Saving with 6abc: Holiday gift ideas from secondhand marketplaces

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Buying and selling through secondhand marketplaces is helping shoppers save money and even earn extra cash this holiday season.

Nearly 60% of people surveyed said they would consider buying a secondhand gift, and it’s no wonder.

Buying from a secondhand marketplace is a great, easy way to remove some of the financial stress of holiday shopping, and selling is an awesome way to make some money.

Many secondhand websites and brick-and-mortar thrift stores offer new items with tags, including clothing, pet products, toys, games, children’s gear, and housewares.

Chevon Mathes of Gloucester Township, New Jersey, who goes by Wardrobe Pop on Poshmark, shared examples of her finds.

The “What Do you Meme” game normally retails for $35.99. Chevon bought it on Poshmark for $6, and it was brand new, still wrapped in plastic.

She also bought a Rae Dunn mug for $3 and brand-new Old Navy jeans with the original price tag of $49.99 still attached for $8.

Another deal was a holiday dress originally priced at $140 for just $10.

Chevon buys and sells on Poshmark every week and has turned thrifting into a full-time business.

“I’ve sold a little over 6,500 items so far,” she said.

Since February 2024, Chevon has made about $70,000 on Poshmark.

Most people won’t earn that much, but selling gently worn clothes can still provide extra cash.

I myself made more than $60 this month by sending gently worn clothes to ThredUp.

The process is really easy. ThredUp sends you a bag with a shipping label, then the company takes care of the rest.

Other popular online secondhand marketplaces like ThredUp include TheRealReal and Rent the Runway.

Do be careful if you’re buying a gift that might need to be returned.

Return policies vary by store, website, and sometimes by item, so find out if your purchase is eligible for a return, or if it’s a final sale or exchange only.

Also, check on the return window. Some retailers provide only seven to ten days.

And see if there is a return shipping or restocking fee. You can save money on shipping by buying and returning multiple items at once.

Merry Thriftmas!