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Buffalo Exchange
Categories: Shopping Fashion Used, Vintage & Consignment Shopping Fashion Shoe Stores Shopping Fashion Men's Clothing Shopping Fashion Women's Clothing Used, Vintage & Consignment, Shoe Stores, Men's Clothing, Women's Clothing [Edit]
131 N La Brea AveLos Angeles, CA 90036
Neighborhood: Mid-City West
(323) 938-8604
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 8 pm
Sun 12 pm - 8 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Custom hand made garments for Men & Women with the highest quality fabrics & workmanship at exceptional prices. We offer suits, jackets, slacks, &… read more »
105 reviews for Buffalo Exchange
Review Highlights
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"Marc Jacobs top: "Is this from this season." In 5 reviews -
"...are friendly and I usually find something to buy whenever I..." In 8 reviews -
"What's not to love." In 2 reviews
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105 reviews in English
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Review from Patricia N.
Los Angeles, CA
1/5/2012
Since my daughter introduced me to this store, is one of my favorites for trendy used clothes.
I am giving it a 4 stars only because I think is still pricy for used items, however they are in great conditions, I think they only buy your things if they are in great shape and if they have an appealing look for the trends at the moment.
Great employees and very organized with the inventory. -
Review from Raymond H.
Kirkland, WA
3/5/2012
I've been to several Buffalo Exchanges between Seattle and San Diego. There are other used clothing stores within walking distance. If you're visiting the town and contemplating which location to visit, I would recommend this one.
PARKING: Street parking. This is in the core retail section on La Brea. Be persistent in finding a spot. There are other stores within walking distance that will make this used clothing shopping spree.
SELECTION/CONSISTENCY: Naturally, the selection is dependent on what they are able to buy from people off the street. For the most part, they are consistently solid in being able to product a fine selection of old school clothing.
PRICING: Vintage store prices, don't expect to buy items at thrift store prices. As far as the chain outlets, these guys are competitive in their pricing.
SERVICE: The service is friendly. -
Review from Grace C.
12/7/2011
after a great lunch with Trina D, she still needed an ugly sweater for her dinner party later that evening. Looked up on my trusty Yelp app for Buffalo Exchange. I figured we are in K-town, we'd have better luck finding a Buffalo Exchange close by.
The store is not that large, but they have racks and racks of clothes for women and men. There are also shoes. They have some high end goods behind the counter, which is where Trina D found her lovely shoes. There were some YSL grey platform pumps that were 38 which I could usually fit, but alas they were too big. boourns. I still scored with my $18.50 grey New Balance sneakers.
I'm giving this place a 4 because the people in the store were SO helpful and friendly to us.
By the way - like many places in Los Angeles, parking sucks here. I know that we were lucky that we got a space in the tiny TINY lot next to the building. Just keep that in mind you are also on a large street, so parking on the street is metered and a pain as well. -
Review from Rob W.
Los Angeles, CA
5/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Excellent across the board. Easy going atmosphere, good selection, they purchase at a fair exchange and do it with a smile. Whether its shopping or selling this place is tops.
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Review from Josh H.
Los Angeles, CA
5/9/2012
I love all Buffalo Exchanges but this is definitely my favorite location! It's the most convenient for me but more importantly they just fit my style here. They have the best selection of clothes for my style and they tend to buy the biggest quantity of my clothes when I'm selling. The staff is always friendly and helpful and the customers are all chill people. Going to this Buffalo Exchange is something that I always look forward to and it's always a pleasure!
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Review from Teriy M.
Pasadena, CA
4/7/2012
My husband and I drove all the way from Pasadena to this Buffalo Exchange to sell or exchange clothes! It was worth the drive! This BE has the BEST employees! They were all very friendly and sincere. They don't make you feel bad about your style (ahem cough Crossroads). We decided to use our credit and I found a few cute vintage dresses. I wish they had more, though. Overall, we had a VERY PLEASANT experience and plan to return. ;-)
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Review from Trina D.
Buffalo Exchange is hit or miss when it comes to slightly used clothes. The selection is all over the place. However, nothing makes me happier than finding an unexpected gem.
Grace C. and I wandered in here last weekend when I was in need of an ugly sweater for a holiday party. They had plenty but none were holiday themed. I found one that was red at least and looked around some more. Grace found some really cute New Balance street sneakers which were her size for $18.50! I didn't have the same luck, but I did find these really cute red patent leather Moshino butterfly flats marked at $65. Although they were lightly scuffed, they were still very cute and my size! Grace mentioned that they could easily go for upwards of $400 new.
I agonized over the price tag especially since Christmas is around the corner. I even went so far as to check online to see what the retail price was. I found them on eBay for $55, free ship. The girl behind the counter looked at them again and scanned the price tag. It turns out, they were on sale for $32.50. Done. They were purchased along with my ugly red sweater. I left the store thrilled and happy. The End. -
Review from Rylee M.
Los Angeles, CA
10/11/2011
At first I refused to go into used clothing stores. I thought the whole idea was down right disgusting, but I recently overgrew my phobia when a friend of mine dragged me to buffalo exchange and I found a cute top.
I love wearing t-shirts and they have some great vintage ones here.
I wont go as far as to venture to the shoes, but they do have some unique stuff here.Listed in: Goodies around town
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Review from Zoey G.
Los Angeles, CA
3/16/2012
I did find one Michael Kors sweater and some great new tights, leggings and knee highs, but the selection is not what is used to be and they are so darn picky as buyers it gets ridiculous. You are lucky to sell them one designer thing which by the way were my skinny jeans. It's a lot to go through and is a tad above Goodwill. Same chances of items being torn or stained as Goodwill. And metered parking with a long line to sell gets annoying.
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Review from Dustin T.
Beverly Hills, CA
1/5/2012
If you have some old clothes that you wanna turn into cash or you want some 'new to you' clothes for cheap then you need to hit up Buffalo Exchange. I'm not a fan of paying ridiculous prices for shirts or jeans that do the same job as ones that cost less than half of their price (i.e. urban outfitters, american apparel, etc.).
There are multiple locations around LA but this just happens to be the one closest to me. You can either go to a designer store and get a regular t-shirt for $30-40 or take that same cash and go to Buffalo Exchange and get 4-6 shirts, maybe even more. However I do realize that while most people will read this review and agree there are definitely those out there who are too pretentious not to overpay for their clothing..you know who you are. -
Review from Kat B.
Los Angeles, CA
9/26/2011
Eh... I never know what to expect when I go here. It's better to just assume they're all going to be pretentious a-holes. What is it about second-hand stores and employees acting high and mighty?! You're not curing cancer, you're working in retail. For USED CLOTHING. I dunno it's just funny to me. Nothing rude was outright said to me (unlike certain establishments *cough*Jetrag*cough*) but the overall demeanor you get sometimes is -___- yeah. See for yourself.
So, I went in to sell a few things... a perfectly good pair of DC jeans, some tops from Urban Outfitters, a cool Hollister jacket (it's teal, damn it! A teal jacket! I wish it still fit me!) and a thick ass Volcom jacket. I'm glad they didn't take it actually cause I want it again.. ohhh so comfy
Now my stuff showed a bit of wear, yeah, but someone pinch me if I'm wrong but it IS a used clothes store and not a tags-still-attached or a stuff-that-are-omg-totally-in-season store, right?? Wrong! Homegirl only took one of my things and I highly suspect it's only because it still had tags on it and read Kimchi Blue (que the indie girls going "squee omg Urban Outfitters!").
At first I thought okay, let's be reasonable, maybe I'm just butthurt cause most of my stuff got rejected... now that very well may be but when I perused the store to claim my whopping $6 in credit, I could hardly find anything good (that's reasonably priced) o__O So, I don't get that. You have quite a selection random ass, no-name tops (that aren't even cute) but wouldn't take mine? Seriously 60% of the stuff in there was just ???
..and the rest were good but wayy overpriced considering it's supposed to be bargain shopping :| I mean wtf $25 for a Gap blouse? I might as well invest a few more dollars to buying it new. oh well end rant. -
Review from Sean B.
8/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've been fortunate that every city which I've graced with my presence in the last ten years has had a Buffalo Exchange. However, unlike Starbucks, not all Buffalos are created equal.
Not super-impressed with this one. Perhaps it speaks to the diversity of the area (a good thing), but I find that much of the clothing in this location isn't something I'd wear in public (a bad thing). Moreover, the cashiers seem slower than usual when looking at clothes you're selling, and it's not just that there are more customers with more clothing, they just don't seem to even try to hustle. I waited 45 minutes behind 10 people, and there were only two people working the counter. Almost got frustrated and left, but then I was finally up front.
I still think that Buffalo Exchange outperforms other shops... but I'm just not certain that this location is 'all that' compared to others. -
Review from Lee D.
Los Angeles, CA
9/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome place to pick up something new to spruce up your wardrobe, or a staple you may have to replace because of your various moves across country (like me).
The staff is awesome and very friendly, and the store is clean. I really like that you can choose to either take a plastic bag for your purchases or choose not to take one and they give you a token to donate 5 cents to the charity of your choice. Very cool. -
Review from Kiko Z.
Los Angeles, CA
9/10/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I come here about once every month to sell my clothes and walk away with new second-hand clothes. I never seem to walk away with any cash, cos everytime I sell anything, I just spend the money on new stuff :P.
Favorite finds here:
- Vintage Chanel Blazer! missing one button and need to be taken in a size, but still, Chanel for $70? I think YES
- Red Bebe jeans for $20
- Top shop tunic for $12
This place makes me happy because I de-clutter my room by selling/donating the clothes I don't want and I pick up new pieces at no extra cost! Also, Susina bakery is just around the corner, so I pick up some butter cookies and a slice of cake on my way back and that makes me every happier :) -
Review from Diana L.
Los Angeles, CA
10/31/2011
Best Buffalo yet.....( i have been to 6 of them!)
Good service
Good selection of clothing
Good prices
Only one problem with this place.......PARKING...good luck!
but know its worth it if your a vintage shopper ;) -
Review from Timi B.
Van Nuys, CA
6/30/2011
Good clothes but I was here to sell, not buy.... Well they gave me $7 for 2 items and I had 3 bags of stuff.... not much - they were very nice though. I had just come from Crossroads where they bought nothing and weren't as friendly.
The two items they bought were really wierd and not what I expected - a no name black floppy hat and a no name suede/macrame vest.
The real reason I'm writing though is to WARN YOU about PARKING at the meters out front - Put your money in the meter - BEFORE you carry your clothes in the store! I was there about 5 minutes and realized i forgot to feed the meter - and I got a ticket - the guy next to me did the exact same thing and another guy said he DID put money in the meter and got a ticket anyway! Beware the evil bastard parking attendants - this is a ticket hotspot for them! So I made $7 dollars but now owe $58. Shoulda just donated! -
Review from Jena O.
Los Angeles, CA
11/14/2011
For a store that buys customer clothes, they don't buy often. They are very picky what clothes they take. The store is smaller then other stores like Wasteland or Crossroads Trading Co. Customer Service is ok. I always love the employees style, but I have never found anything I'd buy here. Seems a bit pricey for a recycled clothing store.
Parking: I parked in residential area & walk or there's metered parking. -
Review from Stephen N.
Los Angeles, CA
6/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
So the deal is that they send their minions to other thrift stores in the area, purchase all the good stuff on the cheap, and then up the price by about a factor of three.
Not a bad business model for them, but for customers like us it means paying more for a smaller, more distilled selection. Which isn't so bad if you like to keep your thrift store shopping experience between the 15 - 20 minute mark, like I do.
The staff are friendly and I usually find something to buy whenever I go.
There is no need to go trawling through the racks of crap you're going to find in the big stores on Melrose.
Just come here, you'll pay more but time is money too. -
Review from Kristen S.
Los Angeles, CA
5/22/2011
Here's the deal. When I *want* something, I go to the thrift store. When I *need* something, I go consignment. And Buffalo Exchange? Sorry, Jet Rag, but as funky-fab as your selection is, the majority of it ain't exactly for everyday wear. Enter the Buff-Ex.
Lemme give you shoppers a cautionary: discount shopping, Buffalo is. Bargain shopping, it is not. You want an amazing deal on a barely-touched pair of William Rasts? Hell-o Buffalo! You want to pay under $30 for those jeans? Excuse me a moment while I shake your little head into the (semi-)reality of West Hollywood.
Not only will you find some of the best-fitting pantaloons here at slashed prices, you'll stumble across oodles of the sweetest secondhand fash in the greater metropolitan area. Buffalo clearly keeps track of their trends, and you can be SHO that no matter what you walk out with will have you looking hotter than the WeHo sun. My find-of-the-day? One pair of new-with-tags Baby Phat jeans, (almost) my size: $11. Didn't buy, but I'm sure by now it has made one lucky gal quite happy.
Once upon a time I tried to sell some rags here, and walked out with my head down, not having made a single buck. Now that I've actually shopped here, shame on me for thinking an 8th-grade-status wardrobe could even make a pass at the studly duds stocked here! The salesman, of course, was all too nice about the whole situation, and explained the trends to me in order I may have better luck next time. So, for anyone complaining they can't sell here: take a look at the racks. Take a look at your crap. See the difference? I thought so.
If you've made it this far, I'll give you a couple tips. Parking: no private lot, but park on 1st for up to 2 hours free. Selling: when I came, they had a chart of the exact items they were buying at the moment. Use it. Lastly, if you don't find whatcha crave here: Jet Rag, up the street a couple blocks. You're welcome.Listed in: Tripping Over Used Clothing LA
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Review from AJ V.
Los Angeles, CA
9/1/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The first time I visited this place ( it was Sunday ), and the people working here seem to be having fun! Music playing in the background! Lady in the counter singing, I thought I was in a karaoke bar. It was fun!
Anyway, this is my second choice to sell my clothes on. I would go first to Wasteland, and if there are left overs, I bring it here. They even buy Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle stuff here.
My experience with selling differs from each buyer. I sell more if it's a guy behind the counter. I also noticed that the guys are nicer when they say that they will pass on an item.
After you're done selling, you have an option to get the store credit or cash equivalent. The store credit is more but I tend to get the cash instead. Sometimes I'm happy but most of the time they price the clothes really low, even for a high quality / hardly used / branded item ( Zara, Ralph Lauren, G-Star, and vintage leather jackets ).
Parking is horrible. It has a limited time window that you have to follow. I usually have to park a few blocks away just to go here. If you do get to find street parking nearby, be careful of the traffic enforcers because they love to give away tickets! -
Review from amy j.
Los Angeles, CA
3/15/2011
I think that this Buffalo often gets a bad wrap because people are very particular about their clothing, and often get offended when BE doesn't jump to buy every designer item that they are attempting to sell. I've sold here before and never had a problem. When I want a store to take more of my things, I go to Crossroads, because they aren't looking at quality as much as BE. The reason why BE isn't taking some of your items is because they think they can't sell them and/or sell them at a fair price. As an avid customer of the store, I am A-OK with this!
This is my favorite BE in the area. Their stock is always changing and there are always at least 2 or 3 gems in the store that you can't find anywhere else and are total staples for a girl's wardrobe. I've found perfect quality leather riding boots (for $48!), Steven Alan sweaters (for $25!), Paige denim jeans ($30!). Sometimes you can go in and not find anything you are loving, but more times than not, I am walking out of here with 3-5 things in hand, generally not spending over $75! Win, win I say!
Also, the staff is amazing. They are always friendly and really knowledgeable about price points and designers. They have fun events every once in a while in the store. I never feel pressured to buy or anything.
In short, I love it here. I understand that people get very sensitive about selling their clothes, but I think BE is just trying to provide the best quality products for their customers while still offering a good price for those goods. So all in all, I'm happy. And I will be returning. Frequently. :) -
Review from Chantal B.
Huntington Beach, CA
5/12/2011
I prefer this Buffalo as opposed to all the others i've been to (i.e westwood, long beach, san francisco, santa monica, fullerton, & costa mesa)
I always find something, (as opposed to spending a couple of hours trying stuff on and selecting nothing then leaving in a bad mood. To make up for the sadness of walking out empty handed. Going to marc jacobs and buying a whole bunch of expensive clothes and emptying my wallet : (
There pricing is actually super reasonable and i always find REAL designer clothing and in great condition too! I've never second guessed any purchase from this BE. Also, there purse selection is amazing.
The employees are super friendly and helpful. there is a better vibe in here then other BE's. This buffalo has actually taken a lot of my trade ins. Which makes me happy.
there halloween selection is super hilarious and i've found so many great costumes here!!
Come to this buffalo and forget the rest!!!! -
Review from Steevens A.
Los Angeles, CA
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Decent thrift store, OK parking situation (you can park around the block in the neighborhood!). It is pricy here but you can find a lot of trendy clothing.
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Review from Carolyn R.
Los Angeles, CA
6/20/2011
The last time I was here was maybe a year ago, maybe a little bit more. I forgot about this place, when I first came here, I was broke, but my cousin bought me this pair of marc jacob heels that are so pretty! Every time I wear them, everyone tells me they are cute. I got them for 50, and were not that used. :)
I really don't care about name brand clothes, so I don't think I will be coming here that much. -
Review from Carolyn D.
Fountain Valley, CA
7/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is the very first Buffalo Exchange I'd ever shopped at. I was 14 from Fountain Valley with no sense of style. My fabulously chic uncle brought me and my cousins here to pick out some designer duds at discount prices. Bought my first Marc Jacobs article here: a pair of faded skinny jeans which I sadly no longer a year later! We're not all super models, myself especially! But in respect to Buffalo Exchange, I sold it to their then-newly-opened branch in Costa Mesa. A week later, I saw a friend wearing it in pre-cal! Gotta love the cycle!
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Review from Lindsey W.
Long Beach, CA
11/19/2011
Good selection, but prices are higher than at other Buffalo Exchanges I have been to. Staff was actually not that rude here. Long wait for the dressing rooms, but the store was well organized. My biggest gripe with B.E. is that they put shoes of various sizes on top of the clothes rack. I wish they would just put them on the rack that has the right size. I always find really cute shoes on top of there and they are the wrong size. It is a serious gooch tickle with no relief.
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Review from Dan D.
Philadelphia, PA
5/5/2008
These people are jerks.
I like to think I'm semi-fashionable next to some of the scum that walks this earth. When I was leaving Los Angeles, I decided to really scale down on my wardrobe so I took a ton of clothes in to sell. Now, I know you're thinking 'this guy has no idea. he's not fashionable. he probably brought in junk', but that's not the case. A lot of it was some decent stuff. I had a couple pairs of diesels, some vintage t shirts I paid way too much for to begin with, some of those ironically hip cowboy shirts... You know the drill.
They basically told me my stuff was no good and that they couldn't sell it. But since I was there, they would be more than happy to 'donate it for me'. I figured why not... I'm leaving and I don't feel like carrying this bag around with me.
Once I left, I thought about it a little. They've got some racket configured here. You come in to sell your stuff. They claim that they can't sell it and offer to 'donate' it. And the second you leave, they tag it and put it on the racks. Interesting...
Just to make sure I wasn't crazy, i decided to stop back in the next day to browse. Sure enough, 90% of the clothes I 'donated' were on the racks. Whatever...
Is it just me, or is that just wrong? If I had it in me, I would have hunted down the manager to say something. But chances are, the manager is some 19 year old chick from Wisconsin with leg warmers and a matching scrunchy.
Boycott this place and donate your clothes to the Good Will if they won't buy them. They're a gang of thieves. -
Review from Lauren M.
Los Angeles, CA
6/23/2008
This place makes me want to slap a baby, kick a puppy, and rip the tail off of a kitten (damn what would I say for 1 star right?)
Now listen ... I am freaking Fashion Kitty dammit!! Meaning, I have fabulous clothes -- even the shit I am trying to get rid of for cash. So I shouldn't have any problems selling clothes to a second hand store.
Ummm ... too bad I did. Let me break it down by a few pieces where my fashion sense was insulted.
- Catherine Malandrino skinny pants: "Um, who is Catherine Mala ..."
- Marc Jacobs top: "Is this from this season?"
- D&G Jeans: "We are really looking for something more mainstream"
- Betsey Johnson evening dress: "We aren't looking for dresses right now"
I hope you read these with an obnoxious Valley Girl accent because it was written to sound that way.
I walked out of there with $38 and a bad attitude. Oh, and my favorite part ... "We can donate this stuff for you" STUFF!! Biotch please. I a not letting some punk Valley Girl "donate" my designer clothes. Guh!
End rant. -
Review from Moye I.
Los Angeles, CA
7/10/2007
2 stars from a SELLER'S point of view. I'm sure I'd give this 5 stars if I was looking to buy something.
But god damn. If there's any store that tries to dissuade you from EVER selling your clothes to them, Buffalo Exchange would be it.
If you were also looking for a store to fold up your clothes randomly without really looking at it, Buffalo Exchange would be it.
I brought my bag of clothes to this store and in basically 30 seconds, most all of it was deemed unworthy. Seriously? Seriously. Mostly without comment (hence the randomly unfolding and folding of clothes), even though I swear 85% of my stuff was exactly the same as the clothes on the racks all around me. They skipped some solid label stuff, told me how they JUST checked their INVENTORY and they're SO FULL of clothes, and OMG this is SO CUTE but the material isn't right for summer (it was a summer BCBG dress). Gee, thanks.
In the end, they chose a plain black cotton dress that I picked up at a dollar store. Okay?!
Anyway, yeah. It's better to have a yard sale or ebay your stuff, cause chances are, they won't take them at Buffalo.
(Note: I'm not saying that everything I brought was worthy to be re-sold. It's a fun place to shop, but it's not worth the effort to re-sell your clothes through them. And therein lies the irony, because without your clothes, they'd have nothing to sell, and therefore, nothing for you to shop, then nothing for you to wear and re-sell back to them, and so forth. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Ahhhhh I'm confused.) -
Review from Jeanna L.
Brooklyn, NY
7/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
Didn't really peruse through their selections as a shopper since I was there and determined to get rid of my shit. Coming from San Francisco, I only had 2 options for places to sell my clothes when I no longer wanted them: Crossroads Trading and Buffalo Exchange. Coming down to SoCal, I had only sold at the Buffalo Exchange in Costa Mesa @ the Lab (since it's pretty convenient and they have a parking lot).
I must say that this particular location took a lot of my stuff (more than Costa Mesa would ever take) and they price higher than the one at the Lab in Costa Mesa. Mind you, I did bring all my True Religions to sell even though I called ahead and they told me they were heavy on jeans and were more inclined to not buy them (but my buyer bought all but 2 pairs out of the 10 I brought!)
All in all, I had a really good selling experience at this location and would def. come back to sell some more. -
Review from Stephy S.
San Francisco, CA
7/5/2006 1 photo
By far one of the best Buffalo Exchanges around!
I have found THE most unique and "All my friends want to borrow and never give back my new shi*t" worthy gear here! It definitely leans heavier on the vintage side for women at this store, or so I've found, and the guys section is a great place to score those cool button up shirts that you throw on with an old pair of jeans and not comb your hair and make you look like a million bangable bucks!
Then add in the delicious collection of shoes and purses, plus all of the Neat-O lil knick knacks and you definitely have a reason to plunge through the Target traffic triangle from hell on La Brea and give this place a bit of your paycheck!Listed in: Los Angeles Shopping, Los Angeles Women's Clothing
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Review from Ann C.
Diamond Bar, CA
8/9/2008
YESSSSS!
First time shopping here- actually first time shopping at a used clothing store- and I'M IN LOVE!
Found a dope brown 100% leather jacket for $18! And it was brand name! And it was worn in perfect!
They got tons of cool shoes and bags and clothes of course. Too bad I had to spend all my $ on tickets for my car last month otherwise I woulda walked outta there with BAGS of stuff!
One thing I got to say is the mens section have waaaay cooler kicks than us!!! I saw so many that I wanted to get but sizes were too big =(
I def. recommend folks to try it out.
Warning: Salesgirl told me this LV purse they had was real (it was $65) but I checked it out and that shit was FIZ~AKE! *tsk tsk tsk* I don't think so. -
Review from Ann W.
Los Angeles, CA
2/13/2012
Not a bad place to go trade in some of your used clothes if you live in that area. It smells a little stale in here, but the people were basically friendly. They didn't take it all but a few items are better than nothing.
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Review from The Pissed K.
Los Angeles, CA
4/12/2010
This place used to be cool - had been many times, found good stuff, sales staff was polite & it was reasonable. Went back the other week expecting my usual experience and was treated *way worse than I've ever been in a retail setting.* WoW! Spent 30-45 mins, selecting & trying on jeans (always a tedious & harrowing experience for most females), only to be told the one pair I finally picked out must have been priced wrong. Uhhh...it was their tag. The snotty salesgirl then told me that "people change tags in the dressing rooms," so now she was accusing me of being a thief?! I told her I was willing to pay the correct price if she could just figure it out, but she said she would have to call me the next day. I told her I needed them for that night, and they had just wasted a good portion of my time I now can never get back.
Where the hell else have you ever gone to buy something and not only have the salesperson REFUSE to sell you the item, but also accuse you of being a scumbag and basically a shoplifter (even as you were offering to pay some grossly inflated price for USED clothing, I might add...)? I'd suggest going elsewhere unless you particularly enjoy being treated like a big pile of dirt...! -
Review from Valentina D.
Miami, FL
7/4/2007
I'd give Buffalo Exchange four stars just for their awesomely cheap and cool T-shirts and accessories (hello, girl fedoras for $14!) but they deserve five stars even just for employing The Nicest Salesperson In the Universe.
Let's call him "Charming Surfer Boy." Now, CSB could get by on looks alone. Mos def. BUT he is also the most sincerely sweet person I have ever encountered in a store. Seriously, this boy is a saint. I actually see light emanating from him. He is friendly, cheerful, and welcoming to everyone who comes into the store. He is always helping his fellow employees, and they clearly adore him (and his niceness spreads to all of them...they're never grumpy or curt, even when they've got long lines of people trying to sell them crappy clothes and getting pissed off because "Hey, these are Gucci! These glasses cost me more than a week of your salary!"
Charming Surfer Boy remembers me when I come in, and rememberd me the second time. He compliments my clothes. He says, with genuine feeling "It's nice to see you again!" He remembers things I've worn before, for chrissakes! And no, I'm not THAT memorable.
Buffalo Exchange also has inexpensive and only 'slightly worn" clothes. I've found a Katayone Adeli top for $12, and a butt-hugging pair of Darryl Ks for $15. The store doesn't have that sad sour stink of so many used clothing stores. They play good music. Their dressing rooms are simple but comfy. You can bring in 10 items at a time. What more can I say? Oh, yeah....when I walk into the snooty, overpriced, and ridiculous "American Rag" across the street after Buffalo Exchange, I snort and chortle. Alot. Because I know that anyone shopping there is being heinously ripped off, and that if they walked across the street they'd get equally good clothes for a tenth of the price. So cross the street, hipstahs. Or do you like throwing money away? -
Review from lauren b.
Los Angeles, CA
7/6/2007
I usually don't like to write a review based on one visit, because it might have been an off day, or what not, but this is how my trip to B.E. started out.
Buyer 1: Have you been in here before?
Me: Um, no, I heard about you guys on Yelp.
Buyer 1: Huh, what's 'Yelp"?
Buyer 2: (chiming in) OH! It's like Mapquest..
Me: Uh, yeah, it's like.. Mapquest.. (as I lay a Yelp card down on the counter.)
Buyer 1: (picking through my clothes) I don't know what to do about these. They don't have pockets in the back (referring to some super cute designer trousers that I would keep except I can't get my left pinkie toe in them).. I dunno. Well, we'll just take these.. (as she picks up one pair of sailor pants) Do you want cash or credit?
Me: ok, I guess I'll look around..
I was amused by the entire transaction. I shopped around, hoping to get deals like the other reviewers found, but nothing.. Nada. Seriously, I must have hit the day when all the high school kids pawned off their Forever 21 crap. Not that's there's anything wrong with that, but if I'm going to buy Forever 21, I'm going to buy it *new* and in Forever 21.
Oh, maybe I'll go back and check it out another time, but I'm not in any hurry.
Hey, anyone want some pocketless trousers? -
Review from Brad F.
Los Angeles, CA
7/4/2006
Vintage clothing spot off an already underrated street to shop. I actually bought a blazer here last minute and it fits perfectly The price...$35. I know it was worn before, but I probably look a lot better in it. Right? Hello? Well, I also bought the freshest pair of Nike's here for only $25. Without a doubt, I would have paid $99 for these. Brand new, white air-force, blue stripe and red trim. One of my favorite pairs of shoes and for only 500 Buffalo Nickels.
A couple of vintage shirts, one with a owl that I just found out glows in the dark, completed my day on the range where the buffalo roam. I cannot wait to go back in September to diversify my fall collection. I am rooting for a burgundy comeback.
Ironic= I am the first to rate a used-clothing store. -
Review from Nish N.
7/26/2006
Coming from San Francisco, I had mixed feelings about Buffalo Exchange. We have a couple in our city, and they're at best, pretty good, hit or miss. So when my friend took me took me to this LA location, I was at first not expecting much.
Then I walked in, took a look at the men's selection, and realized that not all Buffalo Exchanges are created equal. Maybe it's LA, but some of the brands I came across seemed better off at a nice consignment store, not just a vintage spot.
I tried on a bunch of shirts and jackets, all were maintained well, and the staff was nice and approachable.
I ended up coming away with a hot Caffeine jacket for something like $30. Instant cool, on the cheap.Listed in: Nish's Los Angeles Haunts
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Review from Paul A.
Los Angeles, CA
2/2/2007
I go here for all my duds, especially jeans.
I always seem to leave with the best "size 6" women's jeans or tennis shoes imaginable, at a great price.
My friend always says you can get the same stuff at Goodwill. (It's true that her husband found a Louis Vuitton purse at Goodwill, which he then sold on eBay for $1,500. They used the money to go to Buenos Aires. D-oh.)
Yes, but you have to look 10-20 times as long.
Buffalo Exchange has done the hard work of weeding out the best stuff for you, with none of the Melrose attitude.
The folks here are friendly, and will give you great advice if you ask for it.Listed in: 2685 Sztuff ::
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Review from Carrie R.
Los Angeles, CA
10/22/2006
I used to frequent The Buffalo Exchange while in college in Tucson, AZ. My how the stores vary!! Whereas in college is was all the university clothing and bebop wears...this one is definitely geared (ha ha get it? "GEAR"ed? lol I crack my shit up.) toward the eclectic and vintage crowd.
They usually take at least ONE item when you go to sell so don't get sad if they don't buy EVERYTHING.
TIP: they buy items that are currently in style and in season...so don't bother pawning off those wife beaters in the winter...they'll usher you to the door! Also...make sure everything is clean!!!
They give like 40% in cash or %60 in trade or something like that...so you can walk away with moula or buy some used clothes for your back.
