I sold $27 worth of clothes I never wear to Buffalo Exchange (a consignment shop) today. That's actually decent for that store- they tend to take "mall brands" (Express, Gap, etc.) rather than super high-end items, so a few bucks for a shirt is a good deal. It's such a painful process though.
Unlike some consignment stores where you make an appointment (or a donation center where they're happy with what you can offer), you're instead subjected to some degree of humiliation.
On a typical day, a girl with eyebrow piercings, pink hair, and a studded plaid belt picks through your "gently used" clothes and makes an array of faces and loud comments to her coworkers. In one particular location, they make you stand/sit in front of the counter as they work. As I sat uncomfortably in the plastic chair (watching an employee skip around asking patrons to participate in a hula hoop contest- possibly to drown out the snide comments of her friends behind the counter), I realized that I was hopelessly out of place despite being surrounded by 20-somethings. Everyone around me had tattoos, checkered hats, and bubblegum pink lips. I'm pretty sure that they're what you're supposed to be when you're "young". Into music, concerts, "fun" clothes, forging a new and offbeat identity.
Apparently I have no identity. At least I have 27 more bucks.
Why I don't love people rummaging through and judging my old clothes
August 24th, 2008 at 04:02 am
August 24th, 2008 at 04:25 am 1219551945
August 24th, 2008 at 04:54 am 1219553669
The salon teacher had the students look us over. Apparently none of were suitable. They were learning an unlayered style, our old haircuts were all layered, and we got the snarky comments about our hair.
August 24th, 2008 at 05:50 am 1219557010
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August 24th, 2008 at 04:31 pm 1219595471
First of all... the lack of good manners/tact shown by the staff is not in your control.... you behaved correctly... I don't know if I could have sat there like that !! I probably would have said something in a friendly/jokey manner to let them know I would prefer it if they kept their fashion commentary to themselves !!!
Secondly... I can empathise with feeling as if one is not in with the coolest gang/fashion. This was part of my experience as a teenager. I wasn't particularly bothered about it. I enjoy fashion and can surprise when I'm in the mood !! However I have come to see people with a lot tattoos/piercings/extreme hairstyles as people who limit their identity to that tattoo/piercing/hairstyle for a short while....
I prefer not to nail myself to any particular mast, keep my mind open and dabble at ALL of life's little options :-)
August 24th, 2008 at 11:00 pm 1219618835
Congrats on putting up with that stuff, and the $27!
August 25th, 2008 at 08:04 pm 1219694663