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How to Sell Golf Shirts for Profit on eBay

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The Golf Shirt Bible: How to Sell Golf Shirts for Profit on eBay

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The Golf Shirt Bible: How to Sell Golf Shirts for Profit on eBay

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Golf (polo style) shirts are a men’s wardrobe staple. Men wear them to the office, as casual sportswear, and of course, to play golf. In my eBay selling career since 2003, I’ve sold over 10,000 men’s golf shirts. I have learned volumes along the way about selling golf shirts on eBay. My eBay ecommerce business has shifted into other directions, and now I am able to openly share this information with you to help you make money on eBay selling golf shirts that you can find in thrift stores, clearance sales, and from other sources. I usually found the bulk of my golf shirt inventory from thrift stores. In my previous career as a fundraising coordinator for a non-profit

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organization, I had organized several golf tournaments. Through this experience, I learned a lot about golfers, their preferences, and what happens to extra or overstock golf shirts created for the fundraiser. First of all, shirts are given out at tournaments as gifts, prizes, or inside goodie bags. More often than not, the golfer didn’t get his size and just takes the shirt anyway. I am guessing that these brand new shirts end up at the Goodwill store and other thrift shops. I learned that all of the left-over golf shirts created for tournaments were donated to thrift stores. You’ll often find batches of brand new shirts, with tags, all in a cluster in the thrift store. You can also check with your local embroidery shops to see if they have samples they can sell you. Usually, they just want to recover the cost of the original shirt so this can be a good deal. I think new golf shirts also end up in thrift stores because of business travelers. Men often bring home souvenirs from their trips and give them away – again, they may not be the right size for the recipient and the shirt gets donated. Also, golf shirts are popular gifts for business clients. Rather than refuse a gift that is the wrong size, I think the shirts are just brought home and donated. Shirts from more prestigious tournaments and clubs often appear in off-price stores like TJ Maxx, Steinmart, Ross, and Marshall’s. I’ve found brand new, designer golf shirts with country club logos at

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these stores for less than $10. I’ll give you ore information later about how to handle selling clothing from off-price stores. Another place to look is at your local dry cleaner. These will be EUC (excellent used condition) shirts. If you have a good relationship with your dry cleaner, try this technique. Dry cleaners have a section of unclaimed items. Who knows why – maybe the owner moved or just forgot about his order. You can offer to pay the bill on unclaimed items left at the cleaners. Sometimes the owner will go for it, sometimes not. The cost to dry clean a golf shirt is around $4. Not a bad investment on something you can resell. If you live near a golf course, try talking to the manager of the pro shop. Their stock rotates just like in a retail store, and you may be able to strike a deal to take older merchandise off their hands. It never hurts to try. Having several sources for inventory is a good idea. Several factors are involved in selling a golf shirt for profit. Brand name, color, logo, size, fabric, and presentation all play an important part. When you combine the right mix of these factors, you can make great profits on eBay selling golf shirts. Golfers are meticulous about their wardrobe. They like to look sharp on the course. They like to wear the leading brands with the prestigious course and tournament logos. Even if they have never

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played on a particular course, they can buy a shirt on eBay and tell whatever story they want. Men’s clothing is easier to sell on eBay than women’s clothing. Men in general are not recreational shoppers like women. They shop for clothes because they have to, not because they want to. Men’s sizes are pretty cut and dry – small, medium, large, etc. They don’t have to deal with petite, plus, or other subcategories. Keep in mind that clothing eventually has to be replaced. You may sell a few golf shirts to a customer this year, but in a year or two, he will need more. This is a huge benefit of selling clothing, and a major factor in establishing a customer base and getting repeat business. I have customers buying from me every summer who I first sold to back in 2003. Men also gravitate to internet shopping because it is quick, easy, and an efficient use of their time. A few minutes on the internet, and they have the merchandise in their hands in a few days. eBay shopping is perfect for men!

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Masters / Augusta National
My #1 best seller is the Masters Golf shirt. It usually looks like this. Colors and patterns will vary, but the green is the traditional, recognizable color. (Don’t ever pass one up if you see one!) The brand name will be Bobby Jones, Slazenger, or Amen Corner, and there may be others. Masters shirts are only sold the week of the Masters, at the tournament. They aren’t available any other time

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at Augusta National Golf Course. You can find them on the internet (as people buy them only to resell them), but prices range upward of $150.00. Look for these in thrift stores. These are hot sellers used, and if you find one new, plan on making at least $60 on eBay. Check these completed listings to verify. Any size of any type golf apparel of a Masters item is a good seller. I have found vests, jackets, sweaters, caps, and even women’s items. As long as it doesn’t look like it has been run over by a car, you can pretty much sell anything with the Masters logo on it. Hint: Be sure to put the key words MASTERS AUGUSTA NATIONAL in your title.

Oh, and one more thing. I have found that it is not profitable to worry with the Ladies Masters shirts. Women aren’t allowed to play in the Masters, and this is a sore spot for many people. I got a lot of hate mail for even listing women’s items.

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Bobby Jones
My #2 selling brand is Bobby Jones, which is ironic, because Bobby Jones was the famous amateur golfer who actually built Augusta National Golf Course, the home of The Masters Tournament. (If you haven’t seen the movie Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius, it is worth 2 hours of your time to get some history!) The best selling Bobby Jones shirts are the ones with the golfer design on the placket. They look like this:

You’ll notice the 1920’s style clothing on the golfer embroidered on the placket. This design is a big deal to serious golfers. You will often find these shirts with corporate logos. These are very high quality shirts (made in Italy) that big companies (in the South anyway) use for corporate apparel, golf tournament prizes, or customer gifts. That is ok, sell them anyway. Golfers like the brand name, as Bobby Jones

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shirts retail for well over $100 new. The one pictured above was one I sold. It has the Grey Goose Vodka logo on the sleeve. I bought it at a thrift store for $3 and it sold for $25. I’ve also seen these with CocaCola, Georgia Pacific, and McDonald’s logos, among others. Hint: Be sure to put the key words GOLFER PLACKET in your title. That feature is important on Bobby Jones shirts.

Jeff Rose
Another great seller is Jeff Rose. These shirts retail for over $100 and are made in Italy, which indicates high quality. They have the distinctive purple or navy blue tag in the collar. These usually come in funky or bright colors. I’ve seen them in pink, purple, coral, sapphire blue, orange, lime green and vibrant patterns. The tag in the collar looks like this:

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Burberry
Burberry is an established classic and an excellent seller, no matter what type of apparel. Golf shirts are no exception. Look for the Burberry leaping horse logo on the chest. If it is not there, that is ok, the brand name is enough. The styles with the Nova Check plaid on the collar are very popular. I’ve only found a few of these in my eBay career, but they have sold for upwards of $60. I sold one just like this:

The one I found was EUC, and sold for $52. I paid about $4 for it at a thrift store. Hint: Include key words BURBERRY BURBERRYS and NOVA CHECK (if the shirt has the plaid) in the title. Some people add the “s” to the word Burberry, so even though that is not the correct spelling, you will catch those searches by including it.

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Hugo Boss
Hugo Boss is another high-end designer brand. They tend to run small, so be sure to provide the measurements. These are usually made in Italy. Look for the distinctive green label in the collar.

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Click the link to visit the site and learn more about each brand. There is a section later in the book showing the logos for these brands. Adidas Ashworth Bobby Chan Brooks Bros Burma Bibas Callaway Carnoustie Cutter & Buck Fairway & Greene Greg Norman Izod Joey Rodolfo Jos A Bank Joseph Abboud Lacoste Nautica Nike Dri Fit Ping Ralph Lauren TaylorMade Tiger Woods Titleist Top Flite Under Armour

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St. Andrews Links, Scotland

Augusta National Golf Course Masters Tournament Augusta, GA

Ryder Cup Tournament Various Locations

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Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, NC

Torrey Pines San Diego, CA

Sea Pines Hilton Head, SC

*Note: The Pebble Beach logoed shirt is not the same as a cheaper brand often found at Steinmart and other off-price stores. The Pebble Beach brand is not a high profit item, so make sure you understand the difference between the two.

Innisbrook Resort Palm Harbor, FL

Pebble Beach Pebble Beach, CA

Wild Dunes Charleston, SC

Ponte Vedra at Sawgrass Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Bay Hill Orlando, FL

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The Ocean Course Kiawah Island, SC

Chateau Elan Winery & Resort Braselton, GA

Sawgrass Resort Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Kapalua Resort Maui, HI

Callaway Gardens Resort Pine Mountain, GA

Spyglass Hill Pebble Beach, CA

Bethpage Golf Course Long Island, NY

Shinnecock Hills Southampton, NY

US Open Tournament ‘07 Oakmont

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AT&T Classic Tournament
(Formerly the Bellsouth Classic)

Sugarloaf Golf Club Duluth, GA

Four Seasons at Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Duluth, GA

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Shirts with just the brand name or designer logo sell very well. Here is a visual of what the logos look like. You may want to print this out and keep it with you when you are out shopping.

Nautica
Sailboat with no

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Greg Norman

Tiger Woods
logo (by Nike Golf)

Joey Rodolfo

Ashworth
Golfman Logo

Jos A Bank David Leadbetter Golf

Ping Golfman logo

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Avoid plain white unless it is a Masters shirt. Most men end up staining a white shirt anyway. I have found that they do not sell very well. Avoid solid gray – it is just plain and depressing. Vibrant colors such as purple, sapphire blue and even hot pink do well. Funky patterns are good. My best selling colors are: Black Coral Cornflower blue Hot pink / fuchsia Light Blue Navy Orange / peach Periwinkle Purple Royal blue Sapphire blue Silver Teal Turquoise

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Describing the fabric in your listing is very important. People want to know what the material feels like, looks like, what it is made of, and how to care for it. Some people have allergies to synthetic fabrics and can’t or won’t wear anything but cotton. (Trust me, I heard that one.) Some don’t like cotton at all because it is too hot or too thick, and prefer a lighter weight performance fabric or silk. Others are concerned about fabric shrinkage and will order a size larger than they normally wear depending on what the shirt is made of. Also, customers want to know about caring for the garment – whether it is machine washable or dry clean only.

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With this in mind, it is important for you to know what kind of fabric you are offering to the customer, and have the knowledge to describe it accurately. You might want to visit your local mall or department store and familiarize yourself with these fabrics before trying to look for them in a thrift store. You can feel the difference in the weight and textures of the fabrics and understand what you are selling. (Consider the trip to the mall a field trip for your eBay training!)

Cotton pique has been around forever and is the basic fabric for a golf shirt. Cotton pique is a woven fabric with a raised woven design, usually tiny little squares or honeycomb pattern. You can’t go wrong with cotton pique, but fabric technology has come a long way and to keep the profits coming in, you’ve got to be on the cutting edge of technology – even if it is cotton technology. Here is what cotton pique looks like (notice the tiny squares in the fabric):

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Combed cotton is another basic fabric. It is softer, smoother, and usually thicker than cotton pique. Cutter & Buck makes some lovely combed cotton shirts. Ashworth, Ralph Lauren, and Izod also make nice

Mercerized cotton is very popular. You’ve probably seen this even if you don’t know what it is. Mercerized cotton has a sheen or luster to it – this is also known as pearl cotton. “Mercerizing” is the technique for treating the cotton where it is wound very tightly. Mercerized shirts are usually 100% cotton and are lightweight and breathable. You will also see them described as “double mercerized” or “Egyptian cotton mercerized.”

Here is what mercerized cotton looks like (notice the luster of the fabric):

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Performance fabrics will bring the highest profit. Performance fabrics are those that offer moisture wicking, or some sort of “dry” technology. Most brands offer a performance fabric line. Here are a few that I have sold: Adidas ClimaCool Ashworth Dry Tech Callaway DrySport Greg Norman Play Dry Nike Dri Fit Nike Sphere Dry Ping Dry Fiber Under Armour Performance

100% silk is also a great seller. These do very well. I’ve found them made by Bobby Chan, Cutter & Buck, Bobby Jones, and Tommy Bahama. If you find these at thrift stores, examine them carefully as they often have pulls, runs, or snags.

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Tencel is a new fabric made of wood pulp cellulose. It is the trade name for Lycocell. Tencel is a stretchy, lightweight fabric similar to a performance fabric and has a lovely drape. It has a silky, blousy, “peach skin” type finish. Tencel is machine washable and drip dries quickly so it is an easy-care fabric. It is great for travel because it packs light and retains its shape. Tencel is breathable and perfect for the golf course. It isn’t cheap – some Tencel shirts retail for over $80.

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I have found that smalls and mediums do not sell well on eBay. Rarely do I list a medium, only if it is a Masters or a Bobby Jones. For the best results, stick with large, XL, 2XL and larger. 2XL are the best selling category. Big and tall men often have a hard time finding clothing in their size, especially logoed shirts. They just want to look as sharp as everyone else on the course!

Always include the measurements on your listings. All brands run differently and you will save yourself time and headaches if you just include the measurements when you are listing the item.

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To measure: Lay the shirt flat on a hard surface, face up. Measure across the chest from one underarm seam to the other. This is the chest measurement.

Flip the shirt over. Measure from the bottom of the collar to the hem. This is the length.

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As I mentioned before, and probably will again, your words and photos are the only tools you have on eBay to convince potential buyers to buy from you. Words are very powerful. When describing your golf shirts, it is beneficial to include the following information.

The placket is the slit below the collar where the buttons are. You will see 2, 3, and 4 button plackets. Include this information on your listing. Again, people are particular. I had a customer tell me once that her husband would not wear anything but a 2-button placket shirt – he would have a fit if she brought home anything else.

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Note: The placket on men’s and women’s shirts face opposite directions. Pay attention to this so that you don’t confuse the two and list a woman’s shirt as a mans!

placket

Men’s placket faces left

Women’s placket faces right

Buttons. This may seem like a micro-detail, but trust me, people have asked. Give the color of the buttons and mention if they have the logo or company name.

Sleeve opening – hemmed or banded. Hemmed (some people call them open) sleeves are a looser fit. Many men like the hemmed sleeve because it is less constricting. Other men prefer a more fitted sleeve opening. Sometimes the banded sleeve matches or

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Sleeve opening – hemmed or banded. Hemmed (some people call them open) sleeves are a looser fit. Many men like the hemmed sleeve because it is less constricting. Other men prefer a more fitted sleeve opening. Sometimes the banded sleeve matches or coordinates with the collar.

The high-end designer names and more expensive shirts usually have hemmed sleeves. Neither sells better than the other, they are just different options. I guarantee you will get this question, so go ahead and include this information in your listing.

Banded sleeve

Hemmed or open sleeve

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Extended tail. This is when the back of the shirt is longer than the front. Some men like this because the shirt tail stays tucked in better. If you notice that the back half of the shirt is longer than the front, mention that in your listing.

So, putting all of this information, here is how would describe the following golf shirt. I tend to write like a catalog – just the facts. Other sellers prefer to add more to the description, telling a story. My opinion here is that buyers are looking through many eBay listings, not just yours. Stick to the facts and pertinent information important to them rather than elaborating on how it was your husband’s favorite shirt or how you bought it on your trip to the beach and it didn’t fit, or other information that many not interest them. If your listing looks too long, it won’t be read, or the potential buyer will just click away – people are in a hurry and they want to find what they are looking for quickly.

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100% cotton pique golf shirt By Nike Golf 3 button placket with pearlized Nike buttons Short sleeves, banded Nike swoosh logo on front left, No other logos Color – cornflower blue Size large 23.5 inches across chest 28 inch length New without tag $4 shipping to US and Canada



 



   

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When selling anything on eBay, multiple photos are always beneficial for several reasons. First, multiple photos give the buyer more information about your item than a single photo. All you have to work with on eBay is the written word and your photos so you need to take advantage of the opportunity to post several photos. Second, I think displaying multiple photos makes you a more reputable, honest, trustworthy seller. If you go to the trouble to show 2-3 photos of a clothing garment, you are saying to the buyer, “Hey, look, here is the item. I am not hiding anything. You can see for yourself that the item is in great condition and you can trust me to send you the item as I have described it.”

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Finally, if there is a flaw on the item, show a photo of it. Again, if you are up front with your buyers and lay all your cards on the table from the beginning, you will gain the buyer’s trust and avoid any returns, complaints, or negative feedback.

Now, if you are selling golf shirts, I highly recommend that you show at least 2 photos. You will want to show one of the folded shirt, and a close up of the logo. Sometimes I scan the logo on my scanner for a really nice picture. (Put something flat behind the logo area, I use a CD jewel case. Pull the fabric tight, and lay it on your scanner.) If the shirt has multiple logos, you should show all of them. Many times the shirt will have a logo on the front left, one on the sleeve near the cuff, and on the back yoke below the collar. I have had instances where I did not mention what I thought was an inconspicuous logo on the sleeve, and boy did I hear about it from the buyer. Apparently, the buyer had a bad experience with the company whose logo was on the sleeve and I had to hear the whole story about it, as well as get slammed for not mentioning the logo. So, just be thorough in your description and your photos. People are funny about the little things.

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This person did a good job showing multiple photos:

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100% cotton pique golf shirt By Nike Golf 3 button placket with pearlized Nike buttons Short sleeves, banded Nike swoosh logo on front left, No other logos Color – cornflower blue Size large 23.5 inches across chest 28 inch length New without tag $4 shipping to US and Canada



 



   

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As with any item on eBay, you will need to do your homework before setting an auction starting price or a buy it now price. When I first started selling golf shirts in 2003, my starting price was $7.50 for a NWT or NWOT golf shirt. I gradually moved up to starting at $12.50. This seems to be a good threshold for an auction starting price.

For highly coveted logoed shirts, such as Masters, Ryder Cup, or St. Andrews, you may be able to start higher. Just search completed listings to get a feel for the going rate. eBay changes frequently and quickly, so there is no hard and fast rule about pricing. You’ve just got to watch the market and keep your pricing competitive.
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Key words are how searchers will find your listing on eBay. You only have 55 characters for your title, so each word needs to give you as much “bang for your buck” as possible. Here is a sample of a good title for a golf shirt:

NEW Mens Bobby Jones golf polo shirt XL navy HILTON HEAD

This is actually 56 characters, but you get the idea. Let’s dissect this title.

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1. Always put the word NEW or NWT as the very first word. Why? With the new Best Match System, anything with NEW or NWT is going to appear first. Think that is crazy? Some sellers are manipulating the system by putting the word NEW more than once in the title. This is actually keyword spamming so don’t go there. Just realize that using the words NEW or NWT as the first word will help you in search rankings.

2. Put the gender in the title, men’s or women’s. Gender is a highly searched category.

3. Brand name. Always include brand name. Again, people are particular and know what they like and will search for it.

4. Use both words “golf” and “polo.” People use both terms when describing a golf shirt. You want to catch everyone who might be searching for this type of garment.

5. Size. Always include the size. I have had the best luck using these exact words: medium, large, XL, 2XL or XXL. Leave out the word “size.” It just takes up space and people don’t usually

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include it in searches anyway. 6. Color. People search on color. I can’t tell you how many people have had to buy a particular color of shirt for a special function, because it is a gift for someone and they are looking for that person’s favorite color, or 100 other reasons why the color is a major factor.

7. Logo, golf course location, or tournament name. If you have room, include this. I get the most hits on the terms Masters and Augusta National. You may not have room for this but try to include it if you can.

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I have been a full time online seller working out of my home since 2003. Since that time, I have sold over 50,000 items on both eBay and Amazon to buyers all over the world. During my ecommerce journey, I have gained expertise on what products to sell, where to find them, and how to successfully market items to make a profit on eBay. Selling online is more than a hobby for me; it is a passion and my full-time job.

The challenge of operating an ecommerce business has been exciting and has evolved into a new mission: helping other entrepreneurs find success and enjoying the freedom of working from home. If you are new to online selling, or are not getting the desired results from your business, I am here to help you. I am available for consulting, seminars, workshops, and speaking engagements. Training can also be conducted online regardless of your location. You can also visit my website, Suzanne AWells.com, for many more ecommerce resources.

I have a BA in Business Administration from Queens College in Charlotte, NC where I graduated Summa Cum Laude. My professional background is in banking and credit marketing, and prior to starting my eBay business, I spent 10 years working for national companies including Wachovia Bank and Equifax. I have been a stay-at-home mom since 1994 and have 2 children. We live in a suburb of Atlanta, GA.

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