Step-by-step guide to help you make some money with your unwanted pieces.

When it comes to all of your fashion treasures, you know you can always count on THE FIFTH COLLECTION to help you sell them. We do the hard work so you can fully enjoy your free time.

SELL WITH THE FIFTH COLLECTION our services are free and we take care of it all for you.

But how about all the other things that sadly THE FIFTH COLLECTION do not take? Here is your ultimate guide, backed by years of experience, to sell anything second hand.

CURATE

Before working hard on a listing, make sure you curate appropriately the item that you are about to sell. Sadly ,many things have no more value in them and are better off being donated or properly recycled.

Having said that, please do go the extra mile when you donate an item. Make sure that they are still in good shape and never donate something that is clearly at the end of its life or is way too damaged to find a new home. And, yes, even when doing donation online such as with FB groups or Carousell, always attach a photo and a minimum description - it is just a nice thing to do.

When it comes to recycling, it can be a little bit more tricky and you might have to do some extra research to find the adequate place for it. However, we can assure you that it is oh-so-satisfying when you know that your items are being recycled the right way.

2. PUT YOURSELF IN THE BUYER SHOES

Always ask yourself these simple questions: “If I am the buyer, what would I would like to see in the listing? Would I be ready to pay this price for a second hand item? Do I want to go through all the trouble for it (pick up etc…)?”

We know too well how painful it is to have paid top dollar for a piece and get only so little in the second hand market. but the reality is that in our modern society, we all have access to so many “brand new” alternatives that you have to take that into account. Plus, getting some kind of value of it is better than nothing at all. Afterall, it is better to $xx for it than $0 (and dust) in the closet.

Once you understand that concept, trust us you won’t be shopping the same way again and realise that some items are worth the splurge because you will still want to get back some $$$ when you are done using them.

Let me give you a personal example as I do use some peer-to-peer platforms to mainly donate and sell some items that I no longer use. I also do it regularly in order to lose the minimum I paid for. A month ago, my daughter decided that she no longer wants to use her Stokke chair at the dining room table as she felt she has outgrown it. Straight away, I made a listing and got back most of what I paid for initially. Because I purchased the real thing and something that is on top of the wish list of many parents, I was able to recoup at least half of my initial purchase which was extremely satisfying as my daughter got to use the Stokke chair for years. On top of that, the chair got many parties interested, and was sold in 24hours.

3. BE HONEST AND DO YOUR RESEARCH

When doing your listings, please be honest. If the item you are putting for sale have any flaws, please state them in your descriptions and, wherever possible, attach a picture of it. When buyers know what they are going into, they are more willing to make the purchase. This not only gain you a potential sale but your buyers will leave you reviews which will help your future sales.

And yes you will have to do some research on the pieces you are selling in order to understand what the market is for such a piece. For instance, you want to if they are in demand, selling and at which price. Don’t forget to compare apple to apple. In the second hand market, not every similar piece sell at the same price. It all depends on the item itself. And then there is the timing, mood of the market and, of course, the overall condition versus price point.

4. BE REASONABLE

This is one of the most difficult part of your listing : PRICING. My advice will be to always be reasonable when pricing your treasured pieces. I know that we all wish to sell at high prices (while buying at low prices) but one really needs to put one’s self in the buyer shoes. If the difference of price between brand new and second hand is not significant for certain pieces that are widely available, then you won’t sell. The primary reason people buy second hand as of now is because of BUDGET or GOOD DEALS.

Of course if you have a piece that is highly in demand, then don’t hesitate to demand the price you think it deserves. Please remember, though, just because something is limited edition or rare, does not mean that it should be re-sold at such high prices. Sometimes, there might not be any interest to the target audience of the platform you are listing in.

I always price my pieces to sell as the two main reasons I am doing so is to make sure that the pieces I do not need anymore get re-homed properly, and that it will happen fast so I don’t want to have to deal with storing them while waiting for a potential sale.

5. BE DETAILED

Your listings should incorporate a detailed description of the item you are selling as well as its condition. Make an effort to take as many pictures as you can. Give measurements and don’t forget to clearly state the flaws. Adding the retail price as well as a link to the manufacturer is a always plus. And don’t hesitate to add a personal anecdote such as the fact that you loved using this piece for this (or which ever personal story you may have), and that it is now time for you to let go or simply hat you have upgraded to another piece.

The more detailed you are in your listing, the more you will inspire trust and less questions you will have to answer later on.

6.BE RESPONSIVE

Talking about questions. Many buyers will ask questions and many buyers won’t read all the hard work you have put on your listing. The reality is that as much as it can be frustrating at times, you should always answer them as fast as possible because the end goal is to SELL. So, basically act the way you will expect if you where the buyer.

7. MAKE IT FUN

As I personally sell/donate many things that my daughter no longer use, I do involve her in the process. I find that it is a great way for her to appreciate the value of things and also gives her a good insights on how we should mindfully consume. The deal is that if she helps with the listing, she gets half of the proceeds. If she doesn’t, then everything that is made is all mine. She enjoys taking the pictures and now she even helps me do the entire listing. Soon enough, I will let her handle the entire process

Finally, if you are not doing so yet, I recommend you also become a buyer of these second hand platforms. There are so many amazing treasures to be found.

Lately I have re-done the look of our entire balcony entirely with second hand pieces - best of all, the pieces I purchased were exactly the one I wanted, I really did not have to make any compromise. I personally sell on Carousell as well Facebook marketplace and Facebook groups. I have success in all of them and even noticed that some categories of items do better in certain platforms, so now I know where to sell what.

I hope that this post will make re-homing some of your unwanted pieces a breeze, because while it can be a bit of work, doing it diligently can also be extremely rewarding. Surely, it will make you only have what you really need, thus making your life a little lighter along the way.

In the case you need help re-homing your fashion treasures the P.S (Personal Seller) Service team is available here