eBay has made a big change to clothing listings and it’s good news for shoppers.
The major second-hand platform has said it is extending its authenticity guarantee programme.
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The programme helps verify second hand designer and branded goods, making sure they are real and match the description.
eBay currently offers the service for pricey goods like luxury watches, handbags, trainers, and jewellery.
But it is now rolling out the service for luxury clothing, shoes and accessories.
When an item from one of these categories is sold, it is sent to eBay’s UK authentication centre, where specialist check it out.
If the item passes, it’s sent on to the buyer with a tracked delivery and a unique QR-enabled authentication card.
This is a free service, with no extra fees.
The service is automatically carried out when a buyer purchases an item from any of the categories listed above.
Products must also be over a certain price point for the service to be carried out.
You can check out the requirements below:
- Trainers from select brands listed at £100+
- Watches from select brandspriced at £1,500+
- Handbags and accessories from select luxury brands
- Jewellery from select brandspriced at £500+
- Clothing shoes and accessories from select brands priced at £200+
Kirsty Keoghan, GM European Fashion, eBay, said expanding the programme gives shoppers “confidence”.
She said: “Expanding Authenticity Guarantee to clothing gives people the confidence to buy the styles they love, from staples to statement pieces, knowing every item has been verified by experts.
“With whole-look authentication now possible, our goal is to make pre-loved fashion a natural first choice.”
The shakeup comes just days after the major selling platform said it would pay users more quickly.
Some sellers can now be paid within 24 hours, up from the previous two-day wait.
Sellers who have completed at least 10 sales totalling £150 or more in the past five years and have had no more than two unresolved cases in the preceding 12 months will be paid within 24 hours of sale.
How does eBay authenticity guarantee programme work?
If you buy a designer item such as a handbag the seller sends your item to an eBay authenticator.
It then undergoes an inspection from packaging to accessories, and against the listing description.
Once verified, your item receives a QR code-enabled card or tag containing detailed information and it’s sent to you via fast, tracked and secure delivery.
Vinted offers a similar service, but it is optional and you have to pay £10.
The items must cost more than £85 and it only applies to certain brands across clothing, bags, accessories, jewellery and shoes.
After the item is verified it is sent to the buyer within one to two business days.
Top tips for selling on eBay
NEW to eBay? It’s head of secondhand, Emma Grant, reveals how to optimise your listings:
- Use key words – eBay automatically filters listing titles for key words, so it’s crucial to use the terminology people search for – especially brand and product names.
- Choose the right category for your product – It might sound obvious but it’s important to always choose the most specific category to sell in.
- Pictures are important – Most users will not bid on items they cannot see. For best results, take photos in natural light against a neutral background and be honest about any scratches or damage to the item.
- Be as detailed as possible – Be honest about the condition of the product and be sure to note any wear and tear.
- Look at past sold items– eBay has a function that allows you to search for the item you want to sell and then filter the results by sold items. Here, you can view the price the item has sold for and get insight into how others have listed it.
- Selling Sundays – Get the timing right. The busiest time for buyers is Sunday evenings, so schedule your listings to end around that time. Opt for seven-day auctions to ensure the max number of bids. The longer your item is listed, the more chance of people seeing it, so unless it’s time-sensitive, pick seven days. December is the busiest month on eBay.
- Be realistic with pricing – Try searching for similar items on eBay, to make sure you’re going for the right price and always ask yourself “would I pay this price for this item?”
- Donate to charity – When listing your item, consider donating a percentage of the sale to a cause of your choice – from 10% to 100% – you can donate the funds raised from your item straight from the platform.