How We Do Things

COVID-19 Updates

A few important updates due to COVID-19.

Collingwood, Newtown & West End In-store: YES

Online: YES!
You can shop our Online Collection. Keep an eye on our Instagram stories for daily sales that feature items that sell out before we get a chance to add them to the Online Collection!

In-store: YES

Collingwood, Newtown & West End: Buying daily: 10am - 5pm

We would like to emphasise that our number one priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff, customers and local community.

On this note, SWOP has been and will continue to follow these safety procedures:

• Wiping down and sterilising commonly touched surfaces (i.e. hand rails, bench tops, eftpos machines) multiple times per day.

• Frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitiser after every interaction with customers (and their items) store merchandisers/floor staff wearing gloves.

• Maintaining a strong etiquette of personal space between customers and staff, which includes limiting non-essential physical touch (i.e. handshaking, touching own face, etc).

• Refusal of any bags in the exchange booth that seems unwashed or unsanitary.

SWOP Criteria

We have a strict criteria for what we buy/trade from you.
Download as a PDF

We accept

• Excellent condition.

• Freshly washed.

We do NOT accept

• Items that are unclean, stained, damaged, pilling, or missing buttons.

We accept

• Brands that align with our values, including sustainable, local and handmade brands.

• Examples: Acne Studios, Arnsdorf, Assembly Label, Balenciaga, Baserange, Bassike, Burberry, Carhartt, Comme des Garcons, Converse, Denimsmith, Dion Lee, Dominique Healy,  Dress Up, Dries Van Noten, Dr Martens, Eckhaus Latta, Fendi, FME Apparel, Ganni, Gorman, Gucci, Holiday, Issey Miyake, Jacquemus, Jillian Boustred, Kenzo, Kowtow, Kuwaii, Kloke, Lazy Oaf, Lee Matthews, Levi’s, Limb, Marni, Matteau, Neighbourhood, Nobody Denim, Nice Martin, Nike, Oats The Label, Paloma Wool, Patagonia, Perks & Mini (P.A.M.), Penny Sage, Permanent Vacation, Prada, Reformation, Rollas Jeans, Romance Was Born, Reebok, Scanlan Theodore, Sister Studios, Suicoke, Suku, Stan Ray, The North Face, Stone Island, Vege Threads, Veja, Zimmerman

We do NOT accept

• Fast-fashion brands.

• Examples: Ally, ASOS, Ask Grace, Angel Biba, Bardot, Boohoo, Cotton On, Chicabooti, Dotti, Forever New, Forever 21, Fashion Nova, Factorie, Glamourous, Girl Express, H&M, Hot Options, Jay Jays, Jacquie E, K-Mart, Ladakh, Lee Cooper, Lowes, Mango, Miss Shop, Millers, Missguided, New Look, Now, Paper Scissors, Pretty Little Thing, Rockmans, Roger David, Rubi Shoes, Supre, Sportsgirl, Sussan, Suzanne Grae, Shein, Target, Temt, Tarocash, YD, Valley Girl, Victoria's Secret

We accept

• Men & Womens Clothing

• Tops (shirts, jumpers, coats, jackets, vests)

• Bottoms (pants, jeans, shorts, skirts)

• Dresses

• Swimwear

• Accessories (shoes, belts, hats, scarves, gloves, sunglasses, bags, jewellery)

We do NOT accept

• Underwear

• Bridal/Formal

• Business wear

We accept

• Items that align with our seasonal Staples.

We do NOT accept

• Incompatible season (for a store’s local climate).

• Unpopular season (not on-trend).

We accept

• Popular today (on-trend from within the last year).

• Popular yesterday (vintage 50s–90s).

• Sizes for all bodies (we strive for a wide range of sizes).

• See specific examples: SWOP Staples

We also take into consideration our stock levels, including our current range of styles and sizes.

We have a good understanding what will sell well and be popular with our local community. Here’s a few places to get some selling inspiration:

• SWOP Staples — A collection of styles and pieces that we’re almost always hunting.

• SWOP Instagram – Follow to see our favourite looks daily.

• SWOP Newsletter – Subscribe for our favourite looks & tips in your inbox.

• Your local SWOP store – Pop in and ask what the bestsellers are.

Exchange Booth Process

Please note that it typically takes 45 mins - 2 hours for us to prepare a quote for you.

Usually between 45 mins - 2 hours, depending on the queue. The merchandiser in-store will give you an estimate at time of drop off. You may like to browse the store, go out for lunch, or come back before close. IMPORTANT: You must return same day. Any items not collected will be donated to charity.

Step 1: Booth
Look for the “Exchange Booth” sign.

Step 2: Queue
A friendly merchandiser will take your bag and place it in the queue.

Step 3: Register
Register a customer. We ask you for a few basic details so we can simply identify you and record all incoming stock. This is also for security reasons, as we can’t accept goods in exchange for money without ID from the owner of the goods. You will be asked to read and sign our T&Cs.

Step 4: Wait
The merchandiser will give you an estimated wait time. You may like to browse the store, go out for lunch, or come back before close. IMPORTANT: You must return same day. Any items not collected will be donated to charity.

Step 5: Offer
If any of your items are eligible, the merchandiser will calculate our SWOP Retail Price. From this price, you’ll be offered to sell us your items in exchange for 25% cash OR you can trade us your items for 50% store credit.

Step 6: You Choose
You can accept or decline our offer.

• If you accept, you’ll be paid instantly. Visit the front counter to process your payment.

• If you decline, you can keep your items. You can repurpose them (sell them at a local market, gift to a friend, cut into cleaning cloths) or SWOP can donate them to our charity partners on your behalf.

Once we’ve calculated our SWOP Retail Price, we will offer you two options:

• a) 25% of that value as cash. This is cold, hard cash straight to your pocket! If our cash levels are low, you may be paid via bank transfer or PayPal.

• b) 50% of that value as SWOP credit. This can be used just like cash at any SWOP store location. Valid for 12 months from date of issue.

Example transaction:

• We wish to sell your dress for $40 (our SWOP Retail Price).

• We’ll offer you:
  a) 25% of the SWOP Retail Price as cash (i.e. $10)
  b) 50% of the SWOP Retail Price as credit (i.e. $20 SWOP credit)

Per item, our average SWOP Retail Price is $20–$100.

This means that your average earnings per eligible item is:

• a) $5–$25 in cash

• b) $10–$50 in SWOP credit

Please don’t take it personally if SWOP doesn’t make an offer on any items! We have strict criteria, and our merchandisers can provide feedback if you wish. They can also let you know if any items are worth bringing back at a later date if it happens to be a seasonal issue or related to our stock levels.

For items that didn’t meet our SWOP criteria (we couldn’t buy them from you), there are two great options:

1. Repurpose: You can hold onto the un-sold clothes and repurpose them. For example, sell them at your local market, gift to a friend, cut into cleaning cloths, etc.

2. Donate: We can donate the un-sold clothes to charity on your behalf. In Brisbane, you can choose for us to donate them to our beloved social enterprise OPY.

In most cases, yes! However, once again, we will buy according to condition, brand, season, style, and store stock levels.

SWOP Credit

It can be used

• At any SWOP store.

It can NOT be used

• In our online store

• In our Instagram sales

SWOP credit is valid for 12 months from date of issue. If your SWOP credit is about to expire, you can extend it. However, you must notify us before it expires. You can request an extension by emailing the store that issued you the credit (see store details).

Shopping & Gift Cards

• Holds: Yes, we can hold items for you until closing time of that day.

• ZipPay: Yes, ZipPay is available (buy now, pay later).

• Layby: No, we don’t offer layby.

Please choose your items carefully. We are not required to provide a refund or replacement if you change your mind.

All items are sold “as is”. Please keep in mind that the expected level of quality and performance might be lower for secondhand goods, depending on factors such as age and wear. We take all care to ensure we re-sell quality items.

If the item you purchase has a major problem, please ensure you contact us within a reasonable time to rectify issue. Please ensure you have proof of purchase.

For more details, refer to our Terms of Service & Refund Policy.

Gift cards are available for purchase in-store.

They are valid for 12 months and valid for use in-store only.

Accessibility

SWOP Brisbane: Yes - the store is now on street level.
SWOP Newtown: Yes – this store is on street level.
SWOP Collingwood: Yes – this store is on street level.

Philanthropy

For clothes that didn’t meet our SWOP criteria (we couldn’t buy them from you), we offer to donate the items to our nominated charity on your behalf.

Some of our nominated charities that we’ve supported: Pay A Sack Forward, Red Cross, Can Too Foundation, Addison Road Community Centre, Milk Crate Theatre, Twenty10, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Salvos.

In Brisbane, you can choose for us to donate items to OPY – our very own op shop that donates 100% profits to charity.

Still Have Questions?

Contact your local store directly via email (see store details) and we will reply promptly. You can also contact us via our Facebook and Instagram.