01 May 3 Tips to Resell Clothes Online
You’re probably just like me. You have a closet full of clothes, but you end up wearing the same pieces over and over {and over!} again. Or you have clothes and accessories you loved once upon a time and now you’ve moved on. Instead of letting clothes just collect dust, there’s a way to clear the clutter and make a little cash while you’re at it.
I love reselling my unwanted goods and clothes I’ve thrifted that are amazing designer finds but just not my size {like an awesome DSquared parka I bought for $2 and sold for more than 300 bucks!}. And I’m increasingly looking at online reselling, which is super convenient.
Of course you want to take crisp, clear pictures but here are 3 tips to sell your clothes online.
Sell in Season:
Though shopping off season can be great {tons of savings!}, stick with seasonal pieces when selling online. Right now, hot items would be lightweight jackets, summer dresses, strappy sandals, prints and any other trends. These are the clothes and accessories people have to have right now and they’re willing to drop cash on them.
Exact Measurements:
I’m a size 2. I’m a size 4 and even an 8. There’s little to no uniformity when it comes to sizing across brands. When listing an item, go the extra mile by providing measurements versus just a size. This way, a woman knows exactly how wide the waist is, a pant inseam and arm length. One of the reasons I hate shopping online is because of the unknown fit factor, but being as specific as possible will make a shopper feel more confident about a purchase.
Highlight Special Features:
Does the lining have a fun pattern? Is it a part of a designer collaboration that sold out in minutes? Are the original tags attached? Whatever intriguing factors might entice a shopper, be sure to mention them. And it doesn’t hurt to add a few style tips either, especially for a trendy garment that might seem a bit tricky to pull off.
Now that you’ve got a few tips, where can you resell clothes online?
There are a ton of options and I even wrote a piece for The New York Times about online consignment shopping. Of course there’s eBay but I really like sites like The Real Real, ReFashioner and I’m really in to Poshmark, a mobile app that makes it super easy to sell and buy directly from your iPhone. Be sure to follow me on Poshmark @FlyonaDime, I’m uploading some new pieces for spring and summer.
This new crop of sites collects a portion of the sale price {usually 40 percent, Poshmark is just 20 percent!} but I find you can price items higher here than on eBay and the audience really knows their fashion so they’re willing to pay a fair price.
Have any reselling tips or favorite sites to sell on? Share them below. What’s the most you’ve ever sold or flipped an item for?
juzilda junus
Posted at 14:30h, 01 Mayhi, i’m newbie at Poshmark, can you hsare sometips? i’m surely going to follow you love your style!!
Looking Fly on a Dime
Posted at 21:30h, 07 MayThis post has tips…
Alex
Posted at 17:57h, 01 MayYes!! I sell on ebay a lot and always list the exact inches of everything. Makes it so much easier since there’s no back and forth.
Maria
Posted at 19:28h, 01 MayThanks for the Poshmark love! Can’t wait to see your listings!
xx,
Maria
poshmark.com/closet/maria
Vyla
Posted at 20:43h, 07 MayThat’s always a dilemma with me though == don’t you think the people who donated that stuff to thrift stores wants someone who normally can’t afford the item to enjoy it? Instead of you reselling it and making a profit?
Looking Fly on a Dime
Posted at 21:39h, 07 MayThat may be a dilemma for some people. I’m assuming most people donate because they want an unwanted item to find a home since it’s no longer of any use to them. But once that item is out of their hands, whatever happens to it (if a thrift store marks up the price, if someone resells it, etc.) is out of their control. Reselling thrifted finds is a serious business for some people (I know a few folks who ONLY thrift shop to resell!) but I doubt this practice is keeping the people who rely on thrift shopping for their fashion needs from finding amazing, affordable clothes.
Emme
Posted at 01:28h, 17 MayNope. They are donating it because they just want to get rid of it or they are, for whatever reason, unwilling to resell it themselves or it didn’t get sold at an estate sale. I tend to think being charitable is just a bonus for getting rid of old stuff they don’t want. There are two types of people who are thrifting, those who actually NEED to and those who want to. Sure, sometimes they overlap but generally I think it’s accurate.
In nearly all of the thrift stores I’ve been in (And mind you, I live in Texas and I thrift a lot) the majority of those people are NOT looking for that rare designer piece or some funky vintage thing. They are NOT going to wear a printed jumpsuit. Usually, they are in the market for something completely different than what I’m looking for or think is cool.
Lots of times I’ll see something wild at the thrift and pass it up because even though it’s cool it wouldn’t suit or it’s not my size. I come back two weeks later and the same thing is there. Sorry hipster, you missed your chance. I gave you TWO WEEKS to snap it up. I finally got over it and started buying stuff I know other people would really appreciate and sell it for what I think it’s actually worth. The charity isn’t out anything, they got their money and now I’m offering it to people who actually might love the piece and I ain’t no charity so I charge more because not only did I find the piece, I cleaned, photographed, listed, packaged and shipped it, all without tax write offs of a charity. That’s worth something.
I happily leave the boot cut jeans, basic black pant suits, polos and whatever basic things there because THAT is what people who truly need cheap, affordable clothing are looking for because maybe they need something for a job interview, work clothes, just escaped an abusive relationship, lost everything in a fire, homeless, etc. These people who truly need thrift stores are not looking for gorgeous green silk bomber jackets with gold peacock feathers (oh yes, that does exist and it is in my closet. Do you want it? It’s fly and I’ll let you have it for 25.) maxi skirts they can chop into high-low skirts or weird t shirts into tanks and crops. I’m not taking anything away from people who need it.
Carrying your question a step further, if this argument held any merit you’d have to say that it was unethical for people who can afford to shop at regular stores to thrift because since it was donated it’s only meant for people who can’t afford it. And that’s obviously a stupid argument. Anyway, it’s not like there’s a shortage of used clothing.
Sorry if that was intense but consider your dilemma resolved.
Pingback:Do you feel conflicted about selling thrifted clothes? | Looking Fly on a Dime
Posted at 05:00h, 15 May[…] the question has come up, I decided to blog about it and see what you guys think. After writing my 3 Tips to Selling Clothes Online {clothes you’ve outgrown or amazing pieces you thrifted}, Vyla asked: […]
Rummage Hunter
Posted at 14:03h, 20 MayThere are plenty of places where one can sell and buy clothes, rummagehunter.com is among one of those local thrift shop that provide the facility of selling and buying online
Pingback:Get rid of the clutter and prep your wardrobe for the new season | Looking Fly on a Dime
Posted at 10:03h, 04 September[…] coins off of a designer or vintage piece, try selling on eBay, Poshmark or Threadflip {check out my 3 tips to reselling clothes online if you need […]