First, I know what you're doing with that headline, Consumerist. We can't all aspire to be Ali Larter, circa 2006. Second, you made me spit out my coffee and I need all the caffeine I can get today!

I make a tidy sum by selling/reselling plus size clothing online. Once you get a routine, and dedicated group of buyers, it's pretty easy. You have to be savvy about brands and styles, but if you know your stuff you can make good money. I even buy things on sale sometime, knowing that I can make a 100% profit by reselling online.

I haven't sold anything online, but I definitely would if it weren't for the fact that I just donated a ton of clothing to Goodwill. Other than that, I take pretty good care of my clothes and I have a few relatively new winter coats that could find good homes (one year and they're too big).

@pecan 3.14159265: Haha those are almost exactly the two things that came to my mind. Except in my case, the second one was "thank god I had not started with the coffee yet".

Also, I dont think 99% of us want to see 99% of the people on here semi clothed.

@MostlyHarmless: Well, how many people on here are actually dogs? Cause unless they're all wearing Snuggies, they're technically not clothed at all.

I'm seriously thinking about going into the resale business myself. I'm a thrift store junkie and I find TONS of cool stuff at these stores, many items still with the tags on them. The best items in my closet came from the local rescue mission's thrift store. My husband suggested doing it after seeing a corduroy jacket with a tag from Talbots listing the price as $80 come out of my closet with a thrift store tag for $3.50 on it along with a crocheted poncho from New York and Company with store tag listing the price as $36.00 with a thrift store tag of $2.00.

@pecan 3.14159265: Do michael vick jerseys count?

Also, they may or may not be clothed, but I am cool with it as long as Consumerist does not implement the vComment feature.

@msquier: Ahh, the crocheted poncho. Helping self-conscious women hide their perceived fatness by...making them look entirely shapeless.

/has never owned a crocheted poncho.

I have a ton of "better than grad-wear" clothes (aka one step above "toss") that I have to remove because for some inexplicable reason, I suddenly grew by two sizes vertically and horizontally.

I'm a thrift store junkie too. If you have a good eye and a good sense of your own personal style, you can put together a great wardrobe for very little money. It helps, though, to be on the small side physically (better selection) and to reside in an area that's close to a upper class enclave.

I also buy items that are new or nearly new (or vintage) at thrift shops that are not my style or size, but that are currently in fashion or are highly desired brands. I then sell them to resale clothing shops or consignment shops, usually for three times what I paid.

This is an awesome idea for kids clothes. At the rate my kids go through clothes, I barely have the tags cut off and they've outgrown them. Now MY clothes... people don't want that crap. I buy four t-shirts on our annual trips to Rehoboth Beach and that's my wardrobe for the rest of the year.

I just donate old items and take the tax deduction (I usually value at $1/lb).

@pecan 3.14159265: I broke my collarbone in January years ago and had to wear a figure eight cast around my shoulders; crocheted ponchos are all I could fit over me. I never want to see one again.

@msquier: Its a really delicate see through lacy type shoulder poncho.......in a size 2. Quit attacking me for my fashion choices until you see me in person! I'm 5'4'', 110 lbs with a very lean frame.

I do not appreciate being called fat! Which is what it looked like one of you was implying.

@ZoeSchizzel: Yes you can. I'm a size 2 and have better luck at thrift stores than I do in regular stores. My favorite items were either purchased on clearance for a few dollars at department stores or came from the thrift store. I can't afford Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Ann Taylor or even Banana Republic but I can still wear them thanks to the local thrift store :)

@msquier: Sorry if I sounded harsh but I've had body image issues due to a torso bone structure deformity. Up until recently, my favorite top combo was an open button up over a cami. I'll show my hips but not my rib structure was my motto for a long time.

This poncho doesn't cover up anything at all.

I've sold some clothes on line. It was interesting that some items I thought were "for sure" sells didn't, while others that were "maybe" did sell. Just goes to show what I know about what people want.

One thing for anyone who sells, be sure and just automatically include a 'delivery confirmation' charge (i think its like 65 cents or something, its been awhile since I did this) for your peace of mind, so you have some proof if someone tries to claim they never got the item.

I buy a good amount of my kids clothes through ebay, since they are so expensive in the stores.

@msquier: Which is why I said "perceived fatness" - IMO, most people who wear ponchos can only pull it off if they're slight of frame. The majority of poncho wearers I've seen are obviously trying to hide under them. I had a teacher who used to wear a bright pink poncho. She looked ridiculous, and it was obvious that she was self-conscious about her weight (and she wasn't really even fat).

Just for a disclaimer, I'm 5'3 and about the same weight, maybe a little more. I just hate, hate ponchos, even if they look great on some people. They're like leggings and skinny jeans. For most people, they're ridiculously bad and should not be worn.

People seem to be buying clothing more online these days. The most important tip is to give the measurements of the item especially if you are selling womens clothing because the sizes vary greatly. If you don't give a measurement then people will never be able to tell if it will fit or not.

Another tip is to look for stuff that is very expensive in the stores but cheap in the thrift, this is obvious though. Its best if you can find a thrift that doesn't price by brand which unfortunately some of them do.

Try to target the teenage and children crowd, teenagers want new brand name clothes constantly and parents don't want to pay for them. Children always need new clothes because they outgrow them. If you can find a pair of jeans that goes for $50 in the stores at a thrift for a buck or 2 in perfect condition, then you are going to make some money.

Look for odd sizes, people who are having a hard time fitting themselves go straight to ebay or other online stores to look for their size, they don't rummage through stores when they know nothing will fit or the store doesn't carry their size.

If the clothing has more than very minimal wear it goes to the donation pile, ebay buyers can be picky and if you don't describe exactly they will nail you for it and you will lose money. People will buy an item mostly if it looks like it was never worn.

I dropped about a hundred pounds a few years back, and figured I'd sell most of my fat clothes on eBay. I sell electronics on ebay sometimes, so I'm no stranger to it.

Completely not worth it. Granted, most of my stuff isn't exactly high-end - old navy and target and the like. I put stuff up, mostly shirts, in lots of 3-6 items. Some went for $5-$20, but others were no-sales even starting at a penny. Writing descriptions was a pain, since I'm not real good at describing clothing, and I had to take a ton of pics. Most customers were happy, but one complained that the Nautica and Polo sweaters she paid $8 for were too worn, and I ended up refunding her.

Any clothes I get rid of now go to goodwill or the salvation army. Completely not worth the effort, unless you have lots of brand new or real high end stuff.

@pecan 3.14159265: I know we go to Consumerist for tips on personal finance, i.e., how to sell your clothes for ca$h, but I noticed you said you donated to Goodwill some.

If you have winter coats you don't need you might want to check with a local family violence shelter or homeless shelter. People sometimes forget about places beyond Goodwill which are in need of and accept donations of clothing, not just for resale but for people to wear.

If only the people who most need this advice would see it, and heed it.

@EdnaLegume: Yeah, you can make a ton of money selling kids clothes! Especially nice ones like those from The Children's Place or Gymboree. There's a lot of upscale thrift stores especially for children's clothes that you can use if you don't want to go online. Then you can use the money to buy more kids clothes that actually fit...it's a vicious cycle til they stop growing!

@madanthony: Agreed. I don't own anything high end enough for it to be worth it. The few nice things I have that I get rid of for one reason or another I take to a nicer consignment shop and I do pretty well with that, and anything worn or cheap to begin with goes to Goodwill for the tax break