Planning a kilt liquidation

[Rex_Tremende]

Dear Rabble,

Hi, yeah, it's been a while. Life happened, and I turned my attentions elsewhere, mostly out of necessity, but also I got fat and replacing or modifying my kilts wasn't high on the list of priorities or in the budget, really. I've missed wearing them, but at the same time didn't feel the urge to talk about them much. Still, I hung on to them in the hopes that someday, maybe, I would slim down enough to slip into them again, but now the mother-in-law is moving in, and to make accommodations for her I have to purge just about anything that I can't wear for the closet space.

So, two questions: Generally, have people had success selling their things here, in the for sale forum, or is it better to go straight to a more public channel? Second, what's the best way to measure a kilt for a description? I would have no idea what the original specs were for any particular kilt I have, so I want to be able to reverse engineer them to the best of my ability.

Regards,
Rex in Cincinnati

[The Wizard of BC]

Welcome back Rex. You have been missed.

When describing a kilt for sale it is always good to show with pictures how you measured the kilt.

If the length of the kilt is given it is helpful to include if it is measured with a "Rise" or not.

This kilt has a drop of 23" and a Rise of 2" for a total length - Selvedge to top - of 25".



When giving the size it is helpful to show that the waist is from the right edge of the outer apron - across the apron at the height of the straps and buckles - across the pleated back - stopping at the right edge of the under apron.

This kilt has a 35" waist.



You then describe the kilt to the best of your ability.

Such as;

Made by - Omar the tentmaker

Made of 16oz wool - woven by Lochcarron
Include the amount of fabric such as 4 linear yards, 5 linear yards or 8 linear yards.

Include how the fabric is folded into pleats - such as Knife Pleats or Box Pleats.

And how the fabric is folded in reference to the Tartan - such as Pleated to Sett or Pleated to the white Stripe.

Name the Tartan completely - Name (such as Tremende) - version (such as hunting) and Colorway - (Such as modern or ancient)

And finally give the prospective buyer your asking price and if that price is negotiable.


Selling a kilt is sort of a hit and miss thing. You need to get your kilt in front of someone in that exact size, who wants that exact Tartan. I used to take kilts into my shop on commission. Some sat on my rack for three and four years.

The forum's For Sale section is a good start and perhaps your best initial bet. But just remember our for sale rule. If you list it here, do not also list it on Ebay at the same time.

[Macman]

Rex, welcome back, even if it is for such a sad thing as the selling of your kilts. You have been missed!

[Just Hugh]

I have also seen mentioned whether the kilt was been around pets, smoking, and even that it was never worn "regimental!"

[lschwartz]

And, of course, include a picture of the kilt as it would be worn, either on someone or folded so we can see the front and the back.

[OC Richard]

Some people hate Ebay, but for a seller it has at least two advantages:

1) your item will most probably be viewed by a larger number of potential buyers than anywhere else.

2) an auction allows people to pay more for your item than you think it's worth.

This last can be important, because every day on Ebay people bid items higher than their ordinary going rate.

There have been times when I have sold an item for several times more than I thought it was worth, and there have been times when I have paid several times more for an item than the seller thought it was worth.

Valuation can be personal, even eccentric.

About used kilts, I see kilts all the time on Ebay that are the right waist size, but they're always too short! I see kilts in large adult waist sizes that are shorter than traditional adult kilts would be made- they must have been ordered to sit at the hips rather than at the waist.