rant over--and out!

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

ooh I love the coat!
I have to go to Beacon's closet some day. I want to trade in some of my clothes, but, ha, I'm actually kinda scared they're gonna reject everything I bring or something.

Anonymous said...

When I worked at a thrift store, my boss started "buying" clothing (trade for credit) from customers, and I hated being the one who had to sort through stuff, right in front of them. It was so awkward! Especially when things were smoky, because then you can't take any of it, but it feels like you're insulting them & their habits by saying no. Too awkward for me, I was so glad when I didn't have to do it anymore!

Amelia said...

I love that dress. Too cute.

Brittany said...

very adorable outfit!

i always find myself doing the opposite and thinking to myself "What?! They are really going to buy this junk from me?! SWEET!"

Sally Jane Vintage said...

I used to sell my clothes to Wasteland on Melrose all the time before I figured out I could sell them on Ebay for a gazillion times more money (woe, the lovely dresses I practically gave away to Wasteland!). I get both sides of the argument. I've worked retail and I understand the crazy people you come across. I once had a woman try to return clothing that was infested with insects. Ugh. My biggest problem with those places is that the staff always gets the best picks (at least that's the way it was in LA). Just chalk that up to pure jealously though.

Ringo, have a banana! said...

Oh man, that's totally true! I always felt sort of bad for our customers, because we definitely got all the best stuff, and we would save stuff for each other... but hey, we weren't exactly getting much in the way of any other perks either. And I made some pretty amazing scores!

Lily said...

you looks so cute!
i've never heard of a place like Beacon's Closet, sounds perplexing!

Crystal said...

I have to say I always looove your clothes and wish I could pull off similar styles. AND I agree with you about buy /sell /trade stores. I used to work at one and would have customers take us on what we called "clothes safari's" This is when people want to tell you every detail about there clothes, when and where they bought it - how much they paid- how many times they wore it...what happened to them while they were wearing it. It's very interesting how attached we get to clothes and how they are somewhat a part of us.

Elisabeth Moody said...

i know people don't get that.
and i love your outfits.
link me, and i have already linked you.
please and thanks!

love,
beth

Anonymous said...

That's good advice. I've never tried to sell clothes to a shop like that, I always give them away, but it's good input from you nonetheless.

lisa lindøe said...

you always look so adorable, your new clothing suits you so well.
x

TEXTSTYLES said...

just came across your blog
loves it
and fabulous style

let's link up
stefania

Unknown said...

I love your look!!

Caro said...

lovely outfit :)

Caro said...

lovely outfit :)

Zoë said...

love the boots!

edith said...

i totally know where you're coming from.......i do feel that's beacon's taste is a little weird these days.....i lot less quirky stuff and a lot more secondhand h and m....or maybe that's just me...

Anonymous said...

i have nothing to say relevent to this post (other than you have a really cute sense of humour) but you're effing gorgeous! i'm so jealous.

Ashleigh said...

well put! p.s. Love that hat...looks warm ;)

Parapluie said...

Wow, the coat and the dress are stunning! The colors suit you very well (btw I adore your walls! I'm ususally not a big fan of yellow but here they look great) Hihi, that little clock is very cute

Stina said...

i love your outfit, the dress esp. you look absolutely darling!

HANNAH-ZOË said...

that is a coool coat! i love how it has a hood, and I'm loving the baggy beanie (:

DEESTO said...

Siri, when I read your post, I think about our crazy hecticccccc times @ crossroads. It was such a love/hate relationship. I hated it mostly but even when I quit the first time around, I missed all the goodies that came to me. We were so spoiled! Also, You and your killer outfits ALL THE TIME! But really, it started to suck with Julie behind our backs telling us not to buy vintage ("costumes") anymore. I don't think you were around for that but it was awful! ! ! ! !
Anyway, there's this cute guy at Buffalo. SCORE!

(Miss you Siri)

sarah marie p said...

I just found your blog and I'm in love with your fashion sense. Could you do me a BIG favor and let me know where you got your boots? If you could comment back to me on my blog and let me know I would really appreciate it! I have been obsessing over finding the perfect boots and I love yours!

Dana (MODAna) said...

wow, I've never looked at sales people that way.
I love your beenie and boots!!

Mary said...

oh man, i workeed at crossroads in san francisco. it was truly the worst experience if my life, and i got fired. i like beacon's better because it's more vintage and not so designer-driven. crossroads was like swarms of rude people throwing juicy couture on the floor.

but true, people always get so touchy when you won't take their stuff. it's like, if we think we thought we could sell it, we'd buy it from you!