Yes, I’m realizing this post might have been helpful, say, a week ago when folks were still in that weird “in-between-Christmas-and-New-Years” phase where time is an illusion, but here we are, January 6, and I’m willing to bet several of you still have plenty of gifts lying around that you’re contemplating returning.

Here’s the deal: returns today are no fun for anyone. And to quote Business Insider: “Despite what many people think, most clothing returns are not restocked, repurposed, or reused — they end up in the garbage." — contributing to a portion of the 101 million tons of clothing that end up in landfills annually. Gross.

Listen, I won’t try to convince you to never return anything ever again – that’s hardly realistic. But reselling those holiday gifts that just aren’t for you is a great alternative to returns, and you might just make a little profit doing so. Seriously. If you’re contemplating whether reselling those unwanted gifts is worth your time, here’s a general checklist I go over with clients:

Older woman examining bracelet on couch, smiling. Photo by Ron Lach. — *Photo by Ron Lach.*

Can you make more reselling the item than you'd receive in store credit? This is often the case with collectibles, collaborations, or items that were purchased at a discount. If yes: consider resale.
If you were to return the gift in exchange for store credit, is the item from a store where you regularly shop? If no: consider resale.
Do you have the gift receipt? If no: consider resale.
Are you still within the return window? If no: consider resale.
Do you like the item and want it in a different size? If yes: consider exchanging.
Do you love the brand and would just prefer a different item? If yes: consider exchanging.
Does the item still have its tags, box, etc.? If yes, this may increase resale value, and you may be able to earn more reselling than you would returning – particularly if the item was originally purchased on sale.
How much effort do you want to put into reselling? Depending on the answer and how much experience you have with resale apps (ex: Poshmark, Depop, thredUP, The RealReal, eBay, etc.), resale may or may not be a sensible option for you. Some apps, like thredUP, make it pretty easy to just mail in all your stuff, and they'll donate or upcycle whatever they don't accept. Other apps, like Poshmark, require more effort, but sellers end up keeping a larger percentage of the sale price.
Are you interested in supporting your local community ? If yes, consider consigning the piece at a local consignment store (or donating to a local thrift shop) rather than listing on a resale or consignment app.

And there you have it. Still on the fence? Just reach out with any questions.