Checklist for Reselling Clothes on eBay and Poshmark

Photograph Your Items Properly

Your photos are the first thing potential buyers will see before even clicking on your listing. If they are low quality, blurry, or don’t accurately represent the item, you'll have a hard time attracting buyers, no matter how great the item actually is. When taking pictures for resale, a flat lay station with professional lighting works best. If you don't have the means for such a setup, you can simply use a wall or the floor to take photos of the item. Be sure to use a plain white background and natural lighting if possible. Take several photos, including both the front and the back of the garment, as well as the size tag and close-ups of any interesting details, patterns, or textures. Be sure to photograph any defects, stains, wear, or damage the item might have. This provides the buyer with an honest depiction of the item's condition, reducing the likelihood of negative feedback, returns or disputes.

Check for Damage and Defects

Before listing an item, carefully inspect it for damage that might not be immediately obvious. Turn pockets inside out, check for tears in seams, and look for pilling, pulling, loose threads, holes, stains and discolorations. Check that all zippers, buttons, and snaps work properly. Odors can also be a big issue as it's not unusual for an item to carry smells like smoke, perfume, or that thrift store mustiness. Some smells fade with washing and drying/airing out. For more persistent odors, you can try vinegar, OxiClean, or laundry sanitizer.

Price Competitively

Setting the right price is a tricky balance - if it's too high, your item won't sell, but if it's too low, you won't make a good profit. Research is key here. Check sold listings on your chosen platform to see if the item has sold previously and the average price it went for. Keep in mind the size, condition and color of the item you're researching as these variables can affect the price. In general, you should list your items at their average price as it makes a good starting point that allows you to lower it later on if the item is not moving, or take a buyer offer without losing too much profit.

Understand Shipping Costs and Options

Shipping can affect your profit margin, so knowing costs and options is crucial. Generally speaking, USPS is the most affordable option in most situations, and Ground Advantage is the most commonly used method. Decide whether you'll offer free shipping or charge the buyer for the shipping cost. Free shipping can potentially boost conversion rates because some buyers see it as a better deal over an item with a separate shipping fee, even if the total cost is actually the same. However, you need to include the shipping cost in your item price to keep your profits, and update it with any changes in shipping rates.

Be Honest in Your Item Descriptions

Your item's written description is both legally and ethically important. Misrepresenting items can lead to returns, negative feedback, disputes, and potentially even account suspension. Include the brand, condition, size, and measurements, which is especially important if the item is missing a size label. Clearly note any flaws the item has in the description. Basically - put yourself in the buyer's shoes, and use a description that you would like to see.

Build Your Seller Reputation

Your reputation on these platforms is important for drawing in potential customers. New sellers often face skepticism, so starting off well is vital - respond to messages promptly and professionally, answer all questions thoroughly and honestly. Ship items quickly, ideally within two business days. These practices encourage positive feedback from buyers. If a buyer is unhappy, try to resolve the problem fairly - this may mean offering a partial refund, accepting a return, or replacing the item. Building and protecting your feedback score is worth more than winning a single dispute early on.

Familiarizing Yourself with Tax Implications

Reselling clothes for profit has tax implications that you shouldn't overlook. The money you make is taxable income, so keep detailed records of both your sales as well as expenses using a spreadsheet. In addition to the money you spend to acquire items (known as cost of goods), also track the fees you're charged by your selling platform, as well as money spent on supplies like weight scales and shipping bags. These all count as expenses that you can write off for tax purposes.