How To Successfully Sell Used Clothing The Right Way

By Amanda Cohen on December 6, 2015

It is that time of the year again … making room in your closet for big sweaters and parkas, which means you unfortunately need to do some thinking on what you want to keep and what you want to sell.

Selling clothes is not the easiest process in the world; it takes time, organization, patience, and ultimately knowledge on the best way to go about selling your outfits that you no longer have any use for.

Hopefully, after reading this article, you will have a better idea of how to safely, efficiently, and effectively sell your clothing items in a way that won’t elevate your stress levels to disproportionate amounts.

Photo via http://i.ytimg.com

My go-to selling method is utilizing my social media platforms — Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. Facebook is usually my best bet when trying to get rid of my clothes because there are three ways to get in contact with a large audience: posting in groups, posting a status, and direct messaging your friends.

If you are a member of a group on Facebook, you are more than likely to know the majority of the other members. All colleges have groups for each of their incoming freshmen classes, and many even have groups for specific dorm rooms. In addition, I know sororities, fraternities, and clubs have Facebook groups where messages are posted.

If you want to sell a pair of jeans, for example, take two pictures of the jeans, a picture of you in the jeans and a picture of the jeans on the hanger. When posting the picture, write where you got them, how many times they have been worn, the brand, the size, the price you are selling them for, and finally your contact information. You would follow these exact instructions when posting a status and/or when direct messaging people.

Another way to sell your clothing that is a little less personal and more business-esque is utilizing websites like Craig’s List and Ebay. On Craig’s List and Ebay, you are essentially writing an ad for the clothing that you are selling. When making the ad, I recommend having each individual article of clothing in one individual ad. At the end of your proposition, you should write to check out the other items that you are selling in the search box. This way, your name and clothing gets more publicity, but you also let each item shine on its own.

When writing your ad, provide the same information that you would in your Facebook group post — size, price, picture, brand, website, amount of times worn, and your contact information. If you get messages concerning the price of your clothing, explain to them the reason why you are selling the item for that amount and say you are open to negotiating the price to a certain extent. When talking to a potential buyer, always be confident, polite, and efficient and effective when answering their questions.

Even though we live in a world where technology trumps all, I still value the face-to-face conversation element of a buying-selling arrangement. Consignment stores are fantastic because there are so many different types of stores; some stores sell higher-end items while others sell more moderately-priced clothing.

What you should do is find a few consignment stores in your area, look up reviews about the stores, and then go in to talk to the store owners, managers, and employees. Once you find a store that you feel most comfortable with, organize the clothing items you would like to sell into properly labeled bags (one bag for clothes, another for pants, another for workout items, etc.).

When selling your clothes make sure that they are in good enough condition to be sold because no store wants to sell half-ripped clothing. Once your clothing items are sold, the store will send you a check that you can deposit right into the bank!

Photo via http://www.truerisk.com

If you are a college student who has a plethora of themed-party outfits that are not suitable for a consignment store, consider going to a thrift shop and selling the clothing to them. Go through the same process as you would with the consignment store, except the only difference is that you will get paid upfront because the store is essentially buying your clothing from you, rather than the customers. Go to a few stores to see how much money the store managers are willing to give you to ensure that you are not getting ripped off.

Selling clothing is great, but with the holiday season approaching there are many people in need who cannot afford to buy coats, hats, gloves, scarves, socks, etc. to keep them warm this winter. If you have a lot of clothing that you need to get rid of, consider donating some of the warmed items to the Salvation Army, homeless shelters, and clothing-drives.

Photo via http://www.mura.org

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