Buffalo Exchange — Local services in New York

Reality 3.5

Buying - I've been coming to this BE for almost a decade. A lot of my favourite pieces are from here, but so are a lot of things I've bought and regretted. (More of a reflection on me tbh.) Let's start with the good.

It's relatively organized. Occasionally the racks are overstuffed, and shifty through everything is impossible. But maybe there isn't a lot of storage in the store. The place is small -- so if you're serious about shopping come prepared. Bring a small bag, light clothing, and hands that are readily movable. It's best to come on a weekday, Thursdays and Wednesdays have been the best for me. The middle of the day 3pm is fine almost every day. Keep in mind they don't give bags, so you can buy one or cram your purchases into your own bag.

The people who work here are nice but aside from the freshies. Occasionally they get NYU freshman to work here and god they are always obnoxious and unhelpful. I get they're new employees but maybe the hiring process needs to be a bit better.

The place, like I said is small but not crowded. The front of the store is male oriented, the back is female. The switch up the section occasionally. Currently the back left wall is shoes. They have a large selection of sizez 7 -8. If you're a size ten, they usually have like 4 shoes for us. It's really annoying. The plight of big feet women.

The max items in the dressing room is ten, the rooms are clean and well lit.

Selling - More of a hassle. Depending on the seller. If you're expecting top notch prices. Do not come here. Or come here when you see someone that's older than 19. My suggestion set a day where you do nothing but travel around and sell your stuff. Here's why, Selling is based on person and trends. Mostly person. There have been times where I have been rejected, come in the next day and they took the very same item. There have been days where I was rejected, went to the one in BK and was accepted. It's really a complete toss up. The NYU freshman employees are the worst buyers. Wait until you see an adult buyuer to get the best bang for your buck.

All in all, Buffalo Exchange isn't a place I would TRAVEL TO per se, it's more "I'm got time to kill before drinks. Let me see what they have today." Walk in with zero expectations. Leave with maybe a quiet...

3.5 star for okay service in consignment/ reselling clothes

If you’re buying clothes from this place, this place’s got really good unique things, with Urban NYC styles. But if you’re reselling your clothes, remember to go to their website to read the instructions.

Go with a Take or No Take Mentality

When you go there, don’t expect to sell everything for any $$$. I’ve read other comments about people trying to sell a bunch of clothes with the expectation of profiting off of every items they own, and went home with $0. The thing is, this place is a privately own retail store. Even though they take donations, retail stores rely on quality goods to sell. Unlike places like L Train Vintage (previously No Relation on 12th & 1st), they don’t just take anything you offer them. So, really, are you trying to clean out your closet? Or are you trying to make a profit? You really can’t expect too much from them.

Know what they sell, but they might not want it. Just because they sell one or two of what you own, doesn’t mean they want it. I had a faux fur coat and a genuine leather jacket to sell. They marked $30.5 for the coat and nothing for the jacket, even tho they were selling lots of both fur coats and leather jackets. The conditions were very good too. So, it depends on your buyer’s taste. Also, I brought in about 30-45 pieces of items and they took only 3-4, marked the price of $70 and I got about $23.5 back. Again, come in with a take or no take mentality. I just wanted to

3.You get 30% of their offer Say you take an item to them, and they don’t want it. They’d return it to you or they’d ask you to donate them. But if you present an item to them and they like it, they’ll mark a price, and give you 30% of that price in cash OR 50% of that price in store credit.

NEVER TAKE STORE CREDIT I’ve heard too many stories from this store that people loose their store credits after selling their clothes. So, when in doubt, ALWAYS TAKE THE CASH.

Bring your ID /PASSPORT. They need your ID/ passport to register your consignment. Not sure why, but perhaps because of reselling stolen items?

3.5 for...

My hypothesis followed by a fact part 1: The following happens so often to me I finally got an opportunity to hypothetically test it out yesterday effortlessly. Please tell me if you relate? Cleaned out my closet. Bought item's to sell to my local Buffalo Exchange. The recurring incident that occurs once I reach the selling counter goes this way: Typically its a female Buyer dressed and madeup up almost fashion magazine like.This Buyer had what I call not strawberry blonde hair. After this same Customer Agent inquires with me about is this my first time selling here? I answer yes. She asks for my phone #? I confirm what it is. She then looks at my ID.

Next. And this is key. This Customer Agent ask how's your day going? You know, as if she really cares. I respond "fine." Customer Agent precedes to go through my potential re-sale bag but Never picks anything from my clothing / accessory selection. No matter how heavy the weight of my unwanted clothing bag. She does not share insight as to why said peices are not worth purchasing. The no-sale mystery ensues and remains and feels - to me - Personal.

Oh yeah, I know statistically no one is guaranteed to bring in clothes guaranteed for resale. But the senario I experienced is recurring. The no buy back clothing part is set in place. And soon as the BE Seller asks me that ? HOW'S your day going? I found this particular experience on the WACK side of the equation. Because as soon as she asked the hows it going inquiry my prediction factor kicked in...meaning this will become a no buy back clothing outcome.

If you out there in the reading audience land can relate. Please let me know for I find my follow-up equally puzzling.

My follow-up: I tend to come back again with the exact same clothes I want to sell witin the next two weeks. Maybe I add one or two new items. The buyer I work with at the re-sale counter is different and to my surprise makes an offer on one or two items - previously unwanted the first time I tried. I Don't think I'm a lone star. And you? Can you relate??🤔🤔🤔

THIS IS PART 1 I'M GOING TO HAVE A...