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Defunkd

Vintage T-Shirt Consignment Program

If you’ve got an awesome vintage tee (or t-shirts!) that you’re looking to sell, you’ve come to the right place. Our consignment program takes all the hassle out of selling your t-shirt online. You won’t have to worry about deciding which marketplace to use, or signing up (attaching credit cards and bank accounts), photographing, accurately describing, measuring and grading your t-shirt. No fielding questions from international buyers, no dealing with shipping or the potential for returns (or fraud!).

Let’s take eBay, for example. It has plenty of pitfalls to avoid and several hoops to jump through. The biggest issue being setting up a new account. The site puts up roadblocks for new sellers which then put their listings at a disadvantage. Instead, listings from veteran sellers get more visibility as eBay views new sellers as less reputable and reliable. The site also puts lengthy holds on payments for sold items and insists items are delivered before allowing access to that money.

Defunkd eBay ProfileEnter Defunkd: the first t-shirt shop (and one of the only examples) to be awarded by eBay as one of their Entrepreneurs of the Year. We have a 100% positive feedback score representing nearly 5,000 reviews (which should ideally reflect more than 10,000 sales, although the majority of buyers don’t leave feedback.) Our near-perfect, detailed seller profile means we’re also certified as a Top-Rated Seller. Our listing practices, policies and settings ensure our items get the best possible exposure on the system – while paying substantially lower seller’s fees. Not to mention, after 10+ years, we’ve got plenty of return customers keeping a close eye on everything we put up for sale.

But… eBay aside! Defunkd.com is an independent marketplace that represents a variety of the top vintage t-shirt shops from around the world. We’ll list your item on our system too – so you’ll get double the exposure. Our traffic is unique, given our reputation as the world’s most trusted authority on true vintage. Our marketplace has its own customer base, many of whom have sworn off eBay. And if we sell the item via our own marketplace (or privately) then there are no sales fees.

PromotionWe’re also seriously connected to buyers and the vintage t-shirt market. We connect with 3,500 email subscribers and more than 10,000 followers through our social media accounts on Instagram and Twitter. Needless to say, we’ll use every tool in our repertoire to make sure the right people see your t-shirt.

Instead of selling your goods to an online retailer (which is likely to give you a low-ball offer), our program ensures we’ll fetch top-dollar for your t-shirt. And the exciting part is that you’ll maximize your profits – up to 80% of the sale price! Don’t be sucker-punched with seller’s remorse when you see the t-shirt you sold to another retailer for $200 ends up fetching $2,000. With our consignment program rates you could have received $1,600 if we had sold your item instead!

The bottom line: we offer zero hassle and we get you more money.

* indicates consignment terms updated (03/07/2017)

Click here to get started!

Here’s how it works, simplified:

1) Fill out our consignment form by clicking here – let us know what you have to sell. We’ll negotiate a profit-split via email.

2) Ship the item(s) to us using a tracked delivery service.

3) We’ll take care of everything from there: photography, listings, and promotion.

4) You receive your money (in US currency) once the postal tracking indicates the item is delivered and the customer confirms the transaction is final.

What type of tees do you accept?

Good question. First and foremost, they must be true vintage. For the most part, we’re looking for tees manufactured prior to 2000. There are certain exceptions, though, so it never hurts to fill out the consignment form to check.

To get a better idea of what we’re looking for, take a moment to scroll through our blog archive of sold tees and what price they fetched, or check out our Instagram account showcasing rare, high-value pieces.

Rock, metal, hip hop, and Harley tees are always good sellers, as are many items pre-’70s. We also like dealing in lots. For example, if you have numerous band tees from the ’70s and ’80s, great. If it’s just a single tee you have, that’s great too. We’re always looking for rare and sought-after items. What we’re trying to say is that there’s got to be demand for the item, otherwise these shirts will just sit on our shelves. Again, if in doubt, fill out our consignment form!

How do you come up with the profit-split?

We always offer a split in your favor – up to 80%. But in the case of an 80/20 split, it likely means you have a rare t-shirt that’s high in value. The most common ratio is 60/40 in your favor, and sometimes 50/50 if your item is more generic. But we may also decline your item(s). Some examples are just too common or don’t have a worthwhile resale value. In other cases, sometimes sellers have profit expectations that are unrealistic.

What type of listing format do you use?

Since auctions can be really risky we usually list items at a fixed price with offers. We’ll discuss the listing format and pricing strategy with you so you’re comfortable. We’ll field offers on your behalf and discuss them with you. We’ll never accept an offer below your comfort zone (unless you sign-off on it.) Rest assured we won’t let the item slip away below its potential value.

What fees are subtracted from the sale to calculate the final profit?

If the sale transpires on eBay, the site charges its own fees (check here for eBay fees). And PayPal usage is inevitable, so there are also PayPal fees. If the sale transpires on Defunkd, we’ll avoid eBay fees. And if we’re able to sell privately, in some cases, there are no fees at all!

Shipping to the final customer is an additional fee paid for at the time of purchase and doesn’t affect your profits.

Will there be any additional fees for me to receive my portion of the profit?*

No, as long as you have a PayPal account and can receive personal payments. If not, no problem. In cases where we have to use another method that incurs fees, they will be subtracted from the final amount. If you’re unable to use PayPal please let us know in advance.

Do you promote every tee via your mailing list and social accounts?

No. We can’t send out an email for every t-shirt we put up for sale. But you can bet if you have something special we’ll proudly make use of every marketing tool at our disposal. For moderately valued items, we’ll rely on our social accounts to get the word out. Mailing list promotion is typically reserved for rare tees with a high value.

Do you cover the cost to ship my tee to you?*

Not anymore. During our pilot program we had a few instances where customers opted to use expensive couriers that were not only twice as expensive, but had subsequent “handling fees” charged to the the end user (us!) We’re happy to receive a package in which ever way you feel most comfortable shipping – but we no longer factor in the price you pay for shipping into the equation. And any additional fees the carrier charges us will be reimbursed.

But we’ll happily discuss your plan to ship to us and we can advise on the most cost-effective and safest services, the best packaging materials and any potential for forms, duty and avoiding additional hidden fees.

What if I change my mind and want my tee(s) back?

That’s perfectly fine! As long as the item hasn’t sold, we’ll remove the listing and return it within a few days using a tracked service. However, we’ll ask that you reimburse us for the return shipping cost prior to mailing back the item.

Get started now by filling out the consignment form – click here!

If you have additional questions, not to worry! We’ll be in touch via email and we can clarify any remaining details you may be curious about.

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Jimmy founded Defunkd in 2004 when he started selling vintage t-shirts online. 20 years of experience later and he hasn't looked back since. Actually, he looks back all the time given he's a sucker for nostalgia. For more, check the history of Defunkd and Jimmy's Expertise.

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