do i have to make an appointment to sell?
nope, our buying counters operate on a first come first served basis 7 days a week.
we typically accept and process buys up until one hour before closing. However, during peak times (with wait times of 2–4 hours), our buying queue often fills by the afternoon. Once the queue is full, same-day assessments may not be possible. In these cases, we can only accept items as a drop-off, which means your items will be evaluated the following business day without you present (see more on the drop-off process below).
how long does it take?
on average, same-day assessments take about one hour, but depending on the selling queue, wait times may extend up to 4 hours.
we strongly recommend arriving earlier in the day to improve your chances of a same-day assessment and to avoid longer wait times or the queue closing for the day.
want to skip the line? sell from home? know prices? check out our convenient mail service – bag it
what kind of items do you buy?
Current season, contemporary, and on-trend independent labels and designer garments, along with unique vintage pieces, in gently used condition are what sell best for us.
we do not accept children’s clothing and are unable to buy jewelry at this time.
additionally, we are very selective with buying in mass-market and fast-fashion brands such as; shein, fashionnova, forever 21, h+m, old navy, aeropostale, target, walmart, jcpenney, sears, or kohl’s. these brands typically do not meet our inventory criteria due to their original retail price points and lower resale value.
the level of demand can fluctuate depending on an item's specific style, condition, and prevailing fashion trends. please do not take offense if we can't purchase your items. we only make money on the items we can purchase, so if we can buy it, we will!
what brands do you take?
Due to the nature of our secondhand business and ever-changing inventory, it’s difficult to provide an exact list of brands we accept. Additionally, when assessing an item we typically prioritize the style first, with the brand serving as additional context for its resale value.
Our customers seek unique pieces at an affordable price, whether that be vintage finds, designer labels, or contemporary mid-level brands that are currently trending.
In general, items that tend to do well for us include:
- Collectible or on-trend designer labels
- Unique and collectible vintage pieces in good condition
- Recent contemporary items from mid-level brands, such as those sold at retailers like Revolve and Shopbop
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Very select fast fashion pieces (such as H&M and Zara), depending on style, condition, and our current inventory levels
You can get a better sense of the types of items we typically carry in our stores on our Instagram and TikTok profiles.
Check out commonly accepted brands
how do you determine the prices of my items?
we evaluate items and price them according to brand, style, condition, season, original retail value, our inventory levels, and current market demand. we offer 30% in cash or 50% in store credit of our selling price for accepted items.
in example, if we accept a pair of vintage leather boots and price them at $49.95, the seller would receive either $14.99 in cash value or $24.98 in store credit.
Due to the nature of our business, our inventory is always changing. As a result, our inventory needs can vary from week to week. Unfortunately, we may not be able to accept the same item at a later date, and our price points can also fluctuate based on our current inventory needs, sales trends, and existing stock.
Each of our store locations purchases items based on their current inventory levels and local market trends, so it's typical for items to require reassessment when brought to different store locations.
can I change my mind and take an item back?
items selected for resale by our buying team are typically placed on the sales floor immediately, and retrieval is not guaranteed. by signing in to sell with us, you agree to sell the items that we are able to accept. see selling policies here.
if you are unsure about selling an item or want to review prices, you should request a “present buy” when signing in with the host.
in a present buy, we review accepted items and set price points together before completing the voucher. present buy sellers have the option to take back any items they decide not to sell.
present buy sellers must return by 7 PM on the day of their sale to review items and finalize price points. items not picked up by 7 PM will be processed as usual, without an itemized receipt, and unpurchased items will be donated to charity.
all sellers must return by 7 PM on the day of their sale to claim any unpurchased items (including containers/bags they were left in) or they will be donated to charity a half an hour before store closing)
what if i don't want any of the items back?
we gratefully accept unwanted apparel and accessories (excluding intimates such as underwear and socks) at our designated donation drop-off sections, typically located near the buying room and selling counter.
these items are either selected for specific charities we partner with, such as Feed The Streets and Garage Sales Against Violence, or sold to Helpsy, a certified B Corporation that recycles, resells, and reuses textiles. Beacon's Closet donates 30-50% of these proceeds to charities that advocate for progressive change and humanitarian causes we deeply care about.
for more information on our clothing donation process, please visit our giving back page.
how do i receive payment for the items i agree to sell?
we offer two payment options:
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30% of the total retail value in cash (some of our locations offer cashless payment options like cash app or paypal should you wish to receive your cash electronically)
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50% of the total retail value in store credit - can be redeemed at any of our four NYC locations (Greenpoint, Bushwick, Park Slope, or Manhattan). To set up your account, we’ll need your full name and phone number. At checkout, simply provide your phone number and a photo ID to use your credit.
You don't have to wait for your items to sell before you receive payment. you receive cash or trade (store credit) on the spot.
*sellers must be 18+ to sell. we require a united states government issued id, or any passport (accompanied by a visa as per DCA regulations) to sell. school id's are not acceptable with the exception of those in the SUNY or CUNY system. seller information is confidential and is never shared with outside parties or used for promotional reason
where can i bring my things to sell?
all four of our brick-and-mortar stores buy from the public.
- Greenpoint - 74 guernsey st, brooklyn, ny 11222
(718) 486-0816 greenpoint@beaconscloset.com
open 7 days 11-8
- Park Slope - 92 5th Ave, brooklyn, ny 11217
(718) 230-1630 parkslope@beaconscloset.com
open 7 days
m-f noon - 8:00 PM
s+s 11 AM - 8:00 PM
- Manhattan - 10 w 13th st, new york, ny 10011
(917) 261-4863 manhattan@beaconscloset.com
open 7 days 11-8
- Bushwick - 23 bogart st, brooklyn, ny 11206
(718) 417-5683 bushwick@beaconscloset.com
open 7 days 11-8
want to sell from home? live outside of nyc? check out our convenient mail service – bag it
do you do bulk collection buying, house visits, or vintage wholesale purchases?
we operate on a buy-sell-trade model, offering a 30% cash or 50% store credit payment options for items we purchase from the local public through our stores' buying counters. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate house calls, bulk purchases, or transactions outside of our established buy-sell-trade model.
you are welcome to submit your items to our sell-through-mail program Bag It, or bring the items by one of our four brick-and-mortar stores to be assessed at the buying counter. please note, both our bag it and in store buying rooms have a 50 item max per seller.
what if i forgot to pick up my voucher?
you can contact the store where you dropped off your items, and they will have your voucher on file. you can still claim your cash amount as long as you redeem your voucher on the day you return to the store.
here is a list of our four brick-and-mortar locations and contact information.
please note: any remaining items that were not purchased, including the bag or container your buy was dropped off in, that are left behind at closing are donated to charity and cannot be retrieved.
are your buying counters open on holidays?
our stores are closed for selling and shopping on the following holidays. Please note that selling queues may be affected around holiday periods, with longer wait times and earlier same-day assessment cutoffs than usual
- new year’s eve – all stores open normal hours except park slope, which will close at 7pm
- january 1st • closed
- juneteenth • closed
- july 4th • closed
- park slope 7pm halloween closing, all others open reg. hours
- thanksgiving eve and national eve of mourning • 7pm closing
- thanksgiving and national day of mourning • closed
- dec. 24th – 5pm closing
- dec. 25th – closed