Is Thrift Store Clothing Still Profitable on eBay?

Many of you who follow my eBay store have noticed that I am no longer selling clothing found in thrift stores and that my inventory has shifted to consumer products. This blog post is a response to those of you out there who have contacted me with the question, "If you aren't selling thrift store clothing anymore, does that mean it is no longer profitable?'

The answer - Thrift Store clothing is still a good seller on eBay!

My eBay business and my life are completely different than when I started selling on eBay back in 2003. My children were 7 and 9, and as a single parent, I wanted a way to make money from home. I would make 1 or 2 thrift store runs a week and spend the bulk of my time processing, photographing, listing, and shipping the items - all from the comfort of home on a schedule that worked for my family.

My children are now 12 and 14 and are much more independent. They can be at home by themselves if I have to run an errand, meet with a client, or hold a seminar or class. My coaching business occupies much of my time now as I do telephone consulting, one-on-one consulting, and seminars and classes for other moms who want to learn how to make money on eBay. I also am a compensated writer for other blogs, women's causes, and work-from-home sites. And of course, there are my eBooks which I will continue to crank out as fast as I can - right now I have two in process - all about shoes, and how to market your store on the internet for free. I've also got some new ventures in the works that you will be reading about in the next few months.

So, do not dispair that my eBay store does not contain the items that I describe in my books. Trust me, after selling over 10,000 pieces of clothing on eBay, I've learned a few things. Those of you who sell clothing will agree that it is time consuming and labor intensive, however, a good fit for moms at home with small children as you can work on clothing at your own pace and clothing is something that everyone around the world will always need.

As for my inventory now, I have made some new connections where I am able to experiment with new products at a minimal investment. Keep in mind that your eBay store will continue to evolve as time goes by. I started out selling lingerie, then books, then dishes and kitchen items, and finally clothing. I found that clothing was easy to find, easy to store and ship, and everyone needs it (and needs to replace it eventually) so clothing is a good, reliable seller.

I am not in the thrift stores much anymore, but come winter, I guarantee I will be visting them to look for some 100% cashmere sweaters - for myself this time!

Happy selling!

How to File a Mutual Withdrawal on eBay

If you haven't heard this one yet, you will. Customer emails you, "I've decided I don't want to buy this after all. Please cancel the transaction." You will still be charged the final value fees unless you take action to recover them.

You can do one of three things.

1) Do nothing and don't bother to recover your lost fees.

2) File an upaid item dispute after 7 days and your fees will be credited back to your account if the customer does not pay for the item.

3) File a mutual withdrawal. The customer must agree to this, but it is a more friendly resolution if the buyer made an honest mistake. Follow these steps:

a) Log on to your eBay seller page.
b) Click "Dispute Console."
c) Enter the item number.
d) Under "Why are you reporting this item?" Click, "We have both agreed not to complete this transaction." Answer next question about details regarding the withdrawal.
e) Buyer will receive an email from eBay asking if he/she wants to complete the withdrawal.
f) If the buyer completes the request and agrees to the withdrawal, fees are refunded immediately. You will receive an email with this information.

As long as the buyer agrees to this resolution, it is a much more amicable way to resolve the situation when a buyer has made a reasonable error in purchasing the item. Read more about how to file a mutual withdrawal.

Hot eBay Inventory Tip - DSW Shoe Clearance

DSW is a retail shoe seller, with a huge inventory for "the passionate shoe enthusiast." Yep, I love shoes - but not as much as my boyfriend, who has been shopping at this store religiously for over a decade. You all have him to thank for this hot tip. (I was sucked into his shoe world a few years ago!)

DSW has a large section in the back of the store with clearance items. The pricing system is color coded, so each color sticker means a different percentage discount. In my area, purple means 65% off. So, I am on the hunt for purple tag items.

DSW carries brands like Merrell, Uggs, Ralph Lauren, Doc Martens, Nike, Adidas, Stuart Weitzman, Cole Haan, and many more well-known name brands. So here is what you do. Visit your local DSW and sign up for their rewards plan. Then, start checking the store frequently, say once a week, for new markdowns. I have found Doc Martens for $16 (retail price $60), Merrells for $10 (retail price $80), and Ugg slippers for $20 (retail price $70).

Clearance items can be discontinued styles or colors, so you can get good money for them on eBay - since the styles or colors are no longer available. Case in point - I sold these pink Ugg slippers for $65 on BIN in about 2 days.



The color is not available anymore, not even on the UGG website. Not a bad profit or turnaround time.

After you have made a few purchases, your rewards points will start adding up and you'll receive coupons for $10 off your next purchase, so you can save even more on your cost of inventory.

eBay Coach Disclaimer - you will not become a millionaire selling shoes on eBay. But this is another source for your inventory. The more you look, the more you find. Visit DSW's website to find a store near you.

"Comes from a smoke free and pet free home..."

I personally don't like this comment on eBay listings. The first think I think of when I read "comes from a smoke free pet free home" is a long-haired sheepdog and a dirty ashtray. It is the power of suggestion at work here, and I don't want to put those types of images in my customers' heads. (Editor's note, I love animals, but mentioning them on an eBay listing about clothing won't help your business.)

Here is another example. Say you go to a fine, upscale steakhouse. The menu will say something like, "8 oz Filet. Thick, succulent cut of USDA prime beef, seasoned to perfection, sure to melt in your mouth." They don't say, "Worm-free, doesn't have a hair on it, and was not sneezed on. Hasn't been dropped on the kitchen floor."

See what I mean about the power of suggestion? Don't even go there. Same concept with "free of rips, tears, or stains." What is the image in your head RIGHT now after reading that? Rips and stains, right?

Words are very powerful. And when that is all you have between you and your customer's mind, you have to be careful.

Just food for thought.

Children's Book to Sell on eBay - Christian Mother Goose

eBay Coach Disclaimer: This is not a collectible book that you will make hundreds of dollars selling on eBay. But, I have found this item consistently in thrift stores for around $1, and it sells consistently for $12.50. (Click here to view my latest sale of this book.) The publish date is 1978 and it is just a good, wholesome story book for children.

Add this item to your "what to look for" list. The good thing about this type of item is that you can take the photos once, create the listing, save it, and just use it over and over again each time you find the item. I used my scanner to scan the pages and the cover.

NOTE: Please do not copy my photos or my text. I've been catching people left and right copying my photos (and entire listings). And I do not hesitate to report these sellers for text or image theft. Maybe I should be so public with giving examples, but I never expected so many people to take advantage of my willingness to help.

eBay offers so many opportunities for you to be creative with photos, auction templates, and text. When I approached another seller this week about copying my listings, she replied with, "You should be flattered." Unfortunately, I don't see it this way - it is insulting. Flattery is complimenting or praising someone for their work. Copying another's work is a sign of sheer laziness. I've done the work, they copy the listing, and they make money. What is wrong with this picture?

If someone is that lazy, that they can't even write up their own listing, I doubt they will be industrious enough to ship items on time or be attentive to their customers, so I probably shouldn't worry about it anyway! Sorry, I digress....

For more items to sell on eBay for profit, check out my eBooks available on my website. My eBooks start at $2.49 and are instant downloads.

Happy selling!

Suzanne Wells

Do eBay Sellers Have to Pay Taxes on Income from Sales?

I have received this question from several sellers this week, so here is an article to help you better understand the issue of reporting income from eBay sales. Disclaimer: I am not an accountant or tax expert. This is just some general information to help you understand how the IRS sees proceeds from online auctions.

The rule of thumb: If you are selling your own personal items, that have been in your possession for a period of time and were originally purchased for your own use, the answer is no. This would be the same situation as if you had a garage sale to sell your own personal items.

If you have purchased items specifically to resell them on eBay, then yes, you do have to report the income from those sales. Many sellers think that selling on eBay is just a fun hobby, and the money generated is not reportable as income. The IRS disagrees.

It is better to be safe than sorry in this situation (especially when dealing with the IRS). In other words, if you are calling yourself an eBay seller, and regularly sell items on eBay for profit, you are responsible for reporting that income.

This page on IRS.gov outlines the online auction situation. Please consult with your accountant for more information regarding your specific situation.

Reporting the income from your eBay sales isn't all bad. You are also entitled to report your expenses as a small business owner and deduct your expenses from internet fees to shipping materials.

eBay Not Working for You? List of eBay Alternatives

This is a public service announcement for those eBay sellers who are repeatedly expressing their discontent on the eBay forums and discussion groups. (Chronic whiners.) If you're not happy on eBay, please, by all means, explore other options!

Amazon.com. Users report higher fees, less control over shipping rates, and there is no auction platform. You can take advantage of Amazon's advertising and traffic.

Etsy.com - Marketplace for handmade and craft items. Very economical to list. 20 cent fee for each item, listing has 4 month duration. Commission is 3.5% of the sale price (charged post-transactionally). Handmade, homemade items can be anything from jewerly, personalized items, even computers.

Bidville.com - Free to list. Final value fees 5% of sale price less than $25.

ePier.com - You pay nothing until your item sells.

Onlineauction.com - 5 styles of different auction formats. Free to list your item. No commission or final fee. One monthly membership fee to participate.

Overstockauctions.com - "charges insertion, upgrade (if applicable), reserve price, and closing fees. If an auction closes with a winning bid, the reserve price fee is refunded. Fees are based on a percentage of the selling price. Overstock.com's fees are 33-50% cheaper than our major competitor's."

eCrater.com - Every member gets a free store. You can pay extra for ads place in premium locations.

iOffer - Free to list your items. Final value fee can be anywhere between 50 cents and $5, depending on the final sale price.

Feel free to post this link on your eBay groups and forums. The whining about eBay is getting rather annoying. If people aren't happy, by all means, let's encourage them to find alternatives!

Happy selling-

Suzanne Wells