Phoenix consignment buying guide

Although your favorite consignment and resale shops are perfect for finding luxury apparel at wallet-friendly prices, don’t forget that these secondhand-clothing stores are a vehicle for making some extra cash.

Whether you’re finally finished with your Louis Vuitton bag or simply over the Banana Republic dress you plucked from the clearance rack, these unwanted items hanging in your closet can become money in your pocket.

Fortunately, there are resale stores all over the Valley needing your castoffs. But to get the most for your money, it will take more finesse than merely lugging bags of clothes into a consignment store.

Here’s an insider’s guide to what the top consignment stores are buying. Resale experts – from the owner of Poor Little Rich Girl, Catharine Fournier-Raslavsky, to the regional manager of Buffalo Exchange, Mina Alegria – give us the inside scoop on what items they’re looking for now.

My Sister’s Closet

If you want to recycle your designer items or mint-condition mall purchases, this is your go-to consignment store. My Sister’s Closet also is a great place to shop for those who are interested in buying high-end designer items for less. Expect to find half-priced Chanel bags, bargain-priced St. John knits and loads of fairly priced fine jewelry.

Details: Locations Valley-wide. mysisterscloset.com.

Our source: Ann Siner, co-owner.

Payment policy: After your item sells, you have the option of receiving 55 percent of what the item sold for in store credit or 45 percent in cash.

Items that are an immediate yes: Current styles that originally retailed for a minimum of $40 to $50 that are clean, wrinkle-free and defect-free. Such luxury items as Chanel, Pucci, Tory Burch and boutique denim brands also are an instant yes.

How worn is too worn: We are very particular about the condition of items we purchase to sell. Your items need to be in nearly perfect condition for us to consider purchasing them.

What sellers can do to make their items more appealing: Launder them and bring everything in on hangers.

Top-selling brands: Designer jewelry and handbags. Chanel, Hermes, Pucci, Juicy Couture, Tory Burch and designer jeans also sell quickly.

Items you take year-round: We start buying fall items in August and summer items in January.

When’s a good time to sell: We suggest coming early in the morning during the week and avoid Saturdays.

Memorable item that has been sold in your store: Alice Cooper’s family piano.

What separates your store from other resale and consignment shops: The convenience factor. Our store is open every day of the week, and our cash policy is one of the most generous in the Valley.

Buffalo Exchange

If your closet is chock-full of funky youthful pieces and moderately priced mall purchases, this resale shop will be one of the best places for you to recycle your wardrobe. This eclectic shop has a little something for everyone but typically skews young. Think H&M, Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters.

Details: Locations Valley-wide. buffaloexchange.com.

Our source:Mina Alegria, regional manager of Buffalo Exchange.

Payment policy: If you chose cash, you receive 35 percent. If you opt for store credit, you receive 50 percent.

Items that are an immediate yes: We focus on current trends and funky one-of-a-kind pieces. Whether it’s an interesting dress from Target or a high-end designer item, we’re much more concerned with the style of the piece than where it came from or what brand it is.

How worn is too worn: How rare or interesting a garment is will determine how worn is too worn. If someone is selling an amazing leather jacket that has some wear and tear, we’ll take it. But we will definitely pass up contemporary items from the mall that have stains and holes.

What sellers can do to make their items more appealing: We suggest laundering your items before you sell because as soon as we purchase a piece it goes straight to the sales floor.

Top-selling brands: Popular mall brands such as H&M, Gap and Forever 21 do well, and designer denim sells very quickly.

Unexpected items you’ll buy: Vintage clothing, jewelry and small decorative items. We’ve purchased jewelry boxes, old luggage and even aprons. Anything that sparks an interest with the buyer.

Items you take year-round: We buy the best of winter and summer all year. If someone brings in a designer coat we love in the peak of summer, we’ll just add it to our back stock and bring it out to sell later.

Items you won’t take: Anything with severe condition issues.

Memorable items you’ve purchased: A gentleman brought in several unopened boxes of mint-condition women’s clothing from the 1950s, and we bought it all. It’s rare to see such a huge collection of vintage in perfect condition come into the store.

What separates your store from other resale and consignment shops: From luxury labels to funky vintage pieces, we always buy a wide variety of styles that appeal to very different tastes. We also donate to local charities. For example, instead of taking a bag at the time of checkout, a customer can opt to donate 5 cents to a local charity. We also have a huge donation bin where sellers can put the items that we don’t buy, and all of those items go to charity.

Poor Little Rich Girl

Here is where you bring your feminine pieces that have a bohemian edge. This is also a great place for those quality, mid-price, classic pieces from places like Ann Taylor, White House Black Market and Anthropologie.

Details: 1576 E. Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, 602-354-5680; 3730 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602-955-0708. poorlittlerichgirlresale.com.

Our source: Catharine Fournier-Raslavsky, owner.

Payment policy: The cash rate is 40 percent, and the trade can range from 50 to 60 percent.

Items that are an immediate yes:Designer jeans, handbags and dresses. We regularly buy Rock & Republic, Citizens of Humanity, Joe’s and True Religion jeans. We also often buy Coach, Louis Vuitton, Dooney & Bourke, Gucci and Chanel handbags. How worn is too worn:We’re very selective when it comes to quality. We prefer garments that look like new, free of pilling, holes and stains. The only circumstance that damage will be overlooked is when the garment is rare or a designer piece and the damage is repairable.

What sellers can do to make their items more appealing: They need to be laundered because the items immediately go out to the selling floor. It’s very important that they’re free of any odor. I won’t take anything that smells of smoke or perfume.

Top-selling brands: Diane von Furstenberg, Free People, Rock & Republic jeans, Coach handbags, Louis Vuitton accessories.

Unexpected items you’ll buy: Vintage coats and handmade jewelry.

Items you take year-round: We take items from all seasons all year, but we will buy more of what’s appropriate for the current season.

Items you won’t take: Clothing from Walmart, Kmart, JC Penney, Charlotte Russe, Wet Seal or Forever 21. Memorable items you’ve purchased:In the same day, I purchased a Pinecone purse and a mink-fur brooch from two different clients.

What separates your store from other resale and consignment shops: We consign local handmade items, and we also have a really generous exchange rate if you choose to trade your items. If you sign up for our trade program, you’ll receive 60 percent of what your items sold for that you can apply to merchandise in the store.

Ivy Boutique

These buyers want quality name brands, contemporary styles and clothes in very good condition.

Details: 1840 E. Warner Road, Tempe. 480-897-1200, ivyontheweb.com.

Our source: Chris Rockwell, co-owner of Ivy Boutique.

Payment policy: It is cash (30 percent) or trade (50 percent).

Items that are an immediate yes: We regularly buy Tory Burch, Trina Turk, J.Crew, White House Black Market and Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Coach handbags. True Religion jeans are always a yes, along with Seven for All Mankind and Joe’s jeans. We’re looking for wedge shoes, Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo shoes. We don’t take Forever 21, Target or Charlotte Russe.

How worn is too worn: We’re pretty picky. No loose stitching or broken zippers. We also don’t take much vintage unless it looks contemporary.

What sellers can do to make their items more appealing: Launder them.

Top-selling brands: True Religion, BCBG, Free People, Michael Stars, Anthropologie.

Unexpected items people don’t necessarily think to bring in: Shorts, sunglasses, nice exercise clothes and belts.

Items that sell the best in your store: Coach bags, designer denim and dresses.

Items you take year-round: We’re seasonless if the piece is amazing. We take things like sweaters and wool jackets all year.

Items you won’t take: Avant-garde designer pieces, tween brands like American Eagle and Abercrombie & Fitch jewelry.

When’s a good time to sell: We have a drop-off service beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. We call when we’re done pricing.

Memorable items that have been sold in your store: Louis Vuitton collection bag and Christian Dior shoes.

What separates your store from other resale and consignment shops: We are an upscale resale boutique. It’s merchandised like a brand-new store.

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