5 Tips for Shopping Secondhand Online

Hello Secondhand September! I’ve been shopping on eBay for over a decade now. I started really shopping and selling on eBay when I had London because it was a great place to find used kids clothes and a great place to sell them. Over the years it’s become not only my go to for secondhand online shopping. It can be intimidating to start, especially if you’re not sure what you’re looking for. Keep scrolling for my top 5 tips for secondhand shopping online!

TRAIN YOUR ALGORITHM

This is specific to eBay, but “Like” and “Watch” anything you see that interests you, even if it isn’t your size. You can create different watch lists for this if you want it to be more organized. Once you find several of the same thing in your size, delete the ones that aren’t in your size so the algorithm will show you more of your size. Some of my best finds have been found through the “Things You May Like” section and have been obscure or no name brands that I never would’ve found otherwise.

SAVE SAVE SAVE

SAVE SEARCHES: You can save specific search word requests so you won’t miss those items. I typically save searches for things I’m currently looking for like “women’s suede western boots” or “vintage barn jacket.” I also regularly have saved searches for kids outerwear and kids shoes and adjust the sizing as my kids grow.

SAVE SELLERS: Along that same line, if you find someone that is regularly reselling a lot of things that you like, save their page so you can easily find them again. One of my favorites on eBay is Linda’s Closet and she’s been on eBay for over 20 years. She has tons of designer brands and regularly has promotions and discounts.

SAVE ANYTHING YOU LIKE: Sometimes I find pieces that I love that are out of my budget or I just don’t see the value in the price being offered. I’ll still save those items to my watchlist for two reasons: 1 - to train my algorithm to show me more similar items and 2 - in hopes that the seller will send me an offer. In my mind I already know what I think is a good price so when a seller sends me an offer, I can be quick to accept it. You’d be surprised at how much of a discount sellers will offer things for! And don’t be shy - send those offers if you want because the worst they can do is decline it. They don’t know you, they won’t see you in real life, so no need to feel embarrassed sending those lowball offers.

KNOW YOUR SIZE

Find your favorite pieces of clothing in your closet and write down your measurements somewhere you can easily access so that you can compare to similar pieces online. This is especially helpful for buying jeans because sizing isn’t consistent in the women’s world and sometimes, it’s not even consistent across a brand. Good resellers will show the measurements in pictures or list the measurements in their description.

Another thing to measure is your shoe size as designer shoes, specifically, tend to run smaller than American sizes. As an 8/8.5 girl myself, I know I mostly wear a 38.5-39 in designer shoes. Designer pieces are typically a splurge so you don’t want to make a mistake.

Calf circumference is another one to measure if you’re searching for boots, particularly in boots that don’t have stretch or are pull on instead of zip.

PAY ATTENTION

Make sure you read the descriptions carefully. Sometimes the sellers will note things that you didn’t see in pictures. If you’re a picky shopper (then secondhand shopping isn’t for you, sorry) make sure that you zoom in on pictures. Pay attention to the fabric content. Read the seller reviews. Check the sellers return policy as not all resellers allow returns and/or make you pay for shipping it back as well.

SHOP OUT OF SEASON

Online resellers typically lower their prices, a smidge, when it’s off season, but it’s also good to know what the actual seasons are. For example, in the retail industry “resort season” is December and January, so anyone following this schedule won’t have massively discounted their swimwear. You can find great deals shopping just 1-2 months ahead of schedule. People are starting to think of fall in August, but stores haven’t started putting out cold weather gear yet. This is a great time to search for outerwear, boots and cashmere. February is a great time to look for swimwear because it’s just prior to spring break and summer. Anytime I have inspiration for an outfit, I’ll search on eBay for pictures I’ve pictured, I don’t let the season or time of year hold me back.

AND TWO BONUS TIPS FOR SHOPPING SECONDHAND ONLINE OR IN PERSON….

DON’T FORGET THE MEN’S SECTION!!!

This is a great piece of advice whether you’re thrifting, buying new, shopping online or shopping in person. Do not forget the men’s section!! Oversized t-shirts, sweatshirts, buttons downs for fall are all great pieces to find in the men’s section and they’re typically a bit cheaper than in the women’s section. My favorite pair of Carhartt camo pants? Men’s section. Plaid wide leg trousers? Men’s section.

TRY IT ON

I know, I know, sometimes you can hold things up to you and look in a mirror and just KNOW that it will or will not fit, but take it from me and take the time to try things on. Especially if you’re on the fence about an item. A piece can have absolute no hangar appeal but look stunning on your body. The opposite is also possible - a piece can look amazing on the hangar but it can hit you in the wrong spots, it can be too short in the arms/legs, it may need more altering that you want to invest in. When I plan on doing big thrift hauls, I wear clothes that are easy to change in and out of like a tank top and shorts. One thing that has held me back a lot when shopping is not want to undress or redress so I try to go prepared.

Leave your thrifting tips in the comments below!