Shopping and Selling: ASOS Marketplace

This post was requested by my good friend Hana, and I have been putting this off for so long but I eventually got round to it (sorry it has taken so long Han!).

In 2010 ASOS launched ASOS marketplace which is the equivalent to eBay, but just for clothes. You may ask "why on earth would you not use eBay?" and you'd be right to ask, eBay is a very well established company but ASOS is more well known among the fashionistas that this site is targeted for.

For buyers

The site is really easy to use as it is based on the ASOS site. You are more likely to find a unique piece or something that is truly vintage rather than a reproduction, to me the site feels like a luxury boutique rather than someone trying to flog some tat like I often feel like on eBay. 

Items are really easy to find, there is a search bar so you can search for specific items or you can view a category or even by brand; the only thing I would like to add would be a search by size. Items can be listed in order price which is good for those in search of a bargain.

I'm also really impressed by the pricing on the website, you can plainly see how much the item is and how much postage will cost rather than having to guess which I frequently end up doing on clothing sites. They also accept Paypal and a multitude of popular bank and credit cards. Buyers seem to be well protected by problems on the site, there is a 45 day refund policy for items that are 'not as described'. 

For sellers

If you aren't a serious seller and just wishing to sell a few things on the side then a Basic package is for you, if you are wishing to start a business then the Boutique is more suitable. Boutique package will cost £20 a month and will charge you 20% commission on everything you sell but it may be worth it as you get an option to customise your selling page and a spot on the Boutique Directory on the site. The Basic package does require a 10% commission per item you sell but there is NO monthly charge. 

The photography requirements for the site are very strict (and can be found here) but generally they make sense; I'd like to see how something fits before I buy it but if the reason you are selling the item is because it doesn't fit you then you will have to try and find someone who it does fit just to take a photograph of it. 

When it comes to pricing your item you can pretty much put what ever price you like which is good. There are also multiple shipping options so you can decide what to charge per region of the world and put an estimated arrival time. 

There is definitely a way to make money on this site, they give you tips on how to promote your items which is a nice little touch. 

I hope that was a good introduction to the site, if you fancy joining then click here.

If you have joined then let me know how you have got on with the site in the comments or if you'd like to request a post then write me a little message in the comments.

How much is your face worth?

Just seen this post by meowcake and think it is a marvellous idea! I bet most people have never considered this while they are putting their slap on on a morning. So here it goes, lets see how much my face is worth:

Collection 2000 Big Fake Mascara Black - £4.99

Collection 2000 Waterproof Fast Stroke Eyeliner Black - £2.99

Revlon Matte Eye Shadow 009 Rich Sable - £5.29

E.L.F Blush Mellow Mauve - £3.50

E.L.F Eyeliner Pen Black - £1.50

E.L.F Mineral Infused Mascara Black - £3.50

Blush Brush - £2

Maybelline Dream Creamy Foundation 04 Light Porcelain - £8.19

Avon Ideal Shade Mousse Foundation Stick SPF 10 - £5

Benefit It Stick (How long have I had this, they discontinued this at the end of 2010...) - £17

Grand total of  £54.26

Not bad, although the actual amount I spent was far less than this:

1. The Benefit concealer came free in Glamour magazine (July 2010... I think I need to get a new concealer)

2. Revlon eyeshadow was a gift from my cousin

3. Collection 2000 eyeliner was part of a 3 for 2

4. ...as was the Dream Creamy foundation

So my estimated spend is around £30

Not bad, not bad at all, lets hope I don't get any jokes about my cheap face ;)

The benefits of charity shopping

I have been shopping in charity shops for years, literally, and recently there has been an increase in publicity for them, mostly by Mary Portas in her programme Mary Queen of Charity Shops (if you ever see it on TV give it a watch it is an excellent series).

However some are yet to discover the mystique and charm of these little treasure troves. There are many negative preconceptions about them but there are many reasons why you should give charity shops a try, here are just a few:

1. They are cheap - By that I mean the stuff is cheaper than Primark but so much better quality. Items tend to be around 80% cheaper than if they were bought new, which is a massive saving if you are on a budget. 

2. Vintage - There is a lot of older items that can be found within the depths of charity shops (and we are talking real vintage here, not just reproduction stuff). It's always worth a look in charity shops before you go to a 'vintage shop' as, like I said above, they tend to be cheaper.

3. You can help out a good cause AND get your fashion fix - Instead of giving your money to big business, why not help out causes in need. 

4. High stock turn over - Because people are constantly donating things to charity shops you will find there are always new items to be discovered.

5. Free items - If you get to know your local staff well enough (like I have...) you may be given items for free! Sometimes there are items which they can't sell, such as electrical items and old clothing stock, but are perfectly fine which they have to dispose of, if they know what you like then they may give you things instead of sending them to landfill. Benefits all round, saving the earth and getting something you want!

6. Unique items - Lots of different people donate to charity shops so you can guarantee that clothing will vary in style, shape and colour huge amounts, you can also tend to find foreign items which are largely unavailable in the UK. 

7. Old season items - So imagine you saw a top in New Look last season which you loved but when you came to buy it was out of stock - disaster! But you may be able to find it in a charity shop as a pre loved item. Some shops (like Marks and Spencer) donate ex-display stock and end of line items to charity shops as they can no longer sell them in store even though they are new! It sounds crazy doesn't it?!

8. Bartering - If you think something is overpriced then say, they might give you a slight discount. But remember this works the other way too, if you think something is under priced then you should donate more pennies and don't take the wee wee!

9. Eco friendly - This is recycling at it's most basic form, if you buy clothes and reuse them then new materials aren't needed to be wasted for new clothes. Simple :) 

So remember to check out your local charity shop whenever you can for some bargains and unique clothing!