Used fitness clothing....yes or no?

2

Replies

  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    no. but, i do hate that workout stuff can be so expensive.

    Not sure where you're located, but JC Penny has a line of workout clothing, Xersion, and it is reasonable and very durable. I just wait for sales and clearance racks and get pants (spandex capris, cute) for less than $15.00.

    Also, shockingly, I get my tank tops from the dollar store. They are Mix&Co. (never heard of the brand, nor have I seen it elsewhere), seamless, tagless, and do not fade and I get them for $3.00 each!
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    Curt911 wrote: »
    I have some friends who are very serious competitors in Ironman competitions.....they do not stop to use the bathroom when riding their bikes, they just stand up and go. So......I would have to say NO to purchasing used sportswear :s

    Yup - there is a reason volunteers in T2 assigned to Bike Catching all wear rubber gloves...
  • EricMurano
    EricMurano Posts: 825 Member
    It does seem like you'd be fighting an up hill battle. Do you have a strategy to convince people that buying used gym clothes is not gross? That's where I think you'd need to focus your attention. Address the biggest hurdle in people's minds with clever ads and marketing.
  • CADAVER0USB0N3S
    CADAVER0USB0N3S Posts: 41 Member
    I personally would only buy used fitness clothing if it was pretty much brand new. The idea of wearing someone elses clothes that they sweat in and worked out in sounds pretty gross. Its a good idea but maybe you should only take "like new" used clothing?
  • julie2407
    julie2407 Posts: 44 Member
    I like the idea of cheap work out wear... not so much used work out wear though. I have bought plenty of BNWT stuff from ebay. People (including myself) buy things online, can't be bothered returning them or figure they'll keep them until they fit, and then eventually ditch them. You can also get completely decent items on clearance from large sporting stores. If it was my business plan, I would tweak the idea to sourcing end of line clearance stuff to resell.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    EricMurano wrote: »
    It does seem like you'd be fighting an up hill battle. Do you have a strategy to convince people that buying used gym clothes is not gross? That's where I think you'd need to focus your attention. Address the biggest hurdle in people's minds with clever ads and marketing.

    The challenge is that people who are really into fitness kind of know it's gross. I don't think there is any messaging in the world that would get me to buy a pair of used compression shorts. Because I KNOW what happens in those shorts.
  • monicarungood
    monicarungood Posts: 41 Member
    edited March 2015
    I think I bought a dri-fit tank top from Goodwill once. That's about it. I usually buy my stuff at Ross or Wal-Mart anyway so there isn't really any inherent appeal to me when it comes to buying used work-out clothes. The "ick" factor for me would depend on what it was and what condition it's in... I've bought stuff from Ross that I didn't bother to try on and then gotten home and found it didn't fit. So in that sense, I wouldn't find it weird... but when it comes to someone's well-worn shorts, I'm probably going to take a pass and get some $12 capris at Wal-Mart instead.
  • squishprincess
    squishprincess Posts: 371 Member
    i just don't think i'd buy used workout clothes via an online source, unless it was still in the package/with tags etc. i'd rather buy it in person so i can judge the durability & quality with my own eyes and decide to go through with the purchase
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    I personally would only buy used fitness clothing if it was pretty much brand new. The idea of wearing someone elses clothes that they sweat in and worked out in sounds pretty gross. Its a good idea but maybe you should only take "like new" used clothing?

    I'd imagine that is already the case. I don't think the OP is trying to build a business from worn out, raggedy clothes. However, I think it would have to marketed REALLY specifically and possibly avoid the word "used". I'd take the angle of "workout clothes EXCHANGE' and emphasize the fact that the clothing was worn very briefly before the original owner either lost weight or didn't need it, etc.
  • redheaddee
    redheaddee Posts: 2,005 Member
    I have gotten most of my stuff from Goodwill, so I'm in for a yes. I wash them straight away in hot water, and only buy what is in very good condition.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    depends on what it is. bras, underwear, socks, leggings, things like that - no.

    jackets or loose tank tops, t shirts... stuff like that, sure.

    i wear leggings and sports bras and tank tops/ t shirts to work out in. im not going to spend a fortune on new stuff for me to 'out grow' (in reverse LOL). ive bought a few new pairs of leggings/yoga pants recently, and sports bras. a lot of my tank tops were old t shirts that i never liked as t shirts, so cut them down into tanks to work out in. but, i dont spend a lot on clothes anyways, esp workout clothes lol
  • lngrunert
    lngrunert Posts: 204 Member
    i don't see a problem as long as it's not over stretched/worn and stained. i recently just bought a nike running jacket that would have normally been 40-60 dollars, for like 5 dollars at goodwill. if that's gross, then i'm disgusting lol

    We have a high-end consignment shop here called Plato's Closet (they're a chain I believe), and I've bought a bunch of workout stuff there. Everything was in such good condition that it was hard to believe they were used. I even found a pair of Nike leggings with the tags still on, and they were only ten bucks!

    I wash everything first before I wear it, but other than that I'm good to go. It doesn't skeeve me out, but then again I'm not very squeemish.
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    i just don't think i'd buy used workout clothes via an online source, unless it was still in the package/with tags etc. i'd rather buy it in person so i can judge the durability & quality with my own eyes and decide to go through with the purchase

    Don't forget smell
  • squishprincess
    squishprincess Posts: 371 Member
    i just don't think i'd buy used workout clothes via an online source, unless it was still in the package/with tags etc. i'd rather buy it in person so i can judge the durability & quality with my own eyes and decide to go through with the purchase

    Don't forget smell

    DEFINITELY an important factor as well hahaha
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,407 Member
    i just don't think i'd buy used workout clothes via an online source, unless it was still in the package/with tags etc. i'd rather buy it in person so i can judge the durability & quality with my own eyes and decide to go through with the purchase

    This is a good point, not to mention because it is used clothing - it is impossible to really decide on the proper size with just a picture of it on a website.

    Personally, I like to buy brand new clothes in general, but workout clothes to me is like buying underwear.
  • redheaddee
    redheaddee Posts: 2,005 Member
    lizek316 wrote: »
    I buy used fitness clothes all the time.

    These wonderful things called washers and dryers make them like new every time I use them.
    I would agree with this if it wasn't workout gear, but people sweat a TON when they workout. Odds are even with washing it a LOT, there are still going to be odors and possible sweat stains.
    Vinegar helps tremendously with this.
  • squishprincess
    squishprincess Posts: 371 Member
    lngrunert wrote: »
    i don't see a problem as long as it's not over stretched/worn and stained. i recently just bought a nike running jacket that would have normally been 40-60 dollars, for like 5 dollars at goodwill. if that's gross, then i'm disgusting lol

    We have a high-end consignment shop here called Plato's Closet (they're a chain I believe), and I've bought a bunch of workout stuff there. Everything was in such good condition that it was hard to believe they were used. I even found a pair of Nike leggings with the tags still on, and they were only ten bucks!

    I wash everything first before I wear it, but other than that I'm good to go. It doesn't skeeve me out, but then again I'm not very squeemish.

    we had those in my area back in texas too! they do have quality thrift apparel, and they're usually pretty good about putting out clothes that are still in decent condition. def would buy workout clothes there.

    same here, as long as there's no visible smell or stains, i'll wash it and wear it.

  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    edited March 2015
    out4keeps wrote: »
    Hello fitness lovers. I need some honest feedback and I promise I will not get my feelings hurt. In February, I started a business selling used fitness clothing (currently only on-line) with the hope of a store opening this year. Well....so far zero sales!
    Is this a bad idea? What are your thoughts about buying used fitness clothing? Is this a big no, no? Thanks to everyone for the honest feedback and time.

    Sounds good to me. I have lots of used sports clothing. Isn't a problem either because I have a washing machine.

    Have bought some decent brand names in charity shops for under £10 with plenty of life in them. :) (Mainly t-shirts, couple of fleeces.)
  • 2snakeswoman
    2snakeswoman Posts: 655 Member
    I buy them to wear them out, so I buy new. I don't need any help wearing things out.
  • dawnna76
    dawnna76 Posts: 987 Member
    i dont have a problem with buying used clothes at goodwill. i have purchased workout gear before as well. Hell 85% of my closet id from second hand stores. I always buy lightly used condition things (its actually really easy to tell) and wash before wearing.

    BUt heck i clothed diapered my kids too. diapers were second hand and then resold to someone else when i was done with them!
  • out4keeps
    out4keeps Posts: 3 Member
    Thank you for all the support and feedback! Much needed and appreciated.
  • Alidecker
    Alidecker Posts: 1,262 Member
    I don't think I would buy it sight unseen like Seltzermint555 said. I would want to see the condition first. I have donated quite a bit to Goodwill though in the hopes that someone would get some use out of it. It is usually the stuff that I didn't like the fit or that I didn't wear much while I was losing weight.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    :sick: No.
  • Katerina9408
    Katerina9408 Posts: 276 Member
    out4keeps wrote: »
    Hello fitness lovers. I need some honest feedback and I promise I will not get my feelings hurt. In February, I started a business selling used fitness clothing (currently only on-line) with the hope of a store opening this year. Well....so far zero sales!
    Is this a bad idea? What are your thoughts about buying used fitness clothing? Is this a big no, no? Thanks to everyone for the honest feedback and time.

    for ppl like me with tight budget it is not so bad. Your aim is college students and generally the working class.Search the market do some survey and PR.
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
    I am thinking that if you market toward beginners, esp people who have weight to lose and don't want to spend oodles of money on clothing they will "reverse outgrow" you may be able to carve out a niche. I would recommend a guarantee of odor free, like new stuff etc. but give them a short window of time to return it if it's unsatisfactory...(like, within 24 hours of receipt, which is way more generous than Plato's Closet on some things - some things are all sales final).
  • Roxiegirl2008
    Roxiegirl2008 Posts: 756 Member
    Lord no! I know what I do to mine and how I smell after most of my work outs and runs and heck no. When they have reached the point of no return I junk mine. So yeah it would be a no go for me. There are tons of outlets you can get new gear for really cheap prices.
  • veganbettie
    veganbettie Posts: 701 Member
    I implore you to search out "confessions" and see how many people actually poop their pants and then reconsider.

    And they don't all throw them away.

    O_O
  • LittleNell107
    LittleNell107 Posts: 71 Member
    Sorry - no!!!

    It's great that you're trying to make a go of your own business, but the number of people who talk about going commando when running/working out makes it totally unpalatable.
  • SuggaD
    SuggaD Posts: 1,369 Member
    I have bought used fitness clothing from the thrift shops and would buy again. Don't see the problem at all.
  • beautyqueen940
    beautyqueen940 Posts: 8 Member
    Maybe if it was barely used fitness clothes then maybe you'd have sales.
This discussion has been closed.