Hello pretty people,
I'm sure you're all flooded with blog posts about the Oscars and those beautiful dresses. Alas, I fell asleep long before the cream of the crop even started arriving, so I'm going to have to wait for the highlights tonight before I can make my decisions on who I think belongs on the best-dressed list this year. I know it's naughty to hope for at least one dress disaster, but come on, these people get to be dressed by Valentino, we deserve a little fun!
However, today I'm going to go against the trend of Oscar posts, and rather than write about dresses that cost more than what most of us make in a year, I want to give you all a few tips on one of my favourite pastimes, a little bit of bargain hunting on eBay. You never know, there might be an Oscar winner hidden there somewhere.
I won't claim to be an expert or anything, but I spend an embarassing amount of time on this gem of a website, even if it is just to drool over the bags that I know I can't have! Over my time, I've learnt a few tricks of the trade, so listen up, beauties, and a bargain might be waiting for you!
Try out a search with a mispelled brand name. Sometimes proof-reading isn't someone's special skill, and if they don't look at it properly, Hollister can often become Holister, and so on and so forth. Beware, if something is mis-spelled it might mean they know less about the brand, or it could be a warning sign of a fake, so keep your eyes peeled. However, it's always worth checking that fashionista having a clear out didn't make a mistake while distracted by this month's Vogue.
careful the mis-spelling isn't actually on the item!
Be tempted by eBay fakes. It's not worth it by any account. Personally I don't like fakes in general, as I always think anyone with an eye for fashion can tell in a heartbeat. However if you buy in person you can check out the stitching, the lining, and see if it at least is a well-made fake. On eBay, this person is already breaking the law, so you don't know what else they are doing wrong, are those pictures real? Did they just nick that off of someone elses' website?
Have a quick check in your area. By changing the location settings you can see if anything is less than ten miles away from where you live. If that pair of Louboutins is waiting in the next street, why pay for ten pounds of postage?
They're out there somewhere, find me, pretty red soles!
Don't -
Be willy nilly when getting anything cosmetic related. I wouldn't risk it unless I was ABSOLUTELY sure that it was a genuine product. Be warned, people are sneaky and use pictures of receipts etc. to trick. There have been a lot of stories of people buying fake cosmetics on eBay hoping for the real deal and getting some nasty chemicals, or just a cheap product put in a fake designer bottle. Don't risk your money!
Some subtle differences between a real and fake perfume, it's almost impossible to spot! You have to get your clues from other parts of the listing.
Do -
Check the feedback on that seller from other buyers. If a lot of other people have had problems, it's likely you will too. Don't get me wrong, there are people out there who will moan about anything, but learn from other's mistakes and don't go near a seller who messes people around.
Probably best not to trust someone with the username 'iaintpayinyou'
Don't -
Bid straight away. eBay is a game just as much as anything else. No-one else can see if you are watching someone but they know you're interested if you bid 4 days before it ends. Watch in the background like a little fashion tiger waiting to pounce. Timing is everything, so catch the other bidders out in the last hour, minute, or second, just keep them guessing! You never know, they might be busy and forget and you can nab it! Naughty!
This is how I like to imagine a fabulous fashion tiger. Has this blog gone a little loopy?
Do -
Check in-season items haven't gone on sale. Often, eBay sellers sell off in season items that they have been given, or cannot take back to the shop, at a small reduction of the shop price. This is a great way to get a new item that you have seen in the shops for a bit cheaper. However, I once went to buy an asos jumpsuit from eBay, at 25 pounds when it was 35 online. I thought I would just give it one quick check online and saw that it had suddenly been put in the asos sale at 15 pounds! It's a rare occurrence but always best to check when sales change so fast.
Don't -
Trust anyone who asks you to make payment outside of eBay. They are trying to scam you. Always use PayPal, as it's the safest way to pay on eBay.
Do -
Know your buzzwords. Words like 'vintage' often bring up a lot of rubbish someone has found at the back of their wardrobe. However searching for a specific era, like '1960s' or using words associated with that era (e.g. hippie) will come up with more specific and fashion-friendly items. My favourite current buzzword is 'blogger' as people tend to tag this onto items that have been popular in the blog world, meaning they have often already been reviewed and approved by the hallowed halls of blogger fashiondom. Also, remember searching for specific brands is is pretty fail-safe - but be wary of people who cut out the label and still insist it is a certain brand, I spy a crook on the horizon!
Score a beauty like this party dress with the right vintage buzzwords.
Don't -
Search in the 'lowest price' option. Unless going for 'Buy it Now' items, the 'lowest price' search often will usually lead to false hope and disappointment. Of course that mulberry bag is going to be fifty pounds if someone uploaded it an hour ago, however when it gets closer to the end of sale, the price will rocket up. I find it is better to go for the 'ending soonest' option. You get a much more realistic idea of price, and you get the excitement of knowing it's ending soon.Do -
Try out different wording options. Looking for something in particular? Maybe your perfect dressing table stool might not come up when you type in 'dressing table stool'. But type in 'bedroom stool', and BAM! Shabby chic galore. Looking for that perfect fifties skirt? 'Fifties skirt' might churn out lots of fancy dress items, but 'A-line skirt' brings you a fabulous swishy skirt to bring out your inner Marilyn!
Speaking of which, midi A-line skirts are going to be huge this year, I love this little tulle number from Topshop, what a pretty summer colour!
And lastly...
DO -
Remember. If it is too good to be true, it probably is. eBay is a community full of thousands and thousands of people. If no-one else is bidding on that once in a life time, stop the press, jaw-dropping bargain, it is probably because they have spotted something you haven't. Look again, do some research, you'll probably save yourself a big headache later.
I hope this gives you some useful strategies when you're hunting for that perfect spring outfit on a budget, or trying to find that out of stock item you've wanted for weeks! eBay is great for finding labels while keeping the purse strings tight, but you just have to keep your wits about you.
I hope you are all having a happy Monday, and if you haven't watched the Oscars yet, I hope you enjoy it tonight! Let me know in the comments if you have any good eBay tips of your own!
Abi x
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