Clothes Into Cash $$ !!
Looking for a way to make extra $$? Are your closets so stuffed, you're resorting to living out of your laundry basket so you don't have to wrestle with hangers everyday? For me it was a little of both. I wanted to earn extra money to supplement my family's budget, plus do a massive "purge" and regain some closet space! For most people, the simple solution would be to have a garage sale. Though that is true, I truly believe you can get more money for your items (certain items) by selling via on-line auction. I personally love GOING to garage sales...but I just LOATHE having them! They are time consuming and exhausting. My solution was to sell clothes on-line with eBay. I could work at my own pace and only an hour or so a day if I choose. What initially started as a way to "declutter" closets has turned into a nice hobby for me. I love the challenge of finding sellable pieces at garage sales and thrift stores! And it's a real hoot watching the bids mount and the price so up when I've listed a good one (know in eBay Land as "WOOHOO!!"). The trick is to know the some basics do's and don't for selling clothing on-line. These tips and ideas can apply to brand-new items and gently used clothing, and this can be accomplished in your spare time.
Instructions
1. Get Hooked Up! The first step in selling clothes is of course to get set up as a seller on eBay. It is very quick easy process and tutorials are even available to walk you through it. If you are already set up on eBay as a shopper, you're ahead of the game! I highly, highly, recommend also signing up with PayPal. It is the preferred way for buyers to shop and pay.
2. Know what sells! To begin, I would concentrate of selling what you have in your closet to get your feet wet before you start going out and buying clothing to sell. Take the time to do research and view other seller' s auctions. The idea is to learn what brands sell and which don't. Your favorite brand may not be a good seller on eBay, but another brand might be one of the "hot brands". If you already have an article of clothing you want to sell, a Liz Claiborne sweater for instance, type that title into the Search box and see what pops up. To see what previous Liz Claiborne Sweaters have sold for, use the Advanced Search box on the left of your screen, type in the item, and click "Completed Items Only" to see what auctions for similar sweaters have sold for. If you notice a long line of unsold items, then you know listing this sweater would be a waste of time and effort.
3. Know your brands! Brands are so important. Shoppers are loyal to brands they love and are familiar with. This knowledge will come with time and research. You need to know what are "crap brands" and what are high quality or desirable brands. In the beginning, I went to high-end departments stores just to look and get familiar with brand names. I was also lucky enough to have a sister who worked in an upscale consignment store and she would give me clues as to which brands were desirable. Another excellent place to check would be eBay Community Boards. Go to eBay's home page, click on "Community", then "Discussion", then on the right choose your category like "Clothes & Accessories Board". There is a awesome thread on that board that has a compiled list of all the brands that sell well. Granted time, trends and economy may change this list, but it's an excellent source of info. Which leads me to my next point:
4. Study the Experts! This same Clothing & Accessories Board is an unbelievable goldmine of information. This board is a great place to go to see what everyone's doing, get advice, see current trends, and get an idea what other Sellers do. Feel free to post your questions to this panel of experts. Do as much reading of past posts as possible. There is a wealth of information within these pages.
5. Pictures are a MUST! Pictures are an absolute critical part of successful eBay selling no matter what you are selling. The pictures taken of your item is what the potential buyer sees. Would you buy something based on a description only? Of course not. Ebay's picture fees are cheap so make an effort to photograph in a good light and with clear, unblurry pictures. Photographing an item on a hanger works great, as does putting them on a mannequin. If you must lay something on the floor or a bed, lay down a light colored towel or fabric (unless the item itself is light colored-then use a dark background) first, then lay item on that. As a shopper, it's a HUGE turn-off me to view an item I'd like with a dirty floor as a backdrop! Yuck! And always rotate your photos so they are right-side-up. Buyers shouldn't have to twist their necks to see your picture. Invest in a decent digital camera. I'd love to recommend some state-of-the-art-top-of-the-line one, but I'm still using my original Mavica camera that uses a diskette!. It works fine for me, and with eBay's Advanced Pictures I can lighten and darken if I need to. Obviously better quality cameras will result in a better picture so do some homework or poll the experts on the Clothing & Accessories Board to see what they use. When taking a photo, take a front shot of the complete garment, a close-up so people can see fabric color or pattern, and one of that back only if the back is unusual or has interesting detailing. If an item is very unique, upscale or ornate, take a couple of extra photos showing the tag, and other detailing. If you take the time and effort to accurately present your item, you will get your money spent on listing fees back in the form of a higher selling price. For most normal auctions, you should be able to show your item with two to three photos.
6. Be a conscientious seller! Do not list items that are worn, faded, stained or damaged. Don't say your Liz Claborne Sweater is in excellent condition if it has pilling or fuzz-balls all over it. Hold your item in front of direct sunlight and give it a thorough inspection. Be honest and upfront. If there is a tiny stain, flaw, or a seam has been repaired, admit it and even photograph it. It will save you major headaches down the road and save your reputation and a credible seller.
7. Create a "searchable" Title for your items! Titles are so darn important! The key words you use in your title will help potential bidders find your listing. Be sure to include as many of the following pieces of information as possible:
Brand Name
Size
Color
Descriptive Adjectives (slinky,leather,silk)
Think like a buyer! Make your items searchable or use words you would use if you were searching for something yourself. Do not waste your title space on words that bidders would normally not use in a search. Examples like WOW! CUTE! MUST SELL! or L@@K! are a waste of characters and do nothing to attract bidders. One of the most common mistakes new sellers make is under utilizing their title!
8. Over Describe! Now it is time to expand upon what your pictures are showing your potential buyer. Your descriptions need to be to the point, yet well written and crammed with detail. The absolute BASIC description should contain the following:
1. Size and Measurements: Please take the time to include measurements!! Buy an inexpensive tape measure at your local sewing store. Measurements to include on SHIRTS are:
Chest or Bust(armpit to armpit)
Shoulder
Sleeves:Length from shoulder to hem
Overall length
Measurements to include on PANTS:
Waist
Rise (measure from crotch seam to top of waist)
Inseam
Hip
Thigh
Be sure and also mention fabric content and fabric care. If something is Dry Clean Only, you need to report that in your listing.
Now that you've gotten the basics in your description, now is the time to describe things like type of neckline (v-neck, wide, collarless, etc), anything unusual like a fitted waist, 3/4 sleeves, cuff styles etc. Describe any embellishments (sequins, embroidery, etc) and even describe what the buttons look like and how many there are. On pants I always describe if it a zip/button closure and if there's simple details like belt loops. Provide as much info as you can to help encourage/entice your buyers!
9. A Word About Starting Bids: Here's my thoughts on starting bids. Entering a low starting bid is a double-edged sword. YES, lower starting bids could lure in potential buyers, but with the saturation of today's eBay market, there is a strong possibility that if you start your price at $1.96, you may very well SELL it for $1.96. I try to pick items that I can sell for $10 or more just to make it worth my time. Researching what other like items have sold for will also give you an idea what you can start your bidding at as well. The way Ebay's fee schedules are set up, selling and item for $1.96 means you will probably barely break even. With the listing fee, final value fee and PayPal's use fee, you need to be aware of your end result. If you have an item that probably won't sell for more than $3-$4, save it and sell it on a garage sale. Keep in mind the average cost to LIST an item on eBay is .50-$1.00. Keep that, and what the item cost you, in mind when determining your opening bid.
10. Pack It Up! Ok, your item sold! Do a quick happy dance after the buyer pays and get ready to ship it on out! Thanks to eBay's listing template sellers can enter the weight of the item and the software will do the rest. When a buyer buys, or is thinking about bidding, they can plug in their zip code and instantly know how much their shipping will be. It beats the old way I used to do it which basically was; make a guess, type in a flat rate for shipping and pray I didn't lose my butt! Invest in decent postage scale, preferrably one that goes up to at least 5 pounds. Also buy a supply of shipping bags (or padded envlopes) and a box of two of 1-2 gallon Ziploc bags. The Ziplocs are for packaging up your sold item BEFORE you insert it into an envelope. NEVER just cram an item into an envelope and call it good. Have enough respect for your buyer to fold it neatly, but it into a Ziploc and even add a scrap of a dryer sheet for a nice touch. There's a place on eBay called Express Shipping Supply that sells these fantastic lightweight, waterproof shipping bags in a variety of sizes or very reasonable prices. Once your item is packed up, you can print off a shipping label or invoice, or packing list with eBay's shipping feature Then it's off to the Post Office you go! I like to email my buyer when I ship and I always retain the reciept from the Post Office in safe place in case there are question as to when something was shipped.
11. Congratulations! You are well on your may to making some extra cha-ching! If you are interested in learning shop and buy gently used clothes to re-sell, stay tuned for Part Two of this article called "Make Money Selling Clothes on eBay: Current Version-Buying to Resell". Good luck and happy selling!
http://www.ehow.com/how_2310080_selling-clothes-ebay-buying-resell.html
Tags: your item, Accessories Board, have sold, with eBay, your items, Clothing Accessories
