When shopping for items to resell on eBay, I have personally gone with the adage, "If I wouldn't wear it myself, I don't buy it". This has been a successful tactic thus far. There are plenty of other resellers out there that invest in all sorts of quirky items to resell on eBay. While this may work for them, it does not work for me. Unless the item is an amazing high ticket sure win, I am just not interested in the business of storing tons of items that I would not personally wear myself.
I originally started selling on eBay to declutter my home, and make a few extra dollars in return. My sales started to take off relatively quickly, and I realized that I could make a pretty nice side income as a reseller. As my household's stockpile began to dwindle, I also immediately realized that if I wanted to keep my sales steady I would have to replenish my inventory by sourcing at thrift stores.
As a longtime thrift store aficionado, thrifting was not at all a daunting idea to me. I have been frequenting thrift stores, vintage shops, and antique stores since my late teens. I have always loved the hunt and thrill of finding amazing brands, original items, and vintage pieces.
If you don't mind searching through racks upon racks of clothing and getting your hands a little dirty, then reselling on eBay is a perfect match for you!
As a stay-at-home momma of two children, my shopping time is pretty limited. Therefore, I usually have a plan in place before I begin my search.
I love to sell dresses, so, I usually head to the dress section first. Then, I go through every single dress on the rack. If I have enough time to continue my search, I will head to the section that is most current with the season. Ex: sweaters during fall and early winter, etc. After I have filled my cart to the brim, I park my cart in a nice corner of the store and reinspect all of my items for damage.
When choosing fashionable items to sell on eBay, I handpick items that I would personally wear myself. I also choose items that are timeless classics, current, and presently trending. While high-end brands do make a difference, style and quality is definitely more important. I stick to quality fabrics and knits, interesting patterns and prints, and flattering styles.
I also choose items that have little to no wear in them. Unless the piece is vintage, I want the item to look brand new. It is important to me that my customers are absolutely happy. Therefore, I will not purchase an item to resell unless it is in amazing condition. A few exceptions to this rule are, removing minimal piling on a sweater or securing a button on an otherwise perfect garment.
These are just some of the successful guidelines that I personally use while sourcing items for my business as a reseller. I hope that these ideas have helped and inspired you. I look forward to sharing more of my eBay experiences with you in future posts.
