Anyone else feel frustrated buying clothes on Ebay

[NoMoreMuchin]

I normally buy clothes about 50:50 new and from charity shops, and since the first lockdown I've started buying on ebay to replace the charity shops.

I don't know if I expect too much. If something is used I obviously expect it to have some signs of wear, but not to be stained, torn etc.

Today I received a dress with a biro mark on the back, last week I was sent a skirt with two shiny iron marks on it. I've just looked and I've bought 19 items in total, and 4 have had to go back

I live rurally about 20 mins drive to the post office, and although sellers have accepted items back, it's still a pia for me.

I'm wondering if I should just give up altogether ..... The one thing all 4 have in common is that they were being sold by sellers who are selling 100s of items at a time, so I wonder how carefully things get checked? Or maybe I have just been unlucky do far and should persevere?

Tbh the only clothes I buy on Ebay are things I know were expensive originally. If I'm paying 30 quid for a dress I know was 200 originally,or 50 for a bag that was 500 I know it's not going to be in brand new condition and expect some marks or damage. Currently sat here in a £200 ghost dressing I got for £25 and has a rip in the seam, if I'd paid £200 for it it would be sat in the wardrobe gathering dust because I wouldn't wear it for fear of damaging it. I bloody love Ebay!!

The last 3 things I bought were meh to outrageous; Brora (luxury cashmere brand) cardigan nice but had a replacement button - clever match but not 100% (and they always provide spares); H&M dress (in a distinctive pattern I liked) clearly missing a tie belt; "Brora" gloves which were not only not cashmere, they had massive holes in AND patently not Brora (products are sold with a tag attached by a safety pin). Chancers!

I don’t think I’d by anything mail order If I lived 20 mins from a PO.

buy

The only clothes I buy on eBay are ones where I know my size in that brand and how it will fit. And it has to be like new.

That's really helpful to know about Vinted, @LadyTiredWinterBottom2 thanks for that.

It doesn't sound like I have been particularly unlucky from other replies, I think I might give Depop a whirl to see if it is any improvement.

I’ve bought 4 things recently and 1 is so ridiculously small I can’t believe the seller didn’t say “ comes up small “ which is what I would have done. I should have asked for measurements so that’s on me. I have noticed that fewer sellers give measurements now though.

You want a seller like me... I can’t stand even sending an item out un-ironed. My items are immaculate and go out wrapped in tissue paper. I actually sell on Depop although my clothes are a bit classic for that market place. Prices are a bit higher and apart from a delay over receiving a dress I haven’t had any issues with my purchases.

I usually don't have any problems with eBay but i have been shopping on there for absolutely years since it first came out, so have learned from early clangers.

I always buy a brand I know and I'm very careful about what I buy as well if it is very cheap but also a cheap brand then I don't buy it.

Missed a paragraph off my post.
I'm also don't usually buy something if it hasn't got clear pictures of the front and back although I have taken a risk before now but only if I can afford to be disappointed.

I also filter by item location (so no Chinese items) & by auction only items which usually means you get rid of all the professional sellers.

When I'm looking at photos if the background looks messy or they have hung up the the item badly then I will be put off as well. As that's usually a sign someone might not take care of their clothes.

Not new. Tried buying baby clothes for my now 17yo and got bags of mildew and febreze.

eBay is a complete Mish mash of sellers and buyers. I buy a lot on eBay and also I sell. I try to describe items as honestly as possible and take time to communicate with buyers and to wrap all clothing in tissue paper with a note of thanks. My feedback is 100% which I am really proud of and it's lovely to receive nice words and a thank you from buyers. I really would not wish anyone to be disappointed in a purchase. I can however make mistakes, put on a wrong size or a defect is spotted that I missed. I'll gladly apologise and refund if that's the case. But I also find a lot of time wasters and non payers, who just seem to like the thrill of a winning bid with no intentions of purchase. Plus the buyers just looking for a reason to request a refund. It really is a mixed bag. If I buy anything that doesn't fit, I don't like etc I just relist it.
My advice would be: Check a buyer's feedback, read the description and ask questions to try to ensure you get what you want. If the item really does not match the description contact the buyer first, if you get no joy go via eBay and ask for a refund/replacement.

Having lost weight last year I’ve sold most of my wardrobe on eBay, I was meticulous with detail and took great pics. Not a single item has come back but as you say, buying is not as easy & you can get stiffed!

Last Hush top I bought was definitely the size up with a dodgy unreadable label. However, I have bought some brilliant high street pieces tho (massimo, Anthropologie, hush), & bought about 5 x cashmere jumpers in jan, (make sure cashmere is not stained under armpits as people tend to wash them far less! I buy new or barely worn) so overall a positive experience.

I find eBay a mixed bag if I’m honest. I buy my clothes on Thrift+ now.

I came to say Thrift+ too. Quality much better than eBay as clothing is donated to Thrift+ and they only list the items which are in perfect or very good condition.

Try Vinted
I buy on there , have had many great bargains , lovely coated leggings and knit jumpers for £1 plus I use the Hermes postage parcel shop option so postage only costs 99p.

You can buy bundles from the same sellers to keep postage cheap.

I wish eBay would link in and do a 99p postage promo.

I have hardly bought anything on EBay recently as the usual £3.20-50 postage makes my bargains not a bargain.

I used to get a lot from eBay, but don't bother much anymore. There are some secondhand / vintage sellers on places like Etsy. Might be worth a go? I am ashamed to say, I've reverted to buying a lot of things new since covid started. At the beginning I was a bit paranoid about secondhand and now I've got a taste for new! Really need to rectify that.

I have never had any problem buying clothes from eBay-except when things haven’t fitted and that has been rare. What tend to go for new clothes, but not always. I’ve bought loads of children’s clothes too.

Like some PPs, I have bought and sold a lot over the years. It's not what it used to be, certainly from a seller perspective, but I still find things I thought would not fetch much going for decent prices, and vice versa. I take a lot of trouble o et listings, at least half a dozen photos per item in good lighting, measurements in description and any flaws highlighted. I would never sell anything I wouldn't buy myself. On the rare, thankfully, occasions I've missed a stain etc I've given a full refund without quibble. I recycle a lot of my wardrobe that way.

As a buyer, the advice to stick with brands you know is key I think. I tend to use it as a way of tracking down "the one that got away", so often higher-end high street, although I sometimes wish I had the patience/guts to nab a designer bargain. I've bought some lovely things during lockdown but am careful only to use buyers who post decent photos of the actual item etc. Those default descriptions dive me mad though, always ask more detailed questions about sizing from a seller if they haven't included that info already.

Interestingly (or not) it seems eBay are rattled by the rise of Depop/ Vinted etc as they have an Instagram influencer push going on at the moment. I can't be bothered to "learn" Depop quite yet, but can feel myself inching that way.

I sell on ebay, and always give a good description, I have been buying as well, brands I like oasis , warehouse, and topshop, most things are as described, a couple of things didn't fit so i just resell, last year I did buy a two dresses from a seller, but when I looked, one had a crusty stain on it, I couldn't tell you what it was, so I email her, and ask for it to be returned and a refund, she went into one saying it was so cheap couldn't I just wash it, I said thats not the point, she listed it as clean, other wise I wouldn't have bid for them. I did keep them as the other dress was new with tags, just binned the stained one.

Only bought 2 items of clothing, one worked out well, a seasalt top in good condition. The other is a bit mank as in washed to death and on its last legs. You live and learn, will only bid on things described as nearly new in future!
Bought books from different business sellers on there , they've always been good.