How to Sell Used Clothing On Craigslist
Jill Vonier
•7 min readBefore deciding to donate your wardrobe, you may want to see if you can earn some money by selling it locally. Without too much effort, you may be surprised with the results.
We all have some items in our closets we need to get rid of. Whether it's new jeans we've been hoping to fit into one day, or a sweater we spent too much money on but never end up wearing, there are some items that have got to go. A closet is an easy place to declutter and free up some room for clothes that bring real joy.
A great way to get rid of clothes and accessories and make some extra cash is to sell them on Craigslist. By listing your clothes on Craigslist, you can reach a large audience of potential buyers who are interested in purchasing gently used clothing.
Read on for tips and advice on how to successfully sell clothing on Craigslist.
Benefits of Selling Clothing on Craigslist
There are many benefits to selling your clothing on Craigslist so be sure to take advantage of all of these:
Convenience. Selling Craigslist makes it easy to sell your clothes online. You can create a listing and start receiving offers from potential buyers without ever leaving your home.
Large audience. Craigslist has a large audience of potential buyers who are interested in purchasing clothing, so you have a good chance of making a sale compared to other online marketplaces.
Flexible pricing. When selling clothing on Craigslist, you have the ability to set your own price and negotiate with potential buyers. You get to decide how much your clothing is worth and how to get a fair price for it.
Local sales. Craigslist is a great platform for selling clothing locally, which means you can avoid the hassle and expense of shipping the clothing to the buyer.
Let's take a look at the best ways to sell your clothes on Craigslist.
Preparing Your Clothing For Sale
Before you list your clothing on Craigslist, it's important to get your clothes ready for sale. This means washing and repairing your clothing, organizing your clothing by size, type, and style, taking high-quality photos of your clothing, and determining the materials and brands of your clothing.
By preparing your clothing for sale, you can create a compelling and accurate listing and make it easier to complete the sale.
Clean and repair your clothing. By cleaning and repairing your clothing, you can present it in the best possible condition and make it more attractive to potential buyers. Before listing your items, wash or dry clean your clothing, mend any holes or tears, and remove any stains or odors.
Organize your clothing. When preparing your clothing for sale, it's important to organize your clothing by size, type, and style. This will help potential buyers find the clothing they are looking for and will make it easier for you to create a comprehensive and accurate listing.
Take high-quality photos. High-quality photos will make your listing more appealing and give potential buyers get a better idea of what your clothes look like. Take clear and well-lit photos that show the front, back, and any important details or features of your clothing. You could even model the item yourself or display it on a mannequin to show how it actually fits.
Determine the brand and materials. Providing accurate and detailed information about the materials and brands of your clothing will help potential buyers understand the quality and value of your clothing. It can also help you increase the chances of making a sale, especially if you are selling designer clothes.
Creating a Craigslist Listing for Your Clothing
Create an appealing listing for your clothing on Craigslist by writing a compelling title and description, setting a fair and competitive price, and including all relevant information and photos.
Write a compelling title and description. The title of your listing is how potential buyers will find your listing and get them to click to learn more. Use attention-grabbing words, such as the condition of the clothes ("Like New" or "Barely worn") along with the brand name, style, and size. For the description, be as informative as possible, including the materials, how it fits, and any unique aspects.
Set a fair and competitive price. To help your items sell, you need to set a fair and competitive price for your clothing. Be sure to consider the condition, quality, and value of your clothing. You can also look for the prices of similar clothing on Craigslist or other online stores. This can help you increase your chances of making a sale and earning a fair price for your clothing.
Include all relevant information and photos. An ideal listing will include all relevant information and photos to help potential buyers understand exactly what you are selling. This will also help streamline the sales process because the buyer won't have to ask a bunch of questions. Include those high-quality photos and any relevant information that can help your potential buyer make an informed decision.
If you need additional help creating your listing, see our step-by-step instructions in Step-By-Step Instructions to Creating Your First Craigslist Listing.
Responding to Potential Buyers
As potential buyers become interested in your clothing items, they will start to reach out with questions and offers. It's important to always communicate through Craigslist's messaging system, provide information as needed, and use this time to schedule a meetup.
Communicate through Craigslist's messaging system. By keeping communications on the Craigslist platform, you can better keep track of the conversation while protecting your privacy. Check your messages regularly to be able to respond to potential buyers in a timely and professional manner.
Provide additional information as needed. Interested buyers may have a few questions they need to be answered before making a purchase. This could include asking to see extra photos or other information about the clothing item that wasn't included in the listing. Be sure to provide your buyers with whatever information they need to help move the sale along.
Schedule meetings with potential buyers. During these communications, you can schedule a time to meet up with your interested buyer to better inspect the clothing item or purchase it directly. Always choose a public and safe location and bring a friend along for added security.
Negotiating & Completing the Sale
The next step is to negotiate and complete the sale. This involves reaching a mutually acceptable price and meeting in person to hand off ownership.
If you are not comfortable negotiating prices with potential buyers, consider using a service like OfferTrackr. OfferTrackr can automatically track the availability of your items, negotiate prices, schedule pickups, and send out reminders on your behalf. See our blog post Using OfferTrackr to Make Selling Items Locally So Much Easier for more details.
Negotiate an agreeable price. Buyers on Craigslist are looking for a good deal so be prepared to do a little negotiating. This should be considered in the original price so you can be more open to reducing the price as needed. Try to find a price that is fair to both you and the buyer and avoid being too rigid or inflexible. You also don't need to accept a price that you feel is too low. By negotiating to reach a mutually acceptable price, you can earn a fair price for your clothing and satisfy the buyer.
Meet in person to transfer ownership of the clothing. Next, you will want to meet in person to complete the transaction. This involves agreeing to a payment method and providing a receipt upon request.
Provide the buyer with important documents or accessories. If you are selling a designer piece, it helps to seal the deal with any accessories or documents the item came with, such as the original tags or the bag the item came in. It could also include any lifetime warranties or care and maintenance guide. This can show the buyer the special care you gave the item and make it more desirable.
Key Takeaways:
Selling clothing on Craigslist can be a convenient and profitable way to earn some extra money and declutter your closet. By following the tips and advice in this ultimate guide, you can successfully sell your clothing on Craigslist and earn some extra money.
Prepare your clothing for sale, including cleaning and repairing your clothing, organizing your clothing by size, type, and style, taking high-quality photos of your clothing, and determining the materials and brands of your clothing.
Create a listing with a compelling title and description, a fair and competitive price, and include all relevant information and photos.
Responding to potential buyers in a timely and professional manner can keep the conversation moving and hopefully close the sale.
Negotiate fairly with your potential buyer to reach a mutually acceptable price and complete the sale.
Happy selling!