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?

It looks gorgeous volcani !

It's lovely isn't it Lalalatte
Don't want to pay more than £25 though....

I do this although some of the clothes in my local charity shop are more expensive than buying them new.
I do it for the recycling aspect and because I like shopping somewhere where lots of brand are jumbled up.
I’ve heard the shops don’t really make much in the way of profit for the charities. They are more about getting their name out there on the high street.

I'm a committed e-bayer, and do use charity shops when I have the time to browse.

Partly environmental reasons, partly too stingy and have better things to spend money on.

I find Ebay pretty reliable as I know what brands and sizes fit me.

Just bought ds a school cost for £2 rather than £30 on there.

T/O I don't know where to post this good news, on a related topic, at last an article in the Times today, by Sandra Goldmark, on repair of electrical goods, a library of things like power tools, to save buying. Maybe the beginning of the turn away from the mindless boosting of consumerism?

Just bought ds a school cost for £2 rather than £30 on there.

When you have bought a few £2 school coats that are great it's agony buying one for £30

Once you ebay you never go back!

I love ebay for coats as well, for me and the kids, can get such bargains and a lot of the coats are almost like new!

I don't but mostly because I hate shopping with a passion so have been buying stuff with my monthly "big supermarket" shop and getting wearing stuff to death.

I don't have the patience to trawl loads of shops unless I'm in a "need X item now" situation, and I'm an awkward unfashionable shape so can't just buy whatever I like the look of in the shop - I might need anything from a 10 to a 16 depending on fabric/cut or more likely it will never fit acceptably anyway.

If I ever find a brand that consistently works for me I'd almost certainly change my mind, but still looking for the holy grail.

I just don't think I'd cope with finding a nearly perfect item in the charity shop but need the size up/down and obviously they wouldn't have it. I was annoyed enough when skater dresses were out of fashion for a bit and everything was straight shift style and I couldn't buy anything for about a year!

@20mum

T/O I don't know where to post this good news, on a related topic, at last an article in the Times today, by Sandra Goldmark, on repair of electrical goods, a library of things like power tools, to save buying. Maybe the beginning of the turn away from the mindless boosting of consumerism?

We quite often buy reconditioned phones from Amazon rather than brand new.

@Volcanicorange

Just bought ds a school cost for £2 rather than £30 on there.

When you have bought a few £2 school coats that are great it's agony buying one for £30

Once you ebay you never go back!

Yes! Have had quite a few coats for my DCs on eBay and Facebook selling groups. Major bargains to be had as good quality coats are expensive!

I’ve been shopping in chazzie shops for many many years (since my teens) and grew up on jumble sales! The latter experience means that boy can I work a vintage kilo sale! Whilst the young things are mooning about trying on one thing, I’ll have grabbed an armload to check over and keep or put back. I’m also a keen eBayer - get all my cashmere that way, plus brands too expensive full price (I’m looking at you, Toast). About the only things I buy new are my running shoes and my undies.

Charity shops and eBay here
I love a good rummage! It's quite the family hobby. My most recent special find was a Valentino silk scarf for a couple of quid. It's beautiful. I like to look at the crystal glasses as well - had some beautiful ones over the years, and for pennies really.
EBay I tend to shop out of season, so linen in the winter and woolly coats in the summer. I have a beautiful Celtic & Co. waxed jacket that I paid less than £20 for. I love it.

Lots of eBay here. Recently got a lovely wool mix coat still with the tags on, the exact shape I've been looking for, a couple of lovely dresses and the perfect Chelsea boots. I sometimes buy bundles, just so I can try some new styles (a bit like a budget stitch fix box) and sell on what I don't like.

I used to be a high earner, so could afford to buy new. But my salary has dropped massively in recent years, and the only way I can buy good quality clothes on my budget now is on eBay.

After some initial bad purchases, I've stuck to brands I know, so never have issues with sizing. I buy about an item a month, and very happy with my wardrobe. I only buy cotton, viscose and occasionally wool. I ask for measurements if they are not listed. I set an alarm and bid in the last 60 seconds. And always check that item is from smoke+pet free home.

What a great thread! I’ve always been a charity shop fan, we’ve got some good ones in our nearest city. I’ve found some lovely cashmere knitwear and an amazing coat over the last year. I do like to try things on though, so am more cautious buying from eBay etc. I’ve also found that if I am not careful I end up with lots of random things that don’t really go together, so I am quite picky and I have a selection of new bought basics to wear it all with. Can’t wait til I can go and browse again!

I buy BNWT from eBay. I've got;

M&S bras £10 (rrp £25)
Fat face dresses £20 (rrp £40)
Boden shirts £9 (rrp £25)
Boden dresses £20 (rrp £60)
Kurt Geiger boots £40 (rrp £120)

I only buy stuff I know will fit, so I'll go for items with a bit of stretch in the material like jersey.

I would say about 70% of my wardrobe I still buy new direct from store or online. I love looking at the new season items & trends even though I don't buy very often anymore.
However, most of my jeans are from charity shops or vintage stores. Recently bought a brand new pair of Topshop Jean's I was after for £5, they are still in store for £40!
I have some vintage Levi's that I bought for a couple of quid too.
Last year I bought a lovely Zara charcoal wool overcoat from the charity shop for £4 and a new with tags leather bag from Zara for £5.
My favourite ever buy was a tan shearling coat from a car boot stall years ago, bought for a tenner and still wear it now. It's so warm and I've had so many compliments on it, it would of cost hundreds to buy new.

I love the feeling of finding something amazing in a charity shop. The ones near my parents house are fantastic. Full to the brim...you have to root around but there are loads of fabulous things. My DM buys most of her clothes from one in particular, her wardrobe is insane! She's so thrifty.

Most of my wardrobe is eBay / depop - TOAST in the main, COS too. A few other brands. I love looking for and getting a bargain that I know is great quality. I like shopping in actual shops but the thrill of winning a lovely item on eBay for a great price is a great feeling.

Yess! Found my people. Picked up a John Lewis 100% cashmere jumper for 50p at a carboot the other week. Some people brag about how much their car, bag ext is. I brag about my bargains

Absolutely
But not ever underwear

I've bought bras from CS. Who hasn't ever bought a bra, then not worn it?

I LOVE charity shops!

How do people find the other sites like vinted
@Coconut80, I used it for the first time last week and it didn’t work out. I bought a lovely winter coat, was so pleased that I found what I wanted, but the seller didn’t send it. Thankfully Vinted has a policy where they refund within a set time if an item hasn’t been posted so I got an automatic refund without even having to open a case. In that respect it was very good, just a shame my first experience was a bad one.

Maybe, in 1985, people were smaller? It’s a lovely coat
@CharlottesComplicatedWeb, people were smaller back then plus vanity sizing has got out of hand. For example, I’ve always been a “size 10” but my waist size used to be 4 inches smaller, so something is amiss! No way can I get into my old size 10 trousers and skirts now.

It might have been better had the seller said that vintage 14 may translate as a 10/12
Absolutely, but unfortunately most sellers don’t think to mention stuff like this or put measurements, so it’s always worth asking for measurements as sizings vary so much anyway. I say this as someone who’s also been caught out.

Most of my wardrobe is second hand from either CSs or Ebay. I love Ebay as I usually have something particular that I want to buy and I hate going to the shops and never finding what I'm after. So much easier to search online instead, although the issue of inconsistent sizing is a big problem. I love the gamble of not knowing what I'll find in CSs too.

Actually... if I don’t wear much under it (😐) I can get it done up. Might keep it...