Donating Clothes vs. Selling Them on thredUp: Which is Better?

A person in a striped shirt folds clothing into a box for donations If you have extra clothing that you no longer wear floating around in the back of your closet, you may be considering ways to clear out the clutter. Two of the main ways to do just that are by either donating them or selling them to a consignment store, including online stores like thredUp. If you’re debating between donating your old clothing and trying to sell it on ThredUp, here are a few things you need to know.

The thredUp Selling Process

While selling your clothing online with thredUp may sound like a simple process, it’s actually full of plenty of steps and hidden costs that could delay you from ever even making a profit—and an incredibly small profit at that. The reality of selling your clothes on thredUp is that it:

  • Is a for-profit business
  • Pays you only a small percentage of what they will sell your clothes for
  • Requires you to pay $10 for a “Clean Out Kit” in order to process your clothes
  • Will not provide you with a receipt for tax purposes if you simply wish to donate your clothes without making money back

The Benefits of Donating

While you won’t make any form of profit from donating your clothing, it’s a much easier method of cleaning out your closet that doesn’t require you to ship anything, pay any fees, or wait for a buyer. If you choose to donate to an organization like American Kidney Services (AKS), you can also feel good knowing that your donation is going to support a good cause. Donating your clothing also allows you to give a wider variety of items, as thredUp only accepts clothing that is considered “trendy” and from a smaller range of brands.

Donating Made Simple With AKS

If you’ve decided that donating your clothing is a better option than trying to sell it on thredUp, American Kidney Services is here to help. We accept donations on behalf of the American Kidney Fund, a charitable organization that supports the fight against kidney disease. We also make things as convenient as possible for you with our contactless clothing donation pickup services available throughout the Atlanta, Georgia, area. Contact us today at 866-766-1957 or create an account and schedule your pickup online to get started.