How to Shop: Ebay

Ebay is definitely one of my go-to sites for procuring specific wardrobe wants/needs. I can almost always find what I'm looking for at a decent price, making it a nice, happy compromise between the chaos of the swap meet and the priciness of the mall. Still, many of my friends still say they find Ebay a bit dizzying. Here's how I navigate the site - maybe some of you will find it helpful. :)

How to Bid

1. Search for what you want. Add keywords depending on how specific your desires are - for example, if you've already tried a specific brand and style of jeans on in-store, and you know you need the size 27, you can go ahead and enter "Hudson signature jeans 27." However, if you're open to a variety of brands and just want to find the best deal for you, simply enter "jeans."
2. Filter your search results. Ebay is fabulous at allowing you to sort your results by a wide range of criteria. Select the sizes, prices, materials, conditions, colors, inseams, et cetera by clicking on the check boxes in the left hand menu. To select multiple options, click "choose more."
3. Identify the likely suspects. If you come across an item you think will work for you, click "Add to Watch List," and move on. Repeat until your search results have been exhausted.
4. Contact sellers with any questions. Let's say you love a pair of shoes, but you've ordered enough shoes off the internet to know that few people can measure a shoe heel to save their lives. You can contact the seller and ask them to please measure the heel exactly the way you want. You can also request additional photos or ask them to describe the color in more detail, since computer monitors can sometimes lie to us. Don't worry about being a pain - most sellers are more than happy to help you get an item you love the first time around, given how painful it can be to deal with returns/refunds/negative feedback. After that, you can remove from your watch list any item that turns out to be the wrong size, color, whatever.
5. Lie in wait, then pounce! A practice sometimes known as "sniping," I'm a fan of waiting for the last minute to bid. This ensures that no one comes along at the last minute to outbid you by a measly dollar. Be sure to enter the absolute highest price you're willing to pay, though, because there might be a gal with deeper pockets sniping the auction along with you, and you won't get a chance to reconsider your bid after the fact.

Examples of Information Requests

"Hi there! I know Arden B. runs a little small - could you please let me know the measurements across the shoulders and across the bust from armpit to armpit?"

"Hello, would you please let me know the measurements for: shaft height from footbed to top, from the center back; shaft circumference at widest point; heel height measured from center back; ankle circumference? Thanks in advance!"



How to Resolve a Problem

1. Stay calm. First and foremost, step away from the feedback button! Most issues can be resolved in an easy and friendly way, but negative feedback will damage a seller's rating for an entire year! As a seller, there is nothing worse than getting negative feedback from a buyer who never even bothered to ask for a refund. Honest, negative feedback for a seller who won't work with you is find... but the feedback isn't going to get you your refund.
2. Message the seller. Once you're calm, contact the seller with your issue - be nice, and describe your problem in detail. Understand that buyers try to steal items all the time by claiming that an item was not delivered (even though it was) or demanding an undeserved refund under the threat of negative feedback (tantamount to extortion, IMO).
3. Appeal to Ebay/Paypal. If the seller will not cooperate with you, don't get into an email brawl. Simply click over to the Ebay resolution center and open a dispute. This way, Ebay/Paypal will investigate the case and determine whether or not you should receive a refund (Ebay sides with the buyer most of the time).

Example of a Refund Request



"Hi there, I received this semi-mount a week ago and had my stone set this weekend... and one of the semi-mount diamonds already fell out. :( Do you think you could refund the cost of replacing it - I'd send back the whole item, but I already paid to have my stone set."

See? Not scary at all! Ebay is an amazing resource for everything from clothes to shoes to Pez dispensers -- unless you're planning to bid on those shoes I'm watching. In that case, back off! ;)

how to shop: swap meets

The specifics of tackling a swap meet will clearly vary based on what you are in the market for and how much you want to spend. For the purposes of this article, we're going to assume that you're like me and want cute digs at the cheapest price possible.

1. Preparing

• Weather: Before you head out, check the weather on 2-3 forecast sites, and dress accordingly. Apply and pack sun block, hats, and sunglasses as needed.
• Clothing: Slim-fitting clothes work best; Since you won't have the luxury of stripping down in a fitting room to try things on, you'll be pulling prospective items on over your clothing.
• Accessories: Comfy shoes and a bag that leaves your hands free are non-negotiable. You will need to stand and walk for at least an hour, and you will need your hands free to dig though intimidating piles of clothing. I either choose a cross-body bag or a bag that fits securely on my shoulder without slipping.
  
• Cash: Hit up the bank or ATM before you get to the swap meet, because you'll likely get hit with huge ATM fees -- or worse, tragic ATM nonexistence. And the swap doesn't take credit.
• Optional: You may also want to bring a flexible tape measure, hand sanitizer, stain remover pen, and a friend with a camera.

swap meet outfit example by ranksubjugation featuring black tops

2. Scouting

• Posted Prices = Good: Your best bet is to stop off at any vendor sporting big "$1" or "50 Cents" signs next to a huge pile of wares. This way, you do not waste time selecting your favorite items only to be told later that they are out of your price range. You can also ask vendors, "How much for things on the table?" before you start to browse. However, I would stay away from anyone who says everything is a "different price"; I hate to say it, but that just opens the door for them to charge you more if they think you look well of... or if they just plain don't like the looks of you (yes, it does happen).
  
• Disorganization = Good: The less work the vendor has done to set up the stall, the less they're going to charge you. This applies to the quality of the wares, too. If everything in a stall looks cute and pristine, then the vendor has clearly spent time sorting and curating inventory and will charge higher prices.
  
• Swarms of excited shoppers = Good: A lot of your fellow swap meet patrons will be regulars who've already put in years of work picking out their favorite stalls. Let their knowledge work for you -- especially if said shoppers look like they might have similar shopping values. I, for example, might stop by an otherwise innocuous stall if I happen to see a group of smartly-dressed Vietnamese women are interested (I don't know why, but Vietnamese ladies always seem to find really cool things... and toss them my way if they don't fit).

3. Digging

• See it, grab it, hold it: If you spot something you like that looks to be generally your size, hold on to it while you move on to other parts of the browsing area. If you hem and haw over each item individually, you may miss out on something even better down the line. That's how I missed out on a $1 Helmut Lang dress. True story.
• Fit check at the end: After you've gone through all the vendor's wares and amassed a nice maybe pile, find a little corner and resume the hemming and hawing we put the kibosh on a second ago. Per your personal preference, you can throw things on over your clothes, hold them up, measure them, and even get a friend to snap a picture to help you figure out what fits and flatters.
• Quality assurance: Take special care in looking for stains, holes, missing buttons and broken zippers before you buy anything. If a stain looks like it might come out, whip out your stain remover pen and give it a try then and there! Better neurotic than sorry. :)