Does someone actually buy all those clothes we donate?

[PriscillaVanilla]

Worldwide, there is no shortage of clothing, not even in third world countries.

Clothing is cheap and mass-produced these days.

[kevxu]

Originally Posted by PriscillaVanilla

Worldwide, there is no shortage of clothing, not even in third world countries.

Clothing is cheap and mass-produced these days.

There probably isn't any shortage now in most places..

But just as I see lower income people shopping in charity stores and buying used clothes because they are even cheaper - and often better quality - than cheap mass-produced clothes; I imagine these bought-by-the-bale clothes from the U.S. and sold in a street market are still cheaper than clothes made in Africa.

[Ttark]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

Vintage clothing/costume stores in San Francisco would, too. That was a real opportunity lost.

Estate sale organizers keep the numbers of book, clothing, art, etc. dealers on speed dial for a reason.

That. My jaw nearly hit the floor when I saw nuts2uiam's statements. Stuff of that era was generally higher-quality than the throwaway Chinese crap of today anyways. Plus there are these things nowadays called "hipsters" that easily go for that stuff to remain in conformity with their bearded cell phone-packing, Papst-swilling peers, so you're throwing away BIG profit there. Huge mistake.

Oh well, it's just money.

[chattyneighbor]

Oh yes for sure - the thrift stores by our house are always crowded and people buy just about everything used - especially on senior citizen discount days. You drive buy and sometimes they are waiting to get into the small parking lot.
Some people then try to resell items online to make a little money.
In fact - Good Will has its own auction site PLUS sells on Ebay too. I've bought quite a few media and books from various different Good Will stores around the Country on Ebay - now what they DO with the money they make from those sales - I'm not quite sure.