Brett Helling
September 18, 2024

How to Sell Clothes to Platos Closet [Easily] In 2024

If you want to make money by selling your old clothes, this guide will show you how to sell clothes to Plato’s Closet to get the best possible offer.

If you have used clothes lying around, you might consider selling them to make some cash.

However, if the clothes still retain their brand-new quality, selling them to a consignment shop or thrift store won’t bring in much.

There are many places to sell clothes, but picking the right one is key to receiving the most money in return.

In that case, Plato’s Closet can be a better and more profitable alternative. If you want to know how to sell clothes to Platos Closet, this guide will have you covered!

Key Takeaways

  • Plato's Closet offers an easy, in-person selling process with immediate cash payments.
  • They are selective, only accepting trendy, in-demand, lightly-used clothes from accepted brands.
  • Profits can be low, with sellers receiving around 20-30% of the item’s resale price.
  • Timing, cleanliness, and exploring alternative selling options can improve your success.

Why You Should Consider Selling Clothes to Plato’s Closet

Selling to Plato’s Closet comes with several advantages. Here’s a quick look at some of the most common ones:

  • Relatively Easy Process: Selling to Plato’s Closet doesn’t have complex requirements. The simplicity of the process allows you to make money through buying wholesale and selling for more.
  • Helps You Declutter Your Wardrobe: Earning some money on the side can be the ideal incentive to encourage you to declutter your closet, especially if you have limited space in your closet.
  • They Pay in Cash: Plato’s Closet is one of the best alternatives to selling clothes online because you get paid instantly if they accept the clothes.
  • No Limits to What They Buy: Plato’s Closet doesn’t have a specific limit to what they buy. This means that you won’t have to worry about the quantity you bring in as long as they’re in perfect shape.

Problems With Selling Clothes to Plato’s Closet

Although Plato’s Closet is an excellent choice for clothes sellers, it still has its downsides. Here are some problems that you should keep in mind before selling Plato’s Closet.

Close-up of young woman putting clothes in a shipping box

1. Plato’s Closet Are Highly Selective

One of the main hurdles you’re going to stumble across while selling to Plato’s Closet is their selectivity.

Unlike other thrift shops, Plato’s Closet only sells clothes from reputable brands at 60% to 70% of their original price.

For that reason, they won’t automatically accept anything that you offer to them. In fact, even if they’re high-quality items with no rips or stains, they won’t accept clothes from brands they don’t sell at the store.

2. Profits Can Vary Significantly

Ideally, you should expect Plato’s Closet to give you as little as 20% of the original price of the item you’re selling. This is because the store resells them for around 65% of the original price and you get around 1/3 of that.

Considering that you’re selling lightly used clothes from reputable brands (that are still in fashion), this can be pretty low.

3. The Quotes Are Usually Non-Negotiable

In many thrift stores, an associate will put an estimated price on the clothes you bring in. After that, you can negotiate the price to increase your earnings.

However, Plato’s Closet doesn’t manually estimate the price. Instead, the company uses special software that gives an estimate based on specific aspects, such as:

  • The item’s brand
  • The condition of the clothes
  • How old it is
  • Whether the item is in season
  • Current store demands

For that reason, Plato’s Closet quotes are usually non-negotiable. If the estimate doesn’t suit you, the only option you have is to sell the rejected items elsewhere.

4. No Options for Shipping

If you want to sell clothes to Plato’s plant, you have to take the clothes there. In other words, you can ship the items to the store without being physically present. This also means that Plato’s Closet will only pay for the clothes in cash.

What You’ll Need to Sell Clothes to Plato’s Closet

Plato’s Closet tries to make the sale process as quick and convenient as possible. For that reason, you don’t need much to sell your clothes.

Besides the good-condition clothes, here are some of the items you’ll need to sell to Plato’s Closet:

  • Identification: For security reasons, you’ll need to present proof of identity before completing a sale in Plato’s Closet. This can be anything from a State ID to a driver’s license or a passport.
  • Proper Container for the Clothes: You typically don’t need to keep the clothes in a hanger while selling them to Plato’s Closet.

However, you still need a suitable container to carry the clothes. This can be a bin, box, or recyclable shopping bag. Avoid garbage bags or plastic ones.

Since you sell your clothes in person, you’ll not need to log in or register to any websites to sell to Plato’s Closet. You also won’t need a bank account because they pay in cash.

Young Businessman Selling Clothes Online Working on his Laptop

What to Sell On Plato’s Closet

Here are some of the best items to sell on Plato’s Closet for the highest profits:

1. Season-Suitable Clothes You Don’t Wear Anymore

If you have plenty of clothes that are still in style, you should consider selling them to Plato’s Closet.

For example, if it’s summer, consider selling a summer dress that you bought a year ago and don’t wear anymore.

Why This Product Sells Well

Plato’s Closet always tries to stock up on items that they can sell quickly. This is because the store has a high turnover rate due to lower prices.

For that reason, the store mainly targets in-style, season-suitable clothes that are still in high demand. This allows them to sell the clothes fast and have a return on investment in as little time as possible.

2. Timeless Fashion

Items like jeans, black dresses, basic cardigans, and plain t-shirts, are timeless classics. This means that they’re always trendy and in style, even if they’re a few years old.

Why This Product Sells Well

Since these items are still in style, Plato’s Closet often accept them as long as they’re in good condition. This helps you fetch a good price on relatively old items.

3. Teen and Young Adult Clothes

While selling clothes, try to focus on items that appeal to younger generations. Make sure that you go for brands and fashion that are in style for that particular age group.

Why This Product Sells Well

Although Plato’s Closet has clothes for all ages and demographics, teens and younger adults make up the majority of the store’s buyers.

For that reason, Plato’s Closet tends to accept more clothes that appeal to them, especially smaller sizes.

How To Sell Clothes to Plato’s Closet: Step-By-Step Instructions

Now that you know more about Plato’s Closet’s pros and cons, here’s how to sell clothes to them:

1. Choose What You Want to Sell

PLATO'S website

First, you should start by selecting the items that you think Plato’s Closet will accept. Make sure that you put these criteria in your mind while browsing through the clothes:

  • Trendy clothes that are still in style
  • Appealing to younger demographics (not mandatory but preferred)
  • Accepted brand that Plato’s Closet offer in its stores
  • Lightly used with no signs of heavy use (think clothes you could still wear but don’t anymore)

2. Inspect the Clothes for Any Signs of Damage or Stains

After choosing the clothes you want to sell, give the clothes a thorough inspection to check for any signs of damage or heavy use, such as:

  • Heavy or permanent stains
  • Discoloration
  • Rips (inside and out)
  • Fading prints
  • Broken buckles
  • Missing buttons

All items with any of these signs will be rejected, so you should save the extra cost and effort and leave them out anyway. Checking the clothes also helps you set realistic expectations for the quote you’re going to get.

3. Make Sure That Your Clothes Are Clean

Always make sure that your clothes look as brand new as possible while selling them to Plato’s Closet. This can help you fetch the highest prices for them.

You can do this by gently laundering and drying the clothes before you go. This also ensures that they’re fresh with no lingering scents.

After cleaning the clothes, make sure that you fold them neatly and put them in a bin, basket, or box. Avoid items that give a bad impression like plastic bags and garbage bags.

4. Find the Nearest Plato’s Closet Store

According to Plato’s Closet, there are over 475 stores across North America. However, you can easily find the nearest one to you by using Plato’s Closet location finder.

5. Head to the Store and Contact the Sales Team

Once you’re in the store, talk to one of the sales agents and let them know that you have items to sell.

One of the store’s representatives will then check the items and return back to you with a quote. If you accept the offer, you’ll get paid in cash.

Things to Consider When Selling Clothes to Plato’s Closet

Before selling your clothes to Plato’s Closet, here are some essential points to keep in mind to maximize your profits.

1. Timing is Critical

Plato’s Closet can get quite crowded on weekends. The work pressure might affect the employee’s judgment, giving you an unfair evaluation of the clothes.

If you want a smoother process, you should go on weekdays when the stores aren’t as crowded.

2. Use Alternative Options to Sell Unaccepted Items

Luckily, you’re not out of options if some items are unaccepted by Plato’s Closet. You can take advantage of their neat condition and sell them to other resale retailers like Clothes Mentor or Poshmark.

3. Take High-Definition Pictures of Your Clothes Before Going

Since your clothes are in tip-top condition, you should also take some good pictures of them. This gives you proper documentation of the items’ condition before selling them and allows you to post them online if you can’t sell them to Plato’s Closet.

4. Consider Donating Rejected Items for a Tax Break

If your clothes are rejected by Plato’s Closet, you can still make money out of them by donating them to stores like Goodwill.

Besides giving back to the community, you can get a tax break if the donation is worth a nice sum of money.

5. Plato’s Closet Also Accepts Accessories and Makeup

Lastly, since you’re making a trip to Plato’s Closet, you might want to take a look at your accessories and makeup, especially non-expired unopened items. This is because Plato’s Closet can also accept these items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions that you might have in mind before selling clothes to Plato’s Closet.

Does Plato’s Closet Pay Right Away?

After receiving the clothes at their nearest branch, the associates will inspect the clothes to give you a quote. If you accept the quote, you should get your money right away in cash.

However, you should keep in mind that Plato’s Closet doesn’t always accept the clothes you might bring. To increase your chances, make sure that you bring in good quality items with no stains or visible damage.

What Does Plato’s Closet Not Accept?

Plato’s Closet will only accept clothes from retailers they carry in stores. You can check the list of accepted brands through Plato’s Closet’s official website.

If your clothes aren’t from these retailers, Plato’s Closet won’t buy them. Additionally, Plato’s Closet doesn’t accept any clothes that are too old (out of style) or with stains/damage.

Similar Tutorials to Check Out

If you’re looking for alternative websites to sell good condition clothes, here are some alternatives you might want to consider for quick cash:

Wrapping Up

There you have it! A brief guide that shows you how to sell clothes to Plato’s Closet and make the highest profits possible.

Selling clothes to Plato’s Closet can be a worthy investment if you have plenty of in-style clothes cluttering up your closet.

Alternatively, you can also check out Poshmark if you’re interested in starting a small online clothing business.

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