Recycle Men’s & Women’s Designer Resale

Hallelujah! This business is closed! This is what happens when you do not do right by sellers and customers.

Super meh. I mean their selection is alright, and the store is laid out pretty well, I’ll give them that. But they’re super picky about what they will buy, yet if you walk their floor for a few minutes you’ll find plenty overpriced items from places like H&M. I also found the pieces the owner chose to showcase in the front window to be perplexing (…a super worn/​faded jacket made by Converse, really dude?) Reading some of the other reviews on here, it seems like a pretty shifty place. I wouldn’t do business with them.

Not from a sellers perspective… I bought 2 pair of pants last weekend, both bomb ass awesome, both ½ off. I head in a few times a year, and always leave pretty happy with my good.

Beware! They will take all of your clothes and will never pay you!!!
I’ve dropped off so many high end designer items here, Diesel jeans, Coach bags, BCBG, Banana, Gucci, bebe, etc, and when I tried to come back for money, the guy (I think his name is Ron) tells me that I need to come back on a Saturday or Sunday because that’s when the register’s are «full.» Ummmmm, I’ve tried, and all I get is «oh yeah, Try coming back NEXT week for your payment, as it’s been s slow week.» Are you serious? What a joke. Apparently I have over $ 200, but they say they can only give me $ 30 at a time, if even that. What kind of s – t is that? Never again.
Save your clothes, bring them to Crossroads or Plato’s Closet. This place is a total scam. Damn I’m getting p — -d off just writing this!

I actually have no idea how to rate this place. On the one hand, it’s overpriced and weird – which inclines me to give it just one lone star. But on the other hand, there’s something kind of amusing about it (as in, you’re not sure if the whole place is supposed to some sort of grand joke). So I guess Recycle’s comedic value earns it a second star.
Let me explain: first of all, it’s more expensive than Buffalo Exchange or Crossroads, although the clothes are generally of the same quality. In fact, the Recycle peeps buy some of their merchandise at the Buffalo Exchange next door and then jack up the prices. I know this is because I went to Buffalo Exchange after deciding that Recycle is expensive and awkward, and saw the guy from Recycle shopping there. Sure, he MIGHT have just been shopping for himself or something, or maybe he, um, decided to follow me there. But somehow these seem like implausible explanations.
Second of all, like I said above, the place is awkward. Whenever I took something off a rack or tried something on, the guy working there would try to sell me on it. His comments seemed so disingenuous that I think he’d have complimented me if I walked out of the dressing room in a burlap sack. There weren’t many other people in the store, and he had a strange need to preempt the silence when no one else was talking. Maybe he really was just trying to be nice, but it came off as weird more than anything else.
In sum: Kinda funny in an awkward way, kinda not going back.

There are so many things wrong with this place I don’t know where to begin.
First of all: SHADE ALERT! I’ve tried to have my clothing placed on consignment here, and they told me that they only took donations. I wasn’t severely attached to the items I had, so I left them. I can’t say that any of it was absolutely top of the line, so imagine my surprise when I went back later to find a dress I’d «donated» priced at $ 50. It was a basic, black Ralph Lauren from about 8 years prior. It probably didn’t cost me more than $ 60 brand new! On top of it, a girl came in 5 minutes into my visit and placed pieces on consignment. W.T.F???
Second: The owner (older, machismo, bald guy with thick rimmed glasses) always tries to flirt with the young women who walk into the store. I’ve even seen him sitting outside on nice days oogling them as they walk by. It gives me MAJOR CREEPS! I hate it when I can tell you’re checking me out, especially when you’re old and creeptastic. On top of that, you’re the business owner? Don’t even think for a second that I’m going to use your dressing rooms to try on clothes!
Third: Why is it that I keep reading about them turning their noses up at people who don’t bring in clothing that is dry cleaned and placed neatly on a hanger when I have found STINKY, DIRTY old pieces that wouldn’t even meet the standards at a Value Village?
AVOID THIS PLACE LIKE THE PLAGUE

SHADY. Really, really shady. So shady, in fact, that it warrants my first ever 1 star review.
This place doesn’t deserve any of the cyberspace air time that I’m giving it so I’m going to keep this short.
I dropped off a bunch of my husband’s clothes to sell: 7 pairs of pants along with a jacket and a pair of shoes. I was given a number and told to call back before the expiration date one month later.
So, I obediently follow Recycle’s request and call ABOUT 10 times throughout the week before my expiration date. I am not kidding when I say that the phone just rang and rang… what kind of decent business does not have someone picking up their phone during regular hours, or at least some sort of answering machine? (a business that doesn’t really give a sh**)
So, determined to find out WTF, I decide to go by the store. I drop by about 2 – 3 days before the expiration date. This guy (store manager or owner) says hello and when I tell him I’m there to check to see if my stuff has sold, he says, «do you have your number?» Well, I’m assuming that he was surprised that I did indeed have my number because as soon as I said yes and handed him my number he responded: «um, we don’t have the books here in the office so you’re going to have to come back.»
WTF? WTF? WTF? Why the hell did you just ask me if i had my number then?
I mean, this dude was totally giving me the run around. I wanted to laugh in his face, but I maintained some composure.
He told me to call back the following week, and that he would definitely be there. Ha! I told him that I had been calling and that no one was picking up the phone. He responded that the other dude that works there is essentially useless and that I would need to call on a day when he himself would be working.
Of course, the crowing glory of this story is that I did call back and. you guessed it! Nobody picked up.
That was the end of my dealings with Recycle. I can’t believe that this lame excuse for a «place of business» remains open. I swear it’s just a front for some sort of illegal activity.
I don’t even care about the clothes I dropped off. I’m just appalled by the store’s insincerity and shadiness.
I really hope some homeless person is wearing the clothes i dropped off and that this scummy place did not make a penny off of them.

Two stars only because I had a pretty srs history with this place.
I’d like to think that 05 – 06 (under an entirely different staff) this place wasn’t as jaded and cold as it is now. I had consigned here for years and known everyone on a first name basis. Sure the pricing was hit or miss, but after developing a relationship with the store I kind of understood the method to the madness.(purely to benefit the cosigner not necessarily the buyer. take that as you may.)
I had gone in recently after a significant absence and even though there was talk about the changes in the store, and it was pretty clear I had a history here,… I was informed that «my account may no longer exist, as they had done an overhaul.» and that my clothing «had to be on hangers» ‘yea but if i have neatly folded sweaters in a suitcase that should be fine right?’ (having done this before for years mind you) «No! If they aren’t on hanger’s I won’t even look at it.» WTF?!
Advice: Only go when they have 50% off sales, if not try to haggle. it seems to work.

Pretentious, boring, laughable, unconscious, frighteningly expensive. Those are just the nice things I have to say about Recycle. Over the years Wicker Park has changed for the worse and this store is a perfect example of everything that is wrong with Wicker Park today.
Went in before the Unilocal event last night and it was exactly the same overdone stinky attitude place that I remember from 5+ years ago. I consider myself a vintage collector. Not a casual shopper. I know my sh*t so when I walk into a ‘designer’ vintage store I expect higher prices for hand-​picked beauty. But when I see an I. Magnin Christian Dior 80’s blouse marked at $ 38 and then proceed to see a Guess pleather leopard print shoe from 2 seasons ago marked at $ 58 (on the tag it even had the nerve to state $ 110 new! Who cares, they are used now!!!) I begin to wonder who is turning the hamster wheel in the back. Do consigners ticket their own items? And, do they pick their own prices? This is very disconcerting to me as a buyer. The price discrepancies made me leery and the shoe selection solidified it in my mind that I would NEVER purchase an item out of this store. I seriously wanted the Dior blouse. $ 38 is a fair price for that item in good shape. I couldn’t even consider buying it… so sad.
I have sold (and of course, bought) probably the amount of clothes that seven normal people buy in a lifetime and there is no way on this earth that I would shop (or sell) at such a slip shoddy operation. Too pricey for the quality. You want Salvation Army then go there… just because you press an Old Navy shirt that doesn’t make it ‘designer’.

I tried on a bunch of jeans here, a range of designers and prices. One pair fit (that’s not my complaint.) But they were Forever 21 brand. And they were priced at $ 20. You can probably buy these in Forever 21 for $ 25? They weren’t brand new either.
Yet I tried on a pair of Seven jeans and they were priced at $ 40. Those are upwards $ 100 brand new… I don’t get their pricing, I guess that is my complaint. If I am going to buy used Forever 21 jeans, I don’t want to pay nearly full price for them.

A lot calmer than Buffalo Exchange next door (on a weekend, at least). The sales woman wasn’t the warmest, but she did start a room for me while I browsed.
I love that they carry Chicago Vintage (a locally-​made vintage line). The clothes in that collection were very cute.
Overall, the prices were reasonable and the clothing was well-​organized. Worth a trip each season to see what’s new.

Um, yeeeeaaaa.
I went in there today. I don’t know why, b/​c everytime I go in to browse I feel weird. Well I did anyway, b/​c I was at the COOL Buffalo Exchange (see review) next door.
I walk in and the beeeatch behind the counter looks at me with no warm smile and no greeting whatsoever. So I say «Hi, how are you today?» and I think she is going to puke on herself. Maybe she had food poisoning at that moment. I dunno.
Then I’m browsing the sale rack, hardly, when a woman comes in and asks princess if she can talk to the owner about some clothes she wants to consign. Princess gets real bitchy with her. Says «the owner is never here» with major attitude. The woman sort of laughs it off and explains that she thought she had met the owner before but princess continues to be a real shit. Anyway they go back and forth and princess is trying to maintain this power trip over this poor woman until the woman finally gives in to doing business with princess.
I almost bought some boots. But because of the pleasant energy I was feeling I decided against it. Thanks Recycle for being one of those dumbshit «second hand» shops that ruins Wicker Park. Right along with Bank of America. Your cool.

Do not be fooled by the snooty attitude or «upscale» claims. This store will put Old Navy and H&M on its racks and then admonish you for walking in with a bag full of clothes and demand that you come in with them freshly dry cleaned, on hangers.
I’m sorry, let me run back outside and tell my driver to take me home so I can scold the help.
Oh, but then after making you feel 1″ tall, they’ll take all of it. And then dismiss you.
The prices are high, the selection is poor quality and predictable. I used to consign here years ago and vowed to never set foot in it again, but recently went crawling back during the Great Lenny & Me Scare of 2008. Different sales people, same bad attitude. No excuse.

Business is handled unprofessionally, they are very rude, but the worst part is that they will not give you your money– if you call to ask for your money they’ll tell you to call back. You call back and call back and finally show up to collect but they never seem to have the money. They might offer half on a lucky day, but usually say you came on the wrong day– even if you called first!
This must be their way to eek a lousy $ 3.00 from each seller– because if you take your money in check form (through the mail only!) they collect that fee.
The woman who works behind the counter tries to speak as little and monotone as possible, clearly she hates her job and all clients. She will not look up your account using your name— you are required to know your number or find an article of your clothing. God help you if it all sold! I guess they’ll keep the money.

If you feel obliged to be ripped off and want to be able to say you got ripped of in Wicker Park, then you could shop here or still like three other places. If you want dirt cheap used designer clothing just go to the Salvation Army on N. Broadway. There were all kinds of Lucky and Diesel jeans in there for $ 4 and at least more interesting people.

clothes are a complete hit or miss, and i’ve never really found anything i’d spend their asking price on…
accessories on the other hand are always a hit.

This higher end resale shop had everything that a normal resale shop has except they seemed to have much more nice name brand items. But don’t think you are getting a pair of Lucky jeans for $ 5…we’re talking $ 50 at this place! Too pricey for me, considering someone else was at one time wearing them, maybe even commando… you never know! I will only wear someone else’s commando worn jeans for $ 5 or less! =]] They did have a pretty good selection of purses and sunglasses, we even saw a Kate Spade bag. But it really just felt and smelled like a normal resale shop. Nothing special really.

WICKER PARK THRIFT STOP #3
This place (from the outside) had potential. Turns out that’s about all it had.
It stinks! And I mean literally… the whole place smells like cigarettes or something. And if the whole place smells, that probably means not only do all the clothes reek, but the smell would be hard to get out. Not the kind of thing you’d expect from «designer» resale
And speaking of which… a good portion of the things I saw there were from Old Navy or Gap… marked at like $ 20! We all know that nothing at Old Navy is ever worth more than $ 10 in the first place, and after being worn that price should go DOWN, not up.
Everything was RIDICULOUSLY overpriced, kind of oldpersonish, and badly organized. And I’m not sure why I have to mention this every review, but I’m not very tall (although frankly, I hear 5’4 is the national average for women, so I’m not that short either) and all the racks in this store were way too high to reach! It is hard to buy clothes when you’re not tall enough to get them off the hanger.
My rating is lame-​central.

This resale shop has really high end clothing, with most items looking new. As the name indicates, they have both men’s and women’s clothing and accessories.

Yet another really good resale shop, this specializes in designer labels, for a pretty decent price. Larger selection than the other couple of higher-​end resale boutiques on this block.