Feeling confused & frustrated about selling

[geeky-meeks]

This might just be a vent post but I am feeling lost, confused & frustrated. 

I am just a small seller (not a store) decluttering & trying to make a few bucks.  Started 2 years ago & have managed to sell a few things, made some losses (postage mistakes).  I have tried selling with free postage or postage as extra.

Other community members have told me my prices are too high, selling pre-loved clothing is super hard etc.

With regards to selling clothing, I have just come across a store that started just under 12 months ago selling pre-loved fashion. The usual brands such as Zara, Forever New, Witchery, Decjuba, Seed etc.  Their clothes are in excellent condition, as are mine. Their prices are higher than mine, postage extra. I have more photos, longer description, measurements on my clothes as suggested my various Ebay "experts".  They don't.

They have sold almost 700 items !  I have sold 88 items (not all clothes). Are they paying for advertising or is it just because they have a store ? What am I doing wrong ? I just don't understand. 

[twyngwyn]

From what I have looked at, you have size 10, 12, or M……what does the other seller have?

…are you aware that you have quite a few duplicate listings?

[geeky-meeks]

They have various sizes yes, but 700 items in under a year?

I am unaware of having duplicate items. There is one dress where I have a size 10 & 12.

[*casey*]

Sales are slow everywhere   and you're selling in a very competitive  market with your  clothing but....

"The usual brands such as Zara, Forever New, Witchery, Decjuba, Seed etc"

I won't comment on these brands as  they usually sell well when people have the money, and if listed at the

right price,  but I think you'll struggle with your cheaper brands of  pre-owned  clothing

With the collapse of Mosaic, places like Rockmans, Katies, W Lane etc were  selling all their  new clothing off at $10  or less.

Your other brands of Ally, Cotton On, Rubi Shoes, Suzanne Grae etc  are  generally considered to be cheap brands  when 

buying new  so  I believe many buyers  would consider your  pre-loved  items  to be overpriced, with postage on top.

[*casey*]

"I have just come across a store that started just under 12 months ago selling pre-loved fashion. The usual brands such as Zara, Forever New, Witchery, Decjuba, Seed etc.  Their clothes are in excellent condition, as are mine. Their prices are higher than mine, postage extra"

They have sold almost 700 items"

If the other seller has a wide variety  and plenty  of  stock in the brands mentioned,  and even if the price is a bit

higher, buyers often buy a few items together to save on postage cost

[domino-710]

I noticed the same about the branding.

They will sell if  new - or - in very good condition - Rockmans - not so much.

Those I would be donating.

Just the way it is.

[*casey*]

"They have sold almost 700 items !  I have sold 88 items (not all clothes). Are they paying for advertising or is it just because they have a store ? What am I doing wrong ? I just don't understand."

It's  not that you're doing anything wrong  but the other seller is reaching their  "target market".

And from what you've said, by  concentrating on these types of  brands:   Zara, Forever New, Witchery,

Decjuba, Seed etc  and having plenty of stock,  not just selling  one offs.  

The brands attract similar buyers.

And if they've sold 700 items,  apart from buyers  buying multiple items to save on postage, they'll also

have regular, returning buyers.

[grannytakesatrip17]

Hi there, I have just had a look at your listings. The photos are very good.

I do think that you are a bit optimistic on your prices.

But one thing that stood out to me was that you do not say who you are sending things through, Australia Post or?

Also none of your items seem to be sent with tracking. This is very important to most customers.

Many of your smaller items of clothing could fit in a large envelope untracked or in a large tracked envelope which you could charge $8.50 for.

The other thing is that when I look at your actual postage, say at $11.30, it says underneath that extra items are another $11.30. 

What are you actually using to send items?

I normally use prepaid tracked Australia Post Satchels. For which I charge $12. I see many are just asking $10.95 but there is a 15% roughly charge which ebay make on the postage, so they are out of pocket.

If I sell small items this way, I will say that there is room for other items if they fit, can be included for no extra charge. People love this.

Just have a think about these different things.

I wish you luck 🙂

[springyzone]

Just to echo what others have said.

Many moons ago when I did sell, we found people were after the good brands.

The garden variety brands, not so much.

And we were selling before all the major stores had the sort of websites they have today & before everyone was on the internet.

If you go and look at the Myer website or some of the brand name websites, they often have their own sales of good brand items at significant discounts.

But I feel your pain about the booming sales the other seller has in comparison. It doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong. Maybe the other seller has more listings, or more variety of similar stock, so people browse her listings for longer?