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Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment [Edit]
Neighborhood: University of TexasMon-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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The staff here is very pleasant. My husband had bags and bags of clothes to sell. (He has lost quite a bit of weight. GO HUBBY!!)
They purchased more than any other store and we were pleasantly surprised. I really didn't see many clothes that I would wear on the racks. (Just not my style) Even so, I did enjoy the atmosphere.
I am a self-admitted label-whore when it comes to jeans. There are only certain designers of jeans that I will wear, and after realizing that I can't support my habit at Nordstrom anymore, I had to find a way to get my fix... but cheaper.
I don't remember the first time I went to Buffalo Exchange, but I'm pretty sure I didn't enjoy it at first. Once I discovered the fun in searching through racks to find a diamond in a haystack, it turned into a game for me. I call it a "treasure hunt" to find the great things that we would pay 5 times as much for at department stores! I have found True Religion, Seven for All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, Rock & Republic, etc. jeans there and I think the most I have paid was $54! They're always in pretty good shape, as I would think a lot of these were purchased by "rich sorority girls" from UT on daddy's credit card and they just got bored with them. Works for me, because I got a $200 pair of jeans for $40 and that makes me feel good about my shopping habit!
Now here's the downside... selling clothes here can be an emotional roller coaster. I'm not the first to say that the fear of rejection sometimes keeps me from bringing my designer clothes and shoes here rather than Goodwill. Sometimes if I'm brave enough or really needing the cash, I'll wait in the ridiculous line to get the tiny percentage of store credit or cash from the price they put on my clothes, but for the most part, I'll stick to just shopping here.
Also, the parking situation kinda sucks but you have to be used to that around campus. Overall though, it's fun when I'm bored or not on a mission for anything in particular and it's always fun to find something great among the racks of otherwise crap!
I like buying trendy clothes, there I said it. I want three or four things that will get me into whatever bar of my choosing when I decide it's my night to find my way there. I want a kick ass print-tee with a whale and a pair of chopsticks in some collage of day-glo 80's inspired splatter. I want a members only jacket and an argyle sweater that I will wear only one time and cast away to the corner of my closet when the mood strikes.
This is where I go to find those things for not-so-much coin #on the reg. I am unrepentant in my search of silly out-of-my-age-bracket clothing choices to the point of completely ignoring scoffs from people older and younger than me. Ask me if I care. I do not.
I don't speak with authority on everything, but I do know trends (been around long enough to observe a complete cycle). I know something about style and am not afraid to wear it and experiment with it. I can always find something that I will be very willing to wear at this store that some would dub a hipster den of iniquity. I will up your accusations of my being a douchey hipster type and declare you incapable and not imaginative enough to dress thyself in the latest trend. I don't need your rules.
This is my new 1st stop for Halloween costume shopping. They have so much...for SO LITTLE! I found a cute (but typical) high-quality costume for 16$. They have a number of racks FULL of costumes. They are mostly women's costumes, though. Sorry guys!
Also, on my shopping visit yesterday, I found an adorable long sweater, a silk dress/blouse and a pair of boots. Each item was about 15$! I love shopping vintage and used, but I seem to forget to stop by Buffalo regularly. I'll have to add them to my thrift shop tour. :-)
The Great Wardrobe Purge of 2009 was in full swing, and while old Ralph Lauren cargo pants and highschool T-shirts were carted off to Goodwill, I saved some choice pieces for the consignment route. This review dovetails the Second Looks review I've done, so this would be the sequel.
I read a magazine article on AOL News (you know, one of those fluff pieces) that said if you're strapped for cash, don't throw out the hideous sweater you get from Grandma, take it to a resale shop and get the cash! Bullshit.
I wasn't strapped for cash, but It just seemed inappropriate and almost a tad cruel to just dump off my old,designer clothes at a Goodwill. I thought if I had to get fat and grow out of my custom tailored Gucci jeans, I may as well sell them and give some hipster at UT the chance to find a deal and enjoy them.
It works like this, and they give you the rundown when you're there, so newbies listen up. They look at your clothes, and if they think some pretentious downtown college student or a quirky fashion design girl with rainbow leggings would like your stuff, they put a price on it. You get a percentage of that price. So for example, my Gucci jeans, purchased at $400, worn a few times, but otherwise perfect condition, were bought for $32.50 and I got around $18-20 of that. Other "acceptable" items for them were shirts by Roberto Cavalli, Versace, and a pair of John Varvatos pants.
They say they only buy what they consider is "in" and "relevant" for their customers, or if an item is especially "vintage" in nature. Higher end denim like True Religion, Sevens, and Diesels also find a good home. But you don't get squat for them.
The lines are always long, usually with people who bring absolute crap in heaping boxes and hope to make a killing out of selling ratty gym shorts and Payless shoes that probably came apart a week after they were bought. These items, and the majority of items, are tossed aside and rejected.
Not to belabor the point, but I brought in almost $1500 worth of designer clothes (that were not so trendy that they couldn't be worn today), and got a whole $50 out of them. You get more for store credit, but you have to be a heroin addict to fit into the majority of their clothes. But, I did feel better that my clothes did seem to go to the right place.
I get the sense a lot of people leave disappointed from this place. But if you know what to expect, the optimistic crash doesn't hurt so much.
I have NO idea what the buying side is of it; I've had friends of mine who have made some great finds and some think it's just a bunch of junk. I'll let other reviewers go there.
The staff was nice, if they weren't treating the decent clothes you've brought in as if they were covered in dog crap and they only deigned to purchase them for some obscure reason.
And parking sucks, btw.
The staff IS enjoyable/comical! I like that you can both buy and sell your old clothes here! I feel like this is a very Austin place, complete with crowds, and people searching for a shirt with an old soap opera cast on it or whatever.
I find that because this city is so laid back, that the fashion is also laid back (VERY casual). I like their accessories the best! The prices are fine for what you are getting, and it is usually very busy on weekends, so patience is a virtue when coming here!
This place is great to find some nice name brand clothes at a fraction of the cost. A lot of the stuff is meant to be indie and hip but comes off as just a little odd, so the selection isn't always at its best. But if you search the store carefully you can usually always find at least one super cute piece of clothing.
One of the problems with selling back is that they are extremely picky. I can understand this, being a business and all you want to only buy what you think you can sell. But I've seen them pass up some amazing clothes I would be willing to buy just sitting in line and watching what they reject. And as a seller myself I've had stuff rejected for not being white enough when the color is more of an eggshell and not meant to bleached.
The parking can also be a problem during certain times of day, and when parking is a problem there is also usually a long line of people waiting to sell. The best time to go is in the morning before they've seen all the clothes of the day, they are more likely to buy then. Also this provides for some good one on one time with the racks of clothes without having to worry about bumping into someone. (Even with the expanded store it can get a little cramped.)
Overall the experience is what you make of it, though you could probably do just as well going to a thrift store even if you might have to look a little harder.
Well, we made our maiden voyage to Buffalo Exchange yesterday. Apparently, so did half the UT population. Blame it on the beginning of tax-free weekend and poor planning on my part. But the elusive promise of a pair of designer jeans for next to nothing was just enough to draw us in.
Despite a million try-ons we just couldn't seem to find anything that fit. Of course, having a clear idea of what size you are and knowing ahead which brands you like would probably be of benefit. My guess is that the selection was fairly picked over and so will need a return visit before making a final decision.
Truth be told, the reviews on this site had me really dreading coming here. I am no hipster and I'm probably nearly twice the average customer's age, but again, the jeans....and my daughter's sudden growth spurt and need for all new clothes had me ready to withstand the disapproving eye and mocking attitude i was sure was awaiting me here.
Color me pleasantly surprised. I was asked at least 5 times if I was being helped, if they could take my stuff to a dressing room, etc. All of my interactions were positive and professional and ultimately, we ended up with 3 tops. I actually had to kind of laugh to myself about my fear of this place. I mean, after all, it looked to me as if it were costume day at the buffalo exchange. THESE are the fashion forward gods those before me have spoken of? Really?
Ah, my favorite place to clothes shop in Austin. Also, the biggest Buffalo I have been to (having been to Vegas', New Orleans and Houston's stores, also). Great place for everything: work clothes, play clothes and rock clothes. THE BIGGEST GUYS SELECTION! Prices are reasonable (well, I've seen cheaper stuff at other stores...) but the selection is choice. High store turnover. Even going once or twice a month feels like a different store.
Overall, a great place to spend your hard-earned money. You deserve it, especially if you are shopaholic like me. Be forewarned they don't buy much clothes back though, unless it's uber hipster/trendy stuff. Kind of annoying.
This review is mainly about my selling experience at Buffalo Exchange, which I put off doing for months after reading loads of scary reviews on Yelp. The staff is largely painted as snobbish and intimidating, but my experience could not have been more positive.
I brought in about 15 pairs of jeans, of which they bought 13. Once they finish the buying process they tell you the total amount they are purchasing from you, and offer you 35% of that amount in cash, or 50% in store credit. I ended up using some of my money for store credit and then got the rest in cash. I feel like the process was fair (I wouldn't have taken the jeans they didn't take either, yuck), the money was fair, and the service was excellent. They guy buying from me even told me I had excellent denim and asked me to bring in more if I had any. Seriously. Could not have been nicer.
My only advice is to know the value of the clothing you are selling as well as knowing the sort of brands and designers they sell in the store. I brought in Paper Denim, James, SFAM, Salt, and Joe's, which they bought, and Benetton, which they did not.
Overall, I was very please with the whole experience, and plan to do it again soon.
Eh - hip is good, stylish is good, recycling is good, unique is good, weird is good, cute is good, edgy is good, hot is good. It's all good here in the material form.
But uh - this place kind of reminds me of Spider House when it comes to the overall ...... not nearly as cool as it thinks it is. HINT: Cool is something that does not require trying so hard your head explodes; more attitude does not automatically equal more cool. Cool requires a little bit of intelligence and a lot of awareness. Not that I personally know what cool is, of course.
I scored like A-Rod on a steroid binge today at the Buffalo so perhaps the 5 stars I'm allotting them are commiserate with my one time personal success (since I've left many a time empty handed and annoyed) and I'm on a thrifting high and feeling very generous. The prices trip me out a bit since some items are way overpriced for their brand and condition while other stuff is a complete steal. But perhaps that just adds to the thrill of the hunt?
We in Austin are blessed with a plethora of vintage and thrift stores so Buffalo Exchange is not the be-all-to-end-all in local used clothing stores but what really makes them stand out in my mind is the awesome staff. Even though the place was jam packed I was still consistently asked by someone if I'd like to have my clothes held until I was ready to try them on to save me from juggling an armload of stuff. And when I'd decided to keep something they would hold it under my name at the register so I could keep looking. Very helpful and welcomed assistance not realized even in most department stores. Good stuff. I can't wait to show off all my new thread to friends and make them guess how much (little) I paid!
PAINFULLY hip staff. great clothes and fantastic prices. worth a visit for the clothes, not the vibe.
I have been on both the buying and selling end of this place.
Buying: If you don't mind sifting through some of the weird stuff (why is there a gold Members Only jacket in here?) then you can really get some cute, inexpensive finds. I like that I can find pretty much anything I'm looking for in there.
Selling: I don't like that I am "too small" a lot of times for them. I agree with a previous reviewer about jeans length -- I am only 5'2" and they pretty much refuse to take any of my tailored jeans. I don't consider myself that short, but apparently they do. I have sold quite a few things there and I've never experienced any snottiness from the staff.
In General: I have no idea why, but every time I go there a girl is there with her dog. They let the dog run loose around the store. I love dogs, but this is really annoying. I'm trying to shop, but Fluffy wants to hump my leg. Not to mention all the dog hair that must be getting on the clothes and those who may have severe allergies to dogs.
Honestly, I can kind of see both sides of the Buffalo Exchange argument: if you have clothes that represent an attachment to you, and you sell them back expecting these guys to monetarily synchronize that attachment, it stands to reason that you'll likely walk away less than completely satisfied.
My experience here has been pretty positive, however, mostly by virtue of the fact that I only expect from these guys what I can get, namely, some haphazard castoffs bookending the occasional rare nouveau uncovering, some by and large cool threads that tend to cost me generally about a third or less of what they'd run spanking new, etcetera. I feel like I have a sense of their stocking philosophy (at least with regard to what hits the floor), and it works for me. It helps a little that these guys are pretty good when it comes to contributing to charity too..the whole bag/token thing is nice. On a gag, I tried on some white jeans that I didn't know were skinny. Trust me when I say I wouldn't share that tragedy with anyone anywhere other than in print, and I didn't realize they were 'skinny' until I tried them on, but I just about laughed myself out into the street. So that happened.
And when I have something to sell back? I think long and hard about bringing stuff in...but usually I don't. At least for me, it's just easier that way.
Buffalo Exchange is something you get over quickly. Everything is overpriced now and the pretentious attitude that comes along with the store is definitely a turn-off. I used to shop here a lot in high school, a few years ago, but very rarely anymore. I like the shoe selection though, and there is always a good amount of eye candy, but I can't think of any more positive things to say.
I love Buffalo Exchange. It is the best and cheapest vintage shopping in Austin by far. My only problem with it is a couple of the guys that work the dressing room there. They are rude and pretentious and their outfits scream DESPERATE FOR ATTENTION. If you're going to talk about/comment on customers, at least wait until they leave the store!
It's a plethora (like that word) of hot chicks and chic dudes (no, those adjectives need not be reversed) walking around in crazy get-up's that make you want to know how the hell they got dressed so good on the wages they make.
The staff (this review is so biased) = my personal stylists because I always want to rip off what they wear and act like I came up with crazy crochet sweater over the bikini top or whatever they've found and magically made wonderful. They're like chefs that take really awful ingredients but know just what elements of awful to put together to make one (surprisingly) cohesive wonderful.
If you're a hellbilly girl, a punk rock boy, a sorority sister (they got Abercrombie or whatever you guys are into other than those DAMNED ATHLETIC SHORTS), you're going to find something you like...
It can be mega hit or miss here, and selling here makes it a great bargain (if you find it on a "hit" and not a "miss" the shoe selection and prices are amazing, but remember, it's all feast-or-famine with this place).
Whiners, shut up. If you sell here, they are performing a service for you - if you want $300 for the jeans you paid $350 for... do the work yourself, put 'em on eBay.
I've been going to buffex for almost 10 yrs and the experience has always been great. b.e has expanded so now it has twice the selection. The staff is great. They aren't pretentious hipsters like the ones you'll find up in the east coast vintage scenes who smugly look at your clothes while they sort through the stuff with the tips of their fingers. I always find something cute here. The only downside is that they've increased their prices over the years...$15 for a pair of used, no-brand shorts? Naws I'll just go to the mall.
It was very mediocre, in my opinion...the pricing made NO sense to me! A pair of Miu Miu flats for $25 (not my size, unfortunately!), with a pair of Forever 21 shorts being $14. Hello? I can get new Forever 21 for the EXACT same price? I don't know, I just think if I'm going to dig as much as is necessary at B.E. to find cute things, then the deals should be a little better. Also, it gets hot in there and it's always crowded, plus long lines. Probably worth stopping by every once in a while, but it's not going to be at the top of my shopping list or anything.
Being in a relationship with Buffalo Exchange is like heaven and hell all in one seductive, crafty, beautiful, and bitchy little package. She is a fickle lover, who wants you to second guess yourself.
One day, you can do no wrong and you are the light of her life when you present her with a vintage Lily Pulitzer skirt or a cool as ice leather jacket. Other days, you are a scourge on her countenance who brings nothing but shame as you present her with item after item of unacceptable clothing from last season. She may scold you for brands with out-of-date labels. Or even worse, the item that you present to her may have neither a recognizable name brand nor enough vintage street credibility to get it through the her inexplicable vetting process.
My lover Buffalo Exchange keeps me all mixed up inside. Sometimes she takes my clothes, usually she doesn't. Sometimes she sends me home with amazing, unique, and delightful gifts with which to impress my friends. Other times I deeply ponder the origins of her supposedly good taste.
Whether she realizes it or not, I know that my beloved Buffalo Exchange is not always right, even though she always thinks she is. She thinks her taste is impeccable and timeless. But I know that she is rash and of the moment. Yet, this is one of the reasons I cannot leave her. She thinks herself a queen when really she's just a princess. We all play along though because even though her crown is smaller than expected, she's still got more jewels than the rest of us.
After four years, I've looked beyond the facade of one that I once thought was perfect. Instead of giving up, I have decided to take her at face value, to look past her flaws, and instead to love her for the reasons that I would otherwise hate her.
I don't even both trying to sell my clothes to these guys because the line is always about eight years long and they never want my stuff anyway.
But I can find some badass stuff here for super cheap. I can't even begin to afford Seven for All Mankind jeans in real life, but BE lets me pretend like I'm wealthy enough to buy designer denim.
Of course you have to rifle through some of the weirdest shit I have ever seen in my life. I'm pretty sure my grandma never gave you people permission to steal those monstrosities from her closet... that's just not cool.
You can definitely find some cute stuff here, but the atmosphere is just so-so. It is quite messy and you really have to check the clothes before you buy them (i.e. stains or tears). However, I have made quite a few awesome purchases there and for little money.
I never thought this day would come - I'm knocking NOT ONE BUT TWO stars off Buffalo Exchange after nearly 12 years of gladly giving them my clothes and dolla billz, y'all. (one star for each leg...read on)
While I understand that they are expanding (taking over the space next to them) and that comes with growing pains (they cannot buy shoes right now because there is no shoe rack up)....my main beef is this:
I'm short...but not like, sideshow short. I'm 5'1...I'm small to average size-wise.
This has happened twice now in the past month when I brought in two different pairs of jeans, whereas this never happened in all the years I've been coming here. I brought in a pair of suuuuuper spendy Adriano Goldschmeid jeans. I bought them in 2008 and had them tailored since jeans are sold so freaking long.
Two different buyers now have asked me (referring to two different pairs of jeans), 'Have you had these tailored?' Uh, yes. And I even had the tailor put the original hem back on which is a more expensive process, tacking on another $25 to my final bill. 'We can't give you as much for these since you've had them tailored. I can give you....$12.'
WAT??? Are you kidding me??? NO. I'm sorry, but there are plenty of women in Austin or who come through Austin who can fit those jeans.
Do they give less credit to really tall women who trade in their jeans? Because if a shorty buys them, they're going to have to pay extra to get them tailored - thus making the jeans less attractive to buy.
I DO NOT like this new tailored=less credit policy. I have a hard time believing that a pair of stylie, high end jeans in perfect condition that have been beautifully professionally tailored to fit a woman of small to average size is a high-risk potential loss to the store. The only person who would lose in that transaction would've been me. I took my jeans, both times, and walked with them.
I'm really disappointed. I feel like this does the shorties wrong.
I've lived in Austin 12 years and for 12 years I've been gladly giving this place my business. Bring… Read more »
+1 star for recycling clothing
+1 star for encouraging people to forget about plastic bags before everyone else did
+2 stars for gently-worn $200 pairs of jeans for only $30 (ones that actually fit my toothpick frame)
-2 stars for the atmosphere and total snottiness from the people buying back clothes. It's the reason I haven't been back in months (and I really need some new jeans).
Apparently, the dress I bought at Buffalo Exchange a few months ago is no longer cool enough for them to buy back when I brought in my latest pile after cleaning out my closet. What? It was literally "so 5 minutes ago."
Maybe it's a sign that I am getting old, but does anyone else understand the way people dress who work here? When did it become cool to have a long, high-waisted skirt (the over the belly unflattering look) with an almost see through white tank and ill fitting bra. If this is cool, then I am OK being un-hip.
I shouldn't knock them too much, because I did get $18 for 3 items that were just sitting in the back of my closet. And if I see any of you wearing a silver sequin tube top, I know where you got it!
I think your view of Buffalo depends on whether you are a buyer or a seller. As a buyer...you can't beat it. If you don't have a lot of cash and need some nice clothes - this is the spot! I find most of the staff to be quite friendly...others seemed overworked or distracted, but not a biggie.
I tried selling to them 2x...I have to agree with the other reviews on that count!
All in all a very cool place to shop.
Do you need a good ego check? Well then head on down to Buffalo Exchange and try to sell some of the clothes you thought were so cool!! Having them look over your clothes and examine them like they are pimples on your face can be pretty painful. (I thought my 3/4 length linen shirt was so great, why don't you love it too?) However in the end you sell what you can and spend your credit on some of their quality goods. I'll try to go every few months as they have a pretty good rotation of clothes, excluding my 3/4 length linen blouse of course.
It is also very fun to see the wardrobe of the employees who all are very diverse and friendly.
I came in several weeks ago with my kid to sell two large bags of clothing after a closet purging. It was great to be the second person in the door and at the buyer's counter. The "trick" is to pull into the parking lot at 10:45 a.m. and leap out, run to the door and stand for 15 minutes in the sun holding your heavy bags. So, the waiting I wanted to avoid happened at the door. If you are selling, you will wait either way.
After the tall gentleman with the "Buyer" name tag paws through two bags of clothing, I net $41.00. My kid is still trolling through the rounders of t-shirts so I decide to look around. It is difficult for me to focus on items for sale here because I am distracted by the disorganization. I'm sure this is some type of a brain processing affliction but I've never had it diagnosed and don't plan on it.
Most times I feel like I'm racing with the other shoppers to find the one special item everyone wants. Anyway, as usual, I do not find the item and do not make a purchase. And as usual, the teenager spends most of my $41.00 on several "cool" t-shirts and we are done.
Love it. I have to dress professionally for work and with BE, I can funk it up with style and polish. I've had luck here finding fun, interesting dress jackets (especially ones that have cloth Asian buttons and collars) in natural fabrics: linen, silk-- even organic cotton. Found a perfect belt here and a pair of cute green sandals that always draw compliments.
I never try to sell here but my guy does with good success (he takes super-good care of his clothes, even the buyers noticed) -- and he gives ME his credit. I have the best guy.
Great no-bag policy (they encourage customers to forgo a bag and donate a nickel to a charity for every bag saved).
LOVE that they hold a Coats for Cubs day: donate real-fur items (quality unimportant) and they will give them back to the animals as "bedding and comfort to orphaned and injured wildlife." Check their websites for donation periods.
Ehhhhhhh I really thought this would be a cool experience. Not so much. In fact, it was horrible.
So I brought a bag of items to sell at Buffalo Exchange, because I needed gas money. I know, I have no shame. Here's how my visit played out.
I had the displeasure of getting a snotty buyer named Emgolee. No joke. Emgolee. She made me feel like a piece of trash and treated by beloved clothes like dishrags.
Told me that my stuff wasn't 'buyable.' I was rather offended that my bright red, patent leather peep toe pumps were not 'worthy' of BE. I was also rather offended that Emgolee then asked me if I wanted to 'donate' my items. Sure, 'donate' them so you can sell them for pure profit? Hell to the no.
Do you think your clothes are classy, elegant, and stylish? Then don't try to sell them here. You'll feel like an idiot and kick yourself for even trying.
As you can tell by this review, I'm still fuming. I did give BE an extra star because I did see some items I would consider purchasing while I was over there. I might be back to buy, but never to sell.
Not for me. I get the vintage store thing, it makes sense, find things that someone else stopped thinking were cool but that are still cool to you. Recycling is good.
This place, however, is obnoxiously hip and makes me want to force feed people hamburgers and buy them clothing that fits right.
This place is "the best" A varitey of seasonal outfits. Something for everybody. Prices are great. I have 7 kids, ages, 28-11 abd they love it there, especially the shoes.
And if you are a Halloween person, the costumes are amazing.
Parking in the front and back of store. Plus a great coffee shop and toy store right next door. A one stop shop.
The people are about as friendly as they could be. I just can't imagine all the "stories" they hear. They just listen and listen and listen, and smile.
You can make a clothing donation to one of the 10 different charity organizations that Buffalo sponsors, depending on what day you drop off
your stuff.
It is all in all an experience.
Not sure how the selling part works, but it;s like a pawn shop. You have to show an ID.
The last time I was here, the unthinkable happened: I got an actual compliment from one of the hipster salesgirls.
Yes, yes, it's true. I. received. a. compliment. about. my. AGE. from. yon. whippersnapper. salesgirl.
After my knees almost buckled and propelled me towards one of the racks of jeans and funky corduroy pants, I regained composure like a normal 30-year-old might. I promptly whipped out my cell phone and called GOD because I assumed that the other signs of the apocalypse were coming and I wanted to be prepared for LOCUSTS IN FEBRUARY.
So how exactly did this come to pass? As follows:
I come in with a bag of old spring/summer season pants. Two minutes later, all but one gets put back in my bag. The girl, who has black hair and is your typical hipster in an everything-I-wear-is-under-$10-but-artfully-thrown -together-because-I-am-only-partially-colorblind kind of way, really does helpfully explain, when I ask why my clothes don't make the cut, how things from major chain stores like Old Navy don't sell well and something about the tags indicating a particular fashion season and thus they don't want to overstock on styles. Yada yada. It actually was a helpful explanation, as opposed to some of the other reviews of Buffalo Exchange which indicate haughty attitudes and can't be bothered demeanors. I take it to be the luck of the draw when reselling, honestly.
Then, this took place after I said I would take the paltry $5 for my one worthy pant:
Hipster Girl: So I just need to see an ID so I can write you your receipt.
Me: Cool. Here.
HG: (staring at ID with the inspecting eye of a border guard) Ah, this expires this year.
Me: Yeah, the address is wrong, too. Luckily I have 7 months to worry about it.
HG: It's real easy. You just go online and they issue you the new ID with the same picture. I'm 26 and still have the same one from, like, 19.
Me: (laughing in embarrassed manner) Yeah, I'M 30 and still have my one from 25. And yes, I'm keeping the damn picture.
HG: It's a good one. (slowly looking from ID to me, then back again, almost incredulously, as if she had found Waldo) You look EXACTLY the same, ya know.
So when my old and decrepit brain processed this compliment, I immediately knew I was raising the star level on this joint.
It's not every day that you get such flattery from a young hipster. In fact, I'd bet it would be easier to separate Britney Spears from her fucking venti frappuccinos and dirty Rite-Aid pregnancy tests than to expect compliments from the staff here.
That's why I'm giving myself a star, too. But only privately. Oh, and still waiting on that apocalypse.
To summarize:
-Hipster's genuine compliment about my age = GREAT
-Not buying back my cute pants = FAIL
-Confusing yet helpful explanation as to above statement = WORTHY
-Quality of garments = CRAPSHOOT
-Occasionally finding a diamond in the rough = FANTASTIC
-Hipster's genuine compliment about my age = GREAT
I mention that last one twice but let's not kid ourselves. Sometimes a girl's gotta take what she can get.
I've never bought anything here, and today was my first time selling. Contrary to what some people have experienced, I found that the buyers were nice, friendly, and talkative to all the people that were selling. I also did not sell any clothes that I liked, or even still wore, so I had no attachment to this stuff.
Most of what I brought in wasn't accepted(understandable since it was old, out of fashion stuff that I was going to donate anyways), but for the stuff that was, I got $75 cash. As for there being a long line, I went on a Saturday around 6pm and there was only 1 person before me, and it was my turn within minutes.
I've sold here more often than I've bought items here, and overall I've had extremely positive experiences.
A word of advice to sellers:
**Do not try and request one of the two sellers who seems nicer or more generous in amount/quality that he/she accepts--you'll probably end up with the one that's now fuming from the ears and ready to just crap on your clothes.
**Don't take their decisions on what to take vs. what to discard personally--I've been behind people who have fervently argued that they spent X amount on these one-of-a-kind _________(s), or that _____ is the trend right now, and it got them nowhere except closer to a tantrum. Not only is this futile, but there are usually long lines of people waiting to sell also.
I've had some really nice buyers who talked with me the whole time and probably took more than I would've anticipated, so being friendly might help. Even when they don't take much, though, they are still very considerate I think the exchange rate is very fair.
Best experience: A male employee donning vibrant spandex pants danced wildly around the store, at one point shouting to a fellow employee to check him out as he added in some pelvic thrusts and "fierce" moves to the delight of all the onlookers.
I have never left this store even close to empty-handed. I have shopped and sold here. They sell everything from clothes, shoes, accessories. They are picky about what they buy, but that IS their job. Otherwise, we would have to be digging through a bunch of junk to find one cute item (Ross, Marshalls). Nothing looks very used and all the clothes are unique and stylish. I recently cleaned out my closet. They accepted about half the stuff I brought and offered me about $30 in store-credit or $20 cash, my choice. Desperately broke and being a typical female, I took the store credit. "Getting rid of old clothes,only to purchase more old clothes" was my boyfriend's reaction. Whatever. I plan to find a cute dress for my cousin's wedding this weekend. Five stars. I love this store and the staff is helpful and friendly.
UPDATE! Went back to BE to use my store credit. I was not able to find a dress... Bad day for dresses... I left with a denim skirt and GREAT "cowgirl" boots.
I found cool vintage bracelets, but most of the vintage clothes/boots I easily found in the local thrift stores around town. Doesn't hurt to check out what they have in stock.
Honestly, I have mixed feelings about Buffalo Exchange. And to be frank, I have mixed feelings about having mixed feelings. I'd go on, but the mind can only endure so much.
On the one hand, it's a dashing and quaint little shop staffed by an armada of elegantly-tattooed punk rocker chicks who are unexpectedly friendly and likeable. Yes, apparently when the moon is full, everyone from Beauty Bar comes here instead.
Great, great, great. The problem is that actually finding some fresh threads worth my money is about as likely as a million monkey team randomly typing the opening sentence of Hamlet. It'll happen eventually, but do I really want to wait for that shit? And in the rare event that I stumble upon a cool shirt, I can't help but think about the greasy hipster chest it has been lovingly nestled against for oh so many months.
I'm not trying to exempt myself from cultural or sartorial criticism. After all, I'm just a caveman chode who likes to cruise down to Barton Creek mall in his pimp as fuck 92 Camry while playing Shakira at exceedingly loud volumes.
But you know where I sell my old shit when the trends change and I have to run to Urban Outfitters for some new pantaloons and an eye patch or two? Buffalo Exchange, that's where. And that's the damned truth.
I'm a big thrift and vintage store shopper. I've had very very good luck finding fantastic pieces here: shift dresses, blousy things, hot pencil skirts, summer dresses. I've had a lot better luck finding things here than in some of my favorite places in LA and NYC. Maybe because this place isn't as picked over? Maybe people generally aren't my size around here so I have the pick of EVERYTHING? Perhaps.
I've never tried to sell anything here, so I don't have that perspective. Honestly, if someone is going to be a bitch about something you're trying to sell here, it's kind of lame, but it's their job. They have to pick what they think is cute. Yes, yes, they could keep their comments to themselves, I know. Buffalo Exchange isn't exactly known for stellar customer service. However, I have had good vibes with the cashier and dressing room peeps. If I am cleaning out my closet, I will (a) donate stuff to Goodwill and/or (b) put it up on eBay. Problem solved. You get more cash and feel better that way.
"Feel better" refers to the donation bit, not the "more cash" bit, of course.
One star was deducted because my man always walks out of here with his hands empty, but I am carrying an armload of four dresses. Boo.
Neighborhood: Rosedale
Category: Thrift Stores
Austin, TX
Category: Men's Clothing
Neighborhood: University of Texas
Category: Women's Clothing
Neighborhood: 78704 (South Austin)
Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment
Neighborhood: Rosedale
Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment
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