Plato's Closet Waltham — Attraction in Waltham

I had a rather unique experience at Plato's Closet in Waltham. I've been to various Plato's Closet locations across the USA, and this one stood out. While the expected $1 payout for a $70 item wasn't an issue for me, there were some peculiar aspects to this store. Firstly, the owner's anonymity raised eyebrows. They wouldn't disclose their name, which seemed quite shady. I emailed weeks prior to calling the store about bringing in a “large purchase”. When I went to the store, a young girl at the counter told me their website was super outdated and to call to try to reach the owner as the owner likely isn’t checking the form I submitted.

I made numerous calls over 6 weeks at the suggested times but never managed to reach the owner. The workers advised me to keep trying, and I asked for the owner's name so I could refer to them when calling, but I was told the owner doesn't allow anyone to know their name. The website was also unreliable and outdated.

Scheduling a clothes sale took months due to their 30-item limit and further disorganization. I was given a specific time, but when I arrived, the owner was absent, and I was asked to drop off the clothes for him to review in 1 to 3 days as the two workers there were not going to review them. This was frustrating as I live far away and preferred the usual on-the-spot review process but there was nothing I could do about it, so I agreed.

To add to the confusion, I received a message to pick up the clothes on the same day, and the owner accused me of not following directions. This was a communication issue between him and his worker, but it was unfairly blamed on me. Eventually, he did buy some of my clothes, but the mixed information and stress of the process were discouraging.

Taking two trips for a small payout wasn't worth it, and I'd rather donate my items in the future. It felt like they treated customers as potential scammers, which was frustrating. I showed up at the agreed-upon time, but the owner didn't, making it seem like he didn't follow instructions. Also, we purchased the same time we cashed out our “sell”, and we did not get the 20% off our purchase as promised on selling day.

EDIT: With multiple poor buying/selling experiences, I won’t suggest to people even who live close to Waltham to sell at Plato's Closet. I have recently found other consignment stores in the area that are much better. :)

Finally, I echo the sentiments of other reviews mentioning the poor quality of some clothing and shoes in the store. While there are good-looking items, it's evident that some items should be either discarded or placed on heavy discounts to better cater to customers looking for quality purchases. Attached are a couple pictures of items for sale. Some...

I was just in your store and your manager either Julie or Alex.... told me to come in when I called on the phone explained what I had came all the way from Woburn they took one thing out of the bag and did not look at the other things. They said you guys do not buy animal print but you have boots in the front they have animal print a pair shorts that I have animal print when mine is a leather animal print jacket. Also said pearl dress (pearl color) was neon color that you guys do not buy anything neon which I found two dress and pants that were non-active wear that were neon which pearl is not neon. I also had tan boots that wear never wore...you guys had the same ones in gray and she said you don't buy those. And your company and your store I found a lot of false advertisement. I was disrespected and laughed in the face I will never go to your store again I will never tell my friends to purchase or to sell anything to you guys again this will be the last time I go there I've never been disrespected more than by your manager.... and I took the clothes that I had animal print and we're neon colored she laughed in my face and said that's a boat and that's a dress but she knew what she was doing and I took my stuff and walked out. I've asked for your email 4 times until she gave it to me. My whole family has been in there and sold you guys multiple good things but now no one will be going in there we're buying anything from you if that is your manager that you have hired I would reconsider her some training and to be a lady and have some respect. I've never seen so much false advertisement in my life. I also had customers smell my clothes and shoes none said my clothes smelled like smoke reason why she said that is because we got into an argument about the animal print. I don't smoke neither does my family. For customers I have their names and numbers said that she was out of line and was in a bad mood I do not recall having any other problems in your store I've been there multiple times and this is the first time I've had a problem I would really reconsider training your manager and not having false advertisement in your store because that's a nice lawsuit.

Place is a joke don't even bother going there... you might get laughed and disrespected by...

This place is terrible! The staff is rude, impatient and unprofessional!! They were not retail professionals as they should be. This is what happened.

I stopped by here around 8:15pm last night. As soon as I walked in, one of the managers told me that they do not take clothes or items past 8pm. I said ok.... is that written anywhere. They said no. I said okie well I came all the way here, with all of this stuff. I am not lugging them back. Long story short I spoke to the boss and he was kind enough to keep them overnight. Granted, they are a retail store that can buy your clothes or items and resell them and give you money for what they come up with. Yet, they don't take clothes past 8pm and they are open until 9pm.

Now, today I went back to see how it went. And AGAIN, TERRIBLE! They only approved like 4 of the items I brought in for a tiny tiny TINY fraction of like a 5 dollar bill. They had the nerve to tell me they don't take worn clothes. Like clothes or items that look like they have been worn. I.e, scuff marks, water marks... etc etc. HOWEVER, if you walk around the store you will see a lot of these worn out and out of season items! Yet, my stuff wasn't good enough or in season. And on top of that, the employees are also considered buyers, as in they go through the items that people drop off and PERSONALLY select what they think is best. Only one employee/buyer per person drop off. ONE!! How is that fair or makes sense!? It is completely subjective and just compromised! Not fair at all. I spoke to the boss AGAIN and he acted like he did me a favor by allowing me to leave my clothes overnight even though their 'rule' of not taking clothes past 8pm isnt written ANYWHERE.

Nothing is written ANYWHERE. Not what brand of clothes or items they take or in what condition they take them or what season or quality or who and how many people go through them NOTHING ANYWHERE.

Final thoughts: Beware. Go anywhere else but here. Matter of fact you are better off throwing a yard sale or something. Zero stars very dysfunctional and a mess.

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