why used clothing category will probably fail here

[bigyellowdog2012]

I had an opportunity to get a North Face jacket for $0 --

 I declined ---I did not think I could resell; the jacket being very very picky was a 

B-

but I don't think buyers want to buy a used clothing item that they then have to pay tax on.

[myangelandmyprincess]

It's hard to answer why the columbia jacket didn't sell.  There are so many factors that none of us here have any clue about and sometimes things just don't make sense 

I once had a free people jacket up for sale nicely pictured on a half body form hanging in front of a nice background. Measurements listed the works.   Another one listed at the same time in the exact same size with no measurements laying on the floor sold for more than what mine was listed at just made zero sense to me 

[myangelandmyprincess]

It appears in NJ a majority of clothes are exempt from tax.  

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

bigyellowdog, as to your thrift shop in NJ, I'd guess it doesn't charge sales tax on clothing because most clothing, new or used, is tax exempt in New Jersey, is it not?

You had a Columbia jacket that didn't sell. Could be any number of reasons. Why would you conclude the reason has to do with sales tax, when someone here as shown you literally thousands of North Face jackets did indeed sell in the last 90 days, and many of them were certainly subject to sales tax. Didn't you yourself sell a North Face child's jacket not too long ago?

Whatever your experience might be working at one thrift shop in New Jersey, it is a mistake to assume the rest of the world has the same experience. As some here have explained, they live in states where it is routine for thrift shops to charge sales tax on used clothing. So there are literally thousands and thousands of people in this country who are willing (not eager, mind you LOL), to pay sales tax on used clothing.

As I said above, never forget that you are not your buyer.  

[luckythewinner]

---

@bigyellowdog2012 wrote:

Why not? I have to pay tax on all the items I buy at the local thrift and second-chance stores locally. Why wouldn't I be prepared to pay tax for something I buy online?

Nope.

The local thrift where I volunteer charges 0 tax.

Not sure why ---

---

In some states, charitable organizations are exempt from collecting sales tax on transactions if the proceeeds of the sale are used for their charitable mission. 

Perhaps that is the case with the local thrift you volunteer at.

I am assuming you are not volunteering at a for-profit thrift store 🙂 

[luckythewinner]

---

@bigyellowdog2012 wrote:

cottage:

then explain to me why I had a COLUMBIA jacket in A- condition  that did not sell on  here.

I donated it back to the thrift shop.

---

Because not every item on eBay always sells. 

A quick search for "Columbia Jacket" shows roughly 42,000 completed items of which roughly 32,000 sold. 

[terrycece62]

I always check my local thrift stores first when I need clothing

I will buy used clothing if 

    1. the price is right

    2. clothing is of good quality

    3. is the item is a style,  name brand, fabrics and color I like

    4. Item must be in great condition

If you know your clothing market  I believe it is very possible to succeed depending on your marketing plan and pricing and inventory you offer

Especially since internet is so convenient  a buyer can shop 24/7 and it is delivered to your door

[sextons-sweet-deals]

many of the used older / vintage clothing is better than todays new clothing. 

More cotton back then compared to a lot of polyester today

Nice quality embroidery compared to todays heat sealed / glued on logos

Better quality back then because much of it was made in the USA  and Mexico. Some in India, Vietnam, and Philippines.  

What we have now is China China China made. Low quality and low labor, but the retail prices are the same or higher than back in the days. 

[quelle-surprise]

Maybe shipping charges?  I see a pair of men's pants that you sold and the shipping was $15.00.  Those could go in a padded flat rate mailer for half that rate.  Just a thought.

[mobley120]

"There are many shoppers who shop both GW and eBay for specific brands that they like and know will fit without needing to be tried on.  For example, the brand of shoes that I wear every day costs over $100 a pair, but I find them on eBay for $30-40 and sometimes they are new or barely worn. "

Yeah, and "probably" there are  people who don't wish to be seen in a GW, so there's an opening there, too.

Speaking of shoes, I do flips shoes, but only particular brands and they have to be in like new condition, I just don't sell on eBay anymore because of eBay's MBG policy, but something to note: I have a return policy with my sales, but, I'm have control of it, on the site where I sell things, in other words, one will not return a brick in a box and expect to get a refund, nope.

I shop at GW weekly; I not only buy flippable items but I also buy for friends and family. GW is in the business of moving items quickly, so their pricing is very reasonable.  But, I believe eBay's policies has caused the sellers on eBay to be too pricey on their items. And as competitive as the clothing market is, I just don't see selling clothes on eBay, for I do quick sales too, and if I have to sit on an item for more than a month, well, I consider that item to be a loser and, I end-up donating it to whomever. 

And something else to note: I don't markup my items more than 50%, in other words, I don't pay 7 bucks for a pair of shoes and then try to sell them for 40 bucks plus shipping.  The boots pictured below, I paid 7 bucks for them at GW, they are vibram's, made in the USA : ), and they're in like new condition; if I were to list them, I'd price them at $18.00 plus ship, but I'm not selling them because my son laid claim to 'em.  When I saw them, he was who I had in mind anyway and he wears the same size shoes as I do, so the fit was perfect, for I was able to try them on before purchasing them. They are never polish dress military/police boots and my son is a police officer. So his claiming then was very quickly implied.

Nice chatting with you, have a great weekend.

[bigyellowdog2012]

general reply:

bigyellowdog, as to your thrift shop in NJ, I'd guess it doesn't charge sales tax on clothing because most clothing, new or used, is tax exempt in New Jersey, is it not?

nothing we sell there has any sales tax. Be it a set of dishes or a toaster--

no sales tax

[divwido]

When people have money, used clothing will sit.  That is not today, is it?

[bigyellowdog2012]

@quelle-surprise 

Maybe shipping charges?  I see a pair of men's pants that you sold and the shipping was $15.00.  Those could go in a padded flat rate mailer for half that rate.  Just a thought.

nope sorry-- and I got positive feedback for those

they were BIG pants and would never have fit in a padded flat rate mailer.

Kuhl's? I think?? 

heavy duty quad biking pants? Motorcycle? what ever the overall price was ok I guess--and honestly those large size heavy duty pants are not fitting into a padded no matter how I fold them. 

[bigyellowdog2012]

@mobley 

And as competitive as the clothing market is, I just don't see selling clothes on eBay, for I do quick sales too, and if I have to sit on an item for more than a month, well, I consider that item to be a loser and, I end-up donating it to whomever. 

a  very good point.

I DO NOT have the room to sit on something for more than 6 weeks. If it doesn't sell 

then I have to let it go......

this whole argument has less to do with taxing until the item is worthless but more to do how a $10 item is not worth it for me to sell ( or many other people I would think)

as a buyer of lets say this North Face jacket --it is USED --I have to pay fee's to sell and use PayPal....buyer has to pay tax....

who is winning with this??

and then for $10 you open yourself up to negative feedback?

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

bigyellowdog,

I'm not in New Jersey, but if I were you I'd be less concerned with ebay's sales tax collections and more concerned with whether your place of employment is violating the NJ state sales tax law. A very quick look at Jersey's law does not indicate to me that there is any sort of blanket exemption for used goods in New Jersey, but I could be wrong. 

[luxgoods]

maybe your price was too high. Maybe your shipping charges were too high, maybe your pictures were not good, maybe you did not take enough pictures, maybe it's not a popular color ETC