Tips for selling your designer clothes on eBay

Selling your unwanted designer clothing on eBay can be a very rewarding experience. If you enjoy photography, writing descriptions, answering questions, packaging and trips to the post office then you should give it a go. Follow our guide below to getting the best out of your eBay listings

You will first need to open and account with eBay and also with Paypal - the preferred payment method for most buyers - especially those from overseas. A Paypal account can take a few days to verify and you may experience some initial limits on your eBay account as a result.

Ensure your items are in as good a condition as possible. Dry clean, press and carry out any repairs where necessary to ensure your items are appealing to potential buyers.

You will need to take very good, clear pictures of your items. Clothing should be placed on a mannequin if possible, bags should be stuffed, boots and shoes should have supports placed inside them. Remember, the better and more professional looking your pictures the better your chance of getting high prices. Try to take pictures against a white or plain background and take several pictures from as many angles as possible - buyers do like to see lots of pictures including close up details (you will need a Macro setting on your camera) and labels. When describing (and photographing) bags ensure that you include all information on serial numbers, close ups of clasps, hardware, linings, authenticity documents etc. Some serial numbers are hard to find but it is essential that you include these as this reassures buyers of authenticity. Ensure you also photograph any areas of damage / marking as you don’t want complaints later.    

Once you have taken your pictures upload them to your computer. If possible us a package such as Photoshop to crop, rotate, lighten etc images if needed. Retake any images that have not come out well - there will always be some.

When you are ready to sell your items click on “Sell” at the top right of the eBay home page. There are several screens to go through and be sure to fill out such details as refund policy, payment terms, postage rates carefully.

When describing your item be as detailed and engaging as possible. Research special items, find out what catwalk collection they are from, whether they are limited editions etc. All of this information, whilst time consuming to find, can really help you achieve maximum sale prices for your item.

Ensure that you you are totally honest in your listing. Note any damage, marks etc and also ensure you include all sizing information and all measurements. Failure to do so can not only result in you being asked a lot of questions it can also result in unhappy buyers who ask for returns when the item is not as expected.

When deciding on a start price it is important to strike a balance between ensuring you achieve a good price and also ensuring you attract as many ‘watchers’ and hopefully bidders as possible. Do remember that most people do not even bid until the last few minutes of the auction. Again research is key. Search for similar items on eBay and see what other sellers are charging, what has actually sold etc. You can search sold items by using the advance search function and this is a better indicator of market value than prices item are actually listed -  you will find that many are priced extremely highly but will have been listed and re-listed unsuccessfully many, many times. You can add a reserve to your listing for an additional cost. This is non refundable - even if you item does not sell.

At the point of listing eBay charge you a listing fee and a reserve fee if you use one. At the point of sale you will be charged a selling fee and if your buyer pays with Paypal you will also pay a fee to them

Before sending your item out to the winning bidder ensure that ttheir payment has cleared. Ensure you have read ALL of Paypal’s terms on conditions as their seller protection only applies under very strict conditions. If a buyer is unhappy with and item, it does not turn up as soon as they expected they can log a claim with Paypal who will put a hold on the funds in your account and may refund the buyer even if you have not received the item back.

You must also send all items signed for and insured. This can mean a lot of trips to the Post Office but you need to ensure you are covered for loss or damage as it is you who will foot the bill, not the buyer.

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