Selling clothes and perfume on ebay

[lemonsandlimes123]

Never done this before but wondering if it's worth it. Not looking to make a lot of cash but it's that or the charity shop. Mainly higher end high st ie Whistles, Cos, Anthropologie. Also got some unused Miller Harris perfume that I would like to shift. Have had a look but nothing seems to attract any bids at all! Is it better to put a really low buy it now or to do an auction? Any advice and experiences you can share would be great.

TIA

I think that eBay is awash with clothes, so it's only worth selling higher end stuff. I only really have experience of selling new rather than used clothes, but they do seem to sell (although not for that much usually). I've sold perfume from an in demand brand, and got reasonable prices for that.

You've just reminded me that I'd love some Tea tonique (IIRC) perfume from Miller and Harris, I should look for some on eBay.

Well known brands and items in excellent condition do sell on there - probably not so well this time of year because everyone is skint, though! I would try an auction first, just make sure you start it from a price you'd be happy with if you only get one bid...

Generally good, clear photos and a thorough description are what buyers look for, and make sure you include your keywords in the item title so it would be something like "Whistles black cotton midi dress, size 12".

I've also had reasonable success selling on Facebook groups, some brands have specific "fan" buy/sell/trade groups on there and there are some generic ones too. Not Marketplace in general but groups.

Make sure you charge enough to cover postage, most items of clothing are around £3-4 to send in the UK depending on the shipping method you choose.

Branded items can sell well but it's annoying having the faff of packaging and posting something that only sells for 99p! But as I say, branded items usually fetch more. And you can start the bidding higher on bundles rather than single items too which makes it a bit more worthwhile.

I find it's worth it. It's stuff I'd be throwing or giving away anyway. Most are high end or higher end high street brands, but I've been surprised by how high people have bid on say, Topshop cord skirts and dungaree dresses. Perfume sells well, even if it's been used (you state this of course and show in the photos).

I disagree that it’s only good for selling high end brands. People will buy anything! Take lots of photos, include a detailed description and respond to any questions people ask. Even if you only sell things for £5 it quickly adds up.

I always select second class signed for (£4) to avoid people saying it never got there

I've stopped selling clothes on eBay.

Too many buyers looking to get a freebie.

I always used to send my stuff 'signed for' delivery and even with a signature people would still open a case with PayPal as Item Not Received and PayPal always side with and refunds the buyer.

I've sold a dress that I wore 2x and got a reasonable return on that - I'd rather sell it than have it sit in my wardrobe unworn. I personally wouldn't go too low - there's a chance it will go for £1.50 and then you have the hassle of packing it and posting it for little gain.
You can search on sold items to get an idea of what your item goes for.
Am currently trying to sell perfume so will see how that goes.

I agree that there are too many dishonest buyers on eBay claiming they didn't receive it. I always sent 2nd class signed for and eBay/PayPal refund them. You only have a chance if you spend £7+ on a fully tracked service. But buyers don't want to pay £7 for postage.

I worked for an e-commerce company a few years ago. In one month over 800 orders went out to purchasers via the website. Using 1st class signed for. Nobody claimed it didn't arrive. Returns and exchanges around 12%.
In the same month we put clearance stock on eBay, 1st or 2nd class signed for. Over 500 orders were dispatched. A whopping 37% claimed it never arrived. They got a PayPal refund. Returns were around 25%.

Thank you all

Where do those who've become disillusioned with eBay sell their stuff? Or do you not bother? I've had my fingers burnt with eBay but still have some items that are potentially worth too much to just give away

I rarely have problems with items going missing and charge £3.99 recorded delivery
Good descriptions and photos help
I sell anything from M n S to designer
Make up sells well as do perfume and skin care
Shoes only sell well if new on genuinely worn once

I do sell jewellery as well but only if fully tracked and insured
I make on average £4-500 a month

Unfortunately recorded delivery (signed for) £4 isn't accepted as proof by PayPal because the recipient claims that it isn't their signature and they never saw the parcel. You then have to try to get your money back after time and form filling with Royal Mail. Impossible if the recipient did sign and accept it.
You only have a chance to dispute it by using fully tracked by DPD or similar, or Royal Mail £7+.
There are SO many of these 'buyers'.
I give everything to charity shops or put craft stuff on Etsy. Their buyers have been fine.

I've given up selling stuff on eBay now, I just sell on Facebook marketplace, cash on collection. It's so much less stressful. I sell any high end items on Vestiaire.

I had my fingers burned buying perfume. I bought a bottle of Chanel described as Eau de Parfum. It arrived and was Eau de Toilette. When I tried it, the product had little smell and was clearly a fake. My husband did some research and found that the bottle lacked some key features of a genuine product. We had to pay to return the product and eventually got our money back.
It put me off ever buying perfume on EBay again.

Have any of you tried selling on Depop ?

I agree with all the above re eBay btw.

If you look on eBay while auctions still have more than 1 or 2 days to go many won't have any bids. It all happens in the dying minutes! I've had things go from a £9 starting price with 0 bids to £120 in the 19 minutes before.

Yes branded clothes or distinctive items from high end stores go well. I used to sell on my used Sweaty Betty and Lululemon and sometimes got more than I paid! Photos are everything. Take lots. Including closeups of fabrics and tags. Make them look good. Make titles and descriptions as detailed and accurate as possible.

Check out sold items to see what your items tend to go for. Avoid reserve prices. Buy it now sometime works but eBayers prefer an auction. Set your start price well (again do research on sold items).

I’ve only one had a buyer on eBay claim something hadn’t arrived and I sell quite a lot. I only bother with quite high end things, Toast, Cos and the like. I actually buy most of my clothes on there and sell on when I get bored of them.

I usually put things as buy it now these days, sometimes I have to wait a while but things do eventually shift.

I have about 200 perfumes all bought from eBay and never had a problem. MH and other niche will sell, definitely. Be aware though that MH gets flogged off in TK Maxx so you won't get rich, but you'll shift it definitely.
As regards designer perfume, watch out for a seller with a lot on sale, especially miniatures which can be bought empty and topped up by canny sellers. I wouldn't buy from China, Hong Kong etc and I've noticed a suspicious number of sellers both in Lithuania and Spain with s suspicious number of new bottles of perfume to shift.
Chanel and Dior also have a block on eBay in place for not new perfumes (and possibly for new and sealed, I've never bought those though) You'll get through to checkout and then be told you can't buy. If you message the seller to edit out the brand name it works.
Other high end brands may have done the same as they insist on only approved sales outlets (or their own shops) but I doubt niche like MH have the £££££s to come to such an agreement with eBay.
Interestingly, mrsmuddlepies, if your perfume had been genuine the toilette may well have been worth more than the parfum depending on age and vintage. I snagged a Miss Dior eau de Cologne from the 70s which is as rare as hen's teeth as they only made it for a short time It's going to be 80% water, because that's what cologne is, but still worth more than a parfum because of its rarity

Re prices. I just start everything at 99p if selling, unless it's something I know will fetch a lot

Thanks for this thread as I have been wondering the same thing about medium - high end clothes that I would like to shift but wary of eBay after hearing people’s experiences.

I’ve used Shpock quite a lot to sell house things and the odd item of clothing. It’s very easy to use and free. Children’s shoes and toys seem to sell well on that but I don’t post anything - it’s all collection.

Could anyone share their experience of selling clothes on Depop, Vestiaire or similar?

Also interested in depop and vestiaire!

Trying to institute new regime of buying very few but nice things that I can then sell on (I keep things in very good condition)