Out with the old, in with the new — that was always our motto for fall. Whether you’re a serial splurger or you carefully curate every piece in your closet, editing your wardrobe on the regular and selling clothes online is a great way to snag some extra cash. Ie: get some extra room in your budget for a new bag or that pair of swoon-inducing boots you’ve been lusting after all season long. Resell sites are a dime a dozen these days, and the competition can be fierce, so before you start snapping pics or writing a product description worthy of a Pulitzer, check out the six savvy tips below to successfully sell your secondhand gear.
Find the right marketplace.
Long before you start packing away your goods, you should think about which platforms are best suited to your threads and hold the most promise of making a sale. High-end labels are best suited to consignment sites like Vestaire Collective and The RealReal, where fashion enthusiasts go to scoop up discounted designer duds, while Zara, Anthropologie, J.Crew and Lululemon do well on sites like Poshmark and ThredUp.
Give ’em the 411.
If you’re serious about making a sale, you first need to take a step back and think like a buyer. Consider the information that you want to know when you make purchases online, and make sure to include it in the product description. In addition to the size, fabric, length and brand, you may want to include your own measurements and describe the fit in order to give buyers an idea of what the piece might look like on them. Care instructions should also be included, as well as descriptions and close-up photos of any damage. There is no such thing as oversharing when it comes to selling online.
Strike a pose.
Bad photos (or lack of photos altogether) can be a deal breaker, so you’ll want to put in a little bit of extra effort here. Use natural light when possible (the next best option would be white lighting), avoid using a flash and stick to simple backdrops that won’t distract from your piece. Take photos from a few different angles to give potential buyers a full look at the garment, as well as a few closeups of any unique details (textures, patterns, embellishments, serial numbers, etc.) or damage. And don’t even think about shooting your garment while it’s wrinkled or looking less than fab.
Context is key.
While you have your camera handy, show potential buyers what the garment looks like IRL by actually putting it on. Create a few different head-to-toe looks to give buyers an idea of the piece’s styling potential. If you can only upload a few photos, use a photo editor or an app like Pic Stitch to sneak in a few extra images.
Familiarize yourself with the fine print.
Always read the fine print. Trust us — it’ll make the whole process both easier and smoother. A couple things you’ll want to find out: how much of a cut your resale site takes of each sale, how to get paid, the shipping procedures and how to interact with buyers.
Set a fair price and prepare to be flexible.
In general, 50-70 percent off the original price is standard, taking into consideration things like the garment’s condition, whether it was a limited-edition piece and how in-demand it is. For pieces you’ve never worn, mark down items with the tags still on by 20 percent and by 40 percent for those without them. Be open to negotiations. If someone makes a reasonable offer that’s less than asking price, you may want to accept it, especially if you’re looking to score a few bucks and clear out your closet stat. You should also take a peek at the going price for similar items on different resale sites to make sure the price is competitive.
Follow us on Pinterest for more style inspo!
This post has been updated.
Featured image via Anna Shvets/Pexels
