Plato's Closet: The Aging Authority

So, I had some gently used clothes to get rid of. They were too nice to donate, so I decided to consign them. I could have taken them to a regular consignment shop, but I decided to give Plato's Closet a try because I kept hearing about how they handed you cash for your clothes, a much better concept, methinks.

First off, I made the mistake of going there with the baby. He wasn't feeling too well and was getting hungry, which had the makings for a time bomb. Still, I decided to risk it.

I walk up with my bag of clothes and hand them to one of the girls at the counter. She has me fill out a small form and show her my driver's license (why, I didn't understand, but it all will make sense at the end of my story). She then tells me it will be 25 minutes, so I decide to comb in aisles.

I find a few treasures...some Seven for All Mankind jeans for $40 with the tags still on them, some cute t-shirts, but nothing that really says "buy me!"

And then, S.'s hunger kicks in and the screaming begins, so I am walking around trying to soothe him, while the girl hasn't even gotten to my stuff yet, so I am getting aggravated. 25 minutes comes and goes.

Finally, after about 40 minutes, she starts rifling through my things. She takes them out of the bag, puts them back in the bag, and calls my name. She tells me, "I'm sorry, we can't use any of these things."

Okay, mind you...they are NICE clothes! Calvin Klein, Donna Karen, and Banana Republic pants - maybe worn once! Michael Kors, Ann Taylor, and Express tops!

She tells me, "These styles are a little too mature. Our primary customers are teens and young adults in their 20s."

"So," I say, "What about this dress?" pulling out a hardly worn dress that I bought in the juniors department at Dillards. "I bought this in the juniors department."

She says, "We only buy clothing that has been in the stores within a year."

So I am doubly insulted by hearing that not only are my clothes "old" in style but they are "old" in trend as well! She proceeds to hand me a $2 coupon and sends me on my way with my big-ass bag of clothes and a crying baby to boot.

I seethed about it all night. Especially since there were some clothes in there that I bought a few months ago but I can't wear anymore because I have lost so much weight. I just wasn't going to argue with her anymore...for what? $5 cash?!? No thank you!

What also pissed me off was the assumption that young people don't want to dress nicely. Those pants I had were khaki pants, which would have been great for a college student to wear for work or to school.

Were some of the styles a little more mature for that age group? Yes, but certainly not all of them. I really think she had me marked as soon as she looked at my driver's license. And when I left, I am sure she rolled her eyes at the "huffy old mom and her old clothes" or whatever.

But I will probably be back for those Seven jeans when I lose the rest of my baby weight, $2 coupon in hand! Ha ha.