Hello, there fellow resellers! If you’ve ever been outsourcing and stumbled upon your favorite pair of jeans, or perhaps that crazy find that you’ve been waiting and waiting for, only to get home to find the biggest flaw ever, you don’t have to feel alone. Many times, flaws of different natures can be missed due to a multitude of different circumstances. I’m here to help you today to keep these in mind! Follow through this quick list with me of what flaws to BOLO when sourcing for jeans.
Let’s get started!
But I Looked Over it at The Thrift and it Was PERFECT!…said no reseller ever.
Picture this. You’ve made your way through aisle after aisle, of thrift store after thrift store. You decide to end your trip early, due to the lack of no good inventory available, when all of a sudden, that’s it! You’ve discovered the perfect pair of jeans just peeking at you through the endless piles on the racks.
You’re all excited at the checkout, after giving them a quick look over at your cart and then again while waiting for the cashier. Then you drive home, super stoked about this magnificent find. Finally! You’ve found the best item in your store, and you just can’t wait to get it up online and ready to present to your customers.
But then, the dreaded doom moment happens. You take them out of their bag, remove the color tag, lint roll/steam/wash them, only to find a flaw that is un-mend-worthy. Yes, it’s not a word, but you catch my drift, right?
Fear not fellow reseller, this happens to the best of us…on more occasions than one. It’s just a part of the business we’re in, and if we’re not extra careful, this can happen over and over. That means less overall sales, less overall happy customers, and less overall profits. I say Boo to that.
Here’s a Few Hindering Things About the Thrift
- The Lighting!
No really, the lighting absolutely sucks in thrift stores. Yes, even the big ones. Try finding someplace to check over your items in the corner by a window, to shed some natural light on your loot.
- The Haste.
Yes, of course. We’re so excited that we blow through all of our new treasures, and in the meantime forget to slow down and inspect the items we plan to take home to add to our store. Take your time and be picky. Trust me, it’ll pay off. Literally.
- The Sneaky Movers.
No, I’m not talking about people moving your home. I’m talking about those peeps that come in and move Women’s to Men’s, Men’s to Women’s, Women’s to Kids, you get my point. Just recently, I discovered a Lululemon tank just tucked into a pile of Men’s tees on the rack. Those sneaky movers were at it again.
This was a great situation, I lucked out. Unfortunately, many other times I didn’t. If you like selling Kids’ clothing, be sure to let the cashier know, since they may not see the difference and will charge you a higher price.
Lately, Goodwill has been pricing its shoes all at one price in my area. That’s pretty great usually since it all ends up averaging out. However, a few have had white stickers on the bottom, showing that they’re much higher and not always worth picking up.
What Flaws to BOLO When Sourcing for Jeans?
These flaws can make or break a quick sale. Be sure to always double and triple check your items before heading out of the thrift, or sending out your items. Keep your brand intact by shipping only quality and in-demand goods. (Keep in mind this list applies only to jeans, comment below if this helps you at all, and if you’d like to hear about any other category!)
- Stretching in the thigh area. This will often look like parallel lines that may have ripples.
- Pilling in the area where the pant legs come together. This can often be easily removed with a fabric shaver. (I like this one).
- Missing buttons, which can be easily replaced if you have the know-how. (Still mention that they have been replaced in your description). Keep disclosure full and honest.
- Broken zippers. This may not always be a deal-breaker, but be sure to check if it’s stuck or broken before buying.
- Broken belt loops. Often an easy, quick fix if you know how to sew.
- Stains/spots. A Tide-To-Go pen may have just become your best friend. I personally like Oxi-Clean’s Max Force Gel Stick. It’s easy to use and does the job.
- Significant wear at hems. This can’t always be fixed, but perhaps you could hem the jeans to keep it hidden, just be sure to disclose this as well in your description.
- Tears in pockets, or holes that aren’t factory-made. Sometimes this is hard to tell, just do your best and be honest with what you know!
Takeaway
Be sure to ALWAYS disclose as many flaws as possible. Be upfront with your buyers and they will be grateful to do business with you.
Of course, many of these flaws can be easily remedied, but I often try my best to pick up items that don’t need any mending, as that significantly cuts into the time I spend on growing my business.
Be open with your customers if you find something before shipment, and offer a partial refund or replacement item. Stay true to you and your business, and it will continue to be bigger and better in the future days, months, and years to come!
Thank You!
A giant thanks to everyone that has supported me this far into my journey! I greatly appreciate you returning to read my posts hope that you will continue to drop by in the future.
Please feel free to drop any comments below that you would like to add! I am always open to advice, suggestions, or even hearing related stories of your own!
I stay as active as possible in the comment section, therefore I will reply to any questions asap.
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Happy selling friends!
-Shelby