Are you new to secondhand costumes? Have you listed items for sale but are still waiting for a DM? Have you been looking around the web but not sure who to buy from? Or how to do it?
We chatted with many sellers and buyers to find out what they do ensure they have a happy sale. Keep scrolling to see how you can level up your secondhand game!
Buying
1. Plan out your costume
Before browsing the listings page, come up with a plan for the costumes you would like to purchase and make a list of all the accessories and pieces that complete the cosplay. Avoid impulse purchases that "roughly" match your cosplay because you'll end up with multiple parts of one thing, while still missing other parts. When looking at listings, make sure you understand what it includes and what it doesn't.
2. Do pricing research
Most secondhand markets, Facebook groups, and selling apps don't set regulations on how sellers price their items. We've seen a whole range of costumes on heavy discount as well as costumes that are above the original purchase price (out of stock, upgrades, etc). Be sure to google the item or brand or the maker to get a rough sense of how much a new item would have been.
Facebook selling group moderator Katy recommends "it's up to each buyer to do good research to make sure they're getting the best deal". Even if someone is overcharging in her group, there's little she could do as a moderator, which is why it's so important that all buyers do their research.
We're sharing a few examples below. The first is a handmade The Baddest Evelynn, the second is a KDA Evelynn set including the wig , the last is a KDA prestige set!
3. Vet the sellers
Trust is one of the most important concerns that buyers mentioned. Will they just take my money? Is the costume is going to stink? Are there going to be defects that they didn't disclose? The questions and fears are endless when you don't know who you're dealing with on the other side.
Fortunately, there's a few things you could do here to figure out who you may be able to trust. On Coscove, click into each seller profile to see their social media and other accounts they linked. You can also see their past transaction history as well as any reviews left for them. Coscove also protects every purchase on our site, just in case!
If you are using Facebook groups, Bennet (owner of Darling Lane Entertainment) recommends that you do a quick search of the sellers’ names in the selling groups. You can see if they have commented, posted, or bought things, and how long they have been a part of the group. You can also check out their commerce platform or see if they are in other similar groups.
4. Don't be shy to message
I always message the seller when I see something I'm interested in. Sometimes I have a questions, sometimes I want to see more photos, other times I just want to see how the seller corresponds. Do they get back to me relatively quickly and speak in a respectful manner? You can tell a lot by the way someone chats with you.
Never hesitate to message the sellers with questions when something meets your interest. This will help you get to know the item better in detail, and also be a good way to get to know the seller and suss out who’s trustworthy.
5. Always use PayPal Goods & Services
If you've been on any secondhand trading group, then you'll know this. ALWAYS use PayPal goods and services, not Venmo and not PayPal friends and family. If you are buying on Coscove, then your transaction is automatically protected in case something goes wrong. Our team will step in and mediate the dispute. When you are not on our platform, however, using PP Goods and Services will allow you to open a dispute and potentially get your money back if there are any fraudulent behaviors.
Selling
1. Trade off between Speed and Money
Before getting started, ask yourself, is it most important to sell the costume quickly or sell it for a good price (or find the best home for your costume). Quality costumes can take longer to sell because of it's price point. If you want to sell quickly, be prepared to give bigger discounts.
Just for reference, cosplayers we spoke to mentioned that for costumes over $500, it can take up to 9-12 months to sell.
2. A picture is worth a thousand words
Almost everyone mentions that photos are THE most important part of a listing or of a review. When you are selling, remember to share the following.
1. Photo of costume worn on the body. Your favorite photoshoot will work perfectly here.
Princess performer Keren recommends always asking to see the costume on a body, especially if it's a brand you're unfamiliar with. Even if the costume is not exactly in the owner's size, it's helpful to see the costume's proportions and how certain pieces hang. She once bought a costume where the torso was disproportionally made and the bottom was crooked. Things looked fine in video but once it was on worn, the problem was obvious, so always ask to see it on the body.
2. Front and back of costumes and all parts laying flat. It's really helpful to show all the pieces together so avoid any confusion around what's included. Sharing multiple views will also help your case in case there is any damage after the item leaves your house or other unexpected situations.
3. If you are selling princess dresses, sharing photos of the dress on multiple performers will be a huge plus to the buyers
3. Key points for the description
The description should be detailed and informative so buyers know exactly what they're getting. In fact, the more detailed the description, the more you can protect yourself in case the buyer wants to open a dispute, since the third party will rely on evidence when judging the situation. A good description should have these components
Must Haves
1. Price + Shipping Location
2. Size + Measurements (costume or your own are fine)
3. What the price includes
4. The condition of the costume and any defect
Nice to haves
5. Why are you selling
6. Is the costume factory or handmade? Who is the maker
7. Are you the first, second, or third owner and how have you used the costume
4. Complete your profile
Earlier, we mentioned it's really hard for buyers to figure out who to trust on the internet. You can make this easier by adding in your social media information on your Coscove profile and filling out your bio + upcoming convention plans. The more you share about yourself as a cosplayer, the more you help to ease the fears of buying from a total stranger.
Check out more about our most recent cosplay buy&sell event at Wicked Comic Con Boston!
Mengshu is a co-founder of Coscove. Growing up in Canada, Mengshu loved theatre, dance, and all things photography. She did photoshoots in costume before even learning what cosplay was! Find her on Coscove: coscove.com/mengshus
