Consignment shops in the US typically price items at 40% to 70% below retail. A handbag that retails for $500 often lands on a consignment rack at $150 to $250. On clearance or end-of-season sales, discounts can reach 90% off the original retail price.
I've spent years shopping consignment in cities like LA, Chicago, and Boston. The quality surprises most first-timers. Shops inspect every item before it hits the floor, so you rarely find broken zippers or visible wear.
Thrift stores charge less but offer no curation. You dig through racks hoping to find something. Consignment cuts that work out. What you see is already vetted.
The best deals show up during seasonal clearance, when shops discount slow-moving pieces by an additional 20% to 30%. Check the sale rack first. Brands like Gucci and Prada turn up there more often than people expect.