Does anyone else mainly buy clothing at Charity Shops and via Ebay?

[EvaporatedHour]

I can afford to buy things at retail price these days but I just can't bring myself to when I get so many amazing things for such low prices at charity shops and on Ebay. I recently bought a Topshop blouse in a BHF shop. The blouse was new with tags and the original tag said £29, whilst I paid £2.50! Such a bargain!

Other great things I've bought recently have been a Maxmara white shirt for £3, Current Elliott jeans with a leather stripe down the side for £2.50, Seven for all Mankind jeans for £3, and brand new UGG boots for £15! I've been on Ebay today and just won a few Topshop items for 99p each.

Does anyone else mainly buy secondhand and what have been your best buys?

I do! Mostly eBay as the charity shops where I am never have much decent stuff in. I have paid a reasonable amount for some items (up to £40) but have had Fly and Clarks shoes, a vintage Laura Ashley dress and skirt, Boden including cashmere cardigans, a lot of Toast, etc.

Oops cut off early!

I've had a bit of a spree this week on eBay and bought two Jigsaw tops, a Seasalt jumper, a Toast dress and Toast culottes - all at a fraction of the price they sold for originally.

I mostly buy from eBay, champagne tastes but a lemonade budget!

I need to look more high end than I can afford for my job, so eBay makes this more achievable. Nothing OTT just upper end high street like Arket, Cos, Other Stories as opposed to Primark and New Look.

I've also ended up with absolute rubbish too which has immediately gone to the charity shop or bin. It's a bit hit and miss.

I do charity shop shopping. Have had some major bargains recently. I bought an Edina Ronny faux fur coat from EBay a few weeks ago and learned my lesson though... no returns! It’s a beautiful coat but it’s more a 10/12 rather than the 14 or Large advertised... I can’t get it done up, sadly.

@CharlottesComplicatedWeb, you can return it, you need to raise an item not as described.

Ebay always sides with the buyer. Otherwise, just relist it.

@MikeUniformMike I’m not sure I can because the label on the coat says Size 14 Large. Maybe, in 1985, people were smaller? It’s a lovely coat.

I’ve never bought clothing from eBay before. It never occurred to me I couldn’t return it 😐

Yes, I buy pretty much all my clothes (apart from basics like leggings and vest tops) secondhand from ebay now, like others I resent paying full price now. Its not 100% hit rate, I have had a few disappointments, but overall I love it. The only think is, you have to have quite a specific idea of something you want to buy (eg. Leopard print coat, spotty midi dress etc) otherwise it's just too big to wade through.

I quite like charity shops too, but don't really get time to get to decent ones, so sometimes I end up just buying for the sake of it when I am in there.

Yes I love to go into the charity shops, also like Vinted and depop. I can't really afford the retail price for most of the brands I like so these places are a good option for me. Just got the kids a couple of clothes bundles from Vinted with things like Zara, Next in them. Also got myself some things like a Rydale shirt for £3 new with tags and Joe Browns leather knee boots for £18.

Yes I do, it's brilliant! I love Nomads clothing and Bravissimo and get tons of it second hand

Go into Purchase History and click Return this item, click Doesn't fit or another option. Doesn't seem authentic is the usual one.

If you are buying vintage, ask for measurements. If it is 1985 size 14 it is probably like a size 10.

I like Nomads and Mistral, but I won't wear patterns.

@CharlottesComplicatedWeb, the return this item is pretty crap for the seller, but you might as well try.

@MikeUniformMike... yes, that makes sense. I had no idea. I bought it as a “today” 14 thinking it’d be roomy for winter clothes underneath. It might have been better had the seller said that vintage 14 may translate as a 10/12.

I don’t sell on eBay and wouldn’t have a clue where to start!

@MikeUniformMike... tried, as you said. Got a message back saying “Return was closed 28 October 2020”. I didn’t expect any joy tbh. My fault. Won’t buy again when there’s no return policy.

From your purchase history, look up the original listing of your coat.
Display the photos and for each one right-click and select Save picture as. Save each picture under a different name.

Keep the original listing open, but in another tab, click Sell.

In the Create your listing page enter a title
e.g Vintage Redina Onay coat size 14 (fits UK size 10)

Click Get started,
etc.

In your listing, add the saved photos. Copy +paste text from original listing.

It will only take you minutes.

Good luck!

You can probably still return it, bu it's easier to relist it. There's an Ebay topic, with threads on there for tips.

No, becasue the charity shops where I live just have Primark, supermarket, Next and M and S cast offs.

And I don't shop online because I like to see, feel and try on clothes first.

This thread is inspiring!

I buy a fair amount of fast fashion (bit of an H&M addict) but really want to stop. Have always bought in charity shops but barely go now due to Covid. Would like to start with eBay but it feels a bit intimidating... any first timer tips? I love Toast, so would like to try to find some pieces second hand if poss...

There are loads of Toast clothes on ebay. It's a popular brand so tend to sell well.

First timer tips. Decide on the maximum you want to pay,including P&P e.g you want to pay £20 but the P&P is £3.20. So your max bid is £16.80.

Now if you miss is by a few p, you'll be annoyed so add a bit of leeway, e.g. £1.36.

Wait until there are only about 15 seconds left and bid £18.06.
You will probably either be outbid or you'll get it for much less than your bid. Pay immediately to get it over and done with.

I very rarely buy in the shops. Have been shopping in charity shops for many years.
It helps landfill and saves a lot of money.

I have found some amazing finds.

I love a chazza and was probably buying 50% of my clothes second hand before Covid. Not been trawling the charity (or any) shops the last few months, but it’s the first thing I’ll be doing when normality returns.

Just bought some bits on Thrift+ - pricier than charity shops but good brands and easier to wade through than eBay.

I buy probably half of mine and DC's clothes on ebay.

I know what I want e.g. Toast dress, Tootsa Macginty jumper and search for the size I want every week until something I want comes up. Same with the kids Christmas presents, pushchairs, books etc

I've saved 1000's I would say. I could afford to buy new but have climate anxiety, so I like the thought of getting something someone else doesn't need. And I put the £200 a month I would otherwise spend in an investment ISA

I don't go to charity shops as much as I hate the trawl. I do most of my ebaying in bed listening to podcasts! I also despise going into physical clothes shops: the lighting, the shop assistants loitering asking if you need help, seeing something you like and having to flip through the rack to find your size, only to find they don't have it.... horrendous.

Although the really good stuff can be almost as expensive as new!

This dress, for example, that I've been trying to get for DD:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Boden-Girls-Velvet-Tulle-Party-Tutu-Dress-Christmas-Nutcracker-5-6/203149267646

If anyone has it, list it and I'll buy it