I agree with the "horrific" comment. The staff was incredibly unfriendly and bossy to us while we were trying to shop. One item we decided not to purchase - the staff acted as though it was the rudest thing in the world. Told us "It was a pleasure NOT doing business with you." We did nothing to set this off. read more

I love this place, the ladies in there are the best, I always find great things in the best condition. It's my little secret place.

The people who wrote bad reviews must have been talking about a different shop. This place is FAR from trashy. The place is very well organized with sizes/different clothing/jewelry sections. While it is true that some of the clothing is "old ladyish", you really aren't looking well if that is your conclusion. I am 18 and find wonderful things here very frequently for REALLY cheap (i. e Betsy Johnson dress for $30, summer dresses, suits, sweaters in WONDERFUL shape for under $50). Also, while most of the things in the shop are indeed vintage, there are a lot of things that are just second-hand, but very "modern". There are also very clean dressing rooms, which thrift stores often don't have. I personally think the people who work in the shop are very kind. If something is slightly damaged they will sell it to you for less, and they are overall more friendly than most of the shop owners/employees in D.C. That said, if you are into finding classy Audrey-Hepbun-esque clothing, or just a great deal, I would greatly recommend this shop. read more

I absolutely love, love, love Clothes Encounters!! I always leave this store with a big smile on my face as I walk out carrying nothing less than a high-end designer frock for which I paid a fraction of its original cost. Kudos!! read more

Perfect place ! Great mix of label, vintage, and just overall really good stuff ! The owner has good taste, I suppose, as I liked the majority of items in the store. And the prices are WAY reasonable ! This place is a must. read more

You cannot trust their price tags! Had to dig in a crate to find the two shoes that make a pair; found both of them wearing the same price tag. At the check out -- surprise!! -- both labels were allegedly wrong, the actual price being more than twice the given price ($45 instead of $18). You draw your own conclusions: I was not amused, to say the least. read more

I frequently shop for others and I often shop at Clothes Encounters. I am there at least 3-4 times a week to see what's new. I must say there are a lot matronly and outdated pieces which should not be on the rack. Nonetheless, I have found a lot of fabulous pieces by wonderful designers; such, Armani, Trina Turk, Nanette LaPore, Missoni, St. John, Gucci, and Fendi, just to name a few. Yelp, I am a fan of Clothes Encounter, and mainly because they are friendly to me and have been for years. I usually speak when I walk through the door, and ask the staff hey what's new on the racks, and basically I think they feed off my energy (positive and full of glee). So the next time any of you who did not have a good experience in Clothes Encounter, try changing your approach and see if they adapt. Remember, you get what you put out. I would also like to say you have to stay stern on the price with the owner when consigning. She may not be up-to-date on some designers or styles; but she will compromise to meet you half way. Give it another try. read more

I brought in a bag of clothing expecting nothing but hoping maybe I would make a few dollars and if not, happily donate my items. The woman working there on Sunday, July 8, 2012 was extremely haughty to the point of rudeness when she explained, "We only accept very expensive clothing". She said my clothing (an assortment of J.Crew, Anthropologie and Gap) was not "worth her time, so let's just get rid of it all". When I thanked her and told her to have a good day, she replied, "OK". I am happy that an independent store like this one exists and recognize the value of a consignment shop for the fabric of our neighborhood. I will never, however, go back to this store due to the sarcasm and rudeness of this woman. read more

I cannot express how disgusted I am by the owner's lack of customer service and how rude she has been to me. You're better off selling your items on eBay; trust me when I tell you that you'll get more money for your items! read more

Honestly not sure if I can say anything positive about this store. From the time I walked in I didn't feel welcome, the owner just doesn't have the people skills to thrive in Capitol Hill. While browsing the farmers market one is tempted to check out this consignment shop but be warned you will more than likely leave with a sour taste. I won't speak for all of the pieces but I do know (from over hearing a conversation between the owner and another employee) that someone was able to sell them an unauthentic Louis Vuitton backpack. Found that a little odd because the owner seems to know everything about designers from her condescending attitude. I don't plan to return, better experiences at Ella Rue in Georgetown. read more

I am extremely disappointed with the customer service specifically from the shop owner. Upon taking clothes into the shop today I was turned away almost immediately because she could tell I didn't have anything to offer. My Ann Taylor Loft suits were "not expensive enough" and she refused to look further - too bad because I had some great high end clothes further down the stack. When I asked her to please continue to look she said I was difficult and refused difficult people. I am a Capitol HIll resident and love supporting community businesses, but in this case will continue taking my consignment items across town to Secondi in Dupont. Such a bummer! read more

Surprised to see such negative reviews. Sure, the place is tiny and there is a *lot* to sift through, but I've found some high-end gems at reasonable prices here. The owner has a good eye for quality pieces and does her best. read more

The owner of this shop is not friendly and was quite rude to me when I came in looking for a particular item. I came in close to closing with a few bags of items to consign and was told that the staff were too busy to help me and that I shouldn't have brought items in so late in the day. I don't see myself returning to a store with such poor customer service. read more

Aside from a pair of $60 black Cole Haan pumps that were scuffed up from their haphazard placement in a bin full of other shoes, I did not see a single thing that I would even consider purchasing. I'm certainly no fashionista and generally like consignment shops, but everything in this store resembled something my mother would have bought five years ago at Christopher & Banks. read more

I like that this shop has clothing and accessories at various prices. They have designer clothing as well as a $2 section. It's also full right now, which is great for us bargain hunters! The owner was really friendly and engaged with each customer. I will be back! read more

I'm in the market for a used fur coat (moving to a seriously cold climate), so I stopped by this store while I was walking my dog. I entered, quickly zoomed in on the one fur coat in the store, and started to try it on. I'd been in the store for about two minutes when, suddenly, the woman working the counter yelled "does someone have a dog tied up out front?" I said yes, and she yelled back "Don't you know people are scared of pit bulls? You need to tie your dog up somewhere else." I will leave aside the issue of whether people should be afraid of pit bulls (mine's a small, shy pit mix who's never shown any aggression toward humans, dogs, or our cat) and focus on the behavior of the sales staff. I didn't appreciate her tone, or the fact that she had just yelled across a crowded store that her customers should be afraid of my dog. I responded that I would untie my dog and do my business elsewhere. As I was outside getting ready to leave, the woman came out and told me again that I should just tie my dog up in the street and I could come back in, but that I should know people are afraid of pit bulls. When I told her I had thought about buying a very expensive item but would not be doing business at the store, she replied "you have a huge chip on your shoulder, and I'm happy you won't be doing business with us." Several people who heard her comment came up to me to express disbelief at her behavior (and to pet my very sweet dog). Perhaps the second-hand business is so lucrative that this store doesn't need to sell a $600 fur coat during springtime. Even if that's the case, they should know that customers always have a choice to shop elsewhere, and many of us will choose to do so if we are not treated with respect. There are lots of other fish in the sea, and in this case many of them have better selection and prices. I would venture to guess that ALL of them have better customer service. Give your hard-earned cash to another, more deserving small business. read more

My Mom hipped me to Clothes Encounters a long time ago after i would not leave her alone about a trench she was wearing...I have been shopping there every since.. whenever i go to another state or country I find the consignment shops...Consignment shopping is like thrift shopping you need to have little patience. At Close Encounters my daughter was the one of the best dressed in hi school she wore.. 7 for mankind & Lucky jeans, Rachel Roy, Theroy, BCBG Max Azria, Catherine Malandrino, Laundry and of course alot more...Myself I will stick with the Eileen Fisher which most of the time does not look like it has been worn once, Therory, Tahari, Tory DK, DKNY and many others..After reading the reviews I am completely surprised by the negativity of some reviewers...patience is key..every time I am there (once every 2 weeks) all i hear is people saying they hope it never closes.. my secret is never to tell anyone about it that wears the same size as me read more

Do Not ..... I repeat do NOT go to this store... I myself work in customer service and alot of business is done by word of mouth... I am hoping this will reach many people... My friend went to take some consignments in and was treated very very poorly... The Owner was a "B" and refused to even look at her clothes when she saw Anne Taylor Loft suits on top.. I call that discrimination since.. I called the store to find out if she carried Anne Taylor Loft and she told me yes and then hung up... Not even finding out if I had other questions. I would advise never shopping here. read more

Aside from a pair of $60 black Cole Haan pumps that were scuffed up from their haphazard placement in a bin full of other shoes, I did not see a single thing that I would even consider purchasing. I'm certainly no fashionista and generally like consignment shops, but everything in this store resembled something my mother would have bought five years ago at Christopher & Banks. read more

I really wish I could recommend this place, but I can't. Every experience I've ever had with the owner has been awful. The selection is a crap shoot; sometimes there's decent stuff, but you have to sort through a lot of trash. Some call the owner "discriminating" but I would term her taste haphazard and unpredictable. And if you ask for your stuff back, it's going to be returned crumpled and unusable so you'll have to dry clean it again, which adds insult to injury. Just really not a nice place at all. read more

There are many reviews discussing how rude the customer service is - they are right! When I tried to drop of designer items, the experience was the worst I have had in a long time - life is way to short to deal with Clothes Encounters approach to business. I live on Capitol Hill and always try and buy from the neighborhood, but this is not the type of business environment Capitol Hill needs. Please look at the filtered reviews and see how many reference how rude they are. read more

I just had the worst retail/professional experience I have ever had anywhere right here at Clothes Encounters. The store owner was rude, rude, rude to the point of craziness. I had previously gone in to consign some Brooks Brothers (women's) suits and the owner noticed they had not been dry cleaned, but she said she'd take them once they were. No problem. I spent $40 on cleaning and brought the suits back, and she said they'd work, then quickly changed her mind and turned me away. I asked simply, not at all angrily, what was the deciding factor in the choice not to sell the clothing? She would not answer me and rudely moved on to the next customer, clearly dismissing me. The customer wasn't ready, so I asked again, can I just find out why the clothes won't work here, so that I can know if I should try elsewhere? Her response was not to answer me or to say my policy is to not discuss my decisions, but to say loudly: "I think you should leave now!" This unprovoked rudeness could only have come from a crazy person. So, now I'm out $40 and I've never been spoken to that way by anyone in a retail setting or really any professional setting. DO NOT TAKE YOUR BUSINESS HERE. I highly recommend Secondi in Dupont, where the people are lovely and the clothing is tip-top. By the way, Secondi also turned away my suits, but I have nothing bad to say about Secondi, so this post is clearly about how this woman treated me, a human being and potential customer. It was RUDE, RUDE, RUDE and totally unnecessary. I won't be stepping foot in her store again! read more

Rude sales people and crappy selection....totally disappointing shop in such a hip neighborhood.

I am visiting from San Francisco and my oldest friend / sister wanted to take me to this little consignment shop that she frequents. She lives on the Hill and is all about supporting her community, both socially and economically. We walked in, friend with a few lovely pieces of clothing to possibly consign (one piece from Barney's) and the owner's rudeness to my friend and I was truly off the charts. I see from previous reviews it's not an uncommon story. Stay away from this store! I have never experienced such needless and surprisingly bad business etiquette in my life! The owner claims to have been in business for 33 years. Surprising given her behavior toward customers. She gives community a bad name and certainly is not part of the fabric of what I know to be an amazing community on Capitol Hill. And the clothes are no great shakes either. read more

The management of this store is very poor and the owner is very unprofessional. I left a bag of clothes just before Christmas. She returned most of the merchandise because she said it was the end of the winter season. She said she couldn't get much for Express cashmere sweaters (although they were in pretty pastel colors & excellent condition). She failed to mention two sweaters were from Bloomingdales. I picked up the bag but didn't check to see if anything, other than the items she kept, was missing. Today, 3/4 weeks later, I discover that a very pretty black beaded sweater was missing. I called to tell her this and she called me crazy. This was the second time in one day I had spoken with her. She accepted and assigned a price of $10 to an almost new pair of JBrand jeans. When I dropped the jeans off I asked the sales person if the owner would contact me regarding pricing and she said yes. I went out of town, returned home and had an invoice from her that she sold my jeans for $10. The invoice had a different name and color of the jeans. So, I'm not sure if she mixed up my jeans with someone else. I was assured by the sales staff that the owner was current with designers. Evidently not or she's an outright crook. I have a beautiful missing sweater and a pair of expensive jeans that this woman has either outright stolen or is so disorganized she cannot keep up with people's merchandise. She is arrogant, rude and insulting. I wouldn't recommend this store to anyone! read more

Never going there again! I consigned a skirt there, worth about $80 new and in like-new condition. When I went back to ask if they'd sold it, they said the zipper was broken (hadn't been when I dropped it off) so they'd sold it for $2. In a normal tone, I commented that this was a shame since the skirt was valuable. The saleswoman was incredibly, bizarrely sneering and rude; she snorted *several* times about my use of "valuable" (obviously I meant more valuable than $1, not that it was Gucci!), and when I pointed out in a normal tone that she was being rude, she said: "that's ok, we'll probably never see each other again." It was totally bizarro. Those people are weird, and now that I read the other reviews, I wonder if they "sold" it to themselves for $2! Beware! read more

This business has succeeded for years, and there's a good reason! They have found their niche and do it well. They carry a wide range of merchandise, clean, fair price and in season. Also, it is extremely easy to consign, i.e.,no appointment needed. Good selection of purses, of everyday business clothes and some unusual and vintage items as well. I consign often, and usually find something to buy that I didn't know I needed. Now that Eastern Market has reopened, it's a fun destination, including Saturdays and Sundays, when there is a street fair and (sometimes) live music. read more

fun stuff, mid-range prices... and great location! nice stop along a weekend stroll through the neighborhood - anywhere that sells pink sequin shirts must be worth checking out. read more

Extremely rude service. The company really gets 'Zero stars' for their rating (Yelp made put 1 star to submit the review). Clothes taken were barely looked at and then thrown back into the bag they were brought in. Was told by employees that looking through the clothes was "a waste of time." Our clothing came from high quality stores (Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, etc) as they request, but still not good enough I guess. Clothing already in the store appeared dusty and outdated. I had done business with this company before, but probably never again. Service was never tops, but this was definitely the last straw. From reading previous reviews from others who have received poor service, the owners/employees must not care about their business. read more

Agree with the previous post - standoffish customer service. Some items are okay, but nothing too special.

We ship our items to this fabulous consignment shop from runway items to Ann Taylor..we have used multi consignment stores in the past and found that they are not all honest. One of our friends in Chapel Hill referred us to CE, and we have found .you can trust them with any item, and are paid promptly. We have sent over 6000 items. My Mother, sister, and I love Linda, and her staff. read more

Having lived on the hill for many years, and bought and sold at this store, even after listening to all the neighborhood complaints regarding the disposition and rudeness of the owner, I usually just brushed off her attitude but wondered why someone with a less than people personality would be in that kind of business--I did experience the occasional fairly pleasant dealing with her but was always careful who I recommended go there. But.. at the end of January I stopped by after talking to staff a few days before and being told that that particular Thursday would be the last day for winter things. This was just before the cold weather really started and I had jewerly, some winter and some spring things. I should have known that this was not going to go well when the owner, after telling me that the info. I rec'd from the staff was incorrect, reluctantly allowed me to show her what I had brought - she noted to me with a lot of attitude that her store was like nordstrom in that they have seasonal showings, I was a little taken back at her more than usual rigid attitude and when she asked me, "are you trying to make me unhappy" with a very serious face, and told me that she had not really liked my attitude about the comparison, I should have seen the writing on the wall, but said nothing and proceeded. After listening to her for awhile go through items, some of which she took, I told her when she declined, an item, "OK, no problem, I'll try somewhere else"'she seemed to become more and more agitated so I did say to her, it's OK, but, I do usually try to support a woman owned capitol hill business before I go somewhere else. At this point, she angrily started grabbing everything and stuffing them in bags- somewhat surprised, I asked her what about the items she had accepted? She said, "take them all" and pushed them all in a bag toward me. On Capital Hill, we have so little retail--how sad that a shop owner like this one discourages those who do try to do business here. read more

I don't know about anyone else, but I like Clothes Encounter of A Second Kind a lot. The people are friendly and the clothes selection is very nice. I've bought and sold things there over the years, and always felt as if I was being treated fairly. I shopped there recently, while dropping off a Coach bag for sale, and left with a vintage Christian Louboutin skirt for $25. I saw other cute things that I liked too. I'd shop there more often, if it weren't for the distance from my place to Eastern Market. read more

If you're in the mood for an unpleasant encounter, come here with clothes to consign. Owner is just unbelievably nasty. I understand that she is going to cherry-pick the clothes she thinks she can sell, but I brought in a ton of stuff in brands they stock, like Talbots, and -- after I failed to jump and down when she rattled off the consignment policy (you can retrieve things that don't sell, but you better not try) -- she rejected everything in the snottiest way possible. Maybe she's nice if you bring in Chanel, but I doubt it -- being gracious just isn't how she does business. read more

I am in my 30s. I LOVE coming here to consign. The truth is, I have not bought one single thing from the store, but it seems like everytime I walk in here (2x a month), I get a $100+ check for something I'm selling. The items I bring in are the high end brands all the reviewers here are poo-pooing. You might not get why they are taking something or not, but their business is staying afloat, and I am getting money. Their target audience: Rich, bored, brand-chasing women who do not care much about style. You might ask: Why does someone trendy and cool like me have anything to contribute from my closet, and why are they taking my stuff? The lady-in-waiting there knows my name now and says, "Your stuff sells well!" The secret is that I shop a lot, and eventually, something has to leave my closet onto their racks, and I do not wear anything that retails under $200. So, do not choose to misunderstand the store. You just need to know what it wants from you, and what you want from it. read more

I read over some of the other reviews prior to posting this. I am glad that some people had a good experience --- as a customer. My experience has been doing business with the store; bringing used clothing, shoes, handbags in to sell. I don't think that all of the employees are rude. I have talked to one or two very nice women who work there. It is mainly the owner; to use a line from Barbara Bush, I would use an adjective that rhymes with witch to describe her most unpleasant personality. I must be honest and admit that over the years she has on the rare occasion been nice. But after my experience with her today, in which she paid me what she owed me- without even looking at me- I then told her that I was there to pick up the clothes that she did not take. Someone went in the back to get my bag. After I took it and started to leave she said that next time don't wait six weeks to pick up your things because the back room was full of junk and was- I think the word she used was disgusting. Well, I did not pick up my bag because I had been sick for sometime. I mentioned that as I exited her store; what I should have said was don't worry because I will not be bringing anything in here again. If you are selling, you may hit her on a good day and have a decent experience. But for me, I will never do business with this most rude woman again. read more