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Buffalo Exchange

3 star rating
based on 75 reviews

Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment  [Edit]

Neighborhood: University District
4530 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 545-0175
Hours:

Mon-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

75 reviews for Buffalo Exchange

Review Highlights   

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"So I rank this top amongst the second hand stores I've visited in Seattle." (in 11 reviews)
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"…were so many premium brands and the selection for jeans was very exciting…" (in 16 reviews)
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"Every time I go in I always find great clothes." (in 36 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Nicholas W.

 

0

10

Nicholas W.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
9/10/2009

I love this place! I find somthing rad everytime from boots to belts to cool rock n roll shirts.

I have sold stuff there too and it's cool to get a little cash for something you don't wear anymore.

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Photo of Mila D.

 

0

42

Mila D.

Seattle, WA

1 star rating
9/24/2009

I went to this store several times in the past, because I lived nearby, and because it's always full of students browsing - so it must be good, right?

Nah. Overpriced crap.

Seriously, the price tags are way too high for used clothing! It does not compare to similar thrift stores, not in price not in quality. I rarely saw anything that I even considered buying. Once I had a little conversation with my husband, wondering why people buy that ugly stuff at those high prices. His (politically incorrect) answer: "Students are stupid about clothes shopping. They'll pay full price for old junk because they don't know any better!"

To top it off, once I brought a big bag full of clothes, seeing if they wanted to buy any. The girl didn't spend more than one second looking at each, looking as if she were sorting through smelly crap (which my clothes were NOT, some were very nice stuff!) and at the end she said she wasn't interested in anything, it was all outdated. She made me feel like The Year's Worst Dressed, and pretty much ruined my day.

Do yourself a favor, walk a few blocks south and check Crossroads Trading Company instead.

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Photo of Nina H.

Elite '09

26

138

Nina H.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
8/5/2009

I'm not a huge fan of thrift stores but I go here to try and sell off my unwanted clothes and most of the time... they take one thing and pay me like 3 bucks for a shirt I paid $30 for. *cringe*

I also think there's a musty smell in the store but maybe that's just the smell of old clothes. The sales people are generally really friendly although they take forever to sort through my clothes to see if I want them or not.

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Photo of Bridget M.

 

0

5

Bridget M.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
11/17/2009

I have had a few good experiences here, the clothes are a little bit trendy and the staff leaves something to be desired, but overall I do not think I'll be making many trips to this store.

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Photo of cathy g.

 

383

1013

cathy g.

Seattle, WA

1 star rating
Updated - 4/20/2009

WOW Years ago I loved this place.
I went in with 3 bags of stuff to sell.. ok .. the racks were half empty.. the store was empty..
I had little to browse through as the 'buyer' chatted and chatted before looking at the clothes I brought in..

They didn't want my summer tops.. hmm.. the racks are empty!

The brusque treatment.. why bother? There is much more I could say..like.. "it is your job to look at clothes and  decide to buy them or not and generally treating people well.. means they will come back to buy, ..." But truthfully (ok I said one of the 5 things) not gonna bother. They have a big store , they can do it their way!

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 2 star rating
    10/28/2008

    I have not had a good day inthere for 7 months.
    I don't go any more.

    I used to find things.

    Now, there… Read more »

Photo of Corey T.

Elite '09

31

68

Corey T.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
5/21/2009

Its A-OK...  

Pro- if you are with trusty friends and have a lot of extra time on your hands this is a great place and pretty under rated.  Lots of name brands...

Cons- I am kind of confused about their purchasing, they dismissed a bebe top that still had tags on it "cause it was not what they are looking for".  Noted.
Lines can get long.
They have way too many little people sizes... ie. Size 0,1, 2, 3...
Parking situation sucks.

Aside from that - give it a try!

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Photo of Jacqueline L.

 

3

37

Jacqueline L.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
2/4/2009

I WANT to hate this place. The trendiness, the overabundance, the college-kidness, the 'they-don't-buy-ALL-of-the-shit-clothes-I-try-to-s ell"-ness. I bought that top for seventy dollars, and you're telling me it's out of season?

But for all of the hate I've wanted to accumulate over the years, Yelp has, yet again, brought me to my senses:

I, um, kind of love Buffalo Exchange.  

For every fifteen pieces of stinky poop I sift through, I find a single jewel with a sparkling price tag.  Not a bad ratio for second-hand.  They have some really, really nice, well-conditioned tops, dresses and coats/jackets.  The pants, skirts and shoes are so-so, but never particularly "bad."  As far as style goes, I must disagree with the former Yelper who describes it as catering almost exclusively to the preppy college students nearby.  I would describe it more specifically as a versatile balance between hip, trendy, faux-vintage, retro, with a sprinkle of Forever 21-esque clubbing clothes.

In summary, Buffalo Exchange is probably the best second-hand clothing store for young/youngish crowds in Seattle.  (Don't believe the haters.  Do they forget they're reviewing a thrift store?)  BE keeps the clothes cheap, they keep the racks neat, and trust me: you will find SOMETHING.  A whopping five-stars.

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Photo of Kat F.

Elite '09

122

257

Kat F.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
3/21/2009

Some people say this place is expensive - people, it's a freakin' thrift store! You have to work to get the bargains!  This isn't a 3 day sale at Gap where stuff is piled on tables, screaming "buy me - I'm only $11" or whatever.  It's all about searching through racks, trying on like 50 things and coming back frequently.  

Sometimes I choose not to buy something because it's $30.  But I've also found a nice pair of grey woolen trousers, fully lined for $10, nearly brand new banana republic jeans for $20, sweaters for $7 and shoes shoes shoes!!  They often have stuff marked down 50% but not stamped on the tag so it's a surprise at the register.  

One time I bought  a pair of jeans - don't even get me started on how effing fabulous the jeans section is - and got them home and they still had a store alarm tag on them, presumably because they were brand new.  I took them back, with the receipt to get it removed.  In my mind it wasn't at all a big deal but the customer service lady was tripping over herself to apologize and gave me a coupon for $5 off my next purchase!

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Photo of Jessica W.

 

0

17

Jessica W.

Port Orchard, WA

2 star rating
1/17/2009

I always go in, but come out feeling unsatisfied. It's hard to find the sizes on the racks, and if you're anywhere above a size ten, it will be very hard for you to find something besides shapeless sweaters and... well, shapeless sweaters.

The employees are all very "indie and hip" in that they all wear skinny jeans, layered shirts with a belt, messy hair, and ironic nerd glasses. I don't feel like they would be much of a help if I went to ask them for some.

Things are very expensive and I always have the sneaking suspicion that I've seen the clothes cheaper before they come here.

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Photo of Loree B.

Elite '09

70

200

Loree B.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
1/24/2009

I have mixed feelings about this place. It's like being in a bad relationship. There are things you hate about it, but you can't let go.
Why? Because there are some great finds and a variety to the selection. But then as I look through the racks, I find things that I ask 'who the hell would actually pay money to wear this??' because it's either hideous or has a rip or huge stain or wreaks of cat pee, yet I bring in some trendy, cute clothes that I've gotten many compliments on in the past which are in perfect condition, try to consign or sell it there, and they reject it. It feels as though they look down on you unless they don't meet their personal criteria of coolness. And what is that? I think it varies from employee to employee but that they're trained to be snotty. So I really give it a 2.5

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Photo of Docia B.

 

4

10

Docia B.

Seattle, WA

1 star rating
11/17/2008

I'm sorry, but I feel that this place is a bit silly. I could almost get past the fact that almost everything in there is overpriced, but there is a strong air of pretentiousness that just about every employee in the store shares. They act like it's painful for them to assist you...god forbid they waste their cool on you.
I was a bit stunned to see that a shirt I'd seen at a different chain store months ago was there, only the price was doubled. What the hell?
Value Village might not be considered as "cool," but I'm more likely to find an awesome rare gem there than anything that's worth what you'd pay at Buffalo Exchange.

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Photo of Kimberley D.

Elite '09

191

501

Kimberley D.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
1/28/2009

The selection's catered to/influenced by the nearby college students... lots of Abercrombie, J. Crew, American Eagle, etc. on the racks. Which is cool if you're into that, but if you prefer weirder stuff or designer stuff or anything less sweatshop-preppy it might be a struggle. 90% of the stuff on the racks was made in China or Hong Kong.

Unlike Crossroads, is that they at least somewhat sort their shirts by size. This location still only sorts by what's on the tag, though, so you'll find a junior size XL which fits like an adult medium/large right next to a plus size 26 dress, or a size 'XS' which resembles a size 10 adjacent to a size small men's hoodie which fits a women's medium, etc.

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Photo of Sara A.

Elite '09

14

114

Sara A.

Austin, TX

4 star rating
7/23/2009

This is one of the largest 2nd hand clothing stores in Seattle, and one of the largest Buffalo Exchanges I've seen in a few cities. That means lots of selection, but sometimes thrifting can be overwhelming, doubly so in a store this size. I usually avoid shopping fatigue by using a handy tip passed down from mother: upon entering the store I ask myself (internal monologue, so as not to scare passers-by), "What am I looking for today?" This way I have a mission and some priorities. If I know I really need jeans, could use a purse, would love a new dress, then I'll go to jeans first and focus my energy on this goal. If after searching jeans I still feel game, I may go to the purses/bags, or sift through racks of dresses. You don't have to see everything!
Also, don't forget to check out accessories. This store has a particularly large selection of scarves. Also, although the buyers can be picky, they are usually always friendly, as is the rest of the staff.
I am also pleased with my own selling experiences here. Just remember to stay in season, and don't feel bad if they can't take your stuff.

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Photo of Brent F.

 

38

38

Brent F.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
9/30/2008

My favorite used clothing store in Seattle.  
The buyers here have a good eye for stylish clothes, and price everything well.   The stock turns over regularly so you usually arent subjected to the same assortment of tacky sweaters as you are at many thrift/consignment shops.  If stuff doesnt sell they clearance it or get rid of it.   Good mix of mens and womens, casual and dress.

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Photo of abigail l.

Elite '09

127

69

abigail l.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
5/27/2008

Jolie Laide

Dig:
Laide.
Laide.
Laide.
Laide.
Laide.
*Jolie!* Anthropologie? Cadet blue skirt w/ patterned pleated underlay, unworn, $24
Laide.
Laide.
Jolie but wrong size.
Laide.
L-a-i-d-e.
Laide.
Laide.
*Jolie!* Marc Jacobs-caliber vibrant navy-white striped sheer tank, mint condition, $11
Laide.
Laide.
Laide.
Jolie but off color.
Laide.
Laide.
Laide.
LAIDE! Quel dommage that they are peddling this peach fringed top with Farrah Fawcett beads while my unfussy black staple dress is sitting spurned and in the fetal position at the buying counter.
Laide.
Laide.
Laide!
Laide, laide, laide, laide.
Jolie but odd fit.
Laide.
Jolie? Laide? Laide.
Laide.
Laide.
*Jolie!* mod plastic chunk bracelet in navy, $3
*Jolie!* 60s teak/plastic bangle in yellow, $6
*Jolie!* 60s teak/plastic bangle in orange, $6

$50
-------------------------------------------------- -
The selection wavers, as does the laide to jolie ratio. I've been known to leave with a slew of shimmering cornerstone pieces but if I catch them at the wrong time, the place is picked over and "high on junk." I sell here occasionally, also with mixed results. Yesterday was a 4 star day. They offered me $87 in trade or $60 in cash. I walked out with the above goodies, 25 clams, and an airier closet. *Jolie!*

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Photo of claire m.

 

2

14

claire m.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
5/24/2009

They always have great prices, cool clothes, and are super friendly and laid back. I did apply here once though, and the lady who is in charge is kind of bitchy. But whatever.

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Photo of Alex G.

Elite '09

27

108

Alex G.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
4/8/2009

Buffalo Exchange is pretty big with a large selection for men and women. There is also more selection at different sizes. Some things are a little expensive for second hand but some is dirt cheap. I got a nice pair of shorts for $7. Great place to troll frequently for that occasional amazing find.

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Photo of Lee A.

 

73

130

Lee A.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
5/3/2008

I was so excited going in here today, my friend actually looked at me and asked:  "Do you look this happy after sex?"   Well, yeah, I kind of do. But the BE is more like my crack.  I love the Buffalo Exchange with an embarrassing needy don't-leave-me-baby-ever-ever kind of love.  Mind you, I hate shopping malls and Macy's and H&M and every other place offering cookie-cutter clothes made to look like you bought it in 1975 after Woodstock sort of store.  But I love, love, love digging around in the BE for one-of-a-kind stuff you can't find anywhere else.  I have endless patience for it, too.  A trip to the BE is like Wonderland to me - did Alice worry about her parking meter?  I think not.

Today alone I scored a soft, soft black cashmere sweater, a "Brunettes Have More Fun" t-shirt, and a jacket with zipped pockets for beastie-walkings.  Plus, I love when I have a victim to play my favorite fantasy profession:  A stylist on What Not to Wear.  "Put that down,"  I like to yell at my friends as I pull a pair of pink and green sneakers away from them firmly.   They usually only volunteer for this experience once though.

The trick to all second-hand stores is to go often.  I've been to BEs across the country, and the SF store on Russian Hill is the best of the best, but hey - the Ave store is only a mile from my house.  We'll go out again soon, My Little Buffalo.  Oh yes.  *Smack*

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Photo of Geraldine D.

Elite '09

10

54

Geraldine D.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
8/12/2008

I often say that Buffalo Exchange is for college students too stupid or too frightened to actually go to a real thrift shop. The selection is so-so and overpriced. I've seen the staff pass up legitimate clothing (from myself and others) while taking absolute trash from their friends. The buyers are usually incredibly rude (one girl asked of my leather jacket, "Does it smell?". Less than you do, my dear), and won't give you a good value for your clothes, particularly if they like something (one gave me a low price on a jacket, then asked her co-worker to hold it for her until payday).

This place is ridiculous - I'm sorry, they might be designer jeans, but they are USED. Stop trying to charge me $100 for them. And the girls who've never shopped outside of a mall who are so excited by their "finds" make me want to smack them. $30 for a Michael Stars shirt is not a "find".  Wisen up, kids.

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Photo of Casey W.

 

3

11

Casey W.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
6/23/2009

I love this store. Every time I go in I always find great clothes. I love any place that I can randomly pick up a pair of jeans and have them fit like a glove, for only $14.50. Seriously, I wear those jeans a few times a week at a minimum, and I'd never heard of the brand before. I haven't tried to sell any clothes to them, so I can't offer a review of their trading. I will say that usually their prices are great, except when they have low quality, thin, too small plain tee shirts that are faarr too overpriced. I live close to the Ave, so parking isn't a consideration for me, but I am well aware that parking on the Ave is terrible. Take the bus, you'll have better luck.

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Photo of T D.

 

0

12

T D.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
9/14/2009

I wasn't sure whether to give this store a 3 or a 4. They have a large selection and some charmingly eclectic finds, but they have too many clothes for me to regularly browse. Per time spent in the store, I am usually more successful when visiting Crossroads Trading Co. down the street.

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Photo of james h.

 

14

30

james h.

Atlanta, GA

4 star rating
6/13/2009

god bless broke college kids that need to sell stuff off.

i have never, ever, ever, anywhere in the world i have been had the luck finding designer jeans, almost new, at such great prices as i have at the buffalo exchange in the u-district in seattle.

this store is almost a pilgrimage for me when i come to seattle and i have never left there empty handed.

i've never tried to sell them anything so i can't comment on that.  probably be pretty silly to haul my stuff from the east coast

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Photo of Erin R.

Elite '09

18

141

Erin R.

Astoria, NY

4 star rating
11/14/2008

This. Place. Rules.  It's kind of overwhelming when you first walk it.  Do I want to start with the shoes?  No, no - the shirts.  Oh wait, look at all the dresses over there!  Hold it.  Is that a coat for $10?  I'm sorry, ma'am?  Can you price check this for me?

Okay, okay.  You get the picture.   You won't leave without a bag, but you will leave with some money left to your name.  And to a gal like me, that is the perfect shopping scenario.

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Photo of Christian G.

 

4

141

Christian G.

Seattle, WA

1 star rating
4/16/2009

I went there earlier this morning to get rid of clothes that no longer fit me. Stuff I worn most only twice. Bought from California. 10 degrees warmer than up here. It's spring season up in Seattle. Seattle seems somewhat sunny and cold or dark and possible rain or rain hard. I wanted to sell my short sleeve shirts with logos on them plus a hoodie I thought was cool. I thought they wanted to buy it because I considered short sleeve shirt spring season. Checked each and every one. Did not want any of them because it's not spring season. They wanted sandals, shorts, blouses and dresses. OK. They wanted common brands. Mine was uncommon because I bought them in stores in California that they do not have in WA. I don't even many people wearing sandals or shorts or dresses on the street. WTF. Will not go back there ever.

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Photo of Sonya L.

Elite '09

152

471

Sonya L.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
6/3/2008

I always am super excited about going to Buffalo Exchange, but each time I leave empty-handed and bummed.  

I've never bought a single thing there, although I've tried on plenty of items.  I always seem to need an item in the next size up or down, which of course they don't have because it's a second-hand store.  It also takes a long time to dig through the crap to find the good stuff.  

Prices seem to have slowly gotten higher, which frustrates me.  When I can buy an item on clearance at the retail store for the same price of the used item at BE, you know there's something crappy going on.

I keep going back here for some reason or another...maybe someday I'll finally find something to purchase.

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Photo of Kathleen M.

Elite '09

59

139

Kathleen M.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
1/11/2009

5 stars for always being stocked to the brim with great second hand items, 2 stars for being over priced. I found my current favorite pair of jeans at Buffalo Exchange last August and I am so grateful to them for the find. I came across another pair of jeans that were a potential win yesterday, but they were marked at $44 and I didn't even recognize the label. It is hit or miss in here and very crowded with shoppers when the U is in session. However, I will continue to swing in whenever I am in the area in the hopes of finding that great item in which the price is right.

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Photo of Danielle D.

Elite '09

63

101

Danielle D.

Seattle, WA

1 star rating
1/6/2009

Inconceivably lame.
As I perused rack after rack of Goodwill quality (read low) garments with Urban Outfitters-esque price tags attached, the delusional buyers behind the counter were hard at work snubbing their noses at the mountain of Betsey Johnson, True Religion, Lucky Brand, Diesel, and Levi brand items that I had brought in for trade.
"You have a lot of cute things, but nothing we need at the moment."
It seems the fruits of my closet-cleaning labor were just not tatty/tacky enough to fit in with the cool clothes.  
It's OK, Buffalo girls.  It's not as if I would have found anything I wanted to trade for within the sparse inventory of Old Navy rejects in which you seem to have invested so much of your self worth anyway.
But, just brainstorming here, perhaps if you poured a bit of the energy you seem to reserve for greasing down your hair into honing your buying skills, you just might find yourself working in an environment worthy of your condescending disposition one day.
Meanwhile, Crossroads added a bunch of awesome designer clothes to their racks yesterday, in exchange for some rad Zodiac boots, Sailor Jerry tops, and amazing vintage dresses.
Just sayin' . . .

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Photo of Mary T.

Elite '09

179

280

Mary T.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
7/14/2007

On my first visit here, I found a vintage handbag in brown pleather featuring a little stitched on golfbag, felt green, orange flag, and embroidery stating "Edith." On the back was a stitched-on strip of pleather made to hold six orange golf tees, one of which Edith has obviously used.

This was $15 and good or bad price, c'mon. That fuckin' RULES.

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Photo of Clara T.

 

0

2

Clara T.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
10/28/2008

This place is fabulous!
They have really great inexpensive clothes.
Even my ex-boyfriend found something
and he is suppppper picky.
Shirts are little hard to find for big girls.
But the jeans section is a dream!
I love how they put the shoes on the top of the rack
of clothes and put the same color shoes so
you can see all shoe styles in one color.
Sunglasses they get are new and hella cute.
The handbags are awesome too.
And the staff is youthful, hard working, and dedicated.

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Photo of Joolie T.

Elite '09

495

1013

Joolie T.

New York, NY

5 star rating
6/12/2006

I'm a buy/sell/trade junkie. i soooo wish we had places like this in New York. even if we did, everything is still overpriced and not worth the buck. Buffalo is my favorite place. they practically buy everything i intend to sell, they even have new and unused products/clothes/etc. mind you, it's not a Value Village or Salvation Army. it's more hip and cooler than those places... you can actually find a lot of potential outfits and your usual style staples there. from Converse shoes, Gap jeans, Screen Tees, cardigans, party clothes, cool accessories, etc... kind of a young/funky/unique finds. lots of broke college kids live there... like myself. heheh. most of their items are pretty much in good condition. you won't find much stained, ripped, or neglected/stinky stuff. it's like you pulled it right from your own closet.

another thing i like about this place is that when you save a plastic bag, they give you this little token that's worth .5 cents or something and put it in any box for a GOOD CAUSE (homeless, cancer study, eco friendly, etc. charity) that your heart desires. how awesome!

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Photo of Jenny W.

 

36

99

Jenny W.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
5/7/2008

Buffalo exchange is great. I've found plenty of quality pieces here - the buyers really do have some skill. There are some really icky bizarre pieces, but hey, take a look at the people who work here. Very eclectic bunch - so you're going to get a lot of variety. A bit for everybody.

Clothes: I found my cute bebe dress here, some silk tops, skinny belts, etc. My friend found a pair of fantastic joe's for only $60! You do see a lot of really furry jackets and things, but just keep going through the racks.

Organization: A big key for me to shop at consignment stores. I get easily frustrated at places were sizes aren't clearly mark (i.e. Crossroads Trading) but at Buffalo racks are labeled clearly, and all clothes are tagged clearly with sizes & prices. The skirt/pants hanger is SUPER annoying though...it's way too tight and way annoying to take on / off.

Fitting room: Not a huge fan of the velvety sheet drape, the mirror is nice and there are 4 hooks for hangers - great way to organize your clothes.

Service: The staff are all very amicable and quick to help you. Holds are a painless process. Selling is pretty painless, and they even offer to donate clothes you don't want. You do have to be 18, which is kind of annoying (unlike Plato's Closet). However, you get a way higher % of what you sell.

Price: The prices for the clothes are very reasonable. I got an all-silk Forever 21 top for $11, my bebe dress (the few I've found that aren't trashy) for $21, etc.

This place is great for college students looking to add something to their wardrobe.

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Photo of Krissi P.

 

26

123

Krissi P.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
6/8/2006

I'm a big fan of recycling, so naturally I love this place. The only real frustrating thing for me is when I find something I really, really like and I need either a size up or down - oops! Out of luck, it's the only one. But sometimes that's a blessing in disguise since things can get eliminated and you end up not overspending so much. This is generally not a problem for me since I'm really not that into shopping or patient enough to spend all day sifting through everything. I like to get in and get out.

The one thing I HATE about this store is taking stuff in to sell. There's often quite a line, and there is nothing more frustrating than lugging a couple of bags in to have them sift through and only take one thing. And ironically enough, the things they say they don't usually buy are the kind of things I look for! One really nice thing is that they've got a donation bin for stuff they don't take - if you tried to sell it on the off chance that you might get a couple of bucks out of it but just want it gone, you can donate it (and not have to lug it home!).

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Photo of Bernadette E.

Elite '09

156

294

Bernadette E.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
11/14/2008

dear buffalo exchange-

thanks for always being here for me when i need an excuse to get some new clothes and make money for the ones i don't want anymore. you have been oh so gracious in taking in my stuff and giving it the opportunity to find a new home.

you rock and i hope to see you again soon.

very truly yours,
bernie : )

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Photo of Ali oop ..

 

15

216

Ali oop ..

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
1/4/2007

Nothing is more mortifying than taking your clothes to a used clothing store and having them rejected. Oh, the shame! They tend to do this quite a bit at Buffalo Exchange.

My big problem is not so much the initial rejection, but the clothes you see when perusing the store for good finds. They rejected my _(fill in the blank)_ but are trying to sell this piece of shit!?!?

This is like any used clothing store - you really have to dig to find some good stuff. FYI: it gets picked through pretty quickly by all the students looking for a bargain.

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7

41

Zachary G.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
6/13/2007

Selling clothes at Buffalo Exchange:

I handed them two garbage bags full of clothes that I just didn't wear --- not that they're out of style, just not *my* style anymore. The girl behind the counter was a little skittish... definitely not what I'd call "attentive". These are my precious garbs she's going through...I was hoping for at least a slight attempt at caring that I dragged those bags two blocks from my parking spot.

I overhead another buyer mention that they really only buy clothes that are brand new or very recent. They have to be in prime condition, too (they don't clean them before selling.) Nevertheless, my flighty girl passed on two brand new cargo shorts that still had the tags on them. In the end, they bought a pair of jeans and a plain black shirt from Express and passed on everything else.

They price the clothes right there on the spot. You have your choice of either 30% in cash, or 50% in store credit. I opted for the $9.53 in cash. They asked if I'd like to "donate" the rest.... I politely passed. I'll sell the rest on eBay.

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Elite '09

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138

Rebecca B.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
8/6/2007

Guess what? I'm not rich. I'm not even well off. I get by with a little help from my friends- the clothes at Buffalo Exchange.

ROCKTASTIC. I am very trained at shopping at places like Ross, where you must spend hours digging through the loads of crap on the racks to find that perfect top, or skirt, or pair of shoes. Enter: Buffalo Exchange. Better clothes, already worn in, fantastic selection, and for 1/4 of the price of department store clothes.

The only reason I give -1 star is because they throw in new clothes with the old clothes, and they're full price. It's a little let down every time you see something you like and realize it DOESN'T belong. "One of these things is not like the others...."

But uh, don't go here because then there will be more selection for me when I go. Okay? It sucks. Don't go here. =D

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Elite '09

8

102

Amy B.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
3/11/2009

Um. I'm not going to review this place at length because it's a second-hand store! Instead I'm going to tell you that I got a super cute, bouncy, flowing Free People skirt for $12, an almost new pair of William Rast jeans for $30 (love them), and a pair of Nick & Mo retro shorts for $15! I thought they were all wonderful pieces that I would have fallen in love with at any store, but was incredibly delighted that they were so cheap! I love, love, loved that there were so many premium brands and the selection for jeans was very exciting!! Already one of my favorite stores! :)

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36

202

Melanie W.

Mountain View, CA

4 star rating
6/5/2006

Before I go further, I feel compelled to explain that I'm a very nitpicky kind of shopper.  I'm not very patient, for one, so often I'd rather just pay a little more than spend excessive amounts of time digging through piles of stuff.  

Usually, this means I'm not a thrift store kind of shopper.  However, Buffalo Exchange was different.  Clean and uncramped, there was a wide variety of clothes neatly arranged by size and clothing type.  Exactly my kind of thrift store.

They're picky about what they accept to sell in the store, which seems to contribute to a higher level of clothing quality than what I've seen at a lot of other places.

One thing that annoyed me and might mark me as somewhat of a brat:  I'm somewhat small and they don't differentiate between smalls and x-smalls.  This made a big difference as I picked up a lot of smalls, none of which really fit.  It's not really their fault, more mine for being so picky about how my clothes fit.

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Carrie H.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
11/8/2007

I love me some Buffalo. I could spend hours here. Probably half my wardrobe is from here. But there is much to discuss.

First--it's VERY hit and miss. In fact, I'm on a very predictable cycle of every-other-visit success. Some days I'll walk out of there sputtering "Disgusting! Garbage!" Next time I'll leave with a spring in my step and something like 4 shirts and a purse for $60. I have found some seriously awesome stuff here. Persistence is key.

Second--selling. I'm kinda confused when people say they're embarrassed to have their clothes rejected. You don't want it anymore, so why should they?

Here are my tried 'n' true tips for selling:
-Go right when they open on a weekend day. Otherwise you will probably have to wait.
-Fold your stuff up nice. Make it presentable! Who wants to sift through a garbage bag? Save your old Nordstrom bags or whatever and stack neatly.
-Only attempt to sell things that have labels intact; recognizable or designer labels a plus.
-Don't lurk while they're going through your stuff. Give them some privacy. Go look around and check back to get your total.
-If they don't want it, so be it. I always donate the dregs. Don't perpetuate your own closet clutter. Your "I kiiiinda still like it" item could really make someone's day at...wherever their donations end up.

Third--the stale sweat/incense smell of used clothes in there is pretty putrid, but unpreventable.

Finally, always make sure to spin through the T-shirt rack. "Message" shirts that say things like "I see you've met the twins" provide minutes of amusement.

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Elite '09

18

222

Kristin S.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
4/3/2006

The prices here are pretty high for a used clothing store.  If you are looking for name brands and barely used, very well searched through clothing this is a pretty good place to find it- but you'll pay top dollar to not sift through the bins.  The University kids sell a lot of their really nice, barely used stuff here so you usually can luck out on some designer brands. Skip the designer jeans such as the "sevens"- they're almost always fakes bought on ebay sold for top dollar. It's pretty easy to tell.

I feel like they scoff at the barely used designer duds I turn into them. They throw  a few bucks my way and then leave me to throw the rest of my nice clothes into the goodwill bin (or keep them).  I do like that they have that goodwill bin though- it's pretty convenient.

That all being said, I keep finding myself back here searching for that really great bcbg xs dress for 20 bucks which I've found on more than one occasion.

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