What else can I do to increase sales?! Help!

[yesterdays_news_vintage]

I have been selling on eBay for two years, mostly vintage finds. I am up to nearly 800 items in my store. I have 60 day FREE returns, one day handling time, 30 day listings (with automation rule to relist), 10 percent promotion level, and I list at least one item every day, usually more, although once in a great while I will miss a day.

I called eBay yesterday morning and they did some sore of reset/refresh on my account supposedly and it did nothing.  I have had the worst few weeks since starting eBay. I am just really disgusted with eBay and I know I am not the only one, but PLEASE does anyone have any secret tips. I know I am grasping at straws, but this is my only source of income and I am trying to support a family of four. My kids are still too young to stay at home alone and I am doing this to avoid childcare costs that would eat my paycheck if I worked outside of the home.

I know my inventory isn't exactly high demand, but this is the kind of stuff I have always sold reasonably well. I do not have the funds to improve my inventory, shop clearances, or anything like that, especially after paying all the selling and store fees. I do have maybe a few dozen **bleep** things on there because it was from when I first started and had no idea what I was doing or what sells. But I also have lots of stuff that typically sells within a week or two. But not lately.

I hate feeling desperate, and I am painfully familiar with eBay's ebbs and flows, but this is ridiculous. I feel like giving up on eBay, but it is really the only thing that is compatible with my family responsibilities right now.

Anyone?! LOL. I will be forever grateful if someone knows a real way to fix this. Although I am sure many sellers have similar problems right now. 

[yesterdays_news_vintage]

Good to know all that! Thanks! So it actually CLEANS the items, no just dewrinkles and makes it smell "fresh"?

[yesterdays_news_vintage]

I was thinking the ILGWU might be a selling point, no? I'm sure our titles could definitely use some work though. Is "unbranded" really something that should be advertised in the title? I usually do not.

[abfabvintage]

Hi. I always try to describe that usually grey IL Union label. And sometimes (I am **bleep** about labels) include those IL numbers which sometimes can date the garment. There is a great site (I can't remember right now) where it gives you the history of those labels. Am sure you can google it. And I also do searches on WPL and RN# to pinpoint close to the age. But not something you would put in the title unless you have figured out from that data that it could be 60's, 70's, etc. 

[abfabvintage]

@yesterdays_news_vintage

It does do the unwrinkle in most cases, unless it is really wrinkled and you would put through the cycle another time and immediately hang up. And it also has a spot clean instruction which I  have found also works, but only have done that on woolens, not silk. But it tells you how to do the spot clean. Good Luck. You can google the products before you decide to purchase. I bought boxes on Amazon. Come 14 towels per box that claims to clean x 5 pieces per towel.  

[abfabvintage]

I just did a cursory look at your items. I would fix that "Eddi" Bauer item. It is Eddie Bauer. And I would not use the term scavange in your listing. I know what you mean, but I wouldn't put it in the listing. 

[abfabvintage]

Ya know, there are a lot of comments here to hopefully help you get maybe seen in search and make your listings more palatable to this Universe called eBay lol.... If it was me, I would be overwhelmed with all the comments at this point, even mine. lolol. Just print out, if you can, the helpful comments, then take it one at a time.  Good Luck! 

[yesterdays_news_vintage]

Do you mean Vintage Fashion Guild? I love that site! Learned so much from it. 🙂

[abfabvintage]

I love that site, too. Great resource for actual labels. No, I think if you put into Google the union IL it will give you the history of the IL where you can match up the numbers. I think. I have a print out but can't find it right now. For the WPL or RN numbers, you can google that, too, 

https://rn.ftc.gov/Account/BasicSearch.

If that doesn't work: it is the Federal Trade Commission website for RN numbers.

[yuzuha]

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@yesterdays_news_vintage wrote:

I spend between $1 and $5 on a vintage piece of clothing. They usually sell between $10 and $30, depending on the item, of course. Other pieces, like certain Gunne Sax dresses, will sell for twice that. Several of my buyers have bought vintage dresses from me to use as wedding gowns. Vintage clothing is a huge part of our sales. While I don't consider myself an expert at all, I have learned what does and doesn't sell, and I am still learning. That inventory is very important for my income.

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If I were you, I would start looking into steampunk/Lolita/Ren Faire aesthetics and seeing what can be used for those.  A lot of younger people are into costuming, be it for conventions or things like Renaissance faires, and vintage clothing often is an excellent choice for that purpose.  A vintage waistcoat may not get much attention by itself, for example, but if you note that it would work perfectly for a steampunk outfit or a Dr. Who costume, you'll get a whole new demographic of eyes on the item.

[yesterdays_news_vintage]

That is brilliant. I will need to do lots of research, but ya, I know that community is huge. Thanks!

[roxanne3640]

Thank you for taking the time to write this, very helpful info for all of us.

[3dotbe]

List it for free with free shipping may take 3 hrs to sell still. lol

eBayers are cheap **bleep**s - want everything for free - this is coming from a person who been on eBay for over 20 years I know eBay well -

[password9019]

give up....it's not about the U.S. small fry any longer.

[yuzuha]

You're welcome-- I hope it pays off!  I know a lot of people who do costumes and they're always on the lookout for a piece that's Just Right for whatever they're putting together.

[rixstuff]

ILGWU is part of AFL/CIO (Teamsters) union.  It just means that the factory was in America and that the workers who sewed it were union members.  No cache and not a designer name.