With over a 150 items for sale on both eBay and Depop, its easy to believe you’re going to be a millionaire overnight and with friends requesting your advice on how to sell online, you begin to consider yourself a pro, but honestly its anything but easy!
Online selling can be hard work, takes a little patience and dedication to each individual listing, but watching your PayPal balance increase is so satisfying. Its like an invisible savings account – and to be honest thats how i use mine. I bought my Bali flights off my PayPal balance.
Don’t get me wrong, you can post things quick and easy, the apps are designed to make things simple, and people can make a quick sale, however I am talking about people selling more than one item and / or have problems making a sale.
I joined eBay in 2009, wanting to discover this new website that you can buy and sell items and honestly I have never looked back! After a few years, I have accumulated a large amount of sells and purchases and I joined Depop when it launched two years ago, I think?! and I love it… I find it to be a cool place for on trend clothing, exclusive fashion, customised items and art, with a huge need for vintage and retro fashion.
When I list items from my stock, I double list everything on both to increase my audience and increase the likelihood to sell an item. I currently have 1370 followers on my Depop from listing my items and making sales, and I have a Facebook Page, and Tumblr page with the same name. Download the Depop app and check out my stock: @vintagelovings
Following my own personal style, and hand-me-downs from my Grandma, approximately 7 years ago, I decided to start purchasing and selling vintage fashion. I have discovered how important it is to be detailed, clear and honest with your listings. We’ve all purchased something online which wasn’t how you expected, so its best to prevent that, and sadly feedback is a big part of online selling.
Here are some tips to help you improve your sales, and increase your PayPal balance!
- Do research on the stock you are selling – how much it is worth, how much you want for it and how much similar items are selling for. Don’t overprice or underprice.
- Be realistic with your pricing – People want a bargain BUT are willing to pay your price if they really want an item.
- Whats your plan? If you are making this a business venture, shop around for bargains, so you’ll price-up equals a profit, or you at least you make your money back from how much you paid.
- Charity shops are a weekend fave of mine and its a huge world of fashion gems, and bargains, plus you’re giving money to charity.
- Set yourself time to list your stock – its time consuming, not because you’re being extra or picky, but because you want a sale – I can normally list 12 items in 2-3 hours whilst watching a movie lol
- Lighting is so important – bad lighting completely changes the shade of colour, doesn’t highlight the material or pretty detailing. Depop provides filters which is helpful as you can make your item look good. I usually list items in the day time – natural lighting is best.
- Be clear – list the branding, style, colour, size, details and measurements. That way people can be sure on what they are buying thus, works in your favour with tricky buyers.
- Pricing – Depop is a fixed price sale only, however people can message you to offer a cheaper price. Depop is a more relaxed platform to sell items in my opinion.
- On eBay, I sell everything at a fixed price. I no longer list with the bidding option. For me, if someone wants the item they’ll pay the fixed price, and it ensures you get the price you want too. I learnt the hard way with this – sold items for as little as £5 including postage when I first started, so literally made pennies from the sale lol
- Postage – Over time I have found including postage in my prices has increased me sales – however hundreds of people charge a separate postage fee. Check Royal Mail for posting charges, and take in consideration the money spent on packaging too! eBay does have the postage charges should you wish to charge this separately, it also estimates the cost based on the likely weight of the item i.e shoes. You’ll get used to what item will be classed as a large letter, small parcel etc.
- Photo skills – Having a model works wonders, however if you are like me and have hundreds of items in different sizes to your own, and no model, a mannequin is handy. I bought mine on eBay. I hang my own clothes and jewellery on mine when Im not using it!
- If you have good camera skills and a friend willing to model for you – take full advantage – make a day of it. Find a funky spot and take lots of pictures. One of my friends has beautiful feet so I’ve started using her feet to model my shoes. You’ve got to be resourceful! lol
- Depop limits you to 4 pictures. Be sure to take a front and back picture, and then pictures of the details, faults, label. I usually take one photo of the item styled to give the buyer an idea of how it would look on.
- eBay doesn’t limit you to 4 photos which is good, so take as many as you like!
- Mind you wording. If your not sure if the material is real, or if its a genuine item, don’t list it as it is.
- Refunds – Make it clear whether you accept refunds. Buyers forget that you are a sole person selling items, you aren’t a company, so you don’t have to have a refund policy. eBay also has a settling for each listing which states whether or not you accept refunds. Be mindful though that there are certain instances where a refund would be expected i.e damaged goods.
- eBay generally favours buyers. Very frustrating when you encounter a rude or difficult buyer. So be sure to be polite and clear in your listing and any communication you have with a buyer. eBay does have policies and procedures in place for this.
- Feedback – Some people will threaten you with bad feedback, take it on the chin if you’ve ensured you’ve listed it correctly. People can be spiteful and unrealistic with their expectations when buying online.
- Payment – Only ever accept PayPal payment – you are protected should something go wrong. People offer to pay through bank transfer, friends and family to prevent fee charges, however if something happens you won’t get your money back. Its your shout of course, but just be careful.
- Always obtain proof of postage.
- Reduce your costs/fees – Take FULL advantage of free listings / no fee periods.
- Understand your customer base – I find with eBay, people are generally more likely to look for items on a Sunday so starting your items / or ending your items on a Sunday will help to increase your sales.
- eBay also lets you schedule your listings which is handy. Usually fee free, but be sure to check the details page before you commit to posting your listing as sometimes it can charge you – 6p I think it is. Doesn’t sound a lot but that combined with a final selling fee can all amount up.
- I have also heard that Wednesdays are good days to list items too because people are more likely to be online.
- I always list on eBay for the maximum amount of time – ‘good ’till cancelled’. You can choose which option suits you though.
- Exposure – A username on eBay isn’t really a big deal, as people will search items more than a username. However Depop operates differently, and you build followers based on your page. The pages is set-up like an instagram account so lists all your items in a photo based layout on your page. Its handy to have a quirky, rememberable name on Depop, as people will follow you, buy your items and it looks professional. Plus if you have another platform like a Facebook page, Twitter or instagram account, it can link them all together.
- Don’t forget – Make sure if you are double listing like I do, you delete the item off the other site if its sales!
https://www.depop.com/vintagelovings/
Happy listing! x
theclumsywanderer 