6 Tips for Selling Used Clothing on eBay

eBay power sellers selling new apparel overstocks are also frequenting yard sales, consignment shops and thrift stores to make purchases to sell on eBay. Huge mark-ups can be realized when you purchase items often as low as ten to twenty-five cents each. The benefit to selling clothing sourced at thrift stores is the high profit margin. You may only pay $3- $5 for an item and sell it for ten times that much on eBay. It is difficult to find such high margins selling clothing purchased wholesale. Designer labels that are new or gently used are easy to find when you follow these suggestions.

1. Heavily worn or faded clothing should be avoided. Some pieces will not be worth your time to clean or repair. Focus on items that are in sellable condition. Take time to inspect your items for stains, rips or tears.
   
   
2. Thrift store inventory is constantly changing. Become a regular shopper in your area. When stores need to purge their inventory discounts are often offered for large quantity purchases. Don’t hesitate to ask. Some stores will offer bag sales to fill a shopping bag for $1 - $3. “Stuff your bag” sales are a cost effective way to get inventory. Even if you end up with a few duds, you will still make money on your investment.
   
   
3. Do your homework. Research which brands are selling well and keep a list for reference when shopping at garage sales and thrift stores. Limit your purchases to high end, brand names for the most resale profit. You can download my free BOLO (Be on Look Out) list at this link.
   
   
4. Items that have a higher resale value at on eBay include jackets, blazers, outerwear, and leather shoes. Cashmere is always a great find, even if damaged. Rule of thumb: The more it costs new, the higher resale value it will probably have on eBay.
   
   
5. For yard sale shopping wait until the last 30 minutes before the end of the sale to shop. These sellers are usually ready to deal at the end of the day so they don’t have to put it all away! You can get bargains galore as they practically give away items at the end of the day.
   
   
6. When your shopping is done inspect your purchases again at home. Most of the time items will need to be washed and wrinkle free prior to reselling. Be prepared to spend some time freshening up your finds so that buyers will receive their items in good condition.

Selling Used Camera Lenses Online

New cameras and photography equipment are always good sellers on eBay as photography technology changes rapidly. But, older lenses and equipment can also sell well. I know of at least three sellers who purchase broken cameras or camera parts at garage and estate sales specifically for the purpose of just reselling the parts. Here is some information about this niche market.

Selling used photography equipment is a great way for professionals or hobbyists to get rid of excess items. Like any item, there are ways help camera equipment sell more quickly and markets that are better suited to it.

One of the most important things for sellers to do when listing used camera equipment is to include a detailed and accurate description. Buyers will not be pleased if they receive a piece of equipment with flaws that were not disclosed. There will still be buyers interested in imperfect equipment, but it is only fair on the part of the seller to include that information in the listing. Incomplete descriptions can also have a negative impact later if the seller is trying to sell more items. Most buyers who feel they were treated unfairly will make their opinion known to other potential buyers.

Sellers should not automatically turn to eBay to sell their used equipment. Many photography websites have forums that include a place to buy and sell equipment. Using a site like that can insure that a seller reaches their target audience.

One well known site is called Nikonians. It includes a forum for buying and selling and is a great resource for those looking to sell equipment. A benefit of using forums like Nikonians’ is that it allows sellers to become known as a person before they sell items, which can lead to greater success.

Another site for sellers to consider is KEH.com. They are a site that deals in used equipment, so they are always looking for new merchandise. Because KEH resells their items, they are not able to pay as much as a private buyer. However, this can be a good option for sellers who do not want to go to the effort of selling items themselves.

So before you dump your old camera lenses thinking they are obsolete, try selling them online.

Related articles:

Vintage Items to Sell on eBay

Thrift Store Items to Sell on eBay

Selling Old Dolls on eBay – How to Clean Matted Hair

One great way to make your dolls look more valuable on eBay is to fix their hair. If given the choice between a doll with matted hair and a doll with sleek and clean looking hair, buyers will choose the one with sleek hair. The good news is, creating beautiful hair on a doll is easy.

If you’re styling a doll with rooted hair and a vinyl head (like Playmates and Barbies), you can wash their hair with normal shampoo. Once their hair is clean, add scented conditioner and don’t rinse it. This will let you brush tangles out of their hair (Barbie brushes are great for this because of the hard plastic bristles). After you’ve gotten rid of all the tangles, rinse out the conditioner gently.

Some dolls will need more than their hair washed. In these cases, put their hair in a ponytail and secure it in a few different places to keep it from tangling. Then put the doll in a lingerie bag and wash it in the washing machine (use a delicate cycle). Once the cycle is complete, let the doll air dry and detangle its hair.

To detangle doll hair (for those who have been washed in the washing machine or just have clean looking hair), you’ll need to make a homemade detangler. All you need is inexpensive scented conditioner and water. Mix 2 cups of water with ¼ cup of conditioner in a plastic spray bottle and shake until thoroughly mixed. Then spray the mixture onto the doll’s hair until it’s fairly wet. Use your Barbie (or similar) brush to remove all the tangles. Start at the ends and work your way up to avoid damaging the hair. For dolls with a lot of hair, you may need to work in sections. Add more detangler as needed throughout the process. (Don’t worry about rinsing out the detangler when you’re done - it won’t hurt the hair. If you notice that the hair is stiff when it dries, just brush it out.) Let the dolls air dry completely once their hair is detangled.

For more information on selling vintage or antique dolls, check these resources:

Vintage Doll Collector

Antique and Vintage Doll Reference

Kovels Price Guide

Medical Marijuana Supplies - Niche Product to Sell on eBay

China was the first country known to use marijuana beginning in 2500 B.C. They realized that ingesting marijuana (cannabis sativa) produced a euphoric affect and also helped relieve pain. The use of marijuana has spread to many other countries since then. Marijuana arrived in America when it was first colonized by Britain, and was commonly used to relieve pain and encourage appetites. Some people also used it just for the euphoria. After World War I, the American government studied the use of marijuana and its effects and determined that it was bad for morals and the American culture.

The legalization of marijuana is an ongoing issue in the world today. Part of that issue is using marijuana medicinally. Until marijuana was outlawed in 1937, it was a common pain reliever. In recent years doctors have discovered that it not only is a good pain killer, but that it also helps to reduce nausea for patients that are on chemotherapy. Studies have not shown that marijuana is a better pain reliever than other medications. But, numerous cancer patients have reported that marijuana is the only treatment that reduced their nausea. Because of its positive uses, California became the first state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes in 1996. Washington, D.C. and fifteen other states have followed. After the California law was passed, the Supreme Court said that states were not allowed to pass laws contradicting federal law. They also stated that any doctor who prescribed medical marijuana faced the possibility of having his license revoked. However, the laws have not been overturned yet.

Medical marijuana supplies are actually a good seller on eBay. Sell through rates for listings with the keywords “medical marijuana” are 46% for the last 45 days. Products include jars, vials, and information products. Whatever your opinion on medical marijuana, you can’t deny there is a market for the supplies.

Related Articles:

Niche Product - HCG Diet Supplies

5 Pet Product Niches

10 Niche Products to Sell on eBay