mandatory measurements when selling clothing

[robcanavan]

hey ebay.   would you please make it mandatory that sellers of clothing list the measurements( in inches ) of the item.  sending questions to the sellers should not be necessary.  one can never assume a size for one manufacture is equal to all.  Not to mention alterations that have occurred with the item.  

[myangelandmyprincess]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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@myangelandmyprincess wrote:

I know there is a seller on the clothing board who quit including measurements.  She found it did not cut down on returns for fit and was time consuming when she wasn’t getting any benefits from it 

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While returns were unaffected, it could be that sales were.   There have been many posts by those who just pass listings by in favor of those with measurements, which may at least give the buyer a better chance of determining if the item fits.

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I imagine she calculated that in as well.  She had said putting in measurements didn’t effect her bottom line enough to make it worth the time it took 

[abfabvintage]

@myangelandmyprincess 

Hi, I think I am probably considered the "overkill" queen. I put the Label size in the title, in the condition box I put the label size plus the true actual measurements (which many times overrides the label size), Actuals in Item Specifics, and in the narrative description. AND I tell buyers in the condition block if viewing with Mobile, click on full script for more detail which brings them to the full listing. I also make a statement to not use the title, item specifics, or label size, only use ACTUAL measurements. Because of ebay's required item specifics, you only have "their" choice" on sizing. But you still cannot force people to read. 

[femmefan1946]

I recall her frequently saying that certain patterns were different for Simplicity and McCall she made adjusts to fit

My mum was a professional dressmaker, getting her journeyman certificate in 1927 after a three year apprenticeship .

There was  a big change in pattern sizing around 1963-64. All the companies went to consistent measurements for the size advertised. And the names of the sizes also changed.

Mum hated getting wedding party orders with Vogue patterns which she found very complicated-- although basically because they demanded the couture skills she had been taught, rather than the simpler less precise skills required by McCalls or even Butterick (which owns Vogue).  Simplicity was a bonus to her, since she could turn out a Simplicity dress in an afternoon. A Vogue dress was a 10-12 hour project.

In my opinion, a seller of women's clothing would find it worthwhile to take a look at pattern measures to see what a Size 14  or a Size Six is really considered to be in the industry. The differences between those and off the rack garments are shocking.

[myangelandmyprincess]

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

I recall her frequently saying that certain patterns were different for Simplicity and McCall she made adjusts to fit

My mum was a professional dressmaker, getting her journeyman certificate in 1927 after a three year apprenticeship .

There was  a big change in pattern sizing around 1963-64. All the companies went to consistent measurements for the size advertised. And the names of the sizes also changed.

Mum hated getting wedding party orders with Vogue patterns which she found very complicated-- although basically because they demanded the couture skills she had been taught, rather than the simpler less precise skills required by McCalls or even Butterick (which owns Vogue).  Simplicity was a bonus to her, since she could turn out a Simplicity dress in an afternoon. A Vogue dress was a 10-12 hour project.

In my opinion, a seller of women's clothing would find it worthwhile to take a look at pattern measures to see what a Size 14  or a Size Six is really considered to be in the industry. The differences between those and off the rack garments are shocking.

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Doing that would depend on if looking at those size charts would make me feel better or worse about myself ha 

[grayirongolf]

Its a fact the human body has changed over time. The human jaw has shrunk over the lifespan of the telephone due to the lack of breastfeeding.  

[dentalsales4u]

I have often wished sellers would put all the measurements.
I will email the seller and ask if I have time, but after emailing 3 or 4 sellers, I get tired of doing this and will just back out.
I have a specific brand of jeans and I know the measurements that fit.
Most won't put the waist size. The waist size can vary from 30" to 35" from one pair to the next in the same size.
One seller told me to get the measurements from the manufactures website............really???

[johnrj1226]

@abfabvintage 

Like you I  repeat in words  the items condition more than once plus take close-ups pics of any flaws noted in word plus close ups of the entire item - most of our listings  have 6 to 8 pictures or more (film is cheap - lol).  With used items I state this same description info in the text box right below the headline (as RECOMMENDED BY E-BAY) and in the free form item description text box.  Never use the terminology "see  pictures for item description" - eBay  informs  sellers  not to do it but that horse & water saying still applies all too often today to both buyers & sellers - certainly not all.

I is always a good idea to provide a little overkill than not enough.

But too much wording of conditions of a sale that reads  like a used car condition of  sale contract  is way too much.  eBays Money Back Guarantee has the buyer covered some time the sly one will get burnt by claiming less than the truth.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@myangelandmyprincess wrote:

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

---

@myangelandmyprincess wrote:

I know there is a seller on the clothing board who quit including measurements.  She found it did not cut down on returns for fit and was time consuming when she wasn’t getting any benefits from it 

---

While returns were unaffected, it could be that sales were.   There have been many posts by those who just pass listings by in favor of those with measurements, which may at least give the buyer a better chance of determining if the item fits.

---

I imagine she calculated that in as well.  She had said putting in measurements didn’t effect her bottom line enough to make it worth the time it took 

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OH, that's good!  I was hoping that she didn't just look at it from the return angle.

Not to disparage you or your friend.  You just never know sometimes.  

[johnrj1226]

Over time  the average sized person (male or female  have changed.  Peopel  tend to be taller - growing  up in the 50/60s it was uncommon to  see some one that was over 6' 1" or 2".  Today they are everywhere.  Some people  say waist sizes  have shifted to a larger number due to  lack of physical activity & fast food diets.

[mon949]

I have always put measurements in my listings, but I still get items returned for not fitting.

I think most do not read the measurements.

The sizes vary from designer to designer, even from the same maker.

[johnrj1226]

Yes I have had returns  for not fitting = maybe 5  since 3010.  The nice thing about a remorse return is  the buyer pays for the return - if so stated in your return policy. or

Plus, the seller does not  have to pay for the original shipping/handling  charge if it  is not a "free shipping" offering.  My listings very rarely offer "free shipping".

Yes, sizes  from the  same maker will vary from the country of manufacture and style like trim fit etc.  Been that way for  decades.

[johnrj1226]

One more thing:  That is why even  second hand stores have fitting rooms.    Hard to know if the feel will be rightA personal example - I wear a lot of denims - but I prefer the fit of Wranglers vs. Levi & Carhartt - just like the fit and the  W & L are the  same & are Bootcut.

[nicky72]

Totally agree. I put measurements, multiple measurements, on EVERYTHING, then get returns for "does not fit" or item not as described because it doesn't fit like the size it's tagged. People don't read what sellers write unfortunately.

[ersatz_sobriquet]

There's a multitude of issues here. Sellers not including measurements is frustrating, and some do not reply when asked via messaging. Buyers who are not reading descriptions. Then there's ebay's buyer -appeasement policy--it doesn't matter whether the buyer is at fault for not reading or not, ebay has their back when they don't like the fit and oh, it is so sweet and easy to hit that not as described button and make the seller pay for the buyer's error. 

Luckily I sell rarely vintage clothing and almost zero new, clothing is not my thing. I can only imagine the frustration for clothing sellers when once again they log into ebay to see another "not as described" return when the measurements were right there in the listing and the claim is false. Even if the buyer reads the description, measurements may not be enough to know how a piece of clothing is going to hang on the body. 

Ebay needs to encourage honesty with buyers. Is the item really not as described or do you the buyer just not like the fit? If so, you are responsible for return postage shipping. 

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Fabric content is critical too.

If the seller cannot be bothered to include measurements, I can’t be bothered to buy.