How To Sell Your Mulberry

I've talked a lot about buying bags. But what happens if you just keep buying? Wardrobe overload. Bankruptcy. Divorce. Well, you never know...

So before you can go and buy that next item on your list, you want to move on one of your bags. No idea where to start? 

Here are my quick top 5 tips:

1. Determine Price

There are a few factors you'll want to consider: 

How quickly do you want to sell? 
How much did you pay for that bag? 
And what is she worth right now? 

You'll have an idea about the first two. For the last one I'd point you in the direction of these two sites:

Naughtipidgins Nest
Great first stop to check prices. Just type the name of the bag you're researching into the search box and all current stock PLUS previously sold bags come up. As Shian describes condition in detail, this is a fab starting point for gauging how much you might be able to ask for your bag.

eBay
Same principle as above: do a search for the bag and then tick the box "Sold". That way you see what has sold recently and for how much. I'd just add here that eBay is way more volatile and you'll see some "blips" on here.

When deciding on a price bear in mind seasonality/time of year. In spring or summer you might find it harder to sell oak or darker leathers. In winter the candy/pastel colours might not be so covetable. Coming up to the sale, people might be saving their pennies to buy new for not much more than pre-loved prices. And after the sale they are spent up. I'd also say: always be approachable for an offer. Unless you're happy to just wait until you get the price you want. That's fine too but you might just have to wait for a while.


2. Assure Authenticity

Authenticate4u.com will carry out a full authentication for just £5. They are also usually happy to help if you don't know what your bag is called or which leather she has been made from. Being able to provide a certificate will reassure your buyer (especially if you haven't sold before and aren't "known" as a seller yet) and it will also protect you, should somebody claim you sold them a fake.


3. Prettify

Unless somebody has asked for a bag I happen to have and wants her straight away, I usually spend some time and give her some TLC. Sure, you won't always be able to get rid of every flaw but I want to know that that bag left my house looking as good as she can and I want my buyer to open that box and be thrilled. I therefore treat the leather, usually with Collonil gel, though it depends on what finish the bag is in. If there are any stains on the fabric lining, I try to get them out. If the bag has suede lining, I give it a nice brush. I always ask myself "would I be happy to receive a bag like this after having just parted with £x?"


4. Wrap it up

I've sold a bag. The person who receives my parcel has probably saved up for her and treated themselves. As I said above, I want them to be thrilled when they open the box and not just find a bag chucked into an empty box or haphazardly covered with bubble wrap. I therefore usually stuff the bag with tissue paper and/or bubble wrap (depending on how much we have to stuff, really). Then wrap her in bubble wrap. Then she goes in her dustbag. Then in a box lined with tissue paper. And I always include a little card to say "Thank you".

5. Chose correct postage

Nothing worse than sending off that lovely parcel and then hearing that it's not arrived by the time it should have. Hopefully you will have paid for a tracking service, so you can check where the parcel is. But what if the parcel is lost full stop? Well, hopefully you have not only paid for tracking but also for insurance. Royal Mail's standard insurance only covers a value up to £50. I therefore usually send my parcels by "Special Delivery". This not only guarantees delivery by 1pm for the next working day but also insures your parcel up to £500. Check Royal Mail pricefinder for details but I usually pay either £8.55 (500g-1kg), £11 (up to 2kg) or £28.28 (up to 5kg). Saving on postage is the wrong place to save. It's your responsibility to get that bag to your buyer. Losing a £500 bag and not being able to claim back more than £50 from Royal Mail pretty much just sucks. You also want to cover yourself of the one or two bad eggs out there, who claim they never received that parcel.

So there you go. Did I say short and snappy? Well, you should know me by now...