A woman says she went to sell her clothes at secondhand clothing store chain Buffalo Exchange, only to have an employee reject every single item in front of her. She shared the experience in a TikTok video that has since gained attention online.
Creator Madi Marotta (@madimarotta) posted the video, which has been viewed 13,600 times. In the clip, she sits in the driver’s seat of a car wearing a light yellow sports bra and matching shorts, speaking directly to the camera.
An on-screen caption in the TikTok video reads, “Buffalo Exchange just called me chopped and unc.” Marotta describes the encounter as “one of the most humbling experiences that could ever happen to anyone ever.”
Employee reportedly explained why each item was turned down
Marotta said her original plan was to sell her clothes at secondhand stores like Plato’s Closet and Buffalo Exchange. She said Plato’s Closet had closed early during her last visit, so she decided to go to Buffalo Exchange instead, since it was closer to her.
@madimarotta like that was insanely humbling! lady was nice though bonus points for that #buffaloexchange #platoscloset #goodwill #outfit #fashion
♬ original sound – Madi Marotta
She said the employee went through “every single item right in front of me” and handed them all back. According to Marotta, the employee explained why each piece was rejected, using phrases like “this isn’t in style.”
Marotta said the experience felt like being told her “style ugly.” She acknowledged that her style has improved over the past year but said the bag of clothes she brought that day “is not the best.”
She said the rejection “really made my ego bruise like a little bit.” Marotta also pointed out that some of the rejected items were from Aritzia, a detail she brought up as she reflected on the clothes being turned down.
At the end of the video, Marotta said, “So I just got called chopped and unc’ed at Buffalo Exchange.” She added, “So yeah, off to Goodwill I go.” The sting of rejection at a resale shop can be personal, as when a North Carolina woman broke down at Goodwill after recognizing her own hand-made jacket.
Buffalo Exchange buys, sells, and trades used clothing, with employees typically reviewing items in person and deciding on the spot which pieces they will accept, based on factors like current trends and condition. The subjective nature of secondhand retail is not limited to clothing, as seen by high prices at Goodwill for items like an empty wine bottle.
The video drew reactions in the comments section. One commenter wrote, “Literally never heard of Buffalo Exchange and I live in north Austin. In Goodwill we trust.” Another commenter wrote, “But they probably accepted hello kitty slippers from someone else.” A third commenter wrote, “girl list it on depop, i went down Guadalupe to all the thrift shops and i felt disrespected lmaooo.”
