for blood
ing
Jenessa Williams clues us in on how to
snag the cheapest bargains on the worlds
most popular bidding site
ebaying for blood
I
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, looking on in
total bemusement as I clutch some
crazily patterned 70s dress to my
chest and declaring it ‘totally similar
to that one in Topshop that’s 80 quid!’
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Being a vintage loving member of
this here magazine team, 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
those pre-loved goods, whilst being
economically and environmentally
friendly. Plus of course, that glowing
feeling you get when you can shout
‘TAKE THAT!’ 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.
1) Use Misspellings To Your
Advantage
Written English isn’t everyone’s
strong point, so be sure to exploit
misslistings. Searching ‘rocabillie’
or ‘St Michels’ and you might find
those vintage items selling a bit
cheaper, as less people are looking.
Also utilise key phrases when
looking for a specific fashion item,
for example ‘Plaid Skirt’ can also be
searched as ‘School Skirt’ ‘Plaid A
Line, ‘Tartan Kilt’ and numerous other
combinations that may yield cheaper
and very similar versions.
2) Shop Out Of Season
The cheapest buys can often be
found on ebay at off season periods
the year. 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 or
90s-inspired kagoule in time for the
festivals.
3) 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’ search
option 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 the 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
spilt a drink down it. At the same
time, don’t get too precious – this
i