Since my student days started, I have consider myself a bit
of a thrifty connoisseur when it comes to clothing, and ebay is my vehicle of
choice. Ask any of my housemates and they will tell you they are constantly
treated to my squeals of delight when a package drops through our letter box,
and then look on in bemusement as I clutch some crazily patterned, musty
smelling 70’s dress to my chest and declare it ‘totally similar to that one in
topshop that’s 80 quid!’
Being a fashion conscious teenager, I of course want to look
good, without being a slave to high street prices, or indeed their dictated
standards of what we should all be wearing. Shopping on ebay allows you to put
together a unique ensemble, snapping up last season’s dress that you never got
round to buying, whilst being economically and environmentally friendly. Plus
of course, that glowing feeling you get when you can shout TAKE THAT BITCH! at
your computer screen as you snare a bargain from your rival bidders grasp. Have
I got you convinced yet? No? Well, take a look at my guide below for a few tips
on how to maximise your satisfaction without cracking too far into your savings.
USE MISSPELLINGS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE Written English isn’t
everyone’s strong point, so be sure to exploit misslistings. Searching ‘Urban
Outfittors’ or ‘Mis Selfirdge’ and you might find those items selling a bit
cheaper, as less people are looking. Also utilise key phrases when looking for
a specific fashion item, for example
‘topshop leather skater skirt’ can also be searched as ‘fit and flare’
‘a line; ,’pleather’, ‘topshop style skirt’ and numerous other combinations
that may yield cheaper and very similar brand imitations.
SHOP OUT OF SEASON The cheapest buys can often be found on
ebay out of season. Buy that fluffy cardi you’ve been lusting over in July, as
far less people will be searching for it, minimising your bidding competition. Swimwear
in winter, glitzy Christmas embellishments in spring… it all works on the same
principle. Likewise, if you are looking to make maximum money when selling,
make sure you capitalise on key seasons and trends – summer is an excellent
time to flog your old hunter wellies in time for the festivals.
SPOT THE CHEEKY SELLER An item might be 99p, but the postage
is 16.00. Sellers will often hike up delivery costs to recompense what they
know will be a cheap auction. Use the ‘list lowest to highest:including
postage) to minimise the risk of being caught out at the checkout, and
seriously think about whether you are getting a good deal . Also look out for
sellers who list items ‘as new’, but in description point out that there are
several stains and a distinct possibility that they wore it once a night out
and may or may not have thrown up in it. At the same time, don’t get precious –
this is ebay, so the majority of clothing items will be on there as second-hand
and may look as such. Read the descriptions thoroughly and if in any doubt,
contact the seller before you bid.
START SMALL If you are new to ebay, experiment with some
cheaper buys, building the thrill of the bargain as you build your expertise in
working out what is worth buying and what isn’t, and which sellers you can and
can’t trust. Set yourself a maximum allowance, and do not allow yourself to go
beyond it: bidding wars, whilst adrenaline filled, almost always end in a sense
of regret when you realise you spent far more than you were originally planning.
THE ART OF THE QUIRKY SNIPE If you
find yourself in a bidding war, always add a few pence to your bid (4.57 as
opposed to 4.50). Chances are your competitor has gone for a rounder figure,
maximising your chances of catching them over a few pence. Keep refreshing the
page in the last few seconds to make sure you’re keeping track. And NEVER SNIPE
TOO SOON – you might think 1 minute to go is sweaty palm moment, but if your
competitor is a seasoned ebayer, they will have their technique down to an
exact science. Never leave more than 10 seconds between your final bid and the
ending time. But do make sure you’re all logged in first – there is nothing
more annoying that feverishly having to remember your password in the dying
seconds of an auction.
STICK TO PAYPAL When paying for items, use paypal
transactions wherever possible instead of physical money/cheques. It’s a lot
safer, and means refunds or transaction complaints are all mediated by ebay,
lessening the risk of getting conned. It also means the only details you need
to give the seller is your email address, rather than any bank details.
START SELLING YOURSELF! Shed the guilt and build up a nice
paypal surplus by selling your own old forgotten wares on ebay. If you haven’t
worn or looked at a garment in over two months, it should probably go. Start
gently with anything you know no longer fits or you know you no longer like,
and sit back in pleasure as people pay money for something you might have once
just put in the bin. Keep the money you make in your paypal account as a great
way of keeping savings separate. Unless you’re like me, and end up splurging
your money back on ebay. The cycle never ends…
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