If Only They Could Stay Small Forever: A Guide for Reselling Children's Clothing on eBay

If only they could stay small forever....but they can't.  We learned very fast from just the first few months of being parents that babies grow, and they grow quickly, too quickly!  For nine month we were absolutely thrilled with the idea of becoming parents, and went a little overboard with all of the little baby outfits.  Some of the things that we bought were used only a few times before they were grown out of.  So, what happened to all of those tiny little outfits for our tiny little miracle?  They ended up in a box in the back of a closet, not doing anything.  This guide will hopefully give you some tips for reselling your children's clothing on eBay, which is a wonderful way to pass on your beautiful items to somebody that would get some use out of it for a few months, and is also a nice way to make a little extra money.

A Few Important Tips:

• Re-wash items that have been stored.

They may be wrinkled, and will just look better after a run through the washing machine!

• Name brands sell better than non-name brand items.

Just keep this in mind because you do not want to lose money with non-selling auctions.

• Most buyers are looking for stain-free, smoke-free clothing.

If you know ahead of time that you plan on reselling your children's clothing, make sure that you try to keep a bib on your baby at all times to prevent stains, especially during feedings.

• Do NOT remove size or brand labels from clothes.

Buyers would feel more confident in placing a bid on an item that still contains this information.

• Make sure there is NO pet hair on the clothing!

Make sure that you state whether or not you live in a pet-free home.  Some parents are concerned about possible allergies that their children have, or may obtain.  To be on the safe side, list this information, and make sure that you get rid of any pet hair that may be on the items.

• If your item is brand new, do not remove the price tag!

Even if your item was on sale, keep the price tag on the item!  By keeping it on, you are increasing your chances for greater bids!!!  Don't forget that you can list your items with NWT (new with tags) in your title, which may attract the attention of buyers.

Creating Your Auction:

• If you have some html experience, you might like to create an unique border for your auction.

Keep in mind that you don't want to make your auction too fancy for two reasons.  1) Some people have older computers, or slow connections, and it may take too long to load your listing, discouraging bids.  2) Some people like to print a copy of the listings of the items that they have purchased, and ink is expensive!

• Having a few good photos of your item will encourage bids.

Make sure that the lighting is good, and not too dark.  Also, do not post a blurry photo, or something that is questionable.

• Make sure you describe your item in detail.

You do not need to tell your child's life story, but make sure that you do list the size, and condition of the item, including any imperfections the item may have.

• Do NOT charge the buyer for more than the shipping actually costs.

Not only is this against eBay's policies, but it will also discourage bids.

 

I hope that my guide has given you some insightful tips & ideas for getting started!  Best of luck on your auctions & here's to wishing that our kids could stay small for just a little bit longer!