Mammoth AwardsWhile you may think that no one would want to wear your used clothes, you’d be surprised at how huge the market is for secondhand clothing. Let’s take a look at different online avenues you can use to make fast money out of your overflowing closet.
Selling Used Clothes Locally Versus Online
What’s the most significant benefit of selling clothes online versus locally? Your potentially immense audience.
As soon as you post something for sale on the Internet, thousands of pairs of eager eyes can view it. You could also make more money than selling to a local brick-and-mortar store if you have the patience to let your items sit for a bit.
What’s the downside to selling used clothes online? The fact that you’ll have to ship each order out. So if you want to avoid this process of packing and hitting the post office, take the brick-and-mortar route. You’re likely to make less per item, but you’ll eliminate the shipping issue.
Tips to Increase Your Sales
The quicker your clothing sells, the faster you’ll have that cash. What’s the best way to get swift sales on any site? Create solid product descriptions that will catch someone’s eye and give them the urge to buy.
Take several pictures of your item from different angles. Your smartphone will do, as long as the photos are in good lighting and not blurry.
When creating your product descriptions, be sure to include as many details as possible to facilitate the sale. This includes making it easier for someone to find your listing.
Include the brand of the clothing and what it is. If it’s a button-up shirt, add that detail instead of just listing it as a “shirt.” The more specific, the better. Include the size on the tag, and if you can, take actual measurements since each brand fits differently.
Does your item have any unique selling points, such as intricate stitching or rarely-used material? Including that detail could mean the difference between someone buying it or moving on to the next item.
Don’t be shy to reveal any imperfections with your clothing either. The more honest you are, the better.
If there’s a small rip or stain, for instance, take a close up picture and disclose it in the description. As long as it’s listed, the buyer has less room to complain or request a refund for something you didn’t communicate. They may try to negotiate a lower price for that imperfection, though.
In short, create the product listing as if you were trying to sell clothes to yourself. Would you buy something that had just one blurry picture and a vague description? Probably not, so don’t create yours as such.
Where to Sell Your Clothes Online
The Internet has its fair share of sites to sell your used clothes. Most will take a percentage of the sale as their payment, so there’s no need to pay anything upfront.
Here are just a few examples:
- eBay – Great if you want to sell using an auction system to get higher prices. Rare pieces of clothing can sell well here.
- Poshmark – If you don’t mind negotiating with buyers, list your clothes on this site that has skyrocketed in popularity.
- ThredUP – Don’t have time to list each item separately and price it? ThredUP will send you a bag that you can fill with your women’s or children’s clothes. In a few weeks, they’ll send you estimates of what they’re worth.
- Facebook Marketplace – A simple way to sell clothes to others who live locally.
- Instagram – Convert your followers into buyers by posting your items.
- Craigslist – Like Facebook Marketplace, it can be used to sell clothing to people in your area.
