posted on July 25, 2001 12:42:00 PM
Oh, what good timing! I'm just about to start selling my husband's "collection" of clothes from the 70's... (he's finally ready to admit that they don't fit. He actually thought they still looked good on them...If you've ever seen Spencer Tracy in "Father of the Bride"...<eek2.gif>
A lot of the suits and slacks were custom made for him while he was in Korea, so there's no size labels at all, not even a fabric content. I'm pretty sure I know polyester when I see it, though I'm not sure about the linings. Mostly silk I think.
Does anyone out there in the world want stuff like this? I mean UGLY. Leisure suits, wiiiiide flare pants. Double knit in reds and blues and yellows... I think I blocked it all out, because I don't remember anyone wearing this stuff!
And what if there isn't any 'manufacturer's label'? How can I say it's been cleaned in accordance with something that doesn't exist???
Thanks for 'listening'!
arewyn
[ edited by arewyn on Jul 25, 2001 12:45 PM ]
[ edited by arewyn on Jul 25, 2001 12:46 PM ]
posted on July 25, 2001 12:54:30 PM
arewyn - Tell the bidders what you know, custom made in korea for American man....etc. How was it cleaned in the past...machine washable or dry clean, just tell them.
As for the funky, ugly stuff...you will be surprised. I listed an ugly flowered jumper thingy 2 times with no luck. The third time I changed the title to read something like A MIMI Jumper and sold it for double the starting bid. Of course, it was around Halloween. List in end of August beginning of September and say something about Halloween,,,it works!
posted on July 25, 2001 01:54:49 PM
wow, this is SO great! happy to come here today and find so many people posting . we really do need our own board. so many things i want to respond to but they're on the first page, so many questions of my own. i'll go check out the ebay clothing board later.
arewyn,
list them in collectibles -> vintage -> men's clothing. 70's clothing has had a revival. you just might be surprised with what you get for them. most people shopping in that category will understand about no label. just say there's no label in the listing. the linings would either be silk or acetate.
how about cameras? which do you use and prefer? i just got a mavica fd83. wonderful for close-ups, but i've yet to have mastered it for full-length shots. one will turn out just great, the next all grainy/fuzzy! no clue why.
and how about your set-ups? how do you store your stock? right now i've got stacks and stacks on nearly every horizontal surface available (this stack needs tags removed, that stack needs washing, this stack needs mending, another ready get shot after ironing). 1/3 of my fairly large closet is devoted to: 1. freshly ironed and ready to shoot, 2. shot but not yet measured/described/listed, 3. listed and waiting, 4. needs to be relisted. how do you do it?
oh, on those tommy jeans. executive girl (nice to see you here!), didn't you have a problem once with something similar? you'd put in all the correct size info in the listing, but the buyer had only noted the size tag? maybe you can make some suggestions to this seller so she won't end up with a nut-case buyer!
posted on July 25, 2001 02:05:33 PM
RichieRich - I don't resell so I don't have any sources to share with you. All the dancewear I sell I make myself. As far as making a profit, sometimes the bidding goes higher than for what I would sell it retail, and sometimes, well, I can barely give it away....But what frequently happens is my customers are happy with my work, and place custom orders, or they want to see photos of other things I have made. I refer them to my website, or sometimes just make and ship an outfit. I cater to actual dancers, and a few skaters, so I don't deal in lingerie so to speak, just stage wear and club wear. Many of my customers tell me that the "catalog" wear and the wholesale stuff thats out there is just too cheap and/or cheesy, falls apart, and is way overpriced.
posted on July 25, 2001 02:35:05 PM
Hmm.... didn't know girls went up that high. could be. It is Real big in the seat- small waist 28" inseam.
I did put the mesurements in the descritption. I thought maybe someone a size 10 would be put off by the 18 on the tag
posted on July 25, 2001 07:01:14 PM
Just the place to ask a question.
I sell other things but I find that in this area I see a lot of Levi's jeans at garage sales for 50¢ and that is so cheap I have been buying them. If they have any defect other than a little wear on the cuff I pass.
I have a few dozen and wonder if you have any suggestions about selling them? Would you do it one by one or in lots? Ideas?
posted on July 25, 2001 07:12:09 PM
Gravid,
If you do a search on Andale's ebay board on Levi jeans you will receive site info to two sites that specialize in jeans.
They will assist you with identifying year made, worth etc.
Button Flys -
Worth more than zip up and if you EVER come across BIG E verus little e in lEvi - pick them up as they are worth money - they are vintage.
I have had button fly womens go for $25-$30 but zip up around $9. But definitely if you get them for .50 cents - I would pick them up.
Ebay is a good place to sell them - just describe away and show tags - in pics - pic of tag on pocket, inside tag and roll up pant bottom as seamline tells alot about Levi's.
Good luck - shipping priority on these will run $3.95 or higher - they are heavy so list accordingly. All of our items unless small s/h/i = $5.50 and we have never had a problem with this.
posted on July 25, 2001 07:21:02 PM
Thanks - The only other thing I buy around here is the sweaters and shirts and stuff the auto companies give away to their employees with logos embroidered on. They seem to show up a lot at garage sales and are usually unworn because they get a lot of them for free and don't seem to care for them at all. I figure the motor heads will like them. Just started buying them a couple weeks ago when I figured out there might be a market.
posted on July 25, 2001 11:55:24 PM
how about cameras?
**I use a SONY - Mavica MVC-FD71. I Love it. It uses regular disk and you just put in another one when it is full. I have two batteries, one on the charger, one in the camera at all times. Lately I noticed the pictures get fizzy when the battery is low.
how about your set-ups?
** I have a floor standing body form for formals. A hollow back plastic body form for swim suits. And a mug hook by my pantry for hanging plus size clothes.
how do you store your stock?
**I have one wall of my used to be guest bedroom filled with shelves (men's shirts and shorts fill it now). Another wall is double metal pipes to give my room to hang shirts and jackets and pants. The closet rod is full of dresses, the shelve is full of I do not even remember. I have 1/3 of my closet with dresses plus 4 plastic covered wardrobe thingys filled with clothing and in my office (were it started ) I have a 8' Closet shelf with rod filled with used clothing I really need to get listed someday!
I pick what I am going to write up, write it photo it, crop it, schedule it! Then it goes into the dining room fold neatly waiting to be paid. It is sorted by closing day. When paid I take the delivery confirmation slip, write and address slip, pull the item and stack on the chair or pack depending on the day. I mail out anywhere from 50-100 packages a week.
posted on July 26, 2001 08:47:37 AM
I also use a Sony Mavica - I have the FD73 and I absolutely LOVE it.
When getting ready to list, the first thing I do is clean and press them, put them on the mannequinn, take the pics. I usually take about 10 disks of pictures in a batch.
The next day I crop, describe and list them. They then all get hung in my "ebay room".
As far as how I store my clothing, I have a whole room dedicated to storing my ebay clothing. There are 8 hanging racks made with pipes and 2x4's - there are 4 on the bottom and 4 on the top.
Here is a pic of how it is set up:
The 4 rows at the right (2 top and 2 bottom) are dedicated to 2pc suits. The other 2 top racks are for dresses, and the other 2 bottom racks are for skirts & pants. All clothes are tagged with numbers and the clothes are in numerical order for their category (suits, dresses, etc). (The same numbers that I name the pictures and are in the titles of my auctions). None of the clothing touches the floor either, so it's easy to vacuum around.
It's very easy to find the items when I get paid. If I get paid for a dress #10123 I go to my dresses rack, and they are all in numerical order. I just find #10123 and pack it up!
I have had several other "systems" and finally found one that works like a charm!
On another wall I also have a large, long metal rack for my non-clothing items and that also holds my shipping supplies.
This probably sounds a lot more complicated than it is, but for me it works great.
posted on July 26, 2001 02:20:27 PM
Great thread - thanks for starting it!
#1 - How long have you been selling clothing on ebay - I've been selling my kids outgrown stuff for about two years, but just started selling clothing regularly about six months ago.
#2 - Other sites - no
#3 - regular or seasonal lister - pretty much seasonal.
#4 - Do you sell mainly new or used? Or both? - Both
#5 - Do you buy wholesale? Retail stores? Outlet stores? - I buy my used at garage and estate sales mostly, new at retail stores.
#6 - What state do you live in? - Minnesota
#7 - What categories do you sell in? - Misses and childrens.
ExecutiveGirl - I like your system, I need to be a bit more organized myself. I might have to try and talk my DH into building some racks for me.
posted on July 26, 2001 03:11:29 PM
#1 - How long have you been selling clothing on ebay?
7-8 months
#2 - Have you tried other sites? Which ones? Do any good?
i've looked at popula, might give it a shot when i've got some extra time (ha, extra time)
#3 - Are you a regular lister or seasonal?
regular
#4 - Do you mainly sell new or used? or both?
vintage and used
#5 - If you care to share - Do you buy wholesale? Retail stores? Outlet stores?
no. thrift shops, estate sales, occasionally yard sales
#6 - What state do you live in?
california
#7 - What catorgories do you sell in?
mostly vintage
executive girl, wow, you are organized! what i wouldn't give for room to put some racks.
for you mavica users, do you usually shoot indoors with the flash? just bought my second-hand fd-83 (and with any luck, if my local officemax ever gets the new rebate, maybe a new fd-73), and am having trouble getting good shots. the flash washes the shot out, colors are off. i've tried setting flash lower, leaving it alone and using less exposure. no matter what i've tried so far, i'm not pleased with the results. any tips?
i was mulling over the idea of starting up a clothing sellers list on yahoo. anyone interested? i think it's pretty easy to set one up.
posted on July 26, 2001 05:23:20 PM
kitty X3
COUNT me in on the yahoo thingy.
My SONY - Mavica MVC-FD71 is great. I take all the pictures inside. When I take photos at night I use "shop" lights. I have an old florr lamp with 2 lights that I can point where I want them. I rarely use the flash.
posted on July 26, 2001 07:24:41 PM
Kitty -
Count us in two - we would love to be a part of it - sharing ideas and info etc.
We mainly do used name brands - as we have tons of sources and never pay more than $1.50 for items - from suits to dresses to silk ties. However, just met up with some jobbers from Los Angeles and will be purchasing lots of NEW WITH TAG suits for fall that did not sell at Macy's and Bloomingdale's.
Measurements and good pics are keys as color and descriptions are not always easy to do. Shipping in protective bags INSIDE priority or tyvek is also a must - better presentation and no risk of wet items.
Gotta run - but will check back in later - -
Our camera is an Olympus - we love it. - -
posted on July 26, 2001 07:33:28 PM
Does anyone use the $1 nr on clothes..others are talking it up...but I don't see that it works well with clothes...sure occasionally it has worked but not on any kind of consistant basis.
posted on July 26, 2001 07:47:47 PM
I have tried the $1 NR for clothing items before.. it wasn't a very good turn out. I think I listed about 25 items like that. About 5 went for good prices, the rest I ended up giving away at between $1 - $3.
posted on July 26, 2001 09:09:53 PM
I have been buying movie crew and promo jackets. I can't understand why these are not cleaned by the sellers if they are not new. This is really a cheap thing to do for items that sell for $20-$200.
posted on July 27, 2001 01:51:29 AM
Kitty you can include me too!
The $1 NR really isn't worth it for clothing unless you have something high end like gucci, prada, versace......and then I personally wouldn't start something like that with NR. I've done the $1 NR and for all of the work put into it I don't feel it's worth it.....especially if you sell one-of-a-kind items.
As for the camera, I use a Kodak DC215 Zoom Camera and love it! I just take my pictures, plug my camera in to my computer and do all my editing and save it to disk. The only downfall to a camera like this is that the disks are VERY expensive! But I bought a couple of disks that can hold huge amounts of images so I don't find it to be a problem.
posted on July 27, 2001 06:41:31 AM
$1NR for ANYTHING only works if the item is a guaranteed sale - so that you will have bidders getting into bidding wars.
For clothing - the market is saturated - items do not usually gets bids until last day so $1NR usually does not stand a chance.
All the time you take taking pics and measuring will be for naught.
posted on July 27, 2001 07:54:50 AM
I would check out a clothing sellers list on Yahoo, do count me in if you start one.
My camera is an olympus, it works fine. We take pics inside with a flash. We light with those blue 'enrich' light bulbs for a truer color. We do pictures in the kitchen, with one bulb in the overhead, a floor lamp with three bulbs, and one backlight. All bulbs are 100 watt.
I am the model, and we have a dress form that stands in occasionally.
I store stuff on auction on racks hanging from my dining room ceiling. A mobile rack holds the stuff waiting for pictures and a lot of stuff is on shelves, in bins and on the dining table. My house has been taken over by ebay.
posted on July 27, 2001 02:53:45 PM
I sell mostly new clothes. I am wondering if any of you have an opinion as to wether or not to put the retail price in the auction.
I'm also starting to venture into new & used infants/ young children's clothing. Any advice there were be greatly appreciated.
Cin:
As for putting the retail tag price in your listing:
Definitely can't hurt especially if it's a brand name item UNLESS your starting price is close to the retail price. In a case like that (IMHO) I wouldn't bother including it as people may not think that they are getting much of a deal.
Thats one of the big thing I have found with selling clothing.....unless it is extremely high end, original (one-of-a-kind designer piece) or very unique, most buyers are looking for 'deals' and don't want to pay near retail for something that they can drive to their local mall and buy.
posted on July 30, 2001 08:51:30 AM
"Thats one of the big thing I have found with selling clothing.....unless it is extremely high end, original (one-of-a-kind designer piece) or very unique, most buyers are looking for 'deals' and don't want to pay near retail for something that they can drive to their local mall and buy."
We haven't had that problem. We find the following designers who are not truly high end sell very well. We have had trouble with childrens clothing but there are also childrens clothing buyers that do very well.
Designers/labels that do well for us:
Liz Claiborne
Nordstrom
Ann Taylor
Banana Republic
Nike
Coldwater Creek
Wrangler
I.N.C.
Carol Anderson
Donna Ricco
Rampage
Old Navy
Gap
Karin Stevens
Thank you to all who e-mailed us interested in our setting people up in their own business concept.
We have also decided to sell our items direct to sellers as we have so many great sources and far too much inventory to handle. We purchase from 500-1000 items weekly.
Did anyone come up with a more appropriate place for us clothing sellers to talk?
posted on July 30, 2001 08:56:14 AM
I stand corrected............you are absolutely correct as I have sold those labels as well and they seem to do very well.
your post prompted me to get going on starting a list for us. i started another thread on it as well. whoever wants on the list, email [email protected], with the word 'subscribe' as the subject line. the name of the list is e-clothing sellers, listed under auctions.
richierich,
thanks again for starting this thread! i thought it was a good name for the list, too
kittyx3
edited to make subscribing info complete
[ edited by kittykittykitty on Jul 30, 2001 02:36 PM ]
posted on July 31, 2001 10:31:55 PM
Does anyone have any book recommendations on how to identify vintage clothing. I just started selling vintage clothing and am having a hard time identifying time periods and styles.
. we really do need our own board. so many things i want to respond to but they're on the first page, so many questions of my own. i'll go check out the ebay clothing board later.
