OPINION: Why Reselling is Unethical

Reselling. I’m sure we’ve all heard of it. However, if you are not familiar with the term “resell”, it is something that one has bought to sell to someone else and it’s usually done for profit.

It has become popularized to resell thrifted items, whether it’s on an app like Depop, or a website like Mercari or EBay. Over the last decade reselling thrifted items has become a trend that everyone follows, turning it from a negative, disreputable stigma to trendy way to get clothes for cheap.

Reselling thrifted items for three-five times the price they had initially paid for has become mainstream. Young people are flocking to thrift stores nationwide looking to find unique, vintage pieces to add to their wardrobe. To add on to this wave of thrifting this one positive outlook for sustainability when purchasing clothes. However, the rise of sites like Depop, have made it easier for people to buy, sell,and exchange clothing. It has helped aid in the unethical process of buying clothing. A seller buying $3 dollar shirts from the thrift and selling it on depop for $30+ dollars does not sound ethical to me.

Subsequently, the gentrification of thrift stores has suppressed lower income families who depend on thrift stores for clothing, making it much more difficult to attain. It has been proven \ that lower income families visit the thrift more frequently for clothing, furniture, and other products because it’s more affordable. Individuals with higher incomes invade thrift stores and view it as a commodity and not a place for low income families to attain products that they necessarily need, then the profit off of thrifting is a nuisance.