Say Hello to Your Best Friend…..Online Resale Shopping!

I can’t speak enough about buying designer brands online.  Even better— is finding designer resale brands online.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m a regular at the local DC consignment shops.  But lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time on ebay, and that’s beginning to pay off.  I’ve put together a list of helpful tips for making the most of online resale shopping.

1.  Stick to what you know

Don’t go browsing around the interwebs for a black pencil skirt.  Search for a brand and then look at the list of available pencil skirts.  Stick to brands you are very familiar with so sizing is not an issue (e.g.  I’m generally a 40 in Fendi so I’ll aim for finding 40s when looking for dresses, skirts, etc.

2. Verify Measurements

The main measurements you need to look for when buying a piece of clothing are shoulder width, waist width, hip width.  With this info you’ll get a very good idea if the garment fits or not.  Pictures of the garment on mannequins are also very helpful in determining size and fit (esp. if you are the size of the mannequin).

3. Make Sure Items are Returnable

No matter how good you are at gauging size and fit, inevitably your purchase may not fit probably and it will hurt your pocketbook a lot less if your purchase can be refunded.  You’d be surprised how many sellers offer returns on Ebay (with buyers paying return shipping).

4. Check Seller Location and Rating

My rule of thumb is never buy anything on EBay from a seller that has less than 98% positive feedback.  I also look at the location where items are listed.  I have a strong preference for buying items that are located in the US.  Beware of items located in China or other parts of Asia.

and last but not least…

5. Do Not Buy Handbags on Ebay

Unfortunately, there are a lot of fakes out there and a good portion of fake bags hang out on Ebay.  Instead, shop for second-hand handbags on sites like yoogiscloset.com and therealreal.com where authenticity is guaranteed.