Afraid of hard currency? Have a strict 225-characters-per-day typing limit? Listing your patterns only to make your significant other believe you are trying to sell them, but don't actually want to give them up? Here's some handy tips to make sure your eBay auctions end without bids!
— have FIVE lots of FIFTY patterns each, but take only ONE picture. Make the sure the picture prominently features two of the same pattern, both of which are nightgowns. (No joke; take another look at the image above.)
— give no sizing information. At all.
— give dating information that is vague (1950s-1960s — well, WHICH IS IT? That's TWENTY YEARS, people!)
— if possible, give incorrect information (label a pattern LUCY DRESS!!! when it's a 1960s shift)
— affect either a manic ("OMGWTFBBQ!!!! BEST A+++ PATTERNS!!!") or completely flat ("Patterns. For sale.") affect. Normal range of expression is discouraged.
— give a list of buyer requirements that would be too onerous even for SELLING A HOUSE ("I only accept Paypal, and your payment must be timestamped between 2-3 AM GMT. Put your SSN and shoe size in the comments, IN THAT ORDER. DO NOT BID if you CANNOT FOLLOW these INSTRUCTIONS!")
Hannah sent me this UK pattern listing (click on the image to visit the listing). But think carefully: do you want to encourage this kind of eBay-havior? Or do you just want to get a grab bag of 50 patterns for £1 (plus shipping)? If the answer to the second question is "yes," I sympathize, I was almost ready to bid myself. Then I realized I don't need fifty mystery patterns, especially as I will probably never, ever, sew myself a nightgown.
A Dress A Day 
I like the tongue-twistery “practical paper patterns.” I’ve never heard of that pattern company before.You know, I really DO prefer dealing with buyers that seem like human beings (as opposed to the Living Dead). Not that I’m buying any more patterns. No sir. But I have bought one nightgown pattern, which I thought would work well as a dress – even many nightgowns of yore seem to have more interesting designs than many dresses of… whatever the opposite of “yore” is.
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…and include “what you receive may be different from what is pictured,”. Oh yeah. Let me jump on that one.
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It looks like there are two duplicates in that picture – the pink dress/gown and the other nightgown. But since there are five lots of 50 patterns available, and the same picture is used for all, you might not even get these ones! But since I also live in Kent, I’m quite tempted to bid on them all and get 250 patterns for 5! 5 postage for 50 patterns seems suspiciously cheap, too, as I’d imagine 50 patterns take up quite a lot of room.
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Did you catch this “mixture of adult fashion and childrens clothes.PLEASE NOTE i have 5 lots going on so picture may be different from those received.any questions please email me” My luck i’d get 50 children’s patterns!This reminds me of the ad copy I get at work…”512 Trolley Cafe now open” Than I have to spend 6 hours pulling info out the managers.
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You know what also bugs me about some ebay vintage pattern listings: (1) the description gives the size but no measurements, and (2) the seller can’t be bothered to scan the back of the pattern envelope. This stuff is important, people, if you’re doing anything but framing the thing to put on your wall.
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I buy in lots so you see this sort of thing a lot. I need a picture that shows ALL of the patterns. A few pictures are even nicer. It only helps the seller…more pictures = more bids.I’ll buy a grab bag of patterns not knowing if all the pieces are there but I won’t spend my money on a picture of a box full of patterns with none of the patterns pictured.Yes, I see auctions like that all the time.>>>You know what also bugs me about some ebay vintage pattern listings: (1) the description gives the size but no measurements, and (2) the seller can’t be bothered to scan the back of the pattern envelope.Nice info to know harthad. I try to always include the back of a pattern in my listings, but do forget sometimes or worry that I have too many pictures in a listing.Erin, funny you should mention sellers “terms of service” today. I just blogged about the crazy stuff some folks put in their TOS and thought about adding this to my TOS:”Please be aware that for each Non Paying Bidder God kills a kitten, please think of the kittens folks and pay for your auction”
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As an ebay pattern seller, http://www.MoonwishesStore.com I have learned SOOOO much from stupid listings like that. For everything I hate in a pattern listing, I do the opposite. At least this picture had the patterns on what looks like a table, some take a distance shot of a bunch of patterns laying on the floor (you wonder what kind of dirty floor they are laying on). I don’t though add the back of envelopes to my listings because of the fees that ebay charges, but always send them to folks who ask.I also love it when people state I don’t know anything about sewing, patterns, etc. I think they are complete but I don’t really know, feel free to ask questions. How can they answer a question if they don’t know anything about patterns?I’d better shut up, but you really hit a nerve of mine this morning!
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The BBQ bit at the end of your OMGWTF made me laugh.I’ve only recently started browsing patterns but I’ve already seen some listings that say ’empire shift square neck’ and the picture of the pattern is some 1970s jumpsuit. Just weird. How do they think you’ll ever buy it if you can’t be sure of what you’re getting?
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I image that this sort of listing would be attractive to a reseller who would try to pick up a bunch of patterns for cheap and then would carefully list them individually. I make nightgowns and pajamas all the time because I can pre-shrink the fabric and not have my elbows hanging out after the first wash. Such is the lot of a tall girl..Gee, I sound argumentative. Didn’t mean to do so. I really see your point.
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I am so tempted to bid just so that I can fill everyone in on what the mystery patterns actually are. But I too fear getting a load of childrens patterns I will never use, or a whole batch of Bust 29″. Still, there’s no such things as too many patterns, right?
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I can quickly get verrrrrry irritated when I browse through Ebay! There are some great sellers, BUT far more numerous are the online-garage-sale type, just overpriced junk with little information on the product. I enjoyed reading the cathartic scold, Erin!
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I don’t though add the back of envelopes to my listings because of the fees that ebay charges, but always send them to folks who ask.Gail, from one seller to another you need to sign up for photobucket and stop giving ebay any more money then you need.
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Get this, the seller is also selling a sewing machine (no, there’s not much more info there, either…) for 1 pound plus shipping.I’d be tempted to bid…but with the description, I’m wondering if the person has 50 patterns TOTAL and has divvied them up into 5 lots? Hence, 10 each. Also, I’d be afraid of getting kids’ patterns and non-50’s/60’s patterns. 🙂 But it’s almost worth it, seeing as the same patterns may show up later on eBay at ten times this amount.
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Yes, I agree with all the comments on what an idiotic auction this is. But I have to say, I’m so, so, so tempted. And I can’t really sew clothes either. Then again, I’m the kind of person that buys mystery anythings, simply for the sheer surprise factor…
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Dahlings -There is nothing like a badly written mystery auction to pique one’s curiousity. Today, as it happens, I wrote a blog about Ebay sellers who break the law routinely and get away with it…got some very interesting hate mail. (Speaking of curious, why is it that people who write hate mail simply cannot SPELL?)
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I would totally love a grab bag of patterns for 1 pound, plus postage, if the postage didn’t require it to get entirely around the world. Yay, mystery cheap stuff – it is better than just normal cheap stuff because it is so fun. I’m such an idiot… 🙂
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“…and include “what you receive may be different from what is pictured,”. Oh yeah. Let me jump on that one.”I was buying material once, cheap sari stuff, from an online auction that said “design and colour may differ from that shown”. Well, umm, what’s the point of even including a picture if it may be ENTIRELY different? They didn’t tell you the fabric composition or anything, so they might as well have listed it as “material. sari length” and left it at that.
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BBQ…lolI, too, dislike it when I see a size but no measurements, particularly with vintage patterns. Obscure-maker vintage patterns. The torture! And of course, those are the sellers who never respond to questions, or if they do, it’s ten minutes before the end of auction. Brilliant!Still, I might be tempted by this one were it not in England. They could always be sold on ebay if they weren’t something I was interested in…
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What’s even odder is that the same person has now bid on all 5 lots – fair enough – but has been outbid (by 60p) on one of them. How did that second bidder choose which of the five identical lots to bid on??
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I sure do hope that other Ebay sellers see this blog entry and take heart. One thing I want to add to your list: Include a gallery photo. I know it costs more, but with the thousands of patterns being sold on Ebay there is no way I can take the time to click on ones that don’t show the photo in the list page. No photo, no look, no purchase. I bet you I am not the only one who trolls like this.
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I just wanted to put my 2 cents worth in here . . . I am a pattern seller on eBay as well. First, I love to buy HUGE lots of patterns, but I only look for good deals and definately check sellers reputation out first. Second, I don’t include a photo of the back of the envelope with my listings. If someone would like an image I will possibly email to them (I do this for repeat customers often). I don’t include the image for on specific reason . . . a good seamstress or designer can copy that image, enlarge it, and create their own pattern. Simple as that. It is done all the time. I have a friend who is a costume designer for a Studio in LA and she tipped me off to this “industry trick”. Sellers beware!
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Although, I have gotten some of the best buys via the fuzzy/ bad photos sellers.
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I have to admit that, as much as they frustrate me, I love bad listings. I’ve found some of my finest “bargains” this way. Years ago there was the seller listing “50 vintage patterns” with a very blurred picture. I corresponded with her; she was selling the patterns for a neighbor and “knew nothing about sewing.” I ended up buying 150 patterns from her, all Vogue designer, including nearly every Jean Muir, Cardin and YSL pattern issued through 1976. I also look for the telltale 30s type envelopes in the backgrounds of lot shots. My favourite trick is to copy the bad photos into photoshop and enlarge and sharpen them. I have no tolerance for sellers who list patterns individually and don’t check the piece count or for the instructions. I paid way too much for a pattern I had wanted for a long time, only to have it arrive sans instructions. The seller offered to take it back, but what I wanted was the instructions or a partial refund. I figure I am able to sew it, but I doubt it would have gone for the price it did, had she discovered and mentioned the pattern lacked instructions.I also wish every seller would simply list the bust measurements of the patterns they are selling, preferably in the title. A size 12 was a 30″ bust in the 50s. I am sick of having to explain where to find the bust size on a pattern to sellers.Can we discuss fabric listings sometime soon? I have burn test instructions I mail to sellers who don’t know anything about fabric.
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Like Nora, I will often buy vintage nightgown patterns. I too find that the cut is usually more flattering than dresses of yere (I’m going for “yere,” as in “the yere and now,” as the opposite of “yore”), AND the fit is more forgiving. More flattering AND more forgiving! How can you beat that? Plus, they are often sturdier. Seriously. You probably have fewer nightclothes (for those who wear them) than anything else, right? And you (meaning “me”) twist around all night, which doesn’t generally happen to a suit, or a day dress. So nightgowns have the potential to be sturdy, stylish, and figure-adaptable.Confession: I wear a lot of nightgowns. Although, I guess, what I wear are truly nightgown/dress crossovers. I get home, and I usually change into a bias silk something. Yes, for an evening with the cat. A lot of bias silk dresses that I would be really doubtful about wearing to the office, I will buy to sleep in. They’re comfortable – even more comfortable than sweats – they’re washable, and they’re prettier than sweats. And of course, there’s that whole “underlayer” possibility when worn with wrap dresses over them. And vintage nightgown patterns, made up in a pretty cotton = summer dress extraordinaire!
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Hey Erin,Wonderful blog as always! I love reading vintage sewing books. The clipping left in them are just too funny!You’ve been tagged. Check out my blog to find out what I mean. Patterns from the Past
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someone bought it!!! for 30 pounds!!
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