Listing Descriptions Close Sales
Titles get attention, Pictures draw interest, Descriptions explain.
When someone likes the picture they will want to know what you have to say about your item. When they get to the description they are genuinely interested. You have a warm lead, they are looking for details. They want to know if your item makes sense for them. Providing plenty of good information will get them closer to buying or bidding.
Always list known defects, wear, or missing parts
Year and place of manufacture, date stamps, serial number, if you have it
List pertinent dimensions
Anything relevant you have known about its history
Never make stuff up or exaggerate
Write in complete sentences, avoid long paragraphs
Stay to the point. Don’t do a paragraph when a sentence will do
bullet points can work
Attention spans are very short these days and there are likely several similar items for sale at the same time. You want to be crisp, positive, and honest.
Any other fields offered by the site should be filled in as much as possible.
If it’s been in your attic for ten years and you got it from your grandma, it’s OK to say so. Don’t stress about history, a little of that goes a long way. They don’t need to know it’s a thrift store find, 99% of the time.
Fill everything out
Sites have a lot of intuitive options on specific items. Fill everything out that you can. Never guess, but always maximize that information. For example, if you don’t know the country of origin, leave it blank or enter NA. It’s another thing that site logarithms use to determine who sees your listing. In some cases filling out NA is better than leaving something blank.
Sometimes a little research on similar items for sale on the platform will help you fill in some blanks.
Is there documenting information? Makers marks, patent dates, serial numbers, a signature? Anything specific and unique should be included and crisp. Be sure those are also in pictures.
Sites tend to favor listings that are more complete.
Click here for a chart describing how to measure clothing sizes for women
Click here for a chart showing how to measure clothing sizes for men
I recently sold a 1920’s limited edition print I found at a thrift store priced at $3.99. I left the price tag on, included it in pictures, and wrote in the description that it was a thrift store find. It sold for $400.00.
It was a signed print by a known artist from that era. Art collectors are always keenly interested in an item’s history. I included what little I knew. The buyer was thrilled to know where it came from. He thanked me for saving it from possible oblivion. Since the store had put the price sticker on the fragile paperback removing it would have caused damage.
Happy Listing!
about me
I am a thrift, e-commerce, and retail business expert located near Chicago helping individuals and entrepreneurs grow and succeed. You can benefit from my twenty plus years of retail, and seven-plus years of thrift and eCommerce experience.
Check out my web site, thethrifter.com for lots of thrift oriented resources. You will find plenty of free tips for retailers, resellers, eCommerce operators, and shoppers. I’m always happy to connect on LinkedIn.
You might also be interested in my Thrift Merchandising ebook on Amazon. It’s about merchandising thrift stores more like traditional stores. It’s free with a Kindle Unlimited membership.
Tim Gebauer — The Thrifter
Thriftflip