Shopping on ebay

The DaveR · #1 08-23-2007, 09:41 PM

I like to consider myself a pretty astute clothing shopper and I've often found tremendous deals for new clothes on ebay. If you know your measurements rather than just size and have specific ideas about what you'd like to find (looking for one specific thing is often just asking to be frustrated) you can routinely save a tidy sum. On the other hand, I've also done fairly poorly--albeit years ago--finding used, out of print, books there. Other sites like Alibris and increasingly Amazon are much easier to use. And I've never used it for sourcing older wine preferring the interface on Winebid.

I'm curious what other kinds of things people routinely find on ebay and whether you're finding things that are rare or just efficiently price shopping.

7ontheline · #2 08-23-2007, 11:11 PM

DaveR,

Any tips on shopping for clothes (or anything else, really)? Every time I go on ebay I'm kind of overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things for sale. It doesn't help that I'm hard to fit (tall, big feet) so I have to try on most things before buying.

eviljeff · #3 08-24-2007, 02:23 AM

just go to Ross dude

pokerbobo · #4 08-24-2007, 02:25 AM

I buy pro V1X golf balls used on eBay. I like the ball, but am not good enuff to justify spending 50 bucks a dozen for new ones. So I got 5 dozen in decent shape used for about 90 bucks. Now I dont have to look for a lost ball as long.

WhoIam · #5 08-24-2007, 03:50 AM

Why not just take a trip to Hong Kong and get everything either bespoke or made to measure for ebay prices?

The DaveR · #6 08-24-2007, 08:26 AM

ej, Do you understand convenience and access to a bigger market?

WIA, If HK tailors as a group demonstrate anything it's that bespoke does not necessarily mean quality. Most of their work is shoddy. And there's the issue of going to HK.

7otl, Measure yourself and the clothes that fit you.

Maulik · #7 08-24-2007, 09:17 AM

WIA, If HK tailors as a group demonstrate anything it's that bespoke does not necessarily mean quality. Most of their work is shoddy. And there's the issue of going to HK.

dcasper70 · #8 08-29-2007, 04:42 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I buy pro V1X golf balls used on eBay. I like the ball, but am not good enuff to justify spending 50 bucks a dozen for new ones. So I got 5 dozen in decent shape used for about 90 bucks. Now I dont have to look for a lost ball as long.

[/ QUOTE ]
I do the same for ProV's and recommend it to anyone, for any type of ball they prefer to play.
AAAA quality.

octopi · #9 08-30-2007, 01:41 AM

I used to be super hot for a few things, namely clothes and 'unattainables'.

Clothes were easy to do. I'd only search for brand names that were pricey, hard to find, and that I already owned, so I knew the fit and sizing. I often now will 'double shop': visit the mall and will check out eBay after to see if it is for sale for less or in a size the store lacked or a different color etc. I don't browse for clothes though, it's an incredibly hard system to browse on, I find. I really hope they turn things around there soon, actually.

I also look for unattainables occasionally. Things that I can't buy in my city in Canada. Things from Bath and Body works, Victoria's Secret, crap like that.

eBay can also make for some awesome weird gifts. Sometimes I'll randomly type a word of something a friend or family member is currently into at eBay and see what turns up. I've found weird art, vintage posters, all sorts of strange things.

gusmahler · #10 08-29-2007, 04:27 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I've also done fairly poorly--albeit years ago--finding used, out of print, books there. Other sites like Alibris and increasingly Amazon are much easier to use.

[/ QUOTE ]I've found the same thing for selling books, CDs, and DVDs. Using Ebay to sell stuff is just harder than Amazon. You have to wait for payment. You only have a few days to sell the item before you have to relist. At Amazon, you list it and forget about it. If it doesn't sell in 90 days, just relist. As soon as you get an email from Amazon, you've already been paid and you can send the item. Plus, it seems that more people looking for books, CDs, and DVDs look at Amazon than Ebay. I've had CDs on Ebay that never sold that were sold at Amazon within a couple of days.

As for what I do use Ebay for, clothing is a good example. One thing my wife uses it for is cosmetics (moisturizers, hair products, etc.). Often can be found cheap.