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A Visa study found that families spend an average of $919 on prom. That’s quite a hefty sum, isn’t it?
Prom dresses can be one of the priciest elements of prom night, often costing hundreds of dollars.
It’s exciting to don a stunning dress for prom, but often, it’s worn just once and then left to gather dust in your closet. This also applies to wedding and bridesmaid dresses. Luckily, just as there are places to sell used wedding and bridesmaid dresses, there are also buyers for gently worn prom dresses.
If you want to reclaim some cash and free up closet space, selling your prom dress could be a good option.
Where can I sell my prom dress?
You can sell your prom dress in different ways. Nearby, you can try consignment stores, pawn shops, or local selling platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Alternatively, you can sell it online on sites like Poshmark, Queenly, and Tradesy.
For additional options to sell your prom dress, check out the rest of this post for both local and online platforms.
Where to sell prom dresses near me
Selling your prom dress locally can be convenient and quick since you avoid the hassle of shipping. Plus, you usually get paid immediately!
Here are some local places near you where you can sell your prom dress:
1. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is an online platform where you can buy and sell items locally. This includes things like prom dresses, as well as shoes, handbags, accessories, and jewelry.
One of the great things about Facebook Marketplace is that it’s free to use for selling. You also have the option to ship items to buyers if you choose. However, if you opt to sell as a shop, there’s a selling fee of 5% per shipment or a flat fee of $0.40 for shipments of $8 or less. If you’re just selling your prom dress locally, though, there are no fees involved.
2. Consignment stores
Consignment stores offer a simple way to sell your prom dress. Here’s how it works: You bring your dress to the store, they assess it, and offer you a price. If you accept, they’ll display your dress for sale.
When your dress sells, you receive payment. This method is beneficial because consignment stores aim to sell your items to make a profit. However, they do take a percentage of your earnings as their commission.
Commission rates typically range from 20% to 40%, sometimes even higher. Additionally, some stores may charge a fee if your dress doesn’t sell.
Each consignment store has its own policies and commission rates, so it’s best to contact local stores to inquire about their specific rules and rates, and to see if they’re interested in selling your prom dress.
3. OfferUp
OfferUp is a popular website for buying and selling items locally. It’s a convenient platform for selling your unwanted prom dress. You can list your dress for sale without any fees if you sell it locally and don’t need to ship it.
If you choose to ship your item, there’s a fee for sellers, starting at $1.99 or 12.9% of the sale price. Overall, it’s a convenient way to sell your prom dress nearby without worrying about commission fees.
4. Craigslist
If you want to sell your prom dress locally, consider listing it on Craigslist.
It’s free to post items for sale, and there are no commission fees, allowing you to keep 100% of your profits from the sale.
5. Pawn shops
If you have an unwanted prom dress, you might think about selling it at a local pawn shop. A local pawn shop could be a quick solution if you need cash urgently. They typically pay you instantly.
However, keep in mind that pawn shops might not offer the best price. They aim to make a profit, so they often give you less than your items are actually worth.
6. Thrift stores
If there’s a thrift store nearby, consider reaching out to see if they’d buy your prom dress. Thrift stores are common in many towns and cities, so there’s probably one nearby.
Remember that thrift stores usually offer low prices, so you might not get top dollar for your dress. However, selling to them often means you get paid immediately.
7. 5miles
5miles is an online platform for local buying and selling, accessible through a website and an app. Users can easily list items for sale, including prom dresses, without any listing fees. Additionally, sellers have the flexibility to set their own prices.
8. VarageSale
VarageSale functions as an online platform similar to a garage sale. It enables local buying and selling of items. You can list your prom dress for sale and connect with buyers in your area. One advantage of VarageSale is that it’s free to list items for sale.
9. Host an IRL sale with your besties
Consider organizing a prom dress sale as a fantastic fundraiser for your organization or school club. Gather friends, teammates, neighbors, or club members to sell prom attire to community members on a budget.
You can set up the sale like a traditional yard sale, displaying and pricing secondhand items for visitors to browse and purchase. For a more elegant touch, enhance the experience with music and sparkling mocktails for shoppers to enjoy while they shop.
Where to sell prom dresses online
Selling your prom dress online is a smart choice. It broadens your potential buyer pool and saves you the hassle of visiting multiple stores for quotes.
Online selling offers great convenience. Here are some places where you can sell your prom dress online.
10. Poshmark
Poshmark is a popular platform for buying and selling secondhand clothes, including prom dresses. Listing your dress for sale on Poshmark is free.
When your item sells, Poshmark charges a flat commission of $2.95 for sales under $15. For sales of $15 or more, Poshmark takes a 20% commission fee.
11. Queenly
Queenly is a marketplace specializing in formal dresses. Whether it’s prom, weddings, or quinceañeras, you can sell your dresses there hassle-free.
Listing your dress is easy and free of charge. Simply set your price, and Queenly will provide a prepaid shipping label for you to send your dress to the buyer.
Once the buyer receives your dress, or after 3 days, you’ll get paid via PayPal, Venmo, or ACH. Queenly charges a 20% commission fee, leaving you with 80% of your sales.
12. eBay
eBay is a popular platform for selling items, including prom dresses. You can list your dress for sale on eBay for free.
However, if you list more than 250 items per month, there’s a $0.35 fee per listing.
When your dress sells, eBay charges a final value fee, typically 12.9% of the sale price or less, and a $0.30 fee per order.
13. Tradesy
Tradesy is a well-known platform for selling prom dresses.
When you sell on Tradesy, you’ll pay a $7.50 flat commission fee for items under $50. For items selling at $50 or more, the commission fee is 19.8%.
Tradesy is now known as Vestiaire Collective.
14. Vinted
Vinted is an excellent platform for selling your dresses. There are no fees for listing or selling items, meaning you keep 100% of your profits!
15. Depop
Depop is an online fashion marketplace headquartered in the UK. Users can buy and sell used items on the platform, which operates in multiple countries, including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Italy.
Listing items for sale on Depop is free; however, a 10% Depop fee is charged upon successful sale.
16. Etsy
Etsy is a popular platform with millions of visitors, offering great exposure for your used dress. However, there are fees involved in listing items for sale.
For each item you list on Etsy.com or their mobile apps, there’s a $0.20 listing fee.
Additionally, when your item sells, Etsy charges a transaction fee of 6.5% of the listing price, including any fees for delivery and gift wrapping.
17. ThredUp
ThredUp is an online consignment and thrift store for selling used clothing. You can sell your prom dress there.
The commission you receive varies based on the item’s price, typically ranging from 5% to 80% of the selling price.
18. Wedding/bridal dress stores
Some suggest selling your prom dress on wedding or bridal dress websites, such as:
These websites primarily focus on bridal gowns and wedding dresses. However, since prom dresses are considered formal wear, you might still be able to sell them on these platforms.
19. The RealReal
The RealReal is an online platform where you can sell pre-owned designer items like jeans, shoes, bags, jewelry, and more. You can even sell your prom dress there. Sellers can earn commissions ranging from 30% to 85%, depending on the item type and its selling price.
20. Mercari
On Mercari, you can sell various items, like your prom dress. When your dress sells, you’ll be charged a 2.9% fee plus a $0.30 payment processing fee.
21. Shpock
Shpock is an online marketplace in the UK where you can sell fashion items and accessories. You can easily sell your prom dress on this platform.
One of the key advantages of using Shpock is that it’s free to list items, and there are no commission fees. This means you get to pocket 100% of your profits.
The bottom line
If you’re looking to sell a used prom dress, there are several platforms available to you. From general resale marketplaces like eBay and Poshmark to specialized websites like Tradesy and Stillwhite, you have many options to choose from.
However, finding the best place to sell your prom dress can be a bit of a challenge. One strategy is to list your dress on several sites and see which one offers you the most money for it. This can help you get a sense of which platform is most popular with buyers and which one is likely to give you the best return on your investment.
Additionally, you may want to consider factors like ease of use, seller fees, and buyer protection policies when choosing a platform to sell your prom dress. With a little research and some careful consideration, you can find the perfect place to sell your dress and make a tidy profit in the process.