So, I've been feeling a bit uninspired when trying to thing of good posts, but I want to start a little discussion. I have been collecting vintage for a very short time in comparison to some of you guys, and now that I have gotten bitten by the eBay bug as well, in addition to my Etsy obsession I have been wondering about how you know when you paying too much for vintage.
With eBay of course many sellers start out low, to make for a good bid, but on items you can just buy on eBay or on Etsy very highly priced. And some of the sites that sell vintage clothing...the make my bank account hurt just browsing through them!
I know if an item is rare or buy a big designer of course the price is going to be high, other than that I'm pretty lost. Condition and age are factors, the better the condition the higher the price but I've come across things that for the life of me I cannot see how the high price is justified.
I was thinking about this because one of the things I most wanted to add to my wardrobe is a Swirl dress (which I've mentioned before), but the some of the ones I've managed to find are often in the $100 range (which I can't afford), is that too much for a Swirl dress or most vintage dresses really?
So, what do you veteran vintage buyers think?
I'm suffering from this confusion myself through collection vintage compacts. There is one on the go on ebay at the moment to "buy it now" for £85 another at £135. While both are "nice" I don't see or know how they justify their supposed value. Sometimes I often wonder if these buyers are merely hoping for a naive, unsure shopper to come along and snap it up. Or they are just greedy.
ReplyDeleteSorry I can't shed no light onto the value of such dresses but I feel your uncertainly with other vintage finds!
I'm too cheap..uh,thrifty...$100 is SO TOO much for me...although those are lovely dresses. I hear of folks getting great buys on Ebay, but I never have found one...so I keep looking. If it is really vintage (not a reproduction) and I REALLY liked it, $50 would be my max...I can't remember the last time I spent that much on an a single article of clothing so it would have to be pretty darn special!
ReplyDeleteI'll be keeping an eye on responses! I wold also LOVE a swirl dress, but there's NO WAY I can drop $100 for one!
ReplyDeleteI think you're doing a great job with your posts, by the way!
as a vintage seller on Etsy, I can tell you that buyers aren't the only ones asking this question.
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of exposing myself too much, I can tell you what two factors feature most prominently in my pricing decisions:
1. What did I pay for it?
If I paid $10 at an estate sale, I have to know that I can potentially sell it for at least 3x* that. I know this seems like a lot, but it's not really worth it for anything less. There are a lot of expenses involved in operating a shop: the Etsy listing fees and Paypal transaction fees, advertising fees, gas to get to the sales and shops, mending and cleaning supplies, digital batteries and lighting for crisp images, packaging supplies, and *all* of the time I spend thrifting, locating worthwhile sales, measuring, cleaning, repairing, researching, comparing, social network promoting, waiting in line at the post office and responding to buyer questions. I had *no* idea before I started selling how baroque the process was!
*keep in mind, too, that the markup on most of the new clothes you purchase will be much higher, particularly if those clothes were made in China, Indonesia or Mexico where workers are literally paid pennies for each piece (regardless of the final price).
2. How rare is the piece?
The vintage market is just like any other market; it operates on a supply and demand basis. As quality pieces from the 1920s, 30s, 40s and even 1950s begin to disappear (either because they're being hoarded by collectors or because they've grown threadbare from actual use) expect the prices of such pieces to continue to rise. You're not just purchasing a pretty dress like you would at Anthropologie; you're also acquiring a small piece of history (and usually for less than you'll spend at the aforementioned shop!).
ok, I've rambled enough! time for some homemade curry!
ahhhh great questions! It definitely all depends on the garment! I take age, condition, and rarity into great consideration when pricing a garment (and buying!). I completely agree with HUzzah Vintage...pre-60s pieces are getting more obscure by the day, so I often price those higher than something from the 60s-80s if they are worth that. I rarely price things over $50.....I do have one item from the 60s, but it is designer, rare, and incredibly heavily adorned with beading that I priced near $100.
ReplyDeleteBut, at the end of the day, you are buying something that you love. I know that I have completely fallen in love with a dress from Anthropologie that costs way more than vintage, and it is only a remake, inspired by a one of a kind piece. I have definitely spent way more on vintage pieces than I had wanted, simply because I fell in love with a one-of-a-kind piece!
I'm not an expert so I don't really have anything constructive to add but since I'm on a strict budget, if it's too much for me to afford, it's too much. lol Most of the Swirls I've seen are around the $100 range and that's out of my league. All of my vintage (real not repro) dresses have been under $50, but maybe I'm just lucky. lol
ReplyDeleteThis is COMPLETELY up to the buyer, and every girl feels differently. If you feel guilty spending that much on a dress, don't do it - on the other hand, never paying that much means possibly never getting that dress you so desire.
ReplyDeleteI have spent $100 on two of my dresses, and $50-$70 on probably 1/3 of my dresses. No, I am not rich(in the slightest)... I save up, and I keep that bit of money to the side and wait for a dress I think deserves it. They are special treats and I don't do it often... And I don't feel guilty because it's on unique dresses I am quite sure I will never encounter again...
So, again, it's up to you... the best thing I can suggest is just spend your money wisely :) If you have a tight budget, the time may not be right... or perhaps you can save up slowly, so it doesn't effect your bills and other necessities (as in my case) :)
I guess I'd be willing to pay more for something fantastic, rare, & in great vintage condition. I see that a lot of sellers over charge! When I open my shop back up, I will not be ripping people off!
ReplyDeleteRight now, anything over about £20 is too much, but that's because I literally cannot afford anything more than that.
ReplyDeleteIf I had considerably more money, I think if the price was fair for what the items were, I wouldn't mind paying more.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteThey are really nice, but a bit too expensive in my opinion...Vintage sellers must consider:
1st: local competence: the prices might be higher, because you can try things on, and there is less of a risk
2- You can't see the item, what if it is not so great in reality? That risk makes affordability a must.
I'd really like you to visiit my vintage stores on line...my prices are very affordable, please have a look!
Love
Nadia
www.vintageavocado.etsy.com
www.vintageavocado.bigcartel.com
I was eager to read the replies to this thought provoking thread, because I too often feel that the vintage items I most wish I could add to my closet are miles beyond what I can afford. Yet being able to afford something and thinking that the same item is over-priced are two entirely different matters a lot of the time.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, I guess it comes down to three main factors for me: fit (that the garment is listed as being my size so as to avoid much in the way of alteration, which can add to the over all cost of a piece), price (almost always below $100 dollars, ideally less than $50), and how much my knees swoon when I look at something.
I don't have much of a wardrobe budget to work with at the best of times, so if I'm going to really and truly consider bringing an item into my closet (be it vintage or new), it almost always has to make my heart skip a beat and have me ready to wax poetically about it. If I see a garment that meets all these criteria, I will usually think over whether or not to buy it for a day (or longer) and if it's still at the forefront of my mind, there's a good chance I'll take the plunge and purchase it.
Happy vintage shopping & big hugs, sweetie,
♥ Jessica
I agree with a lot of the commenters, that this is such a personal decision, both on the part of the seller, and the buyer. I have totally spent 100$ on a dress before, just as I have bought some of my favourite ones for 10$!
ReplyDeleteIt just depends how much you want a dress, and how much you are willing to sacrifice for it! As for the sellers, it really is based on a few factors, how much they paid for the dress, if they made any alterations, whether or not they are doing this for a living (which means they must keep their profit in mind as well)...
If you are feeling guilty about paying tha tmuch for a dress, it probably isn't the right dress. Keep your eye out and you might find a perfect dress that a)doesn't make you feel guilty about spending that much or b) costs less! :D good luck!
wow, this is a really excellent thread and i love to read everyone's responses. i didn't think that swirl dresses were that expensive, but if something becomes popular on ebay, the prices will shoot up for a little while until the few people who are bidding them up have gotten their fill. have you ever noticed this before on ebay? i would wait it out, i'm sure one will come to you for a better price. and good luck!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post !
ReplyDeletehttp://mimietnini.canalblog.com/
I am so uneducated when it comes to buying vintage but would love to know more!
ReplyDelete