When it comes to reselling, listing can be very time consuming. I take a couple of hours two to three nights each week just to create listings on my phone. Before I start listing I pull together 5-10 items I want to get listed. I will clean the ones I can clean, I will set aside several hours either or a Saturday afternoon or Sunday afternoon to photograph the items. I shoot the item from every angle, I take up close photos of logos, maker marks, any flaws, measurements, and I will sometime film a fifteen second video of the item as well.
Once I have all photos taken and I have my notes about each item, I decide which platform would be best for listing the item. To help make this decision I will search for the item on the platform and if I can I will filter the results to see sold listings. Side note, Etsy does not have this option when searching the website. I can find sold comps when I use Google Lens to look up an item, the item will appear in the results. When I go to the listing it will show that it sold and I can look at the listing showing what it was listed for. This luck is not always the case. Going back to deciding a platform, I take into consideration what the item or similar items have sold for, the sold comps can vary from platform to platform. I consider how many of my item are currently listed and how many have sold. I look at what listed comps are priced at, the condition of that item, and sometimes how long it has been listed.
Once I pick the platform, I use the platforms app to create my listings. Etsy has an app just for selling, Poshmark's app is a one stop shop app you can buy and sell with it. Both apps allow you to use the photos you have already taken or you can take photos with the app. Both allow you to save your listings as drafts as well. Poshmark has a built in AI to create your listing for you based off of the photos used. I do not like the AI listing tool, it never gives important information about the item, just vague catchy info, an example for you. I upload photos of a art glass vase with handle, unmarked, Google Lens returns not exact where for Israeli Neker Studio Art Glass or Scavo style art glass. When I used the AI tool it gave the title as "Pretty Iridescent Vase with Handle" the description was "Pretty Iridescent vase with handle. Perfect for any home decor." I had to delete it all and write my own title and description for it. I prefer not to use the AI tools for listings.
I try to make my titles reflect the item including any maker information, style, age, etc., and I add READ to items with flaws . I give more detail information in the description. I want to give any buyer all the information I can to help them in deciding whether or not to buy it. Many customers buying vintage items are collectors them selves and are very knowledgeable on those items they collect. I especially point out any and all flaws on my items. I feel the item is less likely to be returned because of condition. Now some buyers do not read through the entire description, that is why I add READ to my titles on items not in prefect condition. I feel it is important to also add in my description of items with flaws to SEE PHOTOS. I think it draws a potential buyer to examine the listing and photos more carefully.
Once I have my listings title and description done I add in my listing price, and then it is on to shipping. Shipping can be tricky to figure out as well. On Poshmark there is a flat shipping rate of $8.72 up to 5 pounds and is USPS priority mail. There is a additional charge for items over 5 pounds and Poshmark has a chart on the websites FAQ section, it is hard to find. This additional shipping cost comes out of the sellers profit. I keep my Posh items to smalls and clothing so to not exceed the 5 pounds. On Etsy you have to give a weight of the item, I weigh my items in a box with packing materials or in a poly bubble mailer with packing materials to get a weight. I round up the weight either by 2 or even 5, some items take more packing material than others. This allows for any miscalculated weight. On Etsy I have to include the dimensions of the shipping box or envelope, this allows for a more accurate shipping cost to the buyer.
A few things to consider adding to your listing is a sku, I have started adding a sku to my listings as a code for where the item is located, when listed, and what i paid for it. I do have this information in a spreadsheet on my computer, but it helps me in locating the item once it sells. Poshmark has a place for this kind of information on the listing that only you can see, however when it sells you cannot see this information anymore unless you open the listing and go to edit, even then the website will try to stop you from editing the listing.
Once I have my draft listing completed, I double check spelling in the title and description. I then decide when I want to take it live. I try to only add one listing a day on Poshmark, for some reason Poshmark will block you from listing multiple items a day, I know it has happened to my on a few occasions. This may have something to do with bot listings, though I do not have any confirmation or information on it. I have never had that happen on Etsy.
Lastly, some platforms have listing fees, Etsy charges $.20 a listing, Poshmark has no listing fee. Etsy listings are only good for 4 or 5 months, Poshmark has no expiration date, I usually give my listing 6 months then I mark them as not for sale. Now Poshmark is cracking down on sellers who are deleting and relisting items. I am not sure how or why this is happening nor any details on it, just seeing other resellers complaining about it. I hope this bit of information helps you in reselling.
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