eBay Goes Fee Free in UK Clothing - but Pro Sellers Out of Luck

by: Stone Cutter

*** Tariff China & Co. ***

Temu and Shein are about to ruin U.S. based clothing merchants by selling cheap Chinese goods to U.S. and European consumers.

On Temu, you can purchase a new and stylish dress for $10.00, AND with good reviews.

It’s a race to the bottom for U.S. businesses if the U.S. cannot control China and their unethical businesses practices.

by: Rexford

Stone Cutter says "Temu and Shein are about to ruin U.S. based clothing merchants by selling cheap Chinese goods to U.S. and European consumers."

This may be true for clothing consumers who want something cheap that is cheap.   I can't speak for Temu but every article of clothing that I have seen from Shein looks like it will fall apart before it goes into the wash. Shein makes Primark look uptown.

There will always be a market for quality clothing.

by: AddyUp

This will add fuel to the fire on the UK forum where repetitive business vs private arguments in posts are already a major and boring problem.

I suspect that this is encouraged by eBay as the forum reps do nothing even when presented with lists of obvious pretenders. From eBay's point of view these divisive arguments are better than everyone together pointing out all the numerous eBay faults.

by: Stone Cutter

@Rexford
You say…

“There will always be a market for quality clothing.”

I agree with that. However, I do not believe the affluent Nordstrom customer shops online for used clothing on eBay, Depop and Mercari.

Ebay, Depop and Mercari are manipulating prices because…
There is no money selling to people with no money.  

by: Stone Cutter

…Is it really that hot?…

If the used market is as “hot” as many believe, then why are eBay, Mercari and Depop, all scrambling to reprice their businesses?  

by: iheartjacksparrow

I have a question for sellers of used clothing. I have a ton of t-shirts that I've worn once or twice but haven't worn for years, and I was thinking of listing them in my store. The receipts are long gone, so for tax purposes, what do I consider the cost to be? What I sell them for? Any suggestions will be much appreciated.  

by: Rexford

Stone Cutter says "I do not believe the affluent Nordstrom customer shops online for used clothing on eBay, Depop and Mercari."

And I agree with this statement, but there are layers of customers below "the affluent Nordstrom customers" (or at that level) who love what the see at Nordstrom but who are not willing to pay Nordstrom prices.  Or, who are too smart and financially saavy to pay those prices.  You'd be quite surprised at how many customers that I ship to who have Dr. or Esquire or CFO in their name fields or who live in toney zip codes.  They want quality but they want it at a great price. And they would not be caught dead in Shein.

by: Rexford

iheartjacksparrow, t-shirts is a very saturated category. Your pricing would be totally based on demand.  Do a search of your brand and look at the completed listings to look at the sold prices.   Also do a search, click on completeds, and then sort by highest price.  You'll see what the high dollar t-shirts are.   My guess is that the Supreme brand might be among your search results unless that brand has already played out.

by: iheartjacksparrow

@Rexford. Thank you for the information. My main concern is, when I do my tax returns, what do I deduct as the cost of the item. For instance, say I list a Star Wars t-shirt for $5, but I know I paid at least $25, do I use the sold for amount as the cost, or say the cost is 50% of the original price because it's been worn? The t-shirts I'm thinking of selling are character shirts (Star Wars, Pixar, etc.), so I imagine some of the really old ones would have very few online to compare with.

by: Rexford

iheartjacksparrow, I am not sure that I can advise you on that.  Without the original receipts to provide to the IRS on the off chance that you were audited, I don't know what the IRS would require.  For every item of clothing  or accessories (or anything else that I purchased to sell) I have the receipt.   If I sell an article of clothing from my personal closet that I bought for myself (6 months ago or longer) I don't normally write off the cost of the original sale.   I have heard of folks hand writing receipts for certain items.  My guess is that as long as you didn't have too many of those the IRS might be forgiving.  I really don't know though.

by: Chicago48

On Temu, you can purchase a new and stylish dress for $10.00, AND with good reviews.
^^
I don't trust Temu sizing for clothing.  I don't trust its quality and I don't trust those reviews.  At least with AMZ you get verified reviews.
I do however, buy office supplies and other gadgets like flash drives from Temu.
I think those two sites appeal to the YOUNGISH, teen-type buyers who really don't care about quality and price.

by: Chicago48

I have a question for sellers of used clothing. I have a ton of t-shirts that I've worn once or twice but haven't worn for years, and I was thinking of listing them in my store. The receipts are long gone, so for tax purposes, what do I consider the cost to be? What I sell them for? Any suggestions will be much appreciated.  
^^
If you have a buy-sell-trade consigner in your city like Crossroads, take the Tees to your consignment to get cash on the spot.  Tees don't sell online for more than $10.  If yours are in POOR condition, you have to list it that way and IMO you should start auctions on EB at .99c.

by: Stone Cutter

*** It’s what Home Depot did..***

Many years ago, as Home Depot was in major expansion, Home Depot would settle into local cities and wipe out its competition by selling products at a loss. The plumbing store, the garden store, the local tool store, were wiped out because they could not compete with Home Depot.

What fears me about Temu and Shein, is that they will create a new pricing standard that buyers will become accustomed to.

Even Nordstrom, last week, announced that sales for the Nordstrom department has slowed, while sales for their cheaper ‘Nordstrom rack’ had increased.

Low prices from Temu and Shein will bankrupt competitors for all types of products. It’s the same thing that is happening with solar panels made here in the U.S. as U.S. price points cannot compete with Chinese companies.

If the U.S. cannot find a way to control China, it will ruin the U.S. economy. And EU countries say the same for their economies.

I believe that much has to do with “China Xi” and his need for power. As many U.S. companies has left manufacturing in China for India and Mexico, China is loosing power and money, and feels the need to retaliate against the U.S. as the U.S. economy remains strong.

by: BargainzBabylon

Seconding Rexford - Upscale "Nordstrom shoppers" certainly DO shop for pre-owned on eBay, Posh etc. I know because I've sold my garments to more than a few well-known individuals, professionals and the like, and am not the only one.

It's better not to make assumptions about an entire market without being well acquainted with that market. Pre-owned clothing seems to catch a lot of that.

by: Stone Cutter

@BarginzBabylon

You say….

“It's better not to make assumptions about an entire market without being well acquainted with that market. Pre-owned clothing seems to catch a lot of that.”

That’s fine, but at what percentage?? This is my point, here. The overall numbers for high end retailers far exceed numbers for pre-owned retailers, especially in clothing. Used clothing is too personal for many.

My husband shops at Nordstrom for business attire when appearances mean something. Stepping into an important meeting with used shoes and clothes is death for many. Appearances mean something for people who need to compete. I don’t know a single soul who has an interest in used clothing.

Numbers don’t lie….U.S. economic data says that the majority of people buy “new” clothing especially for those with money to spend, especially for professionals. It’s the high end retailers that do the best in all of retail, especially in clothing.  

by: Stone Cutter

….and if you want someone else’s foot fungus, buy used shoes.

No thank you!  

by: Stone Cutter

***About Poshmark ****

In late 2023, Poshmark sold its soul to a company in South Korea. And after saying that selling in India was a great investment, Poshmark recently unloaded its businesses in India and the U.K.

Sounds to me that Poshmark may not be doing so great, and is dependent upon the U.S. consumer to keep Poshmark afloat.

Time will tell….

by: Rexford

"Stepping into an important meeting with used shoes and clothes is death for many."

So are folks buying new pairs of shoes very every meeting they go to?  Otherwise they are stepping into meetings with used shoes.

It isn't the age of the shoe, it is how the shoes have been cared for and maintained. A pair of classic quality bench made shoes will last for decades if you care for them. And shoe trees are a must.

by: Nonesuch

I dunno.  I kinda think eliminating fees for sellers will just flood the site with junk, making it even harder for buyers to sort the good from the bad, and thus discouraging them.  But I may be wrong.  

by: MilesT

And of course other free(ish) options in the UK for selling used clothing:  Gumtree (no longer owned by eBay), preloved.co.uk, facebook, whatsapp, and nextdoor.  And competitors like schpock.

A lot of UK clothing retailers now charge for returns (by post/parcel, take to store is usually free still where that is an option) and more strictly enforce returns policies, which is driving more secondary sales.  

And items bought on SheIn, Temu, and Fashionova (and similar) are more likely to be resold on secondary sources than returned, especially where the item is a "regret" item and not immediately returned.