can you profit from used clothing sales?

[la_meschina]

I have been buying used clothes on eBay on and off since 1999.  I started as a broke student, and later used it as a source for kids' clothes, especially lots and discontinued items.

Lately it looks as if I'm seeing a lot of used clothing selling for the same price that I can buy something new, especially since the retail apocalypse has kicked into gear.  Gap and Lands End routinely send me coupons for 40% off and I can often get free shipping, which makes the idea of buying used clothes much less appealing unless it's something that I actually can't find anywhere else.

Is anyone on here still making a profit on used clothes, and if so, what are you selling/what's your secret?  I have a lot of "outgrown" items that are still in good shape (growing kids and shrinking mom) but it seems like it wouldn't be worth the hassle unless I've got something genuinely unique or very high quality (wool sweaters from J. Crew pre-2010 for example).

Any insight would be appreciated.

[chrysylys]

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@la_meschina wrote:

Is anyone on here still making a profit on used clothes, and if so, what are you selling/what's your secret? 

Any insight would be appreciated.

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Lots of people do, but they don't keep at it by telling how.

[rolenboy01]

There is no real secret, one thing you need to do is give detailed measurements a lot of sellers do not do this, another thing is you have to be realistic and understand clothing is one of the most saturated categories on eBay so a lot of items will sit for a long time because they aren't getting seen as easily because of the sheer number of clothing items.

[thatsallfolks]

Some people make a profit, though probably not as big as they used to. But many more sellers make virtually nothing, due to competition from retailers and tens of thousands of other eBay clothing sellers. I don’t think you could pick a worse category to sell in.

[jason_incognito]

Some have the "gift" of good taste and can pick out that one winner from a pile of losers.

It really takes being an expert in what you sell. 

[thallidguy]

And it's not just the sheer number of competitors, it's the fact that so many of them are selling just to clear out the closet. Except for rare items (which would take a specialist's eye to spot), the upward price pressure must be nonexistent.

[monster-deals]

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@jason_incognito wrote:

Some have the "gift" of good taste and can pick out that one winner from a pile of losers.

It really takes being an expert in what you sell. 

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Just like books. 

You can't learn it, you either know it or you don't.

[midnight_mystic]

"Is anyone on here still making a profit on used clothes, and if so, what are you selling/what's your secret?"

I sell women's clothing. Sales have been very slow for me since November. Honestly they get slower every year.

I specialize in a handful of more upscale brands. My "secret" is obtaining excellent to new inventory at very low cost, writing detailed descriptions, and offering free shipping.

"I have a lot of 'outgrown' items that are still in good shape ... but it seems like it wouldn't be worth the hassle unless I've got something genuinely unique or very high quality"

I agree with that assessment. I wouldn't list anything that is not in truly excellent to new condition.