Resale Culture in Japan
In Japan, secondhand sales channels such as Eco Ring and Mercari are very active. By selling items that are no longer in use, people can earn a small amount of extra income, and because the system allows goods to circulate again, it is also viewed positively from an environmental perspective.
As for me, when it comes to items that are relatively higher in price, I tend to use secondhand sales if I feel it would be a waste to throw them away. Even if I no longer use them, I believe it is more meaningful if they can be used again by someone who needs them. Near where I currently live, there is a secondhand specialty store called Eco Ring, and I visit it whenever I have items to sell.
The Actual Items I Sold to Eco Ring
I had been thinking about how to handle the luxury brand shopping bags and boxes that had accumulated at home, as well as department store cosmetic pouches, and decided to sell them directly to Eco Ring.
The brands I sold this time included shopping bags and boxes from Thom Browne, Loewe, Burberry, Gucci, Armani, and Christian Louboutin. For cosmetics, there were shopping bags and pouches from Dior, Estée Lauder, and MAC. In total, there were about 30 items. Before selling them, I expected to receive around 500 to 1,000 yen.
Luxury Brand Shopping Bags
These are shopping bags of various brands and sizes. The largest number were from Thom Browne, which I frequently visit, followed by brands such as Loewe, Burberry, and Gucci. Shopping bags from cosmetic brands that I often purchase, including Estée Lauder, Dior, and MAC, were also included.
The shopping bags I prepared for sale were all standard designs. Limited-edition designs that are only offered during specific seasons were kept separately as keepsakes.
Luxury Brand Boxes
Luxury brand boxes are usually provided when purchasing bags, shoes, or accessories. They are not only stylish in design but are also suitable for use as storage boxes for the products. In fact, many people reuse them as interior décor items or storage containers.
However, I rarely kept items in the boxes because I found it inconvenient to put them back in and take them out each time. The boxes are large and made of sturdy materials, so they seem to have many possible uses if utilized well. Nevertheless, since I could not find a specific way to make use of them, I decided, somewhat reluctantly, to sell them as secondhand items.
Department Store Cosmetic Pouches
The item I hesitated the most to sell secondhand was the pouch. Pouches are items I use frequently in daily life, and they are especially convenient when traveling, as they help organize small belongings separately. They are also very useful when going out with a large bag that does not have many internal compartments, as small items can be difficult to find if placed directly inside.
These pouches were received as gifts when purchasing cosmetics over a certain amount. Since I already have many pouches, I did not expect to use them, so I decided to sell them in brand-new condition without removing the packaging.
Visiting the Eco Ring Store
In the area where I currently live, there are several secondhand specialty stores besides Eco Ring. Eco Ring operates as a nationwide franchise, and based on my previous experiences selling secondhand items, it has been relatively reliable and straightforward, which is why I tend to use it frequently.
This time, since I was mainly selling shopping bags and boxes, I did not visit other stores. However, when selling secondhand items, each store may have different appraisal standards and pricing, so especially for higher-value items, I recommend comparing several places before making a decision.
The Actual Amount I Received from Eco Ring
I received a total of 400 yen for selling approximately 30 luxury brand shopping bags and department store cosmetic pouches to Eco Ring.
The shopping bags were not evaluated individually but were grouped together under the category of a “bulk set” and priced at 200 yen. There was an additional 100 yen added due to a promotional campaign that was running at the time of sale, and the Estée Lauder pouches were evaluated at 50 yen each. The total amount, after combining all of these, came to 400 yen.
To be honest, I was surprised that the amount was lower than I had expected. However, since I was not going to use the items anyway, I decided it was better than throwing them away and agreed to sell them for 400 yen.
Is Eco Ring Worth Recommending for Secondhand Sales?
What I Liked About Eco Ring
・Accessibility: There are many stores nationwide, making it convenient to visit.
・Selling Time: Once you bring in the items, the price is assessed within minutes, allowing for immediate sale.
・Accepted Items: Even items that make you wonder, “Will this sell?” are often included in their purchasing categories.
What I Found Disappointing About Eco Ring
・Purchase Price: While convenient, the purchase prices are not particularly high.
・Bulk Sales: If you have many items to sell, dividing them into smaller batches instead of selling them all at once may be more beneficial.
If you are looking for a higher price, you may consider using platforms such as Mercari. However, these require taking photos, creating listings, communicating with buyers, and handling packaging and shipping yourself, which can be time-consuming.
■Eco Ring
■Eco Ring Tennoji Uehommachi Store
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