posted on October 18, 2005 08:24:28 PM new
I remember not too long ago when high-end clothing was selling for a MINT! Seems like selling prices have fizzled! I guess it's due in part to Overstock.com or whatever. Your thougts?
posted on October 19, 2005 04:27:56 AM new
Maybe because the department stores are practically giving stuff away? Not to mention the "off-price" stores.
Each weekend our local major department stores have "Spectacular one-day (preview day Friday) prices never this low special extra savings bring in your coupon for an additional discount and get a bonus when you use your Filenes/Macy's card don't miss this incredible opportunity for savings!".
posted on October 19, 2005 06:47:49 AM new
The shipping charges are part of the issue - also the sales that are being offered by the department stores are just incredible - you can buy cheaper there than online after figuring in shipping.
posted on October 19, 2005 07:26:08 AM new
There's always the option of returning when purchasing at a real brick and mortar. Also I believe that receiving clothes that smell musty or smokey and not being able to return the product to the ebay seller is an important factor.
*Disclaimer: I know not all sellers fit into this category. But it doesn't take long for a buyer to get burned to the time they just don't bother again.
posted on October 19, 2005 08:33:35 AM newI do not purchase clothing on line, hardly at all, particularly via eBay because:
1. Ridiculously High Prices
2. Very Ridiculously High Shipping
3. Sellers who list items sizes only as “small, medium, large,” which in women’s clothing can mean anything. No dimensions are given For example, I purchased a blouse yesterday at a department store which shows size (16-18) XL label – When putting it on, it is no more than a size 12 at best. You cannot go by the label in a garment, you have to measure the garment.
My husband handles most of our clothing/shoe line on our web site & on eBay, and when he posts an item he inserts a FULL size dimension chart; and also the dimensions with the item laying flat. When he posts blue jeans or other types of women’s slacks he measures the waist & inseam, just as one does in men clothing, so there is no doubt as to whether the buyer can fit them or not. Of course that is if the buyer has enough sense to know their own size.
4. I have seen clothing ads with absolutely no sizing at all
5. We have our on line web site for women’s clubbing/evening clothing, shoes, etc, so most of the time I just pick out something we sell on our web site for myself.
6. I do occasionally purchase WIDE cinch belts, but have skipped many ads on eBay because of such POOR PHOTOGRAPHS where I could not see any details on the item; lack of sizing information; belt width (I don’t mean around) but the but the width of the belt not the length and over charges on shipping.
7. I have purchased cinch belts from England recently on eBay – prices were VERY reasonable, and shipping was LESS than USA shippers wanted here in the U.S.
8. On our clothing web site, we do allow returns, if all tags are in tact, and we are notified of the reason for the return, and permission to return, within a day of receipt, with a specific return number.
Having been on eBay since 1996, and watching prices, both on eBay, and department stores, I can understand the slow down – and the reasons are stated above.
To see what I consider a proper sizing chart, on any type of clothing,look at our sizing chart at:
On some particularly unique items, even more sizing information may be needed. Such as the type of material, types of closure, etc.
Beau
~"It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think. The only thing which matters is: What is the TRUTH!"~
[ edited by jwpc on Oct 19, 2005 08:42 AM ]
posted on October 19, 2005 08:48:04 AM new
9. To add to my list above, I also like to know the label, manufacturers name when I purchase an item; MOST eBay clothing ads don't include that information - I then presume it is because they are either Wal-Mart or K-Mart recognizable name labels. When no manufacturer is mentioned, I immediately presume a discount store label, which isn't bad, but it is if the seller wants more than the discount store.
10. A post without a gallery picture, will not even get a look from me. My approach on my own selling is, “if the item isn’t work the price of a gallery picture,” it is not worth posting, and when I am buying such holds true for me. Many times, I only search by gallery pictures. I do not want to waste the time going to a post just to find it an item which I am totally disinterested.
11. Sellers are using too many adjectives in their titles, which, although may be true as related to the item, but are irrelevant to a search program; learning true key words (not the eBay variety) but what one learns on SEO (Search Engine Optimization sites) and using as few adjectives as possible seems to get more buyers and watchers.
~"It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think. The only thing which matters is: What is the TRUTH!"~
[ edited by jwpc on Oct 19, 2005 09:25 AM ]
posted on October 19, 2005 10:12:47 AM new
Yes it came crashing down. Actually been dying for the past four/five months. Thats all we sold on Ebay since 1998 vintage and new clothing.
You got too many sellers now and a lot of them are offering stuff so cheap. And yes we see so many gouging on shipping.
But the market for clothing is way satruated. We are letting our stuff run down and going in a different direction selling wise.
Caroline