thredUP {Review & Giveaway}

Got a closet full of clothes your child has outgrown?  Feel like you’re constantly buying new clothes for your child about whom every one comments is “growing like a weed”.  thredUP is a FREE online kid’s clothing swap designed with parents like us in mind.  At thredUP you can browse through “boxes” of clothes other parents around the US have listed and find the box that is right for your child.

Here is a step-by-step outline straight from thredUP on how all this works:

PICK – Browse boxes listed in the thredUP community and select one you’d like to receive. Hopefully, by now, you have your friends on thredUP so you can just pick their boxes. If you’re busy, tell us your clothing preferences and the experts at thredUP can choose a box for you.
PAY – Once you’ve picked your box, all you pay is $5 plus shipping ($10.70) to have it delivered.
PREPARE – As part of this process, you are required (this is a swap after all!) to list a box of clothes that your child no longer wears. We’ll ask for basic details such as types of clothing, number of items, colors, brands, season and sizes. Don’t worry, the USPS will mail you empty boxes for your gently used clothes.
SEND – When someone picks your box, thredUP will alert you and ask you to send this box. It is free to send boxes on thredUP because the recipient pays the shipping. You’ll be able to print the shipping label and schedule the pickup all in one click. Would you rather drop it off at the Post Office? No problem! Just cancel the pickup and leave a note for your postal carrier. As soon as your box is tracked by the USPS, you will see your box status has been changed to “shipped” in your thredUP closet.

thredUP has been very carefully thought out and I’m impressed with all the benefits, rules, and guidelines that have been set up to keep everything fair.  In order to make use of thredUP to it’s fullest you’ll want to visit the FAQ page and read it like an instruction manual.

I mentioned before that you can use thredUP for free.  The FREE Basic membership allows you to create a profile for 1 child.  That profile will allow thredUP to keep track of what sizes you will need and recommend boxes that may be perfect for you.  In addition, you can “favorite” an unlimited number of senders.

If you’re the kind that likes more options thredUP also provides a “PRO” membership.  In addition to the features above, the PRO membership allows you to:

1. Create a profile for each of your children (if you have more than one). 
2. Early access to newly listed boxes.
3. Notifications when a favorite sender lists a box.
4. Select up to 3 boxes to compare.
5. Personal recommendations delivered straight to your inbox.
6. Exclusive access to “Golden Threds” (box of brand-new clothing from a featured children’s boutique).

My Experience
Given my preference for online shopping I’d say that thredUP is the way to go.  I’d HIGHLY recommend buying the PRO Membership.  It is only $30 if you pay for 12 months (breaks down to $2.50 per month).  With PRO you get the best picks because you have access to new boxes before those with the Basic Membership.
The senders are rated according to the style and quality of clothes they’ve sent in previous boxes.  All the clothes I received were in very good condition.  I am very picky about what my boys wear (my brother-in-law used to refer to Big Brother’s wardrobe as “dapper”).  I really wish that some sort of pictures could be included in the listing.  There were a couple things in the box I received (I picked the box based on a description of its contents) that I would never dress my children in.  That being said, the number of items that were in the box that were acceptable made the $5+$10.70 for shipping well worth it.  Had I purchased the same items at the local children’s resale shop where I occasionally shop I would have spent nearly $30, and that doesn’t include the 2 items I didn’t like!  What do I do with the 2 items that weren’t “my” style?  I can simply pack them up in a box with other clothes I no longer need and send them to someone else.

WIN IT!
thredUP is offering one lucky reader a YEAR of PRO Membership (a $29.99 value)!

Here are the Rules:

 Disclosure: I received a free trial and free pick (box) in order to give a full and accurate review of thredUP.  All opinions expressed are my own.