Secondhand Sisters: Sophie Checks Out Facebook Marketplace

Secondhand Sisters helps you navigate the dos and don’ts of thrifting and upcycling. We’re two sisters — Char and Sophie — who share a love of fashion and the planet. Check out Char’s latest project and learn how to give new life to old denim.

Platform: Facebook Marketplace
Item purchased: BDG Mom Jean in black
Original price: $99.00
Facebook Marketplace price: $15.00

The upside

• No hidden fees, taxes, or commissions
• You negotiate the price (for shipping, too)
• Often cheaper than other online secondhand stores
• Sellers may offer discounts when buying multiple items

Things to keep in mind

• Some sellers are unresponsive
• There’s no buyer protection if you’re scammed
• Low quality photos make it hard to tell the item’s condition
• Cannot try on items prior to purchasing

Overall shopping experience: 3.5/5 🛍️

The Mission: Jeans

I have high standards when buying denim. I look for jeans made from 100% cotton. While some may prefer the fit and feel of stretch denim, I love raw denim since it lasts years and holds its shape over time. High quality denim, however, can be expensive — often over $100 for name brands.

There’s no shortage of past-season’s denim. Buying a pair of vintage or resale denim jeans has far-reaching effects, including reducing textile waste and carbon emissions, saving up to 2000 gallons of water, and encouraging a circular fashion economy. 

What’s So Bad About Denim?: Denim is one of the most environmentally damaging sectors of the fashion industry, since growing cotton is extremely water intensive. To make one pair of Levi’s 501 jeans requires 3,781 liters of water. Making denim also releases a lot of carbon; a single pair of raw denim jeans releases 44 lbs of CO2, which is equivalent to driving a gas-burning car for roughly 50 miles. To make matters worse, toxic chemicals are used at every stage of denim manufacturing, resulting in hazardous pollutants in the form of wastewater. 

The Denim Dilemma: Finding the Right Pair Among Thousands of Listings

In the past, I’ve shopped for jeans in-person at thrift and consignment stores. Most cities have their own virtual thrift store: Facebook Marketplace. This easy-to-use platform helps people buy and sell new and used items in their community and neighboring areas. Users can browse everything from furniture to clothing to technology, and everything in between. I’ve seen listings for custom cakes, engagement rings, and musical instruments – even a listing for a bulldozer. One user was selling raw, unfiltered goat’s milk … from their goat. If it exists, you can probably find it on Facebook Marketplace. 

At first glance, it seemed like my options were endless. There were so many jeans. Barely any were in my size and sellers frequently forgot to include information like size and condition. Several listings included a single stock image of a blurry pair of jeans, with the detailed description, “Selling used jeans.” And most of the sellers I messaged with questions never responded. 

Facebook Marketplace redeemed itself through its prices. Eventually, I found a pair of faded black BDG straight leg 100% cotton jeans that were going for $15 – ironically, the exact jeans I already owned but in a different color. I messaged the seller with a few questions and by the next morning I was on my way to pick up my jeans, only minutes from where I live. They’re in great condition and by spot treating instead of machine washing, they should last for years.

Tip: use dish soap, water, and a toothbrush to get rid of stains and keep your denim looking fresh.

The Bottom Line

Would I shop using Facebook Marketplace again? Sure! Would I buy jeans again using the site? Probably not. Although I lucked out in finding my new favorite pair, I think I’ll stick to buying pre-loved denim from shops that allow you to try on before buying.