As a new seller can I just sell my designer items in Canada?

[soextraco]

Hi, I have a block on my account for my designer items. Evidently I need 25 USA Feedbacks? Does this count if I only sell in Canada??? thanks

[recped]

If the notice you received specifically stated 25 Feedback from US Buyers then that's what they mean. If it didn't specifically mention US Buyers then any buyers will do in Canada or anywhere else. Keep in mind, that has to be SELLING feedback of which you have only 24 at the moment.

Is eBay restricting you only on certain brands or are you on a "category restriction"?

[recped]

I'll give you two more tips........

This line in your listings......payment arrangements........

Not sure what that is supposed to mean but it could be interpreted by eBay as something against policy (safe payments policy if you want to look it up).

Possibly related, I notice you've done a few local pick-up sales, it's eBay legal to state that you accept Canadian CASH equivalent on pick up sales

Your pictures are too small, the pics themselves are fine but they should be bigger, for pre-owned MUCH bigger, as it is right now anyone could say there was a small defect not visible in the pic.

I like the straight forward descriptions in a bullet list with not much superfluous garbage, I did notice one thing, actual measurements of the garments, I barely know anything about men's clothing never mind woman's, I know that there is usually a size consistency within brands but this is not always the case especially over a period of years or lines within a brand. We also both know that buyers tend to think they can into a size smaller than what they really need and if it's a brand they are not familiar with the label size alone is really good enough.

Ok, that's 3.5 tips..........

[soextraco]

Thanks for your help. I am going to take all your advice on board. No, on the phone they said once I reach 25 feedbacks I would be able to list my designer items. I have lot of authentic items I want to sell, but can't because of the category restrictions. I thought I had 25 sellers feedbacks. I guess I can't count .

Someone on the forums said I need 25 American feedback which upset me because the people on the phone never told me that. Now I am super confused about it. 

I am going fix up my auctions and make the changes you suggested. I have been trying to get local buyers because it is easier for me to not deal with shipping.(Plus I already have some built in customers from a local vendor)  I read on the forum to get them to put the feedback pick up so I am not suspectible to fraud charge backs through Paypal? I am trying to follow all Ebay and Paypal rules to the hilt but I am still really new, and learning. 

I only have authentic items and it has been really hard to get people to leave me feedbacks. I often get emails saying how much they love their item and they don't leave a feedback saying so. If it wasn't for the category issues I wouldn't care about the feedbacks. I can only list 3 designer items per 30 days and if they don't sell I can't re list for 30 days either. I tried selling cheaper things I had and even lost money to try to build up feedback but that was a waste of time only 1 person from all that work left me a feedback. 

[rose-dee]

I've been selling clothing, including vintage, designer, and reproduction, for a number of years.  If you don't mind a bit more advice...

1) I think your shipping rates are too high in relation to the item prices.  This will put off a lot of buyers.  Better to roll some of that shipping cost into the item asking price than to ask ca. $20 US to ship a $50 item.  

I see what you are trying to do by using a tracked service to the U.S., but you will have the Canadian seller's dilemma if you want to appeal to the U.S. buyer market -- we can either ship with tracking at high cost to avoid defects and cases, or take the risk of using Light/Small Packet Air service (no tracking/no insurance).  I tend to suit the shipping service to the item value, and insure where necessary if I don't use tracking.  

2)  Your photos are generally good, but some are out of focus.  Try to replace those -- it looks much more professional. 

3)  I would definitely remove this statement from all your listings:  "ONLY one on eBay".  While that may be true at the moment you list the item, you can't know that it will be true afterward unless you're checking hour by hour to be certain there are no duplicates on eBay.  Stating this will only leave you open to an INAD (item not as described) defect if someone calls you on it.  

By the same token, stating that others are charging hundreds of dollars more for the same item is not a good idea.  Trust me, someone will find a similar or identical item at a lower price on eBay and will not be happy with the one they bought from you -- another opening for a defect. 

4)  Your descriptions are OK as far as they go, but I would reduce the font size a little.  It has a rather "loud" effect from the perspective of a first-time buyer.  

Bullet lists are fine for conveying basic information, but they don't create any excitement.  You might consider adding a little prose "pizzaz" to the description.  Include a paragraph below the bullets where you talk about the cut, the colour, the quality of construction, the design features, etc. in a way that will really appeal to your female buyers.  Just be careful not to wander into areas of speculation or assumption. 

Also, as 'recped' mentions, it is absolutely essential where clothing is concerned to provide actual measurements, not just size numbers.  Women's clothing sizes vary from country to country (and yes, even between Canada and the U.S.), as well as between manufacturers.  There has never been a size standard across the industry, for obvious reasons -- designers all want to use their own distinctive size charts, and the more expensive the garment, generally the smaller the size number that is given on the label (the so-called "vanity sizing").  So, as tedious as it is, lay the garment out flat and provide the following measurements at a minimum: 

a) Waist

b) Bust (measure from armscye to armscye seam)

c) Shoulder point to shoulder point, across the top of the back

d) Back length (from nape or neck seam to bottom hem) 

e) For skirts, pants, shorts, etc., you should also measure across the hip (about 7" [18cm] from waist), and the total length from the waist to the bottom hem.  

Make sure you also mention that these measurements are taken flat, and that a prospective buyer should allow for some wearing ease (i.e. their measurements must be a little bit smaller than the garment measurements you give).  

5)  I didn't check your returns policy, but I would set it at 30 days.  You're going to be obliged by eBay to refund in most instances anyway if you want to avoid defects, so you might as well look generous to begin with. 

6)  You may find that even once you have 25 feedback, eBay will still restrict the number of designer (brand name) items you can sell of any one brand in a month.  I ran into this in selling authentic Chanel and Dior vintage clothing and accessories, even though I had several hundred feedback.  

7)  Pack your items with care to make them look good when they're opened.  You'd be surprised how many times I get customers remarking on my attractive packing.  Women like things to look pretty.  Use tissue paper and ribbon to wrap the garments, rather than just folding them into a bare brown cardboard box. 

Lastly, feedback is completely voluntarily on the buyer's part, but the worst thing you can do is to solicit it after a sale.  Don't be tempted, or you might get the FB you don't want.  Buyers just don't leave FB to the same extent that they used to.  A lot of sellers (including me) have seen FB decline significantly in the past couple of years. I'm now happy to get 60-70% FB, whereas I used to get almost 90-100%.  

It does take longer now to build up your reputation as a seller, and a lot less time to lose it than it used to.  So do everything you can to be the best possible seller, and keep up to date on eBay policy.  You're in a very crowded category (women's used clothing), so you have to try to stand out from the crowd, both in your listings and your reputation, so you can hopefully build up a following of repeat buyers.  

Best of luck to you! 

[gifts_of_elegance]

eBay is very strict on certain brands.  I have been selling Christian Dior jewelry here for over 10 years, yet when I tried to list with my buyer account, I couldn't.  I needed 25 positive feedbacks from purchasers first.

When selling fine jewelry, I always include the weight.  I also try not to beat my own drum by making such statements as:

"Only pair on eBay"

"Compare with other sellers, they want hundreds of dollar more"

 These statements could prove to be false.

[triber]

I notice that you use the word RARE quite a bit. I use it occasionally, but only when I have searched the internet and found none or one of what I am selling. I often check listings that say "rare" and when I check on eBay, I can find a dozen or more, so that is not rare.