2nd Time Around

Its better to be a shopper here than a consigner. I have gotten some good deals on many things. As a consigner, not so much. They have «lost» several of my high end designer items. Coincidence that my Georgio Armani sweater, Jimmy Choo pumps and brand new Kate Spade bag all went missing and not the inexpensive things I consigned? Manager then says that maybe the tickets fell off and they just didn’t get assigned to me… they’ll do a manual look at the unmarked tickets and see if they can find them. They tell me they will call me back in a day or two. I call on a weekly basis and they tell me someone will call me back. After a month, I show up in person and ask again. 2 months later they found one of my items was sold and gave me the credit. The others must have been stolen and they aren’t responsible…“you signed the contract, these things happen.“
Then I go to pick up my unsold items and they hand me someone else’s shoes. I tell them they aren’t mine and they start arguing with me that they are. I told them I don’t have size 10 feet and have never owned size 10 shoes. (I’m a size 7. not even close). I even put the shoe on to show them it is 3 sizes too big. Same brand but its the wrong shoe and wrong size. They continue to argue with me that they are mine. Are they even listening and seeing? It doesn’t make sense! They are so adamant they are right and couldn’t have made a mistake. So bizarre! And now this pair of shoes is missing in action with the other items. Lovely. The attitude to consigners from the staff and managers is really awful. They make money and run their business off our clothes. They should be nicer. I have consigned at many other places and never had this kind of nonsense and attitude happen.
I’ll browse the racks as a buyer but I won’t consign there ever again.

This place has changed a lot. The attitude and unfriendly staff really needs to be overhauled. I live in the back bay and understand there is a certain image that some of the stores try to emulate but the direction sta has taken it from being the great gem of finding designer bargains to becoming just another newbury street clothier is sad.
The first thing is that they eliminated all the men’s clothes, well there is nothing you can do about that. The second thing is they have downsized overall selection by at least ²⁄₃ rds… ie they make sure there is a gap between each hanger. If you’ve ever been to Akris or similar store, you get the idea of what they are trying to do.

This might be okay for shoppers. but for the people leaving their clothing NOT SO MUCH…
I left 8 bags of clothes… as I am a huge shopper… lots of things with tags still on them…
to that I got $ 100!!! Biggest rip off in the city… do yourself a favor leave you clothing at another shop!!! I left 4 bags with another shop in Melrose and got over $ 800 so far!
This shop is a rip off!

I have been using Second Time Around since 2004 with only wonderful customer service and results. Until now… The staff at 219 Newbury is suddenly lazy and not helpful or friendly whatsoever. I brought three bags of non-​used theory, dvf, etc. clothing. Most of my clothing has been accepted in the past — probably 95%. This time 2 items of an estimated 35 were accepted. Because I always had a good success rate in the past, I check the box to donate anything not accepted. When I found out only two items were accepted I freaked out. I went to claim my clothes but one bag was already donated to goodwill the day after (strange only one bag of three). I feel this business must have changed management because it is not the same place.

Fabulous customer care – worlds apart from the snootier and careless staff down the road at 176 Newbury. I won’t even waste my time at that store anymore. The staff at 219 continue to be a pleasure, and I will gladly walk a block further for their warm smiles and courteousness.
They also select exceptional clothes and accessories to sell at great prices. I wish all the stores were this great. Kudos to the manager at this store; I think she makes all the difference!

Great service from Chloe. There’s a strong selection of women’s fashion. Unfortunately, no men’s clothing at the branch.

Shopped here the day after Christmas during their 50% sale. Staff was very friendly from the second we walked in. Decent selection of merchandise, but I prefer their other locations on Newbury.

Just recently went into the Newbury St location near Copley Square and encountered such snobby young women running the place. They really don’t know good Italian merchandise in brand new condition unless they recognize a name that they have been told to look for. I brought them things that were only a year old, and because they don’t know what they are doing they thought my items were ten years old. Have also experienced other bad salespeople at other locations. I won’t go to any of their locations again.

I’ve been to a few of their locations (Newbury Street, Brookline, Harvard Square) and have always walked out empty handed. I don’t think a place that tries to market itself as an «upscale» consignment shop should be selling fast fashion (aka cheap) pieces from H&M. Yes, they do sell some designer pieces, but just because they are designer does not mean that they should be sold for the prices that they ask for, like clothing from 6 seasons ago (not saying all pieces are old, though). They seriously need new buyers.

This location is awful!
Staff is everything and the staff here is awful. One employee can ruin a shopper’s experience as well as her fellow coworkers. Potentially I walked in at a bad time when she was busy fixing her manicure or perhaps she was too busy telling another customer that she would need to wait for her help. I don’t get it. The management needs to get rid of her or at least teach her the right way to interact with her customers and her coworkers. Until then, stay away. I will too.

I like the idea of this place a lot, it really is a great way of getting some higher end clothes for a good price. I was just in here recently with my cousin and we were looking at some clothes and what not and I found the prices to be a bit high! $ 99 for a sweater that’s not even 100% anything! Just 5% this and 5% that really STA? I guess I would understand if it were something like Chanel but let’s be honest Chanel would never make a sweater that wasn’t 100% cashmere!
The disappointing thing is that it’s really hard to find anything over a size 6 in their stores! I know there are curvy girls out there with impeccable fashion taste so why doesn’t this store have more pieces for us?
Also of note a size 6 is not in any way shape or form considered a large!

My first attempt was at the store by newbury comics which has either closed or wasn’t open at noon on a Sunday… So I went to the other store and man, what a rip off– I dropped off two brand new Jcrew pinstripe polos that had only been worn once or twice and a handmade bag leather bag from NYC and didn’t think anything of it as far as STA not accepting the items, etc. Not even a full week later I get a letter saying they won’t accept any of the items. Which I find hard to believe figuring they have an entire rack in the store dedicated to Jcrew. What kills me is that nothing stops them from still selling them and making 100% profit or just keeping it themselves.
If you are considering donating, make an appointment. Better yet, donate your clothes to store with a better cause such as boomerang or the goodwill… Lesson Learned.
As far as the actual selection in the store, meh, not impressed.

They LOSE your clothing and do not pay you. Think twice before «donating» to STA.
This is a review for those interested in consigning with STA. THINK TWICE before wasting your time, money, and the loss of your clothing.
I went in to pick up my unsold clothing and no only did I have to collect it myself from the racks — STA lost one of my dresses (Cynthia Steffe). When I asked what the protocol was for getting either my dress back or the money I would have been paid had it sold. I was told, rather rudely, «Your contract doesn’t cover lost items.» I double checked the contract which does have a clause about theft, loss, or fire damage.
Still — I would never imagine a store that only does consignment to LOSE clothing. Additionally, the staff didn’t seem to care or understand why I was upset. No «I’m sorry that this happened, or we can give you a store credit.»
This is not the way to get returning customers.

Im writing a review about this particular STA because I’ve noticed that in the past year, they have significantly improved their merchandising. They are starting to filter out the H&M and Forever21 pieces in favor of curated pieces from higher end designers. They are also a lot more selective about the quality they accept now. I suspect there is still a few lingering gap sweaters in there somewhere but their new arrivals are great! (This is not to hate on «low-​end» brands, but what’s the point of buying something from a consignment shop when you can get the same type of clothing, new, on sale at one of those retailers?)

Chain store, but items tend to be well edited. Price tags are color coded and items are more heavily discounted the longer they’ve been on the racks. I’ve found items from H&M and J Crew to designers such as DVF and Marni. Make sure you look upstairs and downstairs. Employees tend to give you free reign to wander. Dressing rooms are narrow and hanging curtains block 99% of the view from outside. I haven’t tried to sell anything here, but it’s a great place to browse regularly.

I have been consigning here since 2008 and they have always sold everything I have brought in. They can be super picky about what they take and should branch out a little more, but they do a great job of selling things. I shop at alot of boutiques and sometimes find brands that are not as well known… but that doesn’t mean they weren’t originally pricey or that they are not good quality. It would be nice if they took in more original brands, even if they took them and just priced them lower. They are flexable with appointments… sometimes I can call the day of if I know I’ll be around the area and they will just tell me to stop by any time! When I drop off items, they even give me a time to come back and pick up the paperwork, etc.
Occasionally, I have to call about a couple of items to find out if they have been sold, but not marked online. They take care of that immediately and the credit is issued right away. I think because it is a smaller store, they are able to stay on top of things easier and provide better customer service. I enjoy going here. I even scored a great pair of Tory Burch shoes for $ 60! I would reccomend this location. Just know, when consigning, you don’t get a ton of money back for the items you sell… due to discounts, etc. going on in the store from time to time.

I went to STA in the hopes of finding a fun, but professional blazer. I was delighted when I found a DKNY blazer in a marvelous green-​tea hue and it fit me better as well as any blazer could have possibly done so. At first I was ambivalent because of the price, but the sales associate was pushing really hard to get me to buy it and I finally caved in.
When I got home, I tried it on again and found what appeared to be a blood-​stain at the corner of one of the sleeves. It’s strange because I didn’t even notice it after examining it in the store. I suppose it’s the lighting that made it practically invisible. But what really is upsetting is their No-​Return policy. I called and asked if there was any way I could return it, I’m a student and $ 40 is a pretty large chunk of change to waste on a blazer I can’t even wear. The associate who answered the phone said «No, that’s what they make dry-​cleaning for» and hung up. I’ve tried practically every trick in the book to get the stain out, but nothing seemed to work.
Lesson learned? Never buy anything with a No-​Return policy.

Ever wanted to shop beyond your means? Well, here’s your chance to dress like the 1% without breaking your budget. I find everything at STA from Nanette Lepore to C&C California. I don’t always leave with a purchase, but I’ve had enough great experiences to keep coming back.
Tip: Pick up a (free) frequent shopper card to help you get discounts!

First and last experience with this store and their particular brand of «consignment» (i.e. thievery). Never again.
A word of caution if you’re planning to trust these people with your stuff: if you have anything worth anywhere remotely close to $ 100 or above, do yourself a favor and sell it somewhere else. Even the hassle of shipping your stuff through eBay is worth it over having your things practically stolen by STA without explanation or reason.
First off, they are very unprofessional. My girlfriend and I dropped off four items including a pair of high-​end Diesel jeans, a pair of Croc rainboots that were in excellent condition –worn maybe once or twice– and a women’s sweater. We didn’t have an appointment, but we came to the store in the middle of the week so we were the only ones there for a good while. The guy behind the counter set us up with all the paperwork, then looked over our items and told us everything was in good condition and they would definitely take it (lie). He didn’t give us a receipt or any other form of confirmation, and instead assured us that we would receive all the necessary info via mail within the week.
2 weeks later, and nothing.
Finally we get a form in the mail with no information on it regarding our items, just one vague line of text: «unable to take 3 items.» Weird, I clearly remember dropping off 4, not 3 items. I immediately called the shop and asked about our items and why they weren’t taken after we were assured by their storefront employee that they would be, and all I received was a standoffish response from the store manager saying that she wasn’t responsible for promises made by employees. What. The. F@#$.
I politely inquired as to why they wouldn’t even name the items specifically and the reason they were not taken (I would understand if they found a random rip somewhere in the pants, as long as it includes a direct explanation) but again my inquiry was met with vagueness. Lastly, I asked about the 4^th item, the one conveniently excluded from their already-​questionable mail form. «Well, it was probably donated.» Cool. A straight answer would be nice, but all we get is «probably». I keep getting the sinking feeling that our vanished items are sitting on a rack in a different location with an absurd «vintage» premium tacked on. Ugh.
You’d think that for a store that handles people’s personal items on a trust basis they’d be a little more diligent about not giving their customers the run-​around.
Seriously, save yourself the trouble and go somewhere else. That is, unless you’re into having your crap stolen.

BUYER REVIEW: 4 STARS… COOL DEALS ON COUTURE CLOTHES!
SELLER REVIEW: 2 STARS… HIGH THEFT RATE IS YOUR LOSS!
Second Time Around is a fun place to dig for vintage designer duds. Buyers can find some big bargains on couture clothes… especially when the store runs random 30−50% OFF SALES… which is VERY OFTEN. (Sign up for their MAILING LIST to find out about these.)
Second Time Around is a RISKY STORE to CONSIGN YOUR COUTURE CLOTHES. I dropped off 100’s of pieces of DESIGNER LABEL CLOTHING at the 176 Newbury St. location in 2010. Over 50% SOLD within their 3 month time limit, BUT… There were MANY ISSUES:
1. YOU MAY END UP WITH ONLY 2% OF WHAT YOU PAID!
STA runs 50%-75% OFF SALES fairly often, leaving little money for the consignor, who was only getting 40% of the item’s STA price tag to begin with. (NOTE: STA’s prices are ONLY 20% of the original retail price of each item.) So, the 40% the seller gets is really ONLY 40% OF THE 20% of the RETAIL ITEM PRICE the seller actually paid for each item. (Sorry for the math… Almost done… keep with me!) SO… The seller is getting ONLY 40% OF 20%, which is ONLY 8% of WHAT THEY PAID for each item. Then, STA runs 50%-75% OFF SALES, and the seller is getting ONLY 2−4% of what they paid for their item!
2. I HAD A LOT OF EXPENSIVE CLOTHES STOLEN!
They were allegedly stolen, as they simply were no longer available for me, or anyone else, to find on their shelves. Second Time Around «LOST» 2 PAIRS of CHANEL PANTS, 3 PAIRS of VERSACE JEANS, 1 PAIR of CAVALLI PANTS, 1 DIOR SHIRT, 2 TADASHI TOPS, 2 ESCADA JACKETS, 1 MARCIANO JACKET, 1 GIORGIO ARMANI TOP, 1 MOSSIMO TOP and A DOZEN DESIGNER SCARVES & BELTS. I actually MORE than this «stolen,» but was given «credit» for my «losses» from the 1^st huge consignment I did there (2 VERSACE DRESSES, CHANEL PANTS & MUCH MORE). I falsely assumed I’d be given «credit» for all future losses too, of course, but, when I requested a mere «credit» for my «stolen» clothes, the sales girl apologetically pointed out that the contract I signed absolved STA of responsibility for my losses. THIS CLAUSE SHOULD BE POINTED OUT UP FRONT!
3. YOU HAVE 7 DAYS TO GET YOUR STUFF… IF YOU CAN FIND IT!
The same contract you sign when you consign at STA claims you can «pick up your items» during a 7 day time period at the end of 3 months… or any time before that. It does NOT state that you have to FIND THEM YOURSELF. YOU have to spend DAYS (YES, literally DAYS in my case) pawing the stuffed racks over, and OVER, AND OVER… searching for your items. THIS TOO SHOULD BE POINTED OUT UP FRONT, WHEN YOU DROP THE CLOTHES OFF! NOTE: Sales girl, «Faith,» did find about a dozen pieces of my clothes that I could not, even after DAYS of searching at the end of EVERY consignment period. THANK YOU, FAITH. I truly appreciate that…*smile*