Best internet site to sell vintage linens?

Hi,

I thought to ask this to experienced sellers of vintage linen on the internet. We have tried selling vintage linen on eBay with little success. One time we tried selling a rare peacock chenille bedspread and did not even get a bid on it.

Seems like eBay may not be the right venue for selling vintage linen. Is etsy better? I know you have a fixed price for it, but with so much stuff on there and no time limit, is the turn over slow?

 

I think you will be pleased with the results on Etsy, for items such as that. You may have to wait a bit, but with all the crafters and sewing people, you will at least find an appreciative crowd. I do well with linens, sheets, fabrics, pillowcases, towels. Wish I had time to list more. I cannot compare to ebay though, as I've not often sold such items there, and in fact rarely sell anything there any more.

 

Hi Joules,

Thanks for your reply. Do you sell vintage linens on Etsy? or handmade items. I found a lot of sellers of vintage linens on there while browsing. They also give you 4 months to list them.

When you say "wait a while" I hope you don't mean more than 4 months?

 

You're welcome, and yes, I have, from time to time. No handmade, just vintage for me, but mostly vintage fashion items, of course.
For instance, Vera tablecloth:
http://www.etsy.com/transaction/29080055
Cherry berry napkin set:
http://www.etsy.com/transaction/22736625
Vera towels:
http://www.etsy.com/transaction/27074861
Vera linen:
http://www.etsy.com/transaction/109740
'61 Tea towel:
http://www.etsy.com/transaction/22018352

Here is an example of a seller who does well with chenille. She's a friend of mine, through etsy. Yes, it may take more than 4 months, but relists are only 20 cents.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/catnapcottage

 

Mary Jane, what about Ruby Lane for this sort of thing, or Ruby Plaza?
You have to be patient is right. I finally sold my Zomba 40's barkcloth yardage, after several years. But, I got my price, and it is going to someone who will cherish and use it, in authentic vintage decor in her home. So, that makes me happy, and other stuff sells in the meantime.

 

I'd like to sell on there too, Mary Jane. It's a very nice venue, and good to know that the clientele is pleasant.

Makemytable, are you talking antique linens, of Etsy's vintage definition, of 20 years and older?

 

Yes these are antique linens. We periodically purchase direct from institutions in bulk and get a lot of these that accumulate fast. I guess the appeal of eBay is we get it off our hands in 7 days.

We normally do not launder or press these items, rather we sell them mostly at wholesale price which leads me to my other question. Is there an internet site you experienced folks know where we can sell these antique linens in bulk?

 

That's a whole 'nother ballgame. However, I think you could carve out a specialized niche for your wares, on Etsy. My opinion.

 

JMHO, I wouldn't bother trying to sell linens on Ruby Lane. I have had much better luck on eBay, believe it or not! I had a lovely set of hand-embroidered real linen dresser scarves, in an unusual pattern; had them on RL for ages, and they didn't sell. Put them on eBay, and I think they sold at or higher than the price I had them on RL. But.... to be fair, that was 2 or 3 years ago. I haven't tried linens anywhere since then, but I have a pile of them to list as well. I also sold a Wilendur tablecloth on eBay for nice money--so I think if you have "name-brand" collectible linens, eBay can still be a decent venue, but not for nice, but not-spectacular ones.

 

Well, there does not seem to be a market out there for wholesale. I just did a search for "lot vintage linen" on etsy. Came out with a few listing, pretty cheap and no buyers.

I agree on Ebay, the only way you can get good pricing on there is if your item is extra special not the run of the mill vintage.