I’ll admit it – IoveĀ eBay. Ā It is a gigantic, somewhat scary universe of shopping possibilities but once you get the hang of it, can bring forth real gems at fabulous prices.
Is is the internet’s top auction site (well at least in the US and parts of Europe). Ā The key here is the sheer volume of sellers and items available. Ā I’ve come up with a set of guidelines that has helped shopping on eBay a little easier for me.
1. Buy only authentic items
Of course you need to be careful that the seller is reputable and the item is authentic. Ā Check both the seller’s feedback and try to check the authenticity of the item independently as well. Ā I have used Purse ForumĀ for checking against a Prada bag to a Hermes scarf (its users will use their own knowledge to verify authenticity). Putting aside the politics of purchasing fake goods, you also don’t want to pay top dollar for what you thought was real and is actually an item that is a (sometimes even well-made) imitation.
Of course you need to be careful that the seller is reputable and the item is authentic. Ā Check both the seller’s feedback and try to check the authenticity of the item independently as well. Ā I have used Purse ForumĀ for checking against a Prada bag to a Hermes scarf (its users will use their own knowledge to verify authenticity). Putting aside the politics of purchasing fake goods, you also don’t want to pay top dollar for what you thought was real and is actually an item that is a (sometimes even well-made) imitation.
Love vintage Hermes scarves (Bluefly is another great source!)
2. Be patient and use saved searches
You can find many coveted items as well as items for a discount. Ā Some items may pop up right away while you may have to wait for other items. Ā Try my tips forĀ creating a saved searchĀ so you receive e-mails whenever an item is listed that matches your search. RememberĀ my veil? Yep, I got the silk tulle for $50 from eBay (it’s usually more than twice that amount in any store) when I saw it pop up in a saved search. Ā Keep searching and you may find exactly what you’ve wanted for less!
3. Use broad search terms.
If you are looking for a very specific item, e.g. I was looking for the Alexander McQueen studded skull pump, you may want to go to a broader search if you can’t initially find the item. Ā Use advanced search and use the other criteria that fit for you – you may need to check the box for Search including “Title and Description”. Ā Or you may just search for the brand itself and put in variations of your search term (shoes or heels instead of pumps). Ā You can save all of these searches.
Alexander McQueen skull pump – sigh, waiting for a pair to pop up in my size!
4. Get to know a seller
If you’ve bought an item from a seller and like her service or selection, save the seller to your favorite sellers list (when you are looking at an item’s page, go to the upper right corner of the page and press “Save seller” link). Ā You can get an option to receive e-mail updates from your favorite sellers (several sellers are usually presented in one e-mail from eBay). Ā I’ve also gotten to know sellers and had the inside scoop on when items are being listed so I know when to bid.
5. Know what to bid and when to walk away
It’s natural to get caught up in the excitement of bidding in the final few minutes of an auction. Ā Resist the urge and come up with your own maximum price prior to the auction end. Ā Use a bidding tool like biddingscheduler.com to do the bidding for you. Ā I’ve used this successfully for many auctions (with one or two misses as well). Ā But it has allowed me to enter an early bid amount but let the tool bid for me in the final moments of an auction – it’s the best of bidding at the end and setting your limits! Ā The application also e-mails you if your bid is surpassed so you can adjust it if you’d like.
I love eBays saved searches, they’ve given me the edge on so many auctions!
Great tips! You know I love ebay, too, and I totally agree with everything you said here! Getting to know sellers is an especially good idea, and one that many people overlook.
i have to bookmark this post-such invaluable info! thanks for sharing!
your veil is amazing! i cant believe you got it on ebay
i completely agree with you! you need to know the seller and purse forum is great š
I’d like to have McQueen shoes!
http://freakyfriday-sabrina.blogspot.com
Thanks for posting these tips! Ebay can be a scary place, and the last minute bidding stresses me out. But the bidding tool would help out with that. Hope you score a pair of those pumps! They are amazing!!!
I have never really been on eBay. I’m scared to visit. I don’t think I will ever leave …
http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
i don’t shop on ebay since i’m over here, but it might be a little addicting for me anyway, haha. etsy is bad enough!!
p.s. i got my drawing today that i won here, so exciting š
Love it lady, thanks for the tips!
Nice tips! I always hear about people finding awesome deals on ebay, but it seems so complicated!
i love shopping on ebay, but have definitely had a couple purchases that gave me problems! thank god you can at least fix the situation. great little post about ebay. really it’s great. š
this was so helpful…I don’t buy things that often on ebay cause I’m always a little leery of what I’m getting!
Wonderful tips! Shopping ebay is always an adventure š
I love shopping on ebay I’ve gotten some great things on there. Thanx for the great tips:)
You are truly an expert at this … Can’t believe you got the veil on ebay!
ā” from Ā© tanvii.com
Love eBay shopping. I’ve gotten so many authentic designer pieces for next to nothing!
Fashion Translated
These are such great tips! I love ebay as well, but I don’t bid as often as I’d like.
Great tips! Btw – love those Alexander McQueen skull pumps!
GTBB,
http://badjoan.com
http://badjoan.blogspot.com
these tips are so great! i haven’t been on ebay in so long, but this has inspired me to start the search for something good.
I love ebay and shop on there quite a bit. Great tips really, everyone should use them as there can be some problems on there at times!! Have a fun weekend x
thanks for the tips! i’m sure everyone here will find them helpful!
jos xx
http://mypretty-pinkjournal.blogspot.com/
These are all great tips! Ebay is a great shopping resource once you know how to use it effectively.
http://www.stylish3.com/marylane
Ooooh! What a great idea. I hadn’t thought about setting up my account so that it “checked” it an item appeared on ebay. Dangerous! š
I have gotten so many great finds on Ebay, that is my first stop for everything.
I buy and sell on ebay, it’s extremely useful as long as you really know your information about a product and ask a lot of questions. I’ve rarely been disappointed. I have never had to return of file a dispute.
One thing that annoys me as a seller is that some people file disputes without waiting to hear from me or when the postal services are extraordinarily slow. The reason I have never filed a dispute against anyone else for shipping issues is because by the time I get around to wondering why an item hasn’t shown up, it shows up almost immediately after such thoughts. Therefore, I suspect my few disputants are simply impatient, and so as I seller, I’d ask buyers to recognise that neither the seller nor the postal service operates in a precise manner, and that some fluidity in shipping times is to be expected.
I love this post. eBay is super scary to me, but this really helps make it less so. Thanks for posting this!
Great tips! I’m always a little afraid when buying on ebay, instead of feeling excited I worry I’m overbidding or can’t tell if it’s really a good buy. Thanks for the help!
-Sandra Ponycat
These are great tips. I’ve got to admit, I’ve never purchased anything from eBay before, but I’ll bookmark this for when I do!
This is post comes at a perfect time for me. I have been wanting a pair of vintage sunglasses and was going to try eBay. I hadn’t searched yet because of the sheer enormity of the offerings on eBay. I think your tips will definetly help me with my search. Thank you!
Jennifer
http://jrosestyle.blogspot.com