Consumers have reported that 18 pieces of second-hand clothing from brands such as Zara and Puma were estimated to sell for 44.5 to 200 yuan on a platform, but only 0.7 yuan was actually paid out. Media investigations show that while the second-hand clothing recycling industry is rapidly heating up, problems such as "using inflated estimates to attract users while settling at low actual prices" and "vague quality inspection standards" occur frequently.

Key Points

  • 18 pieces of branded second-hand clothing were estimated by the platform at 44.5 to 200 yuan, but the actual settlement was only 0.7 yuan.
  • Reporters' investigation found two common tricks: inflated estimates followed by unilateral, overly strict quality inspections to drive down prices, and unclear destinations for second-hand clothing, which after simple processing is resold at high prices in livestreaming rooms under the name of "foreign trade one-of-a-kind items."
  • Data from the China National Resources Recycling Association show that China generates more than 20 million tons of waste textiles each year, with a recycling rate of less than 30%.

Two Common Tricks

Media investigations summarized two types of practices in the industry. The first is giving an attractive price range before recycling, then, after the clothes arrive, having the platform drive down the price using quality inspection standards it controls unilaterally. How dirty clothing must be to count as unqualified and how "flaws" are defined are vague, and the platform alone interprets the standards, making it difficult for consumers to provide evidence and rebut.

The second is the lack of transparency about where second-hand clothing goes. Many platforms claim that recycled clothing will be donated to mountainous areas or environmentally regenerated, but these promises lack verifiable channels. According to reports, a staff member at an offline recycling point said bluntly that the old clothes ultimately flow to overseas markets. Even more alarming is that some second-hand clothing, after simple processing, enters livestreaming rooms as "foreign trade one-of-a-kind items" and is sold at prices far higher than recycling costs. Information asymmetry not only harms consumers' rights but may also bring hygiene and safety risks.

Lack of Standards and Regulatory Blind Spots

As an emerging industry, second-hand clothing recycling still lacks unified classification standards, quality inspection norms, and pricing mechanisms. Platforms are both rule-makers and enforcers in transactions, which easily leads to unfairness. The entire chain from recycling to reuse lacks effective tracking and supervision, leaving room for various tricks.

Directions for Rectification

The article proposes that rectifying the chaos requires establishing transparent mechanisms: platforms should disclose detailed quality inspection standards and clarify the price ranges corresponding to different conditions and materials; estimated prices must be realistic; and platforms have an obligation to give users feedback through queryable channels about the final destination of the clothing.

Regulators also need to follow up and fill in blind spots. The industry expects national standards for the classification and grading of second-hand clothing and a price guidance system to be introduced as soon as possible; false advertising and price fraud should be investigated and punished according to law; and fake recycling bins engaged in commercial activities under the banner of "charity" also need to be addressed.

When participating in second-hand clothing recycling, consumers should choose reputable platforms with standardized operations, understand the recycling rules before sending items, remain alert to obviously unreasonable high price estimates, and defend their rights through complaint channels when their rights are harmed.

Second-hand clothing recycling itself plays a positive role in disposing of idle household clothing and promoting resource circulation. Data from the China National Resources Recycling Association show that China generates more than 20 million tons of waste textiles each year, with a recycling rate far below 30%. In the long run, only by building a complete system for the recycling, sorting, and comprehensive utilization of second-hand clothing can the tricks and chaos be solved at the source.

Source: Establish and Improve the Second-hand Clothing Recycling Mechanism, Rectify the Chaos in Second-hand Clothing Recycling · Originally published on 2025-11-21