posted on January 20, 2001 05:27:35 PM
hopefully i wont step on too many toes, yet i also know i will probably open myself up to criticism...but, in preparing myself to list clothing tonight, i dread it...i also dread the numerous emails i will get about measurements. just when i get the bust waist hips on the page a barrage of bidders asking the most obnoxious questions about measurements...here as some examples:
what are the measurements from the tip of one sleeve to the shoulder and around to the other sleeve
what is the length from the waist to the bust
how much hem is left
(even with inseam measurements i get the following): what is the measurement of the crotch from waist to the back waist
etc etc etc..i could go on and on, but the wierdest questions come in....and i just freaking hate it....
i know some of you are saying...you should not be selling clothes with an attitude like that....(and maybe you are right)...
but i had the barrage of questions that people think of ....(ie how much seam allowance)....these are probably very important to the bidders, but frankly, these make selling clothes a major pain in the *#)
i almost feel like putting in my tos that i will not entertain any questions ....(as it is almost not cost effective to do so)....just when you think you have covered every measurment that could ever be asked....another comes in with a new question....ARRRRGGGGHJHH
finally, when these people get these questions answered, they use the information against you when they have the item on and it doesn't fit just right or it looks stupid on them and they want to return it....
OR...better questions are: HOW BAD IS THE LITTLE SPOT YOU DESCRIBE....is it like a crater, a manhole or a woodpeckers mark on a tree....oh brother...tell me i am full of it and i understand, but i freaking hate it...
[ edited by undercovers on Jan 20, 2001 05:32 PM ]
posted on January 21, 2001 12:03:15 AM
Ummm...maybe you shouldn't be selling clothes at ebaY?
Women's clothing sizes are so un-standardized that I can see why some of those measurement examples you mentioned would be important to bidders. If they are asking these things, they probably sew and are wondering if they can make alterations.
what are the measurements from the tip of one sleeve to the shoulder and around to the other sleeve
Not a dumb question, unless you give a shoulder measurement and a sleeve length in your description, in which case they should do the math.
what is the length from the waist to the bust
I'm short-waisted, so I personally tend to avoid styles where I'd need to know this (even in RL), but again, not a dumb question.
how much hem is left
Also not a dumb question, especially for a child's garment. Are you specifying the garment length from waist to hemline?
(even with inseam measurements i get the following): what is the measurement of the crotch from waist to the back waist
Again, not a dumb question. The inseam length of a pair of pants has nothing to do with the rise, and won't tell you anything about it.
Seam allowance? That could be a dumb question, but only because most clothing of contemporary manufacture doesn't have enough to work with. Maybe just say there isn't really enough to let out the garment?
Spots? Of course they're asking the dimensions of any spots. They want to know how bad they are and how much they'll show.
I've both sold and bought clothes on ebaY. I agree that, from the seller's perspective, it can be a real pain, so I've tended to measure, measure, measure and describe, describe, describe.
But as a buyer, I've found that many clothing sellers don't bother. (I'm not saying you do this, but "big" is neither an adequate description of size nor a substitute for measurements.)
Personally, I hate to have to e-mail a seller about clothing and I don't really sew (other than repairing seams and hemming skirts), so I try to bid only on brands I know (because I have some idea of how they'll fit), and I have a tendency to hit the back button and head for the next listing rather than e-mailing, unless the item really looks interesting.
You must have some desirable stuff if bidders are e-mailing you. Sorry you find it so frustrating.
posted on January 21, 2001 06:56:39 AM
undercovers - I can relate to your vent (you're entitled) and won't scold. I just had a real heavy week of this too. I couldn't get anything done! Everytime I checked my e-mail I had another question and would have to stop my work to answer it. I give out a lot of measurements and details in the first place and invite bidders to e-mail if they have questions. I've just been getting whammied with them. Some are dumb, some are not. Of course, I answer with friendly e-mails right away (like you apparently do). "Yes, I'm afraid these 10D boots will be too big for your 6AA feet." Sometimes I tell their e-mails, "Maybe you shouldn't be buying your clothes off Ebay."
What you say or think in the back room doesn't have anything to do with your salesmanship up front.
posted on January 21, 2001 07:34:47 AM
All of those questions are because you left out ESSENTIAL information:
"what are the measurements from the tip of one sleeve to the shoulder and around to the other sleeve"
wingspan is critical for persons with unusually long or short arms. Many manufacturers make larger sizes by making the BODY wider and sometimes longer, ignoring the need for longer arms
"what is the length from the waist to the bust"
waist length and "high-busted" or "low-busted" is also important for a good fit. If you've ever had a dress where the waist rode up around your lower ribs, or settled onto your hips, and the ends of the darts pointed to anywhere but your nipples, you have seen why this is important.
"how much hem is left"
alteration! The buyer might be taller than usual and planning to lengthen the piece.
"(even with inseam measurements i get the following): what is the measurement of the crotch from waist to the back waist"
crotch depth, or "rise" makes the difference betwee pants that ride up into your butt crack, hang halfway down your thighs, sag and wrinkle, or actually fit. Over half the fitting on pants is getting the rise correct.
posted on January 21, 2001 07:47:17 AM
Oh, I am so right there with ya, undercovers! It is my humble opinion that people who need that many measurements just should not be buying clothing on eBay, period. Go to the store and buy your clothes if you need 25 measurements! I give the basics, and if they e-mail I of course answer them, but man alive! Perhaps if you are that particular or hard to fit, eBay clothes shopping is a mistake for you...
~Not nefish on eBay~
posted on January 21, 2001 07:49:14 AM
I have never, EVER been asked most of the questions you gave up there. I give bust, waist, stretched and unstretched, length and I have been selling clothing for 2 years now on ebay.
posted on January 21, 2001 08:06:29 AM
what is the length of the outseam from the tip of the un-exposed left hem to the buttonhole on the right sleve? please list the relative measurement in centimeters to the nth meter and if you could, please answer in base 2. this makes clothing fit ever so much better.
Perhaps if you are that particular or hard to fit, eBay clothes shopping is a mistake for you...