How do clothing sellers manage?

[lovtaco0]

I spent the past several hours measuring and steaming clothing. It's taking 10 times as long to deal with one piece of clothing than anything I sell. Are there ways to speed up the process? I don't know how clothing sellers deal with this day in and day out. No wonder my wife suckered me in to prepping these items for her.

[holiday*cockers]

Wow! Just wow ~

[turquoisetulips]

I spent the past several hours measuring and steaming clothing. It's taking 10 times as long to deal with one piece of clothing than anything I sell. Are there ways to speed up the process? I don't know how clothing sellers deal with this day in and day out. No wonder my wife suckered me in to prepping these items for her. lovtaco - op --  unquote 

 The washing and measuring  clothing is always  good idea  for sellers,, there's really no easy way around that part  . I only know of one shortcut  you could try to speed up taking wrinkles out . Theres a spray you can find at just about any grocery store called Downy  wrinkle releaser . You just lightly spray on the piece of clothing  and pull taught  each way and the wrinkles come out very nicely . I've used it for years  and it works  well . No need to iron or steam  . Tulips 

[imakesugar]

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@michael_atwwrote:

Frankly, I venture to guess they are just bad business people.  

I sold clothes in college from thrift stores and got into a large operation reselling a name-brand.  I had about $40k in inventory.  Then, the returns and negs started slamming me and almost destroyed my acct.  A few issues were on my end but most were awful, terrible buyers.  I flushed that $40k out over the course of three years (mostly put it up during winter and pulled it after the new year).  I couldn't get out fast enough.  

Measurements? I never could get myself to waste time ever doing that.  Luckily, 98% of my stuff was new.  The idea of measuring things cracks me up and people who asked, I simply said, "i don't measure".  Some got bent; it was funny.  You're buying clothes on the internet... 

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How many of the returns and negs did You get because You didn't measure? Even new with tags items still vary in size from item to item in the SAME brand.  I think Measurements do make a difference. I think Sellers who sell clothing AND measure get less returns and snad's... It is hard for a buyer to return for it DOES NOT fit when the measurements are in the listing.  😉 Sugar

[michael_atw]

Anyone who is negging for a seller measuring or not measuring is a horrible person.  

I've bought used clothes on eBay for over a decade and never once have I had the gall to assault someone's account like that.  If I buy an item and it doesn't fit my body, I don't wear it.  Did the seller manufacture it?  

By contrast, a few months ago I bought a pair of jeans that were supposed to be 32x30 and arrived 32x32.  That was a seller's issue.  

[retrose1]

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@michael_atwwrote:

Anyone who is negging for a seller measuring or not measuring is a horrible person.  

I've bought used clothes on eBay for over a decade and never once have I had the gall to assault someone's account like that.  If I buy an item and it doesn't fit my body, I don't wear it.  Did the seller manufacture it?  

By contrast, a few months ago I bought a pair of jeans that were supposed to be 32x30 and arrived 32x32.  That was a seller's issue.  

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Sort of.  Although give a choice, a longer than reported inseam is much better than shorter.

As a used clothing seller, you have to take some measurements, especially on jeans because after a few wearings and washings, clothes tend to stretch and might be completely different than what the tag says.  I picked up a pair of jeans that the tag said 32 waist and the waist was really 35 inches.  And if the stitching is cotton and might shrink, you could easily lose an inch in the inseam.

[lewisburggold]

We have no idea how you guys do it.  Props to all clothing sellers.  Its a very tough market and a lot of work to boot.   Best regards

[turquoisetulips]

 I think Measurements do make a difference. I think Sellers who sell clothing AND measure get less returns and snad's.. imakessugar - unquote ------------------------------------------

Yep , measurements are extremely important to add to the listing . Personally speaking if the measurements are not included  I'll pass it up  unless I really really like it ,, then I may contact the seller  for more info but I don't do that very often. . I come very close to buying a tunic the other day  until I checked its length the seller had  added ,, nope 24 1/2  inches long  isn't really a tunic . Tulips 

[turquoisetulips]

How do you prevent the item from wrinkles when you ship? wamegun - unquote -----------

 You just fold it the best you can . The idea is to get the clothing to look as nice as possible for the photo . Tulips 

[turquoisetulips]

How do you prevent the item from wrinkles when you ship? wamegun - unquote -----------

 You just fold it the best you can . The idea is to get the clothing to look as nice as possible for the photo . Tulips 

[michael_atw]

That's a manufacturer issue.  If a seller wants to measure, that's great.  If they don't, that's not their responsibility.  Never was and never will be.  Blaming sellers for that is awful.  Once again, I've bought used clothing on eBay for a decade and never once have I had the gall to blame one for that issue.  

The seller sold them as tagged 32x30.  They arrived tagged 32x32.  I.e., SNAD.  Lacking measurements is not a SNAD.  Apples to orange.

This attitude is why I got out of that realm as a seller as fast as I could.  That sort of behavior.  Manipulative dealings. 

[bigbadmomma45]

I sell clothing all the time and yeah, pictures do make a difference but like someone mentioned before, if it's used, they should be washing it anyways.  If something is bad wrinkled, assuming it can go in the dryer, I throw it in there with a damp wash cloth and that will relax most of the wrinkles.  That's about all I'm going to do. As far as measurements, I don't give exact unless someone asks. I usually give a height and go from there, for example, it hits above the knee on a  5'8' model or below so on and so fourth. Jeans, skirts, shorts get the size out the back and describe, short shorts, mini skirt, mid thigh to include this shirt says it's a small but it will fit as a very loose small if not a medium or the opposite, this says its a medium but this is running small so buyer beware. I also tell the buyer to refer to the BRAND's website on sizing accuracy for new and used clothes and that I'm not liable for tailor fitting them. If buying on ebay you should know said brand well enough to know if it's going to fit or not.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Hmm. Are the sellers who refuse to provide measurements on used clothing the same ones who keep whining about returns?

It is unreasonable IMHO to sell clothing without measurements. I just don't get it.

[mirror-in-the-attic]

I don’t foray into this madness often but when i do, and it is clothing, I, too steam it before photographing.

This time around, all of the items are mine or my husbands so it is clean and steamed.  If it comes from a thrift store, it goes into the wash before I ever think of listing it.  I have a funk feeling after sorting through items at a thrift store.   I am sure a lot of it is clean but still it is just the idea that who knows where it has been or who has pawed it with what ilk.    So, I wash it for my own hygiene piece of mind, first and foremost.

I have, however, wondered if I would ever get a neg or complaint from a buyer when the item arrives wrinkled.   My items get steamed, photographed, then packaged and ready to ship and sit until some buys it.   So, some of the material in my garments do wrinkle.    The way I see it, I wash whatever I get from Ebay and I hope others do, too.   That said, if they expect to open it from a mailing and be able to wear it, only to discover it’s too wrinkled at the folds or what not.....could that be my fault?   

It is a lot of work, indeed.  It still takes time to list other things as well.   It is just a time consuming process that people do not appreciate until they do it for themselves.  Then, as well all know, there are the hoops.....and the hoops of hoops we are meant to jump through.   

With that said, I see many listings, of all different items, where the seller literally uses a stock photo and a word or two in the description.  If they are making money that way, I think they just might be the smarter seller.....I just cannot and do not operate that way.

[monster-deals]

Oh I would never ever prep anything. I sure as heck don't measure anything I don't have to. If it has a tag. I'm done.

[lovtaco0]

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@wamegunwrote:

How do you prevent the item from wrinkles when you ship?

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I asked the better half. She said the goal is to minimize wrinkles, not eliminate them. 

Her advice is to start with an unwrinkled garment. Fold it carefully. Optional, use tissue paper- that makes sense for higher end items but it's a waste for inexpensive items. Place the item in a plastic bag then fold/tape the bag to fit the item. If the bag is too big the item will shift around a lot. Place that bag in a mailer and send it on its way.

[lovtaco0]

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@lewisburggoldwrote:

We have no idea how you guys do it.  Props to all clothing sellers.  Its a very tough market and a lot of work to boot.   Best regards

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No arguments here. After that work I put in yesterday I have a new found  respect for my wife dealing with this every Spring and Fall when we clean out our closets.