What used basics are worth

Short answer: Basic clothes such as t-shirts and underwear have low resale value. Unused with tags can bring something, but used they usually bring very little, because the buyer rarely saves enough to make it worth the effort.

Why basics fetch the least

Basic clothing is cheap new and available almost everywhere. A buyer therefore rarely saves enough to make it worth the effort, unless the garment is unused. That says nothing about quality, only that the market is full of similar items you can buy new without waiting for a listing.

New is easy to find

When a buyer can go into a shop or a webshop and get a new garment in the right size, there is little to gain from choosing a used one. The small saving is cancelled out by doubt about condition, fit and wear. That applies especially to simple pieces such as ordinary t-shirts.

What fetches the most

Well-known brands, unused garments with tags and models no longer sold fetch the most. If two of the three apply, you are in the best position. An unused long t-shirt with a tag is easier to sell than one washed many times. See women's long-sleeved bamboo t-shirts for an example of a simple model.

Unused with tags

A garment with tags can be sold as unused, and that makes the biggest difference to the price. If you were given something you never wore, sell it before the tag is lost and before the model is discontinued. Write clearly in the listing that it is unused and show the tag in a picture.

Condition and wear count

A garment worn only a couple of times that looks new is easier to sell than one with clear signs of use. Look for lint, thin spots, loose elastics and stains, and be honest about them in the listing. Basics with obvious wear are rarely something a buyer pays for, and it is better to pass them on.

Time against return

Set the time against the return. Passing on a whole bag takes twenty minutes, against an hour per garment if you must photograph, write text, answer messages and post it. For cheap garments the time rarely matches what you get, so handing in the whole bag at once often pays off more.

What to do with the rest

Pass it on to someone you know or hand it in for collection. That is the simplest route for basics not worth selling, and it gives you room in the wardrobe again quickly. A hoodie in good condition may be worth a listing. See bamboo hoodies for women.

Underwear and socks

Underwear and socks cannot be sold used, and that is a common rule almost everywhere. Only unused underwear in unopened packaging comes into question. If you have underwear you never wore that is still packaged, it can be sold, but it rarely brings a high amount.

When it is worth the effort

For expensive garments it can be worth the effort, but for basics it rarely is. Ask yourself whether you would buy the garment used at the price you are asking. If the answer is no, find another way to get rid of it. See also bamboo clothing for men, with simple models for everyday use.