HOW TO PRICE SECOND-HAND CLOTHES IN SOUTH AFRICA
START SELLING NOWTLDR
Check recently sold prices for the exact item.
Pick NEW, LIKE NEW, or USED and adjust for set and size.
Start at a fair price, set a minimum, and review interest after 3 to 5 days.
Pricing guidance: Like New 40–60% below retail, Used 50–75%. Classics can be priced higher.
THE STORY MOST SELLERS KNOW
You clear a shelf and there it is. A Woolies blazer from interviews. A Zara dress from a wedding. Sneakers that had one campus semester. They still slap, just not on you.
Let us get you a price that feels fair and moves fast on a second-hand or preloved listing in SA.
THE FIVE MINUTE PRICING PLAN
CONDITION
Keep it simple. NEW means unworn. LIKE NEW means worn a few times and very clean. USED means visible wear or age. If a piece has love, say so. Buyers reward honesty more than euphemisms.
THE UNBOXING SET
Do you have the box, dust bag, spare buttons, care cards, proof of purchase. Full sets feel safer and allow a higher number. Missing bits do not kill a sale, they just nudge the price.
SEASON
South Africa shops in waves. Coats rise from April. Party dresses climb in November and December. Matric dance and wedding guest looks spike near event season. If timing is on your side, hold a touch higher for the first week.
SCARCITY & SIZE
A classic cut in a popular size can sit near the top of a range. Very small or very large sizes can take longer, so price with patience or bundle smartly.
SELL AN ITEMTHE SIMPLE FORMULA ANYONE CAN USE
DRESSES AND OCCASIONWEAR
- Like New 40–60% under retail.
- Used 55–75%. Wedding guests and matric season can push higher.
SNEAKERS AND MEN'S SHOES
- Like New 40–60%.
- Used 50–70%. Add a short video and a photo of the size tag.
JACKETS, COATS, BLAZERS
- Like New 35–55%
- Used 50–70%. Trenches and denim keep value better than micro-trends.
DENIM AND TEES
- Like New 50–65%.
- Used 60–75%. Show waist, rise and fabric tag so buyers do not guess.
BAGS AND SMALL LEATHER GOODS (non-luxury)
- Like New 40–60%.
- Used 55–75%. Corners, lining and hardware decide trust.
For true luxury, use SA platforms that authenticate.
KK TIP: If you get lots of likes and no messages after a few days. Drop the price by 5 to 10%, refresh the cover photo, and keep moving.
SELL NOW
BUNDLES WITH REAL SA ENERGY
Busy buyers love clean bundles. Parents love them more.
Kidswear: group by age or season. Price 30 to 40% less than the sum of singles. Include a quick note about stains or repairs.
Tees and basics: group by size or colour family. Price 20 to 30% less than singles.
Denim twins: pair two similar cuts. Price 15 to 25% less than if sold alone.
Capsule idea: a blazer, a tank, a jeans, a sling bag. Four pieces that make three outfits. Price it like a neat little wardrobe move.
Bundles do not only reduce price. They reduce admin, shipping, and second guesses.
START SELLING YOUR BUNDLESTWO REAL CLOSET STORIES
LERATO'S LINE BLAZER
Retail was R899. Three Like New sales sat at R460, R480, and R520. She listed at R520 with the spare button in the photo and the size in the first line.
No messages for two days. On Sunday at 7, she dropped to R490 and added a ten-second video to show the blazer off.
Sold at R480 that night with locker delivery. It was not luck. It was rhythm.
NALEDI'S ADIDAS CAMPUS SNEAKERS
Retail was long forgotten. She found two Used sales at R650 and R720.
Her pair was used but clean, box included. She listed at R750 on payday weekend with “priced from recent sold items, open to fair offers.”
A buyer offered R700 with collection the next day. She said yes and slept well.
QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK
HOW DO I PRICE SECOND-HAND CLOTHES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Start from recent sold prices, pick NEW, LIKE NEW, or USED, adjust for set, size, season, and scarcity, then list a confident start price with a private minimum.
WHAT IS A FAIR PRICE FOR LIKE NEW VS USED
Most Like New pieces land 40 to 60% under retail. Used often sits 50 to 75% under, depending on wear and brand. Classics can sit higher.
WHEN SHOULD I DROP THE PRICE
Hold for 3 to 5 days, then drop 5 to 10% if there is interest without offers. Time small moves for Sunday evenings or the payday window.
SHOULD I SELL IN BUNDLES
Yes for kidswear and basics. Price bundles 20 to 40% less than the singles added up. They move faster and cost less to ship.
LAST WORD
Pricing is not a puzzle, it is a habit. Respect the garment, respect your time, respect the buyer. Use sold data.
Tell a small, true story about condition and set. Pick two numbers and breathe.
The right buyer shows up when your listing sounds confident and your price looks sensible.
START SELLING NOW