The purpose of this blog is twofold. The first section is dedicated to answering "WHERE" you can buy/trade/sell your BJJ Gear online. Then we try and and answer the "HOW" to not only buy/trade/sell online, but protect yourself in doing so.
WHERE To Buy/Sell/Trade Online
There are a few websites and several Facebook groups that you might want to consider advertising your new or used BJJ gear (primarily kimonos) for sale. Some allow any brand or BJJ item to be sold, while others are brand specific, and some are even size focused. Most of these sites are free to join and use, but one does require a payment of some kind. The paid site is listed at the bottom of this portion of the blog.Below is a list of the names of these sites and the links to them. This list will be updated regularly and feel free to email me (click here) and suggest others as well.
Many groups will immediately remove any post that does not meet their requirements AND banish the poster from the group. Sure, reading these will take a few minutes, but each group was set up with a different objective and you should know what that is before you start participating in the group. To post without knowing a groups guidelines for posting is considered "SPAM."
Moving on....
There are several groups on Facebook where you can post and sell your items for free. They are as follows:
BJJ Gis For Sale - Here you can list any kimono (or related items like rash guards and patches for example). It is a good group and well moderated. No trolls allowed, but they do appear from time to time. A new rule (September, 2014) requires all for sale items include an asking price. A poll of the members was taken and 90% chose this option. Enforcing this is another conversation.
BJJ & MMA Classifieds - Similar group to the above, but allows any BJJ and MMA gear while the above (BJJ Gis For Sale) really tries to keep the focus on kimonos. Also, this group is not as well moderated and you will get some trolls here. In this group you also must post an asking price on your items. No "PM me with offers" allowed.
A1 & A1L/A1T BJJ Gi Marketplace - This newer group is total focused on A1, A1L and A1T kimonos (collectively known as A1X). Well moderated and all about business. No BS or trolls allowed.
BJJ Gi Addicts Anonymous - This group has changed it's admin, personality and policies more often than a newborn gets his diaper changed. Currently they DO NOT allow posting of secondary market BJJ gear for sale, but that was not always the case. Currently they have a sister group that is specifically dedicated toward listing BJJ gis and gear for sale. It is: BJJ Gi Addicts Gi & Gear Sales.
CTRL Freaks - A group of CTRL Industries fans with posts of all things CTRL, including buying and selling CTRL items if you have or are seeking any. Well moderated and no trolls allowed. This is definitely THE group to go to for CTRL products and new drop notices. The owner of CTRL regularly posts and participates in the group.
CTRL Free Market - Trade or Sell - A small but growing group of CTRL Industries fans with a focus on sales and trades only. No other BS. Well moderated and no trolls allowed.
Shoyoroll Trade or Sell - This was the first group for Shoyoroll fans to buy/trade/sell Shoyoroll gis and gear. While there are many good people in this group, be advised that the admin not only allows but they encourage hate speech toward people who post what are (in their sole opinion) overpriced gis. So if you want to sell a rare gi that is priced over $400, you may want to avoid that group unless you are prepared to be attacked by the ShoyoTrolls.
Shoyoroll Free Market - Trade or Sell - This is a newer group (mid-November 2014) that was set up as an alternative to the aforementioned Shoyoroll Trade or Sell group (aka, ShoyoTroll Group). The original (and stated) objective of this group was to allow the members to list any Shoyoroll kimono at any price (hence "Free Market" in its name) and not have to worry about trolls or haters like in the ShoyoTroll group. However, over time the ShoyoTrolls have taken over this group as well and if you post a gi for sale and one of the Admin or their henchmen don't like the pricing, then they will delete your post(s), ban you from the group and lynch you. So beware.
As of late in 2015 they also allow gear from a few select other brands such as Shoyoroll, Illest, Want Vs Need & Moskova
Shoyoroll Drama Free Buy, Trade and Sell - This is the latest Shoyoroll-focused group, launched in November 2015 as a direct result of the other two Shoyoroll groups being taken over by the ShoyoTrolls. This group was founded on the principal of RESPECT, and is dedicated to providing a safe, professional Facebook group (and Instagram page) for the purpose of buying, trading and selling Shoyoroll gis and gear without any of the bullshit found in the other two Shoyoroll groups.
Drama Free is a zero-tolerance group that will never put up with any of the unbelievably childish, rude, abusive, immature and down right mean behavior that is prevalent in the other Shoyoroll buy/trade/sell groups.
There will be NO: Drama, Hate, Disrespect, Trolls, Negativity or Poaching allowed in Shoyoroll Drama Free EVER.
In addition, the groups admin will also post information on upcoming Shoyoroll drops so that members can easily stay on top of those as well.
And Drama Free is THE ONLY group to also have an Instagram page in which any member can have his posts from Facebook also added there as well.
There are several blog posts linked here concerning Shoyoroll Drama Free. Feel free to check them out if you desire more information.
FACEBOOK - LITE
There are some smaller, less frequented groups and pages on Facebook that you can check out for the listing of your BJJ gear. They include:BJJ Kimonos For Sale
BJJ Gi Traders UK
BJJ Underworld
Only Kids BJJ Gis
MMA/BJJ Swap Shop
Martial Art Market
BJJ Buy, Trade & Sell
BJJ Addicts That Think SYR Can Eat A Fat One
A1 A0 & F Shoyoroll Trader
INTERNET
BJJ Gi Market - Now BJJ Gi Market could be a great place to post and sell your BJJ gear for many reasons, including the fact that it is not just limited to Facebook members. But it lacks attention by the owner and basic rule enforcement (such as removing old posts), so it is one of those sites that falls into the: "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda" graveyard of good ideas that have died because of a lack of follow through and attention. And while it is free and I have bought a few items from there, I have yet to sell anything on that site.Craigslist - This is a fantastic and FREE listing service for your local market. It has many limitations but is well worth trying if you want to offer (or find) BJJ gear locally. Just be sure to post in the proper category, which for BJJ gear would be in the For Sale group under the category Sporting Goods. Personally I've bought and sold numerous kimonos via Craigslist.
FEE BASED SITES
These are internet sites that require a fee to either list or sell gear on their pages. Most have come and gone because they can't compete with the Big Daddy...eBay. And really, if you are willing to pay their fee, eBay has some advantages.eBay - While it is expensive, it offers worldwide exposure and a lot of flexibility in listing your BJJ gear for sale. I have had both great success and failures here. But if you want to sell something and sell it fairly quickly, say in 1 week, this is one to consider.
The fee for selling on eBay is 10% of the total, including shipping. It is expensive, but it works well and has yet to be reproduced successfully.
POSTING RECOMMENDATIONS
I have spent over 30 years in marketing and sales. And while I do not know it all I have some strong opinions that have been honed in marketing and selling over half a billion dollars in commercial real estate over that term.So here they are: (Note, for the purpose of this information I'm going to assume you are selling a kimono. But these recommendations apply to other types of gear as well).
In my previous business life I would call this set of recommendations: "How to set yourself up for success" in selling your kimono.
Be Honest
This is a simple philosophy but still must be said. If your kimono has wear and tear, holes, smells, stains, etc., just be honest about it in your posting. I've bought many used kimonos in various conditions and I'm fine with wear and tear. But what I'm not fine with is being under the impression that a kimono is in good condition only to receive it and find out then that it has holes, stains or smells. So to avoid having to unravel a deal, refund money, incur unnecessary shipping charges and ruin your reputation as a seller - BE HONEST.Be Comprehensive
Don't just write, "Used A2 Vulkan For Sale." Invest the time in describing the kimonos condition as well as construction and weave. If you don't know pearl weave from gold weave or what GSM is, you can easily look it up. Spending 10 or 15 minutes or more crafting a proper and comprehensive write-up on your kimono will be well worth it. Not only in value achieved but in answering most of the questions you might otherwise get before they need to be asked. It is far better to invest the time up front and answer 90% of a buyers likely questions in your posting, than it is to have to answer the same questions over and over again from 100 different buyers.There are some aspects to being both honest and comprehensive that should be addressed. Such as:
*** How the kimono was treated from a wash and dry perspective and if you've shrunk it more than typically occurs in kimonos (3% to 5% overall). If it has always been washed in cold water and hung to dry, then say that. And if you've washed it in hot and dried it in the dryer, thereby shrinking it quite a bit in the process, state that as well.
*** If your home is smoke free or not. I once bought a BNIB kimono that when I received it an opened the box I literally had to take several steps backward because it REEKED of cigarette smoke. That is bullshit and needs to be disclosed. I'd not have paid $350 for a stinky gi. That's for sure. It took MONTHS of hanging it up in a well ventilated area of the house for that smell to dissipate. At first I put it in my closet; and that was a mistake. The whole closet reeked within 24 hours.
Know What You Are Selling
Whether BNIB or used, you should inspect the kimono before you list it for sale. Why? Simple. So you know what you are selling. You may have bought a brand new kimono from Shoyoroll or CTRL or whoever and bought an A2. And the bag says A2 on the label. But inside, the kimono is an A2H. It happens. And better to know this BEFORE you spend all the time and trouble listing and selling your kimono than when you are preparing it to ship.Plus, oftentimes their are "extras" that come with a kimono from the factory but not attached to the kimono. You should know and then disclose whether or not these items are being sold with your kimono or not. A sample list of some of the common ones is as follows:
*** CTRL kimonos come with the round chord in the pants already, but include the flat string unattached.
*** Shoyoroll's Batch 30 "Like Cheese" and GUMA 1751 kimonos as well as CTRL's Luxe come with a patch that is unattached. Oftentimes people sell those separately and then later don't include them in the sale of the kimono. I strongly object to this practice, but to each his own. Regardless, you should disclose to the buyers if such an item does NOT come with the purchase of the kimono. Many sellers do not.
*** I've bought BNIB kimonos and the seller does not send the matching cloth bag with the kimono. That is bogus to say the least and if that is the intent...DISCLOSE it.
*** Shoyoroll's White Mamba comes with a small pocket to sew onto your gi if you want to have it to hold your mouthpiece.
*** CTRL's Zarape came with a CD of music.
*** Shoyoroll's Illest series came with a series of three stickers as well as a tee shirt. I've bought 6 or more of these kimonos BNIB, and none came with the shirts and only one came with the stickers. In NO INSTANCE was I told that these included items would not be sent to me.
*** Shoyoroll's Ring and Count came with a piece of paper that some collectors really want. And sometimes these kimonos are resold without the paper.
These are just a few examples of ancillary items that came with a kimono from the factory that might be lost or otherwise sold. And while that is your choice, you should let people know in your listing if these items are or are not a part of the sale. It's only fair.
Provide Plenty of Photographs
For me, if I'm selling a BNIB (Brand New, In Bag) kimono, usually I don't provide many photos since I don't want to take the damn gi out of the bag and have to refold it. But I will take a picture of the gi in the bag and then 1/2 way out, just to prove that i have it and show the sizing tag. Then I'll get stock images from the manufacturer that are usually easily found online. You can't assume that a buyer knows what a kimono looks like, BNIB or otherwise.
For a USED kimono the situation is entirely different. A buyer will reasonably expect and you should provide LOTS of photographs detailing the condition of the kimono. Full front and back of the jacket and pants, and the bag. As well as close up photos of the patches and embroidery as well as ANY AND ALL wear and tear or damage that you should disclose.
Provide Measurements
For a new kimono this is not a standard thing to do unless someone asks for the measurements. But if the kimono is USED or even just washed once, then it is pretty much necessary to provide some basic measurements because it will have shrunk up during washing and drying. And depending upon how you washed and dried it, the shrinkage could be minimal or substantial.
I've bought used A2 kimonos of brands that I already own and when I get them they fit like A1. And I've bought an A2T that fit like A2. And I've bought an A2T where the pants were definitely A2T but the top was more A1. So learn from my mistake, and when buying a used kimono ask for measurements. And when selling a used kimono, provide the measurements and a chart. These are the two that I use and provide often.
Include A Size Chart
Each brand of kimono has a different size chart. For example I'm an A2 in Shoyoroll and CTRL, but an A3 in Atama and Scramble. And I'm a 5 in HCK. And while it is definitely a buyers responsibility to make sure he is buying the right size of kimono for him, you will make it a lot easier if you post a size chart. And if you go one step further and highlight the chart to show the size of the kimono you are selling, that's even more helpful.
Be Responsive
One of the most frustrating aspects of trying to buy a kimono is when seller do not return Facebook PM's or emails. Sometimes for days or longer. I am always stunned in disbelief when someone goes to the trouble to post their kimono for sale with photos and a good amount of details, and then simply fails to return my email inquiries. There have been cases where, days after I sent an email, the seller finally gets back to me. And by then I have already lost interest. Often buying a kimono is a knee jerk, spur of the moment decision and if you are a responsive seller then you stand a far better chance of making a deal than if you take days to get back to someone.Pack It Properly
I've gotten kimonos in the mail that were unfolded and literally stuffed into the box. And I've gotten them where the collar was crushed down to fit into the box. And with a used kimono that is not a big deal. But for a new kimono, to open the box and see that after spending hundreds of dollars it has merely been crammed into the box with no care whatsoever, is simply disappointing to say the least.Many people use USPS' priority mail service to ship kimonos. And most kimonos can fit easily into the USPS's medium sized box that is used for priority mail both domestically and internationally. That being said, kimonos that are A1 and smaller can easily fit in those boxes just the way they come from the factory. But A2 and above fit better if they are folded differently than received by the factory.
What I do with A2 and larger kimonos is first unfold the pants and then fold them in half twice. So they are in quarters. With the top I fold it (or unfold it if it's BNIB) just a little, so the sides and arms are folded in as per the factory. But instead of just making that last fold by folding it in half, I first fold up the skirt about 6" and then fold it in half. This will reduce the length of the kimono by 3" or so and then once you add the jacket to the pants and put them in the bag and all of that into the box, will fit perfectly.
Of course, if you want to spend a few extra dollars on shipping you can always obtain the Large Flat Rate box from USPS and use that. No extra folding required. An A5 kimono slides in easily with room to spare. Just make sure you get the LONGER Large box and not the square one.
Recently I received a kimono in the mail and the shipping box had gotten wet. What a potential disaster. The kimono was a White CTRL Luxe and the bag for the Luxe is a red velvet. Well, needless to say, the red dye of the wet bag ran. Fortunately the kimono was sealed in the original shipping plastic, so it did not get damaged in the least. The secondary white pants drawstring was not inside the bag and is now pink. If the gi was not in the shipping plastic, it would have been ruined.
Above you can see the shipping label (upper right corner) has streaked, and the USPS added their tape to keep the wet box together.
Make sure the gi is sealed in a plastic bag before you pack it.
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