Buffalo Exchange: Pros and cons

Buffalo Exchange history

Image from Flickr.

I was pretty surprised when I saw Buffalo Exchange featured on the Today show because Buffalo Exchange has been around forever. I think the first time I went to Buffalo Exchange was about 10 years ago. It’s a cool place, and I have always liked it. However, if you’re trying to make cash, as the Today show recommended you do, there are a few things you should know in advance.

First off, if you just need a loan till payday, you don’t have to sell your clothes. You can just get a short-term loan. Second, though Buffalo Exchange is a second-hand clothing store, it is not a thrift store.

Picky, picky

If you are planning to make money by selling your clothes to Buffalo Exchange, your stuff has to be in mint condition, popular brands and considered stylish. I’m sure it varies depending on location. I have been to Buffalo Exchange in both Seattle, Wash., and Eugene, Ore., and I think it would probably be harder to sell stuff to the Seattle store.

Of course, because they are picky, buyers have nice stuff to choose from. You can get brand name stuff in good condition for a lot less than you’d pay if it were brand new. But it’s not thrift store prices. I have gotten T-shirts at Goodwill or Value Village for 99 cents, and I’ve gotten the same type of thing at Buffalo Exchange for $7.

Find Buffalo Exchange

One of the best things about Buffalo Exchange is that it promotes re-using clothing instead of letting it end up in a landfill. And the store practices sustainability in other ways, too. For instance, if you choose to not use a plastic bag, you can get a token worth a 5 cent donation to the charity of your choice. The Buffalo Exchange store in Eugene gave a choice between the Humane Society, AIDS research and a battered women’s shelter.

To find out if there is a Buffalo Exchange location near you, visit the official Buffalo Exchange web site and check out the locations map.