posted on April 1, 2002 05:11:14 AM
I just had to vent. I thought I'd try a batch of women's clothing. Paid over $3000.00 for a lot of Macy's overstocks (not returns). I realize the market is probably flooded, but I think I'm going to end up losing money on this investment. I don't know how you clothing sellers ever make any money! I'm not asking for advise or anything like that, but wow the prices that these are going for - or not selling for is unbelieveable. (I'm definately going to buy clothes on ebay from now on). My next batch is going to be more specialized, but I just had to say to all of those people that post here and sell clothes I'm impressed that you can make a living on it! Plus there's a ton of work getting decent pictures and measuring everything. Personally, I wouldn't recommend womens clothing to anyone starting out and trying to make a quick buck. Maybe it's one of those things that you have to build up repeat customers selling.
posted on April 1, 2002 07:55:21 AM
It's just not clothes either, there are a lot of categories where if you don't buy way below wholesale you will not make a profit. The problem with clothes though is that very few people ever pay anywhere near retail even at the stores. I think Macy's said they do 90% of their business during sales.
posted on April 1, 2002 08:36:01 AM
I make a living selling clothing.
My first question for you would be - How many items did you buy for $3000?
I rarely pay more than 90% off retail for my items. The brand names sell and give me a reasonable profit even if they sell at my starting price.
There are ALOT of deadbeats in this area! I listed about 400 items in February and had at least 35 items that the winner did not come through with payment. This is higher than normal. Actually, I think it is the worst I have seen it in years!
Measurements are a MUST!
Most one item auctions I start at $9.99. 2pc outfit and suits at $24.99. Formals at $24.99.
I like to get overstocks as the listing is easy. You write up and photo one item and may have 10-20 of that same item in various sizes. So the second sizes really takes next to no time to write up at all. All the detail is there, just change the size and measurements and in no time you have a bunch ready to go.
That's my 2 cents!
Really curious as to how many items you received for your $3000.
posted on April 1, 2002 11:27:20 AM
Thanks for the advice. I'm still working on what's important in the titles. I bought 600 pieces at $5.00 each. I thought after looking around that it was a good price for overstocks, but then you get a lot of odd colors, tank tops, some underwear...items that I can't sell for $5.00 each. Even the nice blazers don't sell for more than $15.00 so I can't make up the loss that way. I only had one matching suit, otherwise it was all odds and ends.
Thanks for the advice fluffythewondercat, but I'm really a computer novice at best. Can't I just put the size in the description so it would come up in a search? HTML is something I know nothing about....
posted on April 1, 2002 12:29:11 PM
$5 sounds like a good price BUT if you got too many things that don't sell for $5 you did not get a bargain.
In the title you should include NWT = New with tags. The Brand (if a good brand) The item - skirt, blazer etc. AND the size.
In the description - give details like you were describing it to a blind person. ALSO include measurements.
LOOK at the closed items from some of the brand names you have. Sort it by highest price and learn from the items that sold for some good money.
I normal include the retail in the title if I am offering the item at 80-90% off retail.
I would also suggest you put them in the correct catagory. A pants and blazer do not go in outfits/sets if you want top dollar you should put them in suits. You do not even have the word suit in the description so someone looking for a suit will never find it. If you paid $5 each piece how can you make any money is you start them at $9.99. It cost you $10 plus 30 cents to list, + FVF, + your AW fees. I suggest you start this suit at $24.99 in the suit catagory.
One more thing - Most bidding happens in the last 5 minutes so wait until it closes you might be very happy!
posted on April 1, 2002 12:35:56 PM
One more thought -
Try not typing your titles in all caps. Anyone looking at your seller list will give up before going crosseyed.
I also sell clothing from liquidators. I also started with pallets from Macy's and it was OK, but not great. I am moving to a bit more specialized items and that is Womens plus sizes. They are doing pretty good for me. Things like Lane Bryant and Newport News. I am expecting a pallet of new items from Silhouettes as well today. One of the things I see wrong with your listings is that many of the photos are very dark. You may want to enhance them a bit with Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro.
posted on April 1, 2002 01:17:59 PM
Thanks Richierich. I think I have all of those things in my title - you can look if you want - the size, brand name, blazer (or whatever it is) and the nwt. But I always thought having your title all in caps was a good idea! I've been doing that for years. Is it really annoying to buyers? Thought it would make me stand out. I only have one suit listed, and your right I don't think I put suit in the title and I think I put it in the "outfits" catagory. I can't remember. I started listing things at $9.99 or higher and none of it sold. That's what got me so frustrated. Now I'm on my relists and I'm starting things at $7.00 or $5.00 - just to get some of my money back.
Thanks for the tip on the photos Marcn - my husbands in charge of the camera end of it, so I'll talk to him about that part. I agree most of my plus sizes did pretty well. In 2 weeks I'm getting Victoria's secret in, and looking forward to that. I think that will do better - plus I can just scan the catalog in many instances so I won't have to worry about pictures. I know I've been in some bidding wars on those items.
posted on April 1, 2002 02:10:22 PM
No, you can't just scan the catalog. How will your potential bidders know what the actual item you have up for sale looks like? Savvy bidders are not likely to look at a catalog pic and take your word that the item is new with tags. You need photos of the actual item you are selling. I use anywhere from 2 - 6 photos per clothing item. Front, back, any special detailing, any tags and any flaws. You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
posted on April 1, 2002 06:39:51 PM
I don't know if I would start with clothes from any store. If you go to the Mall of America or even Gurnee Mills they have stores that sell their overruns. I know I have bought some and resold them. Not clothes though, scarfs and Jewelry. I did make money on them. I agree nothing is getting good prices except the unusual. I resell jewelry and mostly it is mine, but if it isn't rhinestone or some big designer name than forget it. You don't get your moneies worth. I have some very nice unsigned jewelry and I take good pictures along with very nice descriptions but I get nothing. Everyone wants something for nothing and I am not going to be the one to give it to them. I never will get rich from ebay all I want to do is sell my own personal items and that is very tough.
posted on April 1, 2002 10:09:22 PM
I posted this under the similar topic up today also,
****and it looks like no one is going to pay any attention to either one, thanks for the overwhelming avalanche of advice****
Anyways, I have access to a lot of items, mainly vintage, the former owner is deceased. So it's mainly grandma-gear, but there are a lot of items 20+ years old in here, shoes, pants and tops. is this worth getting into selling?
I am going to have to approximate size as it looks like tags cut out of almost every top, but they do seem to be in the 12-14 range. It's either that or the rescue mission, so I thought letting people who might actually want some of these things have a chance at them might be a better option.
[ edited by ess98 on Apr 3, 2002 04:11 AM ]
posted on April 2, 2002 10:37:02 AM
Since I've got some clothes experts here, how do I measure some dresses, can it be done flat? Also, is length measured from the waist?
posted on April 2, 2002 10:42:28 AM
Clothing can (and IMO should) be measured flat, without pulling or stretching (especially if it's a knit fabric).
Length for a dress, coat, or similar item is measured from the back neck seam to the bottom of the hem. For pants, I prefer the inseam measurement (crotch to hem of pant leg) since that's how men's pants are always measured. Others like to do it from the waist seam down the side to the bottom of the hem. Tell your buyers HOW you measure length.
Sleeves I do likewise (underarm seam to bottom of sleeve hem or cuff), but again, others like to measure from where the sleeve joins the bodice (on the top of the sleeve) down the outside. Just be sure to say where you took the measurement.
Bust, waist, hips: measure straight across and double the number. A safe place to measure the bust is 1" - 2" below the armhole straight across the chest of the garment. Hips (if it's a fitted garment) are usually 7" - 9" below the wait.
posted on April 2, 2002 10:59:55 AM
Ooops! QUICKDRAW29, I forgot to add that with pants, skirts or dresses that have an elastic waist, I always give the relaxed measurement and the fully-extended (comfortably maxed out) measurement: say, 28" ---> 40".
Good luck with your sales. I used to specialize in women's plus sizes, but with the approaching increase in priority mail rates, I'm rethinking clothing entirely. Almost everything I sell in that category weighs 1.5-2 pounds or more, and people just aren't going to pay the increased postage rates unless the item is exceptional.
