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.

[tigercatt-16]

Just a buyer here that wandered over to this section so take this with that in mind.

I don’t mind paying sales tax. I’ve gotten some nice clothes and even with tax and shipping paid WAY less than new. And they look new.

I got a great coat on here for $45 and it looks brand new. I couldn’t find anything in the store new for less than $100.

But:

I waded through pages and pages of pretty decent looking coats before I settled on mine. There are just so many of them. 
So your coat is probably fine, it’s just that people have lots of other choices and they just happened to choose another.

When I finally narrowed it down to two coats that were priced right and good quality I ended up making the final decision based on the color.

Good luck to you!

[bigyellowdog2012]

@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

maybe

I only charge shipping based on weight of item

not one cent more....so maybe my shipping was too high

color? I don't know

pictures? 12. I don't know

Price I think it was 9.99

so yes, maybe

[bigyellowdog2012]

@cottage

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. 

I do not work there I volunteer there.

24 volunteers and only 1 person is paid.

That is probably why it is tax exempt

100% charitable --goes to the local hospital.

NJ will soon catch onto that ---and they probably start to tax this as well.

[simba6]

There is just so much if it.  It's  way over saturated so many items never get looked it.  It needs to be broken down by style and year at the very least.

[divwido]

I agree with you in every single circumstance.  You never know what will pay big.

[bigyellowdog2012]

@divwido 

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

well it is if they have to pay $$ shipping and taxes.

[fern*wood]

At least you have backed off proclaiming sales tax would take down ebay entirely. 

[tellmemama]

If the business is a charity/non profit, they are tax exempt in NJ.  Clearly that's what we have here with the OP's thrift since all proceeds go to the affiliated hospital.  Also, as mentioned upthread, there is no NJ sales tax for clothing be it new or used.  In fact, our whole tri-state area (PA/NY/NJ) does not charge sales tax on clothes or shoes.  I think there was a threshold you have to hit for NY (over $500) but it's been a minute since I bought anything there so I don't remember for sure.  And no sales tax on anything in Delaware.

Sorry you passed on a freebie, OP.  I love selling things that are ALL profit.  

[chapeau-noir]

---

@richard1rst wrote:

Truth be told I have never understood used clothing - Unless it is REALLY something VERY VERY special.

I won't even wear my brother's clothes and he's family. 

---

Don't turn your nose up too much at those of us who were raised in used clothing and actually make a good living selling it now, and aren't ashamed to admit it.

It's a learning curve and takes work and knowledge.  It's why you can't just get any old thing, try to flip it here and when it doesn't sell, declare that somehow selling used clothing is a failure. 

[moondogblues]

"Oh goodness...you're missing out!

All you have to do is wash what you buy. It's no different than new clothes with all those foreign chemicals all over them, being handled on the racks by thousands of shoppers.

I love Levis. Why would I pay $50+ for a pair when I can buy the exact thing in good to nearly new condition for $6 at the thrift store?   I've purchased NWT blouses for $3-$5. The store tags were $25+."

Plus you are helping the planet by minimizing the 'new' goods when there are plenty already made.  And if you look for vintage or a great label the quality is fabulous.  They don't fall apart the first time they are worn/washed.  The 'rag trade' is such a rip off....

[moondogblues]

"Don't turn your nose up too much at those of us who were raised in used clothing and actually make a good living selling it now, and aren't ashamed to admit it."

My mother grew up during the Great Depression.  When she met my father they were both fresh out of the military after WWll, going to college on the GI Bill (father) and were dirt poor.  Father did well and went to work at Lockheed, Mom wrote books.

My mother was so thrifty that when he bought her a Mercedes for her birthday she made him take it back and buy a station wagon!  All us girls (there were three) wore clothes that she made herself, or clothes from the thrift stores.  I did get new shoes occasionally, and swimsuits.

I adore Carole Little clothing and buy a lot of it here.  Not lately though, the chipmunks just don't appreciate it.

[bigyellowdog2012]

general reply:

Maybe what I am trying to say as well is that if you have to pay shipping and tax on used items people might say:

 I don't need it I just want it so no I just lost my motivation to buy it.Its not such a good deal then is it.

[bigyellowdog2012]

@chapeau-noir 

It's a learning curve and takes work and knowledge.  It's why you can't just get any old thing, try to flip it here and when it doesn't sell, declare that somehow selling used clothing is a failure. 

no, I am not trying to sell just  "any old thing" 

yes I know its a learning curve --I have been on here for awhile I certainly get the work and knowledge part.

What I cannot control is if my listing winds up on page 149.

or if shipping and tax makes it much harder to sell anything.

[fern*wood]

---

@bigyellowdog2012 wrote:

general reply:

Maybe what I am trying to say as well is that if you have to pay shipping and tax on used items people might say:

 I don't need it I just want it so no I just lost my motivation to buy it.Its not such a good deal then is it.

---

The fact that you failed to sell your Columbia jacket, when multiple others did sell, doesn't prove the above to be true.  Shop total price.

[postcardcountry]

I work for an estate sale company.   The larger the size of clothing, the faster it sells.  Men's or women's clothing.  The only times it's different is vintage or high end clothing with the tags still attached.  

We've had women travel an hour and a half to shop the the plus sizes...I remember one woman who came through and bought most of the closet.  She was shopping for herself and 2 sisters.  She was "what one doesn't like the other will" .   We had one gentleman come to a sale and walk out with 12 big and tall suits (at $15 each) - glowing because he now had 12 suits for church, the one day of the week he didn't do construction work.  (normally he buys tools so this was a real switch for him).  And yes, we get resellers too. 

Clothing is not my thing, I'm a jeans and tee shirt kinda girl.  But I stand in awe of all the people who sell in the clothing category -- takes a lot of knowledge and hard work to be successful in any category but this is one that demands more from it's sellers.