27. Inquire about exchanging items for store credit.
A store credit policy exists in several thrift stores and consignment shops. This means you can get store credit in return for your clothes and other goods. They will almost always give you more in shop credit than they will in cash. For instance, at my local Plato’s Closet, they may offer $1 in cash for every $2 in shop credit. If you’re in the market for new clothes, it only makes sense to bring them in and get some cash to spend on new things. You can sometimes do this in a pawn shop.
Larger chain stores, such as Goodwill, will not offer a trade-in program. Because many of these thrift stores receive so many contributions, they refuse to accept payment for the products they receive. Because Goodwill gets so many donations, they frequently have to turn them away and send them to the outlet, where they are sold by the pound. As a result, paying anything for inventory would be a complete waste of money. High-end consignment shops are more eager to participate in a trade-in program than low-end consignment businesses.
