Top Tips On Buying And Selling Second Hand Clothes

Since 2019, the online second hand clothing market has grown 21 times faster than conventional sales. And more than half of those who bought second hand clothes during the pandemic have said they'll continue to do so. With most buyers under the age of 35, they gave 'ethical credentials' as an influencing factor, with 'sustainability', and being 'part of a movement' often affecting their choices.

So with this trend in second hand clothes set to continue, what's the best way to buy and sell second hand?

Top Tips For Buying Second Hand Clothes On Preloved

• Be Specific: Find the right subcategory to browse, and make good use of the Search bar, making it as specific as possible with brand, size, and colour.
• Stick to your budget: Use the filters to add a price cap. This'll stop you from being tempted to overspend.
• Look for quality, well made brands: Some high quality brands may be more expensive, even second hand, but high quality garments typically last longer so they're a sound investment for your wardrobe.
• Avoid fast fashion: A t-shirt from the high street may only be £2 second hand. But chances are it only cost £3 brand new, and likely isn't great quality. Not such a bargain after all.
• Buy out of season: Most people have a clear out when the seasons change and sell things cheap to make space for the new season. With Summer coming up, check out all of the great bargain winter clothes available and store them away until the weather cools.
• Know your trends: It's true that fashions do come back around. So while people are on the high street looking for the latest items you could be saving a fortune buying a second hand version hat's 20 years old.
• Try a little DIY: Don't let the small stuff put you off. A good clean, a seamstress, a belt, or even some machine dye could work wonders to bring a new purchase back to life.
• Do you actually need it: A bargain isn't a bargain if you don't actually need it.
• Check the Item Description and photos: These will give an indication about the condition of the item for sale. DO you want it to look perfect, or distressed? Look for these details.
• Questions are key: If there isn't enough to go on in the photos or description, don't be scared to message the seller with any questions you've got. They're wanting to sell so they should be happy to oblige.
• Look for verified sellers: Preloved members can have their ID verified for free using their passport or driving licence. This is done through the same secure 3rd party used by Royal Mail. Look for sellers with the blue tick next to their profile name for some added peace of mind.
• Pay safely: Trustap is our escrow service, making transferring money to sellers much safer. Check for listings that state 'Pay With Trustap'.

Top Tips For Selling Second Hand Clothes On Preloved

Have a clear out

• Full steam ahead; Go through all of your drawers and wardrobe and set aside anything you haven't worn for more than a full year. Split them into piles for keeping, repairing, donating to charity, giving to friends or family, and recycling. Click here for more tips on decluttering.
• A little at a time; If a full-on clear out is a bit overwhelming, keep it simple. Dedicate a draw, or even just a bin bag in the corner, it doesn't matter. Whenever you see an item you want to get rid of, just add it to the pile. After a couple of months you'll have a decent sized pile to crack on with. Sort them into Keep, Repair, etc, as above. This comes in handy when you've got young children that grow out of their clothes at an alarming rate!

Photos, photos, and more photos

• Take a photo of the item in full, then take detail shots of key areas such as the label (showing brand and size), nice details such as buttons, etc.
• Include a photo of any damage.
• Be sure to take them in good lighting.
• Take the photos on a flat surface, preferably on a white background, such as clean bedding.
• When selling bundles of clothes, make sure you have a photo of the bundle as a whole, as well as each individual Make the bundle image the main photo so potential buyers know they're getting more for the listing price.

Good descriptions are vital

It can save you a lot of time answering questions from prospective buyers if you include as much detail as possible in the description. This should cover;

• Brand name
• Size
• Colour
• Condition
• The price and if it's fixed or negotiable.

Be responsive

• Try to respond to potential buyers' messages as soon as you can. Keep them waiting too long and they may have bought from someone else.

Give Buyers Peace Of Mind

• Verify your ID for free. It's safe and easy to do, and it'll give your account a verified 'tick' so potential buyers know you're a safe seller.
• Allow buyers to pay securely via Trustap. It wont cost you a penny, and provides the buyer with a bit of security.

Want Us To Plant A Tree For You?

Don’t forget, between the 8th and 14th of April, every time you post an advert in our Clothing category, we’ll plant a tree on your behalf through (more:trees), and it wont cost you a penny.

• Selling on Preloved is FREE.
• You don’t need to pay for the tree.
• You don’t need to pay for the planting.
• All you need to do is post your advert.
• Preloved and (more:trees) will take care of everything for you

So make a little money from your second hand clothes, and help the planet at the same time; win win!