Can't sell designer plus sized clothes, what would you do?

[Mrsredlipstick]

I've always sold my clothes on eBay or through resale boutiques but they're just not shifting.

Due to my career in fashion and beauty they are brands such as Max Mara, Ralph Lauren and Dolce Gabanna.

I have lost a lot of weight and where my clothes used to get snapped up they have practically no Interest. I'm asking about 20% of what I paid.

The dress agency has said that since WLJ she has no call for the bigger sizes.
I know that approximately 10% of the population are on these drugs (source Good Housekeeping magazine). I would have taken them myself if I hadn't been poorly.

I'm about to move and was hoping to not take them with me. They are four sizes too big so can't easily be altered .
Has anybody had any luck selling their clothes or have I missed the boat?

Not everyone.

But plenty do.

Me for one,

I couldn't agree more!
I regularly buy & sell higher value items & have never had a problem. I am not on Vinted UK either

I've queried this before on MN but the value of high quality second hand clothes seems to be rock bottom in UK.

I only buy vinted on my daughters account. She washes everything that comes through the door. I even washed a bag for her that stank of fags, complete with tissues.

eBay always went on reputation and percentage feedback. I think a lot of people don't care now. It's photographed needing a good iron!

Lots of good advice, thank you.

Gosh, I think I love you.
Have lost weight gone from an 18/20 to a 14 -I buy on Vinted but good quality and mostly new with tags, though I have relaxed at.
Only 5ft 3 - I would buy a good quality coat on Vinted for £150. But alas I am now a size 14 and they are going for a premium.

Well I've I'm just checked dear Mumsneters.
A few more views and watchers.

I think my photos are rubbish so I'm going to redo them. I shall take off the weight loss quotes .
I've got 12 pairs of black trousers next. Lafayette, Ralph Laren and MR. Loads of tickets on those! Most bought from USA and the tax paid.

I think it's the price to be honest. People are not prepared to spend £150 for a second hand coat, even if it did cost £1000 new. Clothes depreciate extremely quickly now. Even error purchases with tags still on only make 15-20% of their RRP - if they shift at all. That's my experience on eBay now anyway. In a cost of living crisis people will bypass your £150 used coat and buy a used Jigsaw or Hobbs coat for £25.

Please link on here to your eBay shop (or PM). I’d like a new coat!

As someone mentioned on here, I donated a lot of my work clothes, shoes and bags to Smart Works. They bit my hand off for plus sized clothing and size 8 shoes and boots.

Do you have a good dress agency in your neighbourhood? I know they'd take a percentage of the selling price but I use one (as a customer) and I'll go far higher there price-wise than I will on Vinted or Ebay because I can try on first or return.

I’d love to see your eBay shop too!

As others have said, I think things seem to have moved much more towards Vinted than eBay now

I would suggest try the live bidding site "what not " things tend to sell a lot in there, especially high-end stuff, You can start the bid at what you choose and when you join you get 20 lb free credit to spend on whatever you want
also try Facebook marketplace and some niche boot sales

You are pricing them too high. My DD (not plus size) won’t spend more than £15 and it has to be spectacular- she got a silk and lace ball dress for that and a real leather jacket. Most of her buys are £5. She was most put out a pretty Calvin Klein dress was too small as it was £10, but even if it fit she wouldn’t have paid much more.

The plus sizes market is different from the standard sizes market so your DD's experience may not hold true for the buyers OP is targeting.

you could try thrift. They’d be out your way at least then every now and then you get an email and cash when the items sell

I'd love a Max Mara coat and would pay up to £150 as a maximum for the perfect item but what holds me back is not being able to try on and check the fit/return. I buy loads of stuff on Vinted but nothing over €90 so far. It feels very risky. I have broad shoulders so coats can easily look too boxy and chunky on me so I'm very hesitant.

@Smittenkitchen you need a double faced wool without shoulder pads and stiff lining.

I had a really good look this afternoon and my prices are the same as other people without the import tax. I even found one of my current coats in my now size! I'll buy it if someone buys mine.

@mondaytosunday Max Mara are made in Italy and a lot is hand sewn. Calvin Klein is made in China. It isn't the same.

I will update the listings and give them another couple of weeks.

I understand you OP - I was brought up in a very low income household where my DM had been brought up in a much more affluent household - we had very very little as she would rather go without than go cheap or poor quality and in those days second hand just wasn’t a thing
In my 40s and 50s I finally reached an income where I could go high end even if not in huge quantities - then I got hooked and will buy a favourite piece in multiple colours
When I was heavier it was more shoes and bags plus jewellery
I used to sell regularly on eBay to fund more purchases as my weight changed - however in the last 5-6 years the market has changed and it’s not just down to WLI
Party, cruise, occasion wear just doesn’t sell, nor does business wear
Heels are a no no as is costume jewellery, glitzy bags etc
I still love a good wool coat and had my expensive ones altered to fit, but very rarely see others wearing them

Oh my word @Mrsredlipstick I’ve wanted a MaxMara coat ever since is saw them advertised on the front pages of the Daily Telegraph in the 1980’s!

.

I'm really surprised, OP! I believe you - but, as a mainstream 16 or upmarket 18-20, I've noticed there's hardly anything good in my size now. I mean, designer-clad women have always been skinny on average, but I had expected WLIs to release more large-sized designer clothes into the market.

I have found there's more scope on Ebay than Vinted, or maybe it's simply that the Ebay search is better. I think your items will sell if you leave them up with a 'best offer' option. If you want them gone, auction them with a low starting price.

So pleased you're feeling better. Enjoy your return to the hustle!

Last year I was specifically looking for a 16 or 18 MaxMara coat. My ceiling was £150. I couldn't find any from sellers I would trust; most of the options actually looked like cheap knock-offs in the photos! There was a lovely-looking one on Vinted, from a seller listing many good designers in the same size range, at £700. It sold.

I ended up buying an £80 coat in the H&M sale. It is not quite the same thing, obviously!

Try Reloved again - they sell online and also via a physical store on Kings Road in London. They will even arrange pickup etc of the clothes for you. I have sold loads with them.

I gave my larger clothes away, very expensive brands with designer stuff. Vinted takes time and patience. When you list something that gets interest people want more info, measurements of their choice because they’re spending £75> on something used from a seller they don’t know.

You could shift your thinking OP - these clothes don’t owe you anything.

My local charity shop was very grateful and I gift aided so get letters every month telling me how much they’ve taken. The hospice sector is on its knees funding wise so it really helps them.

Must add that it felt really freeing, not to have four car loads of clothes that I thought owed me something and I had to sell them in my life.

I think sizes will still be in demand as there will be people losing weight on their way down. But Vinted prices are low compared to eBay. If they’re not shifting the usual way I would at least try Vinted, I find the listing and posting process convenient.

Size matters, I lost weight too and can sell size 12-16 crap from Shein in minutes. However, I struggled to sell 18-20 even for £20 (expensive brands).
Style - doesn't matter if it's designer, some clothes have really zero style. My friend has hundreds of expensive coats, couldn't sell even one, but personally, I wouldn't take it for free....