How to describe flaws honestly when selling second-hand clothes

Why it matters

On Rewear, when you list a piece you confirm that the title, description, size, condition and measurements are accurate to the best of your knowledge. A buyer who finds damage the seller did not mention can report it on the order within 14 days of delivery, and a buyer who finds an undeclared flaw is entitled to a refund. You can read the details in our Terms.

A flaw a buyer has seen before paying is a flaw they have accepted. A flaw they find in the parcel is a problem. Small, honest flaws rarely stop a sale; hidden ones often undo one.

Find the flaws first

Check the piece in daylight, inside and out, before you write anything.

1. Underarms and sides, for pilling, marks and discolouration.
2. Collar and cuffs, for grubby edges and fraying.
3. Seat, knees and inner thighs on trousers, for thinning and shine.
4. Hems, for drops, fraying and marks from the ground.
5. The fabric held up to a window, for small holes.
6. Fastenings: every button, zip, popper and hook.
7. The lining and inside seams.
8. Smell, especially smoke, damp and pets.

Our guide to condition grades has a fuller checklist and helps you choose the right grade.

The four things to say

For each flaw, cover:

• What it is: a mark, a hole, pilling, fading, a pulled thread, a repair.
• Where it is: left cuff, back of the collar, right underarm, inside the lining.
• How big it is: in cm if you can measure it.
• How noticeable it is: only visible up close, noticeable when worn, hidden when buttoned.

Then point to the photo that shows it.

Before and after

• "Some wear" becomes "Light bobbling under both arms and along the sides, not noticeable when worn."
• "Small mark" becomes "Faint grey mark on the front, about 1 cm, below the second button, photo 4."
• "Well loved" becomes "Fading on the knees and slight fraying at both back hems, photos 6 and 7."
• "Tiny hole" becomes "Pinhole on the back, near the hem, about 2 mm, photo 5."
• "Vintage condition" becomes "Light discolouration on the inside of the collar, typical of its age, photo 3."

Use the listing form too

On Rewear, the listing form has an "Any flaws?" section where you can tick the flaws that apply, such as Small mark, Stain, Fading, Pilling or bobbling, Small hole, Has been repaired, Missing button, Zip needs attention, Scuffs and Worn soles. Tick everything that applies, and still describe each one in words. The tags tell a buyer what to look for; your description tells them how much it matters.

Photograph every flaw

• Take a close-up in daylight, sharp and in focus, with nothing covering it.
• Add a second shot from further back if it helps show where the flaw sits on the garment.
• Put something small beside it for scale, such as a coin, if size is hard to judge.
• Do not edit it away. Filters and heavy brightening that hide marks are the same as not mentioning them.

Our guide to photographing clothes to sell covers light and set-up.

Things people forget to mention

• Repairs, however neat. Say what was done.
• Alterations, such as a shortened hem or a taken-in waist.
• Missing parts: a belt, a hood, a detachable collar, spare buttons.
• Smells, including smoke or damp, even faint.
• Shrinkage or stretching, where the piece no longer matches its label size. Measurements in cm cover this. Our guide on how to measure clothes shows which to take.
• Pet hair, if you have pets and it is hard to remove completely.

Choose the grade to match

The condition grade and the flaws should agree. If you are describing several marks, the piece is probably not "very good". If you are torn between two grades, choose the lower one. A buyer who receives something better than expected leaves happy.

Price it to match

A declared flaw is a reason to adjust the price, not to hide the flaw. Buyers looking for a bargain are often happy with a small mark if the price reflects it. Our guide to writing a clothing listing description shows where flaws fit in the rest of the listing.

The short version

Find every flaw in daylight. For each one, say what it is, where it is, how big it is and how noticeable, and show it in a photo. Tick it in "Any flaws?", choose a grade that matches and price it fairly. Honesty up front is what keeps a sale sold.