Guide

5 tips for selling your secondhand clothes

22/10/2024

Translation: Katherine Martin

Sooner or later, you’ll grow tired of some of your clothes. But if they’re still in decent condition, someone else is bound to love them. This guide will show you how to resell them.

Secondhand shopping can be a real joy – and not just when you’re the one hunting for bargains. Having a good clear-out and getting rid of unnecessary junk can work wonders on your mood. Even more so if you can make a few quid out of it. With these tips, you’ll boost your chances of selling your clothes online.

1. Think about the season

This probably goes without saying, but I’ll throw it out there anyway. If you try to sell your summer clothes in autumn or winter (or vice versa), it’s probably going to be a fruitless endeavour. Instead, stash your out-of-season items away for a while, then try your luck when the right time of year rolls around. Who knows? Maybe by then you’ll even fall back in love with your would-be discarded clothes, and not want to give them up after all.

2. Inspect and wash

As long as you’re honest about them, minor imperfections on your clothes aren’t necessarily a dealbreaker for potential buyers. But more on the communication stuff later. For now, you should go over your garments with a fine-tooth comb, checking each one for large holes, unremovable stains or similar signs of damage. If you don’t find anything too dodgy, make sure you toss the garment in the washing machine before adding it to your «for sale» pile. The new owner will thank you for it – with a good review to boot.

3. Invest time in taking good photos

You’ll make life difficult for yourself if you hit the resale platforms with rubbish photos. Yes, it takes a little time to get decent images, but doing so drastically increases your chances of making a sale. Marko.ch co-founder Alexander Sutter told me as much in an interview. With this in mind, don’t photograph your clothes when they’re carelessly strewn on a bed or floor. Even on a hanger, a garment’s potential rarely comes to the fore. Instead, take pictures of your clothes from several angles while wearing them so that interested buyers can get the best impression of them.

What not to do: the print disappears into the folds of the shirt.
Source: Laura Scholz

Another no-no: from this photo, a buyer wouldn’t have a clue about the cut or fit. — What not to do: the print disappears into the folds of the shirt.
Source: Laura Scholz

How to get it right: when modelled, the shirt’s print and fit are clearly visible.
Source: Laura Scholz

Works a treat: show the garment from the side and from behind. — How to get it right: when modelled, the shirt’s print and fit are clearly visible.
Source: Laura Scholz

4. Point out and describe imperfections

As I mentioned in tip number two, minor imperfections don’t mean the sale is doomed. You just need to make sure any flaws are clearly recognisable in the photos and that you’ve flagged them up in the description. This allows potential buyers to decide for themselves whether they still want to take the plunge. It also means they won’t feel ripped off when unwrapping their secondhand treasures. Otherwise, you’re bound to get complaints and poor reviews.

Tiny burn holes in your coat? No biggie – as long as you don’t keep them secret.
Source: Laura Scholz

5. Share information about your body- and clothing size

Of course, you shouldn’t just be putting the downsides in the spotlight. The best thing to do is to write a detailed description of each item, including the material, size and fit (e.g. slim or baggy). It’s also helpful to include information such as your body- and clothing size as points of reference. That way, potential buyers will be able to judge if an item will fit their body shape.

By the way, did you know you can easily resell clothes (and any other items) you’ve bought from us? Check out the article below for more information and four additional suggestions on what to do with clothes you no longer want.

Header image: Liza Summer via Pexels

27 people like this article