People don't just buy used clothes or "export leftovers" to save money, but to buy an item worth $100 for $10.
If you intend to shop from shops that sell used clothes or surplus exports, you must know the advantages that you are looking for, and the defects that should be avoided, in order to purchase used clothes or “export leftovers” of high quality.
What should be expected?
Setting priorities and needs saves you time, but you shouldn't just search for black wide leg pants, you won't find them on the first visit.
Expect that used clothing stores will not provide a purchase invoice, and will not accept exchange of clothes or refunds, so make sure of your decision before buying.
Wear clothes that are easy to measure over, or layers that can be removed. Most used goods and export residual stores do not provide designated places for measuring clothes.
Charge your phone battery to search on Google for brands you encounter for the first time, and to scan the codes of unused clothes tags, using the QR Code Scanner application, to verify the country of origin written on the card.
Buy what you need in the off-season, you'll get the best price for seasonal clothing when the market is short.
Don't forget to haggle over the price of the part if you find an easy-to-repair defect.
Buy what you need in the off-season and you will get the best price for seasonal clothes when the market needs them less (Pixels)
Collect treasures
Do not rush to buy the cheapest clothes on offer, it is easy to find a dress in polyester material, but it is difficult to find a dress in silk material.
Therefore, make an effort to acquire unique pieces, as brands are deteriorating with age, and most of them are now making their products in China, to reduce the cost.
But if you search for older pieces, and higher-end brands, made in Milan or Hong Kong, you will find a rare coat or leather gloves, and you will discover a world of high-end brands.
Beware of competitors
Competition is intense in used and surplus stores, because the piece you liked has no equal.
So the pros take the faster route, by quickly combing the shelves, filtering them, whether by touching them, or by glancing at the brand tag.
Therefore, every piece that you hesitate to buy should be withdrawn, and do not forget the piles that customers have examined, as you can find in them a luxury piece that did not suit your predecessors.
To ensure peace of mind, look for the working hours of the market you are going to, and the arrival times for shipments of goods, because the goods change daily or weekly, and it is better to choose a nearby store, for ease of frequenting it, as soon as it opens in the morning, to shop quietly, and before selling the best clothes.
Look for these materials
Look for pants or a coat with a metal zipper, as plastic zippers are less durable and easily come off the track. If you're worried about metal zipper teeth marks, you can zip it up before washing your clothes.
Get pieces made of natural fibers. You should avoid synthetic fabrics such as polyester, acrylic, and spandex, as they are prone to warping, bunching, and burning when ironing and drying. Cotton, linen, wool, and silk are natural materials.
Check the stitching quality
Check the integrity of the inner layers of the piece, such as the inner pocket, the lining of the coats, and make sure that the threads that hold the parts of the fabric are in contact with each other, then close the buttons and zippers, to ensure that the stitching is straight.
Examine the sewing stitches, and note that they are free of any stray threads, and are uniform under the armpits, between the legs, and around buttons, zippers, pockets, and belt loops.
Then press with your hand on both sides of the corners and the inner edges, to make sure that the stitches are firm, and that there are no bumps or lint around the stitches.
Buying one piece on your first visit to the used clothing market is the best decision you can make (Al Jazeera)
Save your money and effort
If you're an expert in the art of sewing and stain removal, you know what you can fix, but we don't recommend buying something that might cost you more money and effort.
Therefore, stained and faded clothes should be avoided, hoping to clean and dye them, and do not buy clothes that have fluff balls on them, so that you do not have to remove them after each wash.
Don't buy clothes without buttons or zippers, clothes that have stretch marks in the fibers, or have an unpleasant odor, and don't buy a size larger or smaller than is appropriate for you.
Selling used clothes
Buying a single item on your first visit to the used clothing market is the best decision you can make, so you can master the shopping.
But the most important thing when buying used clothes or leftovers for export is to wash them with hot water and spread them out in the sun.
And if you like the result, do not hesitate to sell used clothes from your closet, or donate them to charities.