Skip to main content

A glance at 3 resale sites

By WTOP Staff

ANNE D’INNOCENZIO
AP Retail Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers are taking advantage of a growing number of web sites that make it easier to sell and buy gently worn clothing and accessories. Here are a few:

PORTERO

NICHE: Focuses on accessories like handbags and jewelry from top-tier luxury brands such as Chanel, Gucci, Hermes and Rolex.

NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS: Hundreds of thousands but company declined to give specific number.

NUMBER OF ITEMS LISTED ON AVERAGE DAY: 5,000 items

SERVICES: Portero.com assists clients in finding coveted pre-owned luxury items.

CONSIGNMENT POLICY: Portero’s items are sourced from vetted suppliers to ensure the authenticity of the items for sale. Consignment is handled on a case-by-case basis.

RETURN POLICY ON ITEMS BOUGHT: Accepts returns on all items except those marked final sale. Every product description states the allowed return time period. If there is no deadline stated, the policy is seven days from receipt. Return shipping is at shoppers’ cost

THEREALREAL

NICHE: The company offers limited time only sales events of gently worn top tier luxury fashions, accessories such as handbags and fine jewelry. It expanded into art last year. Among the 500 brands it carries are Chanel, Tom Ford, Valentino and Gucci.

NUMBER OF SUBSCRIBERS: 2.4 million

NUMBER OF ITEMS LISTED ON AVERAGE DAY: 50,000

SERVICES: Will pick up customers’ items at their homes in 16 cities across the country for free. For $5 per month, customers can get 24-hour advance access to sales and special invitations to monthly promotions.

CONSIGNMENT POLICY: Consignors receive free shipping on accepted items. The RealReal sets the price and may be changed from time to time without notice to the consignor. Customers receive 60 percent of the net selling price, excluding tax and shipping, of items that are sold totaling $7,499. Once shoppers break the threshold of $7,550 or more, during that year, the rate goes up to 70 percent. Each of the items is authenticated with experts employed by the company.

RETURN POLICY FOR ITEMS BOUGHT: To return clothing and shoes, customers must make that request within 14 days of the shipment date and return the item within 21 days of the shipment date. TheRealReal doesn’t accept returns purchased during a Final Sale.

THREDUP

NICHE: ThredUP focuses on mainstream fashion and accessories brands like 7 For All Mankind and Banana Republic for women and children. Recently, it has expanded into higher-end names such as Tory Burch and J. Brand. The company also has handbags.

NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS: Over a million.

NUMER OF ITEMS LISTED ON AVERAGE DAY: 250,000

SERVICES: Customers order a bag that comes with a pre-paid, pre-addressed shipping label to ship back to ThredUP for free.

CONSIGNMENT POLICY: Pays consignor up to 80 percent of the resale value. Items that it doesn’t accept go to charitable partners or textile recycling companies. Or they can be mailed back for a $12.99 shipping fee. ThredUP gives customers the ability to adjust the recommended price — within the first seven days that the consignment item is listed on the site.

RETURN POLICY ON ITEMS BOUGHT: Customers are charged for return shipping costs except if there’s an error on ThredUP.com’s part.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote