eBay to Launch Preloved Partner Pilot Program

by: GetAGrip

It would be a cold day in that hot spot before I would buy a used piece of clothing from anyone on sleezebay. One never knows where it spent its last night at or on.

by: Rexford

GetAGripe says "It would be a cold day in that hot spot before I would buy a used piece of clothing from anyone on sleezebay. One never knows where it spent its last night at or on."

Sellers of preloved clothing across the USA are breathing a sign of relief as it is confirmed that there is one less cantankerous cranky pants that they have to sell to.

by: I_Fix_Dolls

The only clothing I DON'T buy used is underwear. I lost weight in the last year and am going to start listing Jeans that are now too big. I LOVED all of those jeans. Luckily I was able to replace them with the next smaller size in Used but excellent condition. I have bought from ebay clothing sellers, and have no complaints . You can go ahead & spend mall prices if you want to. I don't care what anybody else does.

by: Snapped

Used apparel is a tough market. (LOL @ Rex).

So this is basically a categorized TRS retread with ‘updated’ perks.  Using land mine metrics that may often be beyond the seller’s ability to control.  So that’s not new. Just a new Spring shade of pig lipstick.

They gotta rethink that name though - immediately invoked ‘sloppy seconds’.  😝.  Maybe Preloved Apparel Partner.  Though that acronym might not be much better….

Actually, the word ‘partner’ itself, coming from eBay, the antithesis of business ‘partnership’ is objectionable in it’s own right.  

by: iheartjacksparrow

Why would anyone need 30 days to decide if something fits them? This policy is just going encourage "wear and return" scams.  

by: Stone Cutter

*** From Macys to Goodwill ***

This past Winter, I purchased turtlenecks from Macys @ $7,99 and cozy activewear pants for $14.99, while allowing for FREE returns. Not only were they great prices, but all shipped with “FREE shipping”. All items were great quality.

Across the U.S., Goodwill is aggressively adding new storefronts where consumers can “touch and feel” the product without having to pay for shipping costs.

Why would I buy used when I can buy NEW for much less? And why buy “online” when you can walk into a Goodwill store?

Once shipping charges are added to any garment price, that used item is no longer a great deal.

I agree with @ iheart. The 30 day return policy will only invite scammers, however, Ebay feels they need to. I suspect the used online clothing market is beginning to suffer because the business model no longer works.

by: BurglePork

@ Stone Cutter

Ah, I beg to differ! Selling clothes online is bigger than ever, and growing, and I don't think that will change. There are more platforms and formats for it than ever, and the shutdown got a lot of people accustomed to buying clothes online who weren't previously.

New clothes are largely junk made from petrochemicals and human suffering. Used stuff is way nicer, if you know what to buy, and none of the money you spend supports the terrible business practices of corporate fashion brands, which are extensive. There's a whole podcast about it, Clotheshorse - the host worked as a buyer in fashion so she knows all the dirt, and the truth really is quite alarming. I'm surprised your turtlenecks and pants were "great quality" - they're not pilling already, or stretched out? Maybe you found a real sale, instead of a fake one. Clothing brands these days are creating product with the expectation that most units will sell at a deep discount, so a $120 garment doesn't contain $120 worth of quality - it's really a $90 or $70 even $50 garment that they priced at $120 so you'd think you're getting a bargain. But it's 100% manmade fibers, it fits poorly, and in 5 years (maybe much less) it'll be too ugly to wear out of the house, if you've bothered to keep it that long.

As for Goodwill, not everyone can just thrift it themselves. I live in a rural area and I'm not a common size, I don't find much for myself unless I spend a day thrifting in the big city. My partner can't thrift clothes at all - his arthritic knees prevent him from standing long enough for it, and in any case his ADHD makes it impossible to focus long enough. Some people are just too busy with kids, work, etc and would rather buy clothes on their phone.

You're quite right about returns, though. eBay's very attached to their 30-day returns policy, but it's not appropriate for clothing. Wear and return is likely. A week would be better.  

by: Rexford

Buglepork says "used stuff is way nicer".

Amen.  Want a Scottish or Australian wool sweater or scarf that won't pill and will last you a lifetime?  Want wool flannel pants made of quality wool?  Won't bench made leather shoes without having to fork out $500+? Want a genuine leather belt that isn't bonded or has a cardboard lining?  What a real Irish linen shirt? You will pay serious money if you buy these new in stores if you are lucky enough to even find them.

This is why the used clothing market is on fire.  You have to know what to look for and what to buy if you want to be successful. If instead you buy GAP or Old Navy you better darn well make sure that it is something really special.

by: Rexford

iheartjacksparrow, that policy has already been in place for years.  And buyers do take advanatage.  Poshmark has much better and seller friendlier policies.as it relates to returns.

by: Stone Cutter

*** But what about “return” shipping? ***

I have no doubt that there are good selling expensive niche vintage clothing items, but is there enough to draw in a business for Sellers and a company like eBay, which is my point.

The majority of people still want “new” vs. “old” while buying online from Sellers who offer “free returns”.  And there lies the problem….who will pay for the “return” when clothing does not fit especially if items are priced cheaply. Anymore, all major retail stores offer free shipping.

The majority of used online clothing I see on eBay, are typical everyday items that sell for around $40.00.  How does selling clothing so cheaply translate into profits for the Seller when shipping is included in the price?  How much did that item cost the Seller before the Seller decided to “flip it” for a profit?

And what about “Style”?  I see so much truly ugly and outdated styles from the 60’s that sit in shops forever because nobody wants them.

***Interesting data ***
Data from Wall Street says that retail clothing manufacturers have learned to compete with the “used” market by bringing down prices and selling in volume. Anymore, with a strong online presence, retail stores are gaining traction as they can now sell into rural environments instead of just from inner city foot traffic.

*** Etsy ***
Etsys best clothing Sellers are those who design their own clothing to be mass produced. Clothing Sellers on Etsy have huge numbers with over 50,000 sales while vintage clothing Sellers have very few sales.

Generations matter…Todays buying population is too young to be interested in grandmas clothing or in a Janet Jackson tee shirt from the 90’s. Ebay is filled with this stuff.

We are talking about eBay here. Chic is NOT eBay.

by: RL15

funny how the shills give there made up "facts" as opinions

by: BurglePork

@Stone Cutter

I've been selling vintage clothing for 26 years, it really is more in demand than ever. Gen Z loves it, and have embraced buying used goods in general. Perhaps all the young people you know aren't into it, but my experience differs. I live in a college town, and there's a vintage market this weekend I'll be setting up at. The first one, in November, was BUSY. This one will be bigger and I expect an even better turnout. There's also a vintage market in Columbus - that dude put on his first one 2-3 years ago and he's been expanding to other cities, Indianapolis was just last weekend. Crowds were so thick at the January Columbus market that he instituted timed ticketing so they'd be spread out more. I attended his first Cleveland area show a few weeks ago. Business was steady and the variety of things people bought surprised me.

Speaking from my experience, every generation finds something to suit their taste. There's lots of stuff people will buy now that you couldn't GIVE away 10, 20 years ago. That's natural - as things get older, people grow more interested in them. There's plenty of demand for 90s Janet Jackson tees (honestly just about any 90s tee) and granny clothes are very sellable. Vintage as an industry is bigger, broader, and more vibrant than it's been my entire career. Style is largely irrelevant because it's totally subjective and personal, and the fragmentation of our culture across the internet means many trends can flourish simultaneously.

I personally find listing clothing very tedious, so I sell it in person and mostly stick to accessories & smalls online. But people do make it their whole business. Many are selling mostly on Poshmark, or Instagram. One seller I follow moves at least 100 pieces a week (maybe 200+, it would be hard to count) through story sales and occasional live sales, and she sources at the bins so she's paying under $2/lb. That's just one seller; there are others, with other business models. Many sellers have multiple outlets: Poshmark, Insta, Whatnot, markets, buy/sell/trade stores... If you are efficient and diligent you can definitely make an actual living at it.

That said, it isn't scalable, so of COURSE Etsy's top fashion sellers are manufacturers, not vintage sellers. It's like comparing selling prints to selling drawings. They aren't the same.

"manufacturers have learned to compete with the “used” market by bringing down prices and selling in volume"
Wall Street is kind of talking out of the side of its mouth here. That business model is called fast fashion, and there are MANY reasons brands are drawn to it; competing with used is, like, 39th on the list. #1 is 'number go up' - the overall goal is to show increased sales/profit/margin quarter over quarter, regardless of whether that makes sense, because .... honestly, I don't know how they rationalize it, but 'something something shareholders', I guess.

And as for returns - the return rate is much much lower than for normal retail, where the return rate is typically ~20%. (Clotheshorse mentioned a brand, I think it was Reformation? with an appalling *60%* return rate.) in fact, this high return rate is one of the things driving the higher margins/lower quality of fast fashion. Processing a return is expensive, it can cost more than the wholesale price of the garment. Brands factor the cost of returns into the initial cost of the product, so that's a big chunk they have to shave off the cost during development.

OTOH the return rate is definitely in the low single digits for online used clothing sellers. For one, if you know how to buy, it will fit you. This is just a matter of getting measurements and understanding how things fit you and what your preferences are. Often people seek out brands they're familiar with, so they already know what to expect. Good sellers include measurements (many skip it to save labor & time, I am hoping it will become the norm to provide them but you can always ask.)

And it's widely understood that returns are frowned on. Poshmark has a three day limit, on Whatnot it has to be SNAD, and on Instagram it's whatever the seller decides. It's caveat emptor, and you are welcome to resell it yourself if it doesn't work for you. Most sellers will gladly let you use their photos. I also think people are willing to just eat a certain amount. (Like you said, it's mostly <$40.) That's certainly happening with a lot of NEW clothing, too; not all brands are as forgiving as Amazon or TJ Maxx.  

by: Lisa

*** Etsy ***
Etsys best clothing Sellers are those who design their own clothing to be mass produced. Clothing Sellers on Etsy have huge numbers with over 50,000 sales while vintage clothing Sellers have very few sales.

not  true

by: pace306

First eBay apes Amazon, now Poshmark

by: Stone Cutter

*** @Lisa ***

Are you kidding?
Why is it always necessary for you to NOT see the truth?

There are clothing shops on Etsy that have over $1 million in sales.  

by: Stone Cutter

@ BurglePork

You say…
“I personally find listing clothing very tedious, so I sell it in person and mostly stick to accessories & smalls online”

Are you NOT trying to understand what I am saying?

Why is selling online tedious? Does tedious mean that too much TIME is spent on online listings? And this is a part of my point. Online Sellers will have a hard time making money because of the cost and TIME it takes to sell pieces….which includes the price of shipping.

There are over 1000 Janet Jackson tee-shirt that sell on eBay between $20 to $200 bucks that has been there forever. And there lies the problem…

I will say that the reason why eBay is suffering is because Sellers bring outdated “junk” to eBay that buyers no longer want.

Good luck selling outdated products to grandma who is old and broke.  

by: Stone Cutter

*** Because Amazon does it ***

Amazon Prime allows a Buyer to purchase a bunch of new clothing items, for free, within a 7 day period. Any items the Buyer does not want are shipped, for free, back to Amazon. Any items held by the Buyer, after 7 days, are charged to the Buyer and are considered a purchase.

And yet, the “Amazon Prime” apparel items purchased by the Buyer can be returned back to Amazon within 30 days.

This is what eBay is doing….they are matching Amazons 30 day apparel policy in order to compete.  

by: AddyUp

Clothing returns are the killer for online sales.

A recent check in the UK showed online clothing returns averaging at 30%. Women's dresses by themselves was a staggering 70%.

In comparison high street shops clothing returns was 2-3%.

by: Rexford

Stone Cutter says "There are over 1000 Janet Jackson tee-shirt that sell on eBay between $20 to $200 bucks that has been there forever."

THIS!   Rather it be old or new, you don't want to sell anything (unless it is in high demand by thousands of people) that makes you compete with 1000 other sellers.

The more sellers you have selling the same or very similar item the more likelihood that you will see a race to the bottom as it relates to pricing.

by: BurglePork

@Stone Cutter

I said *I* find it tedious. Many don't. I sell mine at markets, which there are more of now than at any other point in my 26 year career.

I'm sure at some point in the last decade or two, someone who knows next to nothing about your business or your industry told you 'millennials aren't buying fine jewelry, you'll never make a living/you should give up' or some equivalent nonsense that came directly out of their butt. I'm sorry, but that is what you are doing here. You're usually pretty grounded and I typically respect your opinion so I hoped that would dawn on you, that's why I composed that VERY long reply to you, but I guess not, so I'm outright saying it. You don't understand what you're seeing, and you're insisting on interpreting it anyway. I don't think you're trying to be a jerk, but look, you just don't have enough info to be opining on the viability of clothing resale.

The best thing I can say about your position here is that we probably agree that eBay is not the best place to sell clothes, which I kinda of already covered when I said that "many sellers ... are selling mostly on Poshmark, or Instagram" and "have multiple outlets: Poshmark, Insta, Whatnot, markets, buy/sell/trade stores." The stuff you see on eBay is the tip of the iceberg, it's one tiny segment of online clothing resale, and a stagnant one at that. There's a ton more going on that you are unaware of.