Japanese recycle shops are a saving grace for the gaijin on a budget or anyone for that matter. Its like a thrift store but some are very high quality with designer name brands and big discounts. I have seen some rare collectibles as well as everyday needs. Other places are small mom and pop shops but regardless they are a rising force with a sinking economy and tight budgets. You can find most anything at the larger operations and live a little better without spending a huge amount on starting up a new apartment. Its also a great place to get some cash for unwanted items that are in good shape. Gotta run and need to clear out your place... just call them and get your place cleaned out and get some cash. Some places come to you and give you a free estimate.
There is a chain of shops called Oikura that buys LV and other luxury goods. There are similar shops all around Shibuya and Shinjuku. You can tell because there are usually brand goods stacked up in the window. Also, you can check Yahoo Auction (no Ebay in Japan) to find market prices. its all in Japanese. Just type "Vuitton" if you can't write Japanese.
Fortunately, the quality of recycle shops in Tokyo is high. As we all know, the Japanese are not fond of things getting old and tend to give away nearly brand-new items so they can hop on to the next trend. That means the clothes in these shops are in very good condition.
