I’ll never forget the mixture of relief and anticipation I felt in early 2019 when I taped up my very first "Clean Out Kit." It was a massive, polka-dotted bag stuffed to the brim with what I considered to be high-value inventory: J.Crew cardigans from last season, a few pairs of barely-worn Madewell jeans, and a Kate Spade handbag that just wasn't "me" anymore. I dragged it to the post office, convinced I was about to make an easy $200 without lifting a finger.
Six weeks later, the email arrived. My "earnings" were ready. I clicked the link with trembling hands, already mentally spending the money. The total? $14.22. I stared at the screen, feeling physically ill. They had rejected half the items—recycling them without my permission because I hadn’t paid for return assurance—and sold the Madewell jeans for pennies, giving me a payout that wouldn't even cover a lunch. That was my baptism by fire into the world of online consignment.
Since that day, I have sent in over 50 kits and bought dozens of their mystery boxes. I have learned that Thredup is not a scam, but it is a machine that relies on your ignorance of their fee structure to make a profit. If you treat it like a donation center that might buy you a coffee, you'll be happy. If you treat it like a business partner without reading the fine print,you will be devastated.
Is Thredup Legit? Understanding the Machine
When you search for is thredup legit, the answer is technically yes. They are a publicly traded company. They process millions of garments a year. They are not stealing your identity or running a Ponzi scheme. But "legit" doesn't mean "fair" in the way most people define it.
The Business Model: Thredup is an operations company. They have to pay humans to open your bag, inspect your sweaty gym clothes, photograph the good stuff, measure it, list it, store it in a massive warehouse, and ship it. That costs a fortune. To pay for that, they take a massive cut.
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The Split: On low-value items (mall brands like Old Navy or Gap), they might take 90% or even 100% of the sale price. You only start seeing real percentages (60-80%) when you sell luxury items over $200.
Opinion Statement: I honestly believe that Thredup is the best option for people who literally were going to take their clothes to Goodwill anyway. If your alternative is $0 and a tax receipt you'll lose, Thredup is an upgrade. If your alternative is selling it yourself on Poshmark, Thredup is a robbery.
Thredup Reviews for Selling: The Payout Reality
Here’s where it gets interesting... The biggest source of thredup reviews for selling complaints comes from the "Payout Structure." It is confusing by design. In 2024, they changed the model again. Now, many accounts are charged a "Processing Fee" just to send a bag in. If you send a bag of 20 items, and they only accept 5, and those 5 sell for $10 total,but the processing fee was $15... you owe them money. (Thredup typically waives the debt, but you get $0).
My Specific Numbers:
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Date: March 12, 2023.
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Kit Sent: 15lbs of "Career Wear" (Ann Taylor, Loft, Banana Republic).
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Items Accepted: 12 out of 25.
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Total Sales Price: $145.
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My Payout: $28.50.
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Takeaway: I did zero work and got $28. If I had listed those on eBay, I might have netted $100, but it would have taken me 10 hours. Is $72 worth 10 hours of my life? Sometimes no.
Honest Failure: I once sent a pair of pristine Tory Burch flats. They were listed as "Good Condition" (they were Excellent) and sold for $25. My payout was something like $3. I was furious. I could have sold those locally for $40 cash in an hour.Lesson: Never send mid-tier luxury to Thredup. The risk of them underpricing it is too high.
Thredup Reviews Complaints: The "Black Hole" of Processing
A massive chunk of thredup reviews complaints centers on the timeline. This is not Amazon Prime. When you mail a bag, it sits in a trailer for weeks. Then it sits in a queue for weeks.
My Timeline Experience:
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Mailed Kit: January 10th.
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"Kit Received" Email: January 24th.
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"Kit Processed" Email: March 15th.
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Items Sold: April - June.
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Payout Available: 14 days after sale (return window). You are looking at a 6-month cycle to get your $20.
Parenthetical Aside: (I actually forgot I had sent a bag once. Six months later I got an email saying I had $45 in credit. It felt like finding money in an old coat pocket. If you detach from the outcome, the slowness is less painful.)
Using Closo Demand Signals to Filter Inventory
So, how do I decide what goes to the "Thredup Black Hole" and what stays with me? I use data. If an item has high demand, I keep it. If it has low demand but value, I might send it. I use Closo Demand Signals to make this decision.How Closo helps me predict demand & trends 6 weeks ahead is by showing me if a brand is trending down.
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The Scenario: I have a stack of "Soft Surroundings" tunics.
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The Data: Closo signals show that searches for this brand are dropping rapidly on Poshmark.
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The Decision: If I list them myself, they will sit for months.
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The Action: I throw them in the Thredup bag. Let them deal with the slow sell-through.
I use Closo to automate my inventory filtering – saves me about 3 hours weekly of researching dead brands.
Thredup.com Reviews: Buying on the Platform
Let's flip the script. What about thredup.com reviews for buying? This is where the site shines. If you know how to filter,it is a goldmine. I have bought $300 cashmere sweaters for $40. I have bought NWT (New With Tags) Revolve dresses for 90% off.
The Search Hack: You cannot just browse. You must use the filters.
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Material: Filter by "Silk," "Cashmere," "Leather," "Wool."
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Condition: Filter by "New with Tags" or "Like New."
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The Result: You filter out the 90% of garbage (Shein, Forever 21) and see only the quality goods.
One Limitation: Their measurements are notoriously bad. They use AI or quick estimates. "Chest: 18 inches" might actually be 16 or 20. If fit is critical (like fitted trousers), I avoid Thredup. If fit is flexible (like oversized sweaters), I buy.
Selling on Thredup Review: The Partner Kits
If you hate the idea of waiting for a payout, selling on thredup review threads often mention "Partner Kits." Thredup partners with brands like Reformation, Gap, and Athleta. You get a special shipping label. When your items sell, instead of cash, you get a gift card to that brand with a bonus (usually 15%).
My Experience: I sent a "Reformation Partner Kit." My payout was converted to Reformation credit. I turned a bag of old clothes into a new $200 dress. Because I shop at Reformation anyway, this was "real money" to me.Opinion Statement: Partner kits are the only way I send to Thredup now. The 15% bonus helps offset the terrible payout rates, and the processing time is sometimes prioritized.
Is Thredup Worth It? The Luxe Kit
For high-end items, Thredup offers "Luxe." This is for brands like Gucci, Prada, The Row.Is thredup worth it for these?Surprisingly, sometimes yes.
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Pros: They take professional photos. They authenticate (usually). They market it to a higher-end buyer list.
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Cons: The commission is still high compared to selling it yourself on eBay.
Anecdote: I sent a beat-up Louis Vuitton Speedy bag. The zipper was sticky, and the handles were dark. I didn't want to deal with an eBay buyer complaining about the condition. Thredup Luxe accepted it. They listed it for $450. It sold in a week. I got roughly $320. Could I have gotten $400 on Poshmark? Maybe. But I didn't have to answer 50 questions about "lowest price?" For damaged luxury, Thredup is a great dumping ground.
Thredup Reviews for Selling vs. Closo Crosslister
Now the tricky part... If you have items that are in good condition and in high demand, sending them to Thredup is burning money. If you have a pair of Lululemon Align leggings, do not send them to Thredup. They will give you $15.You can sell them on Poshmark for $50 in a day.
This is where the Closo Crosslister comes in. I use the tool to quickly list the "A-Grade" inventory across Poshmark,Mercari, and eBay.
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The Strategy:
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Sort Inventory: Pile A (Good Brands/Trends) vs. Pile B (Mall Brands/Outdated).
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Pile A: Photograph and list using Closo.
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Pile B: Shove into Thredup bag.
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The Benefit: I maximize profit on the good stuff while clearing space of the junk.
I use Closo to automate my cross-listing of the "A-Grade" items – saves me about 3 hours weekly of data entry.
What is Thredup Reviews on Customer Service?
If things go wrong, what is thredup reviews consensus on support? It is a chat bot hellscape. Getting a human is hard.However, once you get a human, they are usually helpful. They issue refunds quickly for lost bags or damaged purchases.
The "Lost Bag" Fear: I had one bag go off the radar for 3 weeks. Tracking stopped updating. I contacted support. They credited me $50 as a "courtesy" payout. The bag eventually showed up a month later and was processed. I kept the $50 plus the actual payout. So, their incompetence sometimes works in your favor.
Thredup Reviews: The "Rescue Box" Gamble
For resellers, Thredup sells "Rescue Boxes." These are bulk boxes of items that didn't sell or were rejected (but still wearable).Thredup review videos on YouTube of these unboxings are viral for a reason. It is pure gambling.
My Rescue Box Experience: I bought a "25 Pairs of Shoes" rescue box for $90.
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The Good: A pair of Tieks (sold for $60), some nice Nike running shoes.
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The Bad: 4 pairs of shoes were single shoes (just the left or right). 3 pairs were literally falling apart (dry rot).
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The Verdict: I doubled my money after a lot of work cleaning and scrubbing. It is fun, but it is dirty work.
Common Questions I See
People always ask me... Do you get your items back if they don't sell?
Only if you pay for "Return Assurance" before you ship the bag. It usually costs $10.99 (deducted from earnings). If you don't check that box, Thredup owns your items. If they don't sell, they recycle them or sell them in rescue boxes. You get nothing. I never pay for return assurance because I only send items I never want to see again.
Common question I see... Why is my payout so low?
Thredup uses an algorithm to determine the listing price. They often start items at a high price but run aggressive sales (40-50% off). Your payout is based on the final sale price, not the listing price. If your shirt listed for $20 but sold during a 50% off sale for $10, your payout is calculated on the $10.
People always ask me... Can I send men's clothes?
No. Thredup is strictly Women's and Kids'. Do not send men's clothing; it will be rejected and donated immediately.
Conclusion
So, is thredup legit? Yes.Is thredup worth it? It depends on your goal. If your goal is Space, yes. It is the easiest way to declutter responsibly. If your goal is Money, mostly no. It is a penny-pinching game.
My honest assessment is that Thredup serves a vital role in the ecosystem as the "drain" for items that aren't worth your time to list manually. It is not a business partner; it is a disposal service that tips you.
If you want to actually make money on your clothes, you have to do the work yourself. Use the Closo Seller Hub to identify which items in your closet are actually gold mines.
For more on how to sell the items you keep, read our Flyp Crosslister Review to see how free tools can help you.
And if you want to know what to look for at the thrift store to avoid the Thredup bag, check out Trending Products Forecast 2026
