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eBay

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

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Original poster

are these trousers not as described?

22 replies

ChazDingle · 13/11/2013 19:48

I bought some vintage trousers off ebay for a fancy dress, they were £5 plus £3 postage.

The size is down as L (16-18) so i kind of assumed they would be ok as i'm a 16, however they have arrived and they are tiny, they no where near fit me.

I have checked the description and although they have size down as 16-18 the waist size the the description in 32 inch. As its womans clothing i went on the size rather than the waist size but now i've googled and a 32 inch waist is more like a size 12.

So what should i do, should i email seller and ask to return them or do you think they are as described being as the waist size is correct.

Incidently the item only got one bidder (me) and i'm thinking that maybe that was due to the discrepancy, perhaps i should relist as a size 12 and maybe get my money back that way.

OP posts:

bundaberg · 13/11/2013 19:52

it might be worth contacting the seller. if you do return them you will have to pay postage back though, so it might not be worth it.
but the seller may consider a partial refund given that the description was misleading... then you could sell them on

Original poster

ChazDingle · 13/11/2013 19:52

now i've just looked at marks and spencers and they have 16 down as 33 so that would not be far off 32. I've not actually measured the trousers yet to check if they are actually 32 inch so maybe thats my next step!

OP posts:

bundaberg · 13/11/2013 19:53

qalthough, according to m&s 33inches is a 16...

Original poster

ChazDingle · 13/11/2013 19:55

we must have been on M&S at same time lol

OP posts:

CloserLook · 13/11/2013 19:56

What does the clothes label inside the trousers say? Just 32 inch or L (16/18) as well? Had this trouble with kids trainers a while back where the listing said the uk size only and when they came they were actually a size smaller than usual.

bundaberg · 13/11/2013 19:56

Coconutty · 13/11/2013 19:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

ChazDingle · 13/11/2013 20:00

theres not a size label in them, think i will have to measure to check if they are 32 inch or not then if they are i will relist them. How do you measure trousers, if i measure flat across the waist and then double with that work?

OP posts:

lljkk · 13/11/2013 20:03

That's how I would measure the waist.
This is why selling clothes on Ebay is a nightmare.

CloserLook · 13/11/2013 20:05

If there's no label then presumably the seller has measured them and converted the size incorrectly or just estimated so I would say you are probably right and they're not as described.

You could ask for a refund but less hassle to relist.

Haven't a clue about the measuring sorry.

moobaloo · 13/11/2013 20:12

Vintage trousers etc. are usually tiny unfortunately. A 32" waist is technically a size 14 and a 34" waist would be a 16 in standard UK sizing HOWEVER different brands and clothing makers flex their sizes so it is an absolute nightmare.

I think they shouldn't have been listed as large, but as the waist measurement was on there I don't think you'd have a huge amount of luck getting your money back as most vintage is "sold as seen" and it was as described in the measurement. Sorry!

I'd list them yourself and sell them on, with waist and hip measurements in big bold font so that people are absolutely sure when they buy them. Maybe put "to fit UK size 12/14" on the listing rather than an actual size.

nickstmoritz · 13/11/2013 23:03

I agree with moobaloo. A 32 is usually a 14 and if vintage it's probably a 12 -14. I would say the item wasn't well described because 32 is definitely not a 16-18. However it might be better to just re list more accurately than chase a refund as it's not a huge amount. I would probably message seller though and mention the size thing. They might just offer to refund something for your inconvenience.

Also the seller has probably just listed from the label and not measured. A bit of shrinkage could mean that the trousers were smaller than 32 anyway.

Original poster

ChazDingle · 14/11/2013 08:28

Nicksmoritz> There is no size label in the trousers so nothing actually saying the size so i'm guessing she must have measured them.

Anyway i've just measured them. I laid them flat and measured across and they are only measure 15 inch across so that would be 30 inch if doubled (no wonder the bloodly things don't fit!). Not sure if this is measuring correctly or not, think i will message seller anyway.

OP posts:

Original poster

ChazDingle · 14/11/2013 10:05

grr just went to photo them to relist and theres a stain on them, its only tiny, barely noticeable and wouldn't have bothered me if they'd fit but feel i would need to point it out if i relist them so prob won't get full price back. Suppose i could try washing them but then if it doesn't come out i can't send them back.

Also have noticed there is a size on the label but it just says 'L' which as you know can be variable so i guess seller has just picked L 16-18 option based on the L.

The label hadn't got much wash wear so i don't think they are real vintage, they are a make called hippy chick and look like what they'd sell in an alternative clothing type of shop. Again this doesn't really bother me and they'd have been perfect if they'd fit.

Have emailed seller to see what she says. Its a private seller.

OP posts:

SandyDilbert · 14/11/2013 10:11

I think there are a lot of things wrong with them tbh. Wrong size and stained plus not vintage at all.

lljkk · 14/11/2013 10:28

Make sure you get waist & inside leg measurements in future in cm or inches; never act on just the size numbers like 14 or 16.

Original poster

ChazDingle · 14/11/2013 14:09

Iljkk it says the waist and leg measurements in the listing. It says it is 32 inch but when i've measured it its 30 inch waist.

OP posts:

lljkk · 14/11/2013 15:27

ah, sorry I didn't follow that well.

nickstmoritz · 15/11/2013 08:03

Size L is usually 14. I think you have got a reason to return for a refund especially if you don't want to re list. Whether you get return postage back is another thing. I think you should but the seller might disagree. True vintage may have small imperfections but to be fair they ought to be mentioned (seller may not have seen if small tho). I haven't heard of the label Hippy Chick apart from one that sells children's clothes. You will probably get what you paid or near if you re list but put all the measurements and your true estimate of the size which at 30" is a 12. Definitely tell seller the trousers measured 30" and are no good to you. Then you can tell them you will re list or that you would like a refund (which they may offer anyway). It is always a pain if the item is not right but if a seller deals fairly with this then they deserve decent feedback. It is the risk of buying on ebay but often it works out very well too.

Original poster

ChazDingle · 15/11/2013 20:07

she said i could send them back but wants to go halves on the return postage, its goes as small parcel so would work out less then £3 if i post from franker at work.

I might just take a chance and relist anyway

OP posts:

NorbertDentressangle · 15/11/2013 20:15

I know you said there wasn't a size label in the trousers (eg. 14, 16 etc) but for future reference the sizing on vintage clothing is so different to todays sizing.

I did some work for a charity involving donated vintage clothing and was amazed at the differences. Something from the 70s with a size 14 label would be about a 8-10 in todays clothing.

sharesinNivea · 19/11/2013 22:57

Vintage clothing is smaller. Dress size measurements haven't changed since the 50s, but female body shapes have.

Always always request exact measurements when buying clothes on eBay. One shop's size 10 is another shop's size 16.

It won't be worth the £3.60 Recorded Delivery return postage costs to claim a refund. Email the seller politely requesting a part refund as goodwill. They probably will, considering of haven't yet left Feedback for them.

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