In summer vacations, I find myself in a position where I need to save money because it's going to be my mom and boyfriend's birthdays soon, if we add that I don't receive any money unless I get a job (which I've been trying to find! but that's another story), shopping becomes hard to achieve, if not impossible.
That doesn't mean I can't get a few pieces pretty cheap, and my secret is:
eBay. But you need to know how to buy and how to find the pieces. Let me share with you part of my experiences.
Some of my best purchases. From left to right: Zara sweater $2.10, GAP pleated skirt new with tags $7.99, green pleated skirt new with tags $19.99, H&M black pleated dress $15.70. All prices include shipping.
1. Put a limit for your bids.
Of course, it totally depends on the piece, maybe you'll spend more on shoes than on a skirt. But putting a limit is a basic strategy to find those bargains. We don't want to spend too much, so if an item ends up too high, let's just forget about it and not be impulsive with shopping (at least, not this time).
2. You can always look for your favorite designer.
Ok, so maybe not Dolce & Gabbana or Chanel, but I've tried to look for Michael Kors, Betsey Johnson, Marc by Marc Jacobs and that kind of designers and I always have results with decent prices. You can also look for your favorite high street store like H&M, Zara, Top shop, ModCloth, etc.
3. Look for the lowest priced items, if they have free shipping, awesome!
Always sort your results by "
Price + shipping: lowest first". Sometimes the sellers list the same item many times with different prices, this way you're getting sure you're getting the best deal.
4. Save the items on your watch list.
Remember to check the time left on the auction, sometimes you can find a bargain that's ending soon but you'll find many that have 6+ days left and you have to be patient. Save those items on your watch list so you can see the progress.
From left to right: H&M grey corset $7.20, Zara skirt new with tags $14.45, Chloé blush dress $215.35, ASOS trench coat new with tags $21.50. All prices include shipping
5. Be patient, and wait to the last minute to bid!
It's always a great feeling to find a beautiful piece at a great price and we hurry to place a bid.
Big mistake! is always better to wait to the last minute because if you put a bid to early, the others bidders will feel the same urge to be first. It's not about who placed most bids or who placed the earliest bid in order to win.
Be patient, wait to the last minute and place your maximum bid (which, if you have not used eBay before, doesn't mean you're going to pay that price, but it means that if somebody places another bid, your bid will automatically increase until you reach your limit).
6. Do you like ROMWE's clothes? or those facebook groups that sell asian clothes?
Stop paying those prices for the same quality. Look on eBay for the words: "asia, korea, japan, china, vivi" and you'll find very similar clothes (if not the same) as in the stores that buy their clothes from a chinese factory. Sort your results by "
Price + shipping: lowest first" and get crazy!
7. Check the state of the garment, size and color. Always double check.
Maybe it's too dumb to say it, but when we get too excited we always forget to read the description. Sometimes a seller will list an item with a picture that doesn't reflect the actual color, or the garment isn't new with tags. Size is pretty basic if you know your measurements or your size from that store, if you need the measurements in centimetres or inches and the seller didn't explain them, you can always ask :)
And of course! you can apply this tips to your make-up, kitchen accesories, books, gifts, etc. Remember that if you didn't win an item, don't stop looking for more, there's always something that will catch your attention!
Have fun and happy bidding!
