eBay Shopping Tips: Are You Paying too Much on eBay?

November 29, 2006 by TBF

Never assume an item listed on eBay is listed at it’s lowest price. In fact, many times the items on eBay cost MORE than the item same item at a retail site. Case in point, iPods. 2GB Nanos can be purchased from Apple.com for around $149. However, on eBay several are listed for $160 and doesn’t include the free engraving you receive you purchase the item on Apple.com. Also items like vintage clothing, “designer” purses, and cell phones can cost more on eBay than on other sites.

eBay Shopping Tips

Items that can be more expensive on eBay:

- Electronics- iPods often cost MORE on eBay than they do on Apple.com. Cell phones and Laptops also can be a bit more pricey on eBay.

- “Designer” Purses- I’ve seen fake bags priced higher than the real thing on eBay

- “Designer” Eyeglass Frames- Be careful, sometimes LensCrafters has a better deal, especially if you use a coupon.

- Vintage Clothing Items- Many of the items were purchased directly from the Goodwill and put on eBay for up to 3 times their thrift store price.

How to Avoid Getting Scammed:

- Alway research the cost of item on other sites BEFORE bidding on it on eBay. For cell phones, check to see if your provider has deals. For iPods, check out Apple.com.. For designer purses, look at eLuxury.com, saksfifthavenue.com or the designer’s own website. Sites like shopping.com and shopzilla.com are also great resources for shopping. Compare the prices

-Only buy from sellers with a seller rating of 100 or higher and an approval score of 99% or higher.

- Always ask if the seller has a receipt and if they will scan it for you to review.

-Always ask about shipping BEFORE bidding- a lot sellers will charge high shipping fees to “cover” the reduced price.

Target.com

Wal-Mart

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Comments

A. Hall

Juicy Couture charms are another thing that goes for more than retail. Some of the prices of those things on ebay are sickening!
jj

In the case of vintage clothing, I think it’s fair. When I go to a vintage shop, I know the shop owner has spent hours scouring thrift stores and estate sales for the items, because I used to do that myself. I assume it’s the same with most ebay sellers. If I still had the time to troll the stores, I would. But since I don’t, I’ll still take a $50 vintage jacket in good condition over a poorly made $200 department store jacket any day. Even if the seller originally paid $15 for the thing.
divaliscious11

A caution about the percentages for ebay sellers – make sure you actually look at the sellers feedback. for some reason, ebay has its own math and depending on how active a person is, the could have a less than 99% approval score but not necessarily be unscrupulous. All it takes is one or two disgruntled people to make your score go under….. also, read the neutrals and any negatives..you can tell if something is up! by the way your blog is cute.
TBF

I have to disagree with you about the vintage factor. I feel it’s a bit unfair to mark something up sometimes over 10 times what you paid for it. Of course, you should get paid for your time and expertise in selecting the garment.. but the extreme mark-up is not necessary… you become no different than Wal-Mart.
Lauren

I disagree with you on the vintage comment. Believing all ebay sellers get their stock from thrift stores after paying a pittance is far from true. Granted, I am sure there ARE some lucky ones who are able to do that, but for the really good stuff-especially the clothes older than the 1960s, it is SO hard to find these items at affordable prices to resell them-and even seeing them at thrift stores? I wish! You cannot imagine the time that goes into finding the quality 50’s and earlier pieces, the amount of work we often have to put into them to make them acceptable and wearable, and I can count on my fingers the times I was able to get something thrift-store cheap. There is a reason why things are priced the way they are-it’s not easy to get the items in the first place, make them ready to sell, nor list them-don’t forget ebay loves taking a chunk of everyone’s money in fees!
tiffany

It’s NOT unfair to mark up vintage clothing. They price it at what it’s worth, not what you paid for it.

If someone is lucky enough to find a vintage Dior for… lets say $20. At $200 it would be a steal! Who cares what they paid for it? That’s not the point.

Comparing vintage clothing to the low quality, made in China goods from Wal-Mart is ridiculous.

Do you know how hard it is to go to an Estate sale, Thrift, or Vintage clothing boutique and find exactly what you’re looking for in your size? Ebay sellers do it for you and you pay what an item is worth, usually much less if you know anything about vintage clothing!!!
fran b.

Sometimes having a quality, one of a kind garment that will get you noticed and get compliments whenever you wear it is worth whatever price you’d like to pay for it. If you don’t like the prices on vintage clothing, then don’t bid. If a vintage item goes over your comfortable purchase range, do not bid further, it’s simple as that. You’re forgetting that vintage pieces aren’t something found in every city in every department store. A gal in Des Moines is not going to find the same types of vintage that a gal in NYC is. I like your wal-mart reference, btw as a big smiling wal-mart banner ad is staring at me from the right hand side of this blog. =P
Theresa

Comparing vintage sellers to Wal-Mart is unfair and plain wrong. It’s like comparing a Holiday Inn hotel to the Ice Hotel that’s built once a year. True vintage is almost alwasy one of a kind. To the original poster, please, go on ebay now, find a dress from the 50’s that you like and then try to find the exact same dress somewhere else or ask the seller if they have it in a different size. You’ll be hard pressed to find it.

I love vintage, I used to be able to spend time looking for it, but I just don’t have that kind of time anymore. If someone else is willing to do it and they find something that I love that fits me, I really don’t care what they paid for it as long as they described it accurately.
TBF

Several “vintage” store owners go to the goodwill and salvation army to purchase items to stock their stores and price the garments several times higher than the amount they paid. This is a fact and of course not every vintage store owner does it, but a lot do. My girl Roxanne at the Jersey City Salvation Army (which is pretty crappy now), would tell me how owners from some of the BIG vintage stores in NYC would come every Tuesday/Wednesday to purchase items for their store. After the salvation Army saw many of their pieces selling on eBay and stores for much more than it originally cost, the charity decided to raise their prices.

Now tell me how it is fair for a vintage seller to a- take advantage of a charity and b- cause prices to be raised higher for those who actually need to shop at SA for their clothing and household items.

What I meant by comparing vintage sellers to Wal-Mart is that wal-mart has a tendency to take advantage of their customers and by marking something over 100 times it’s price, vintage retailers are doing the same thing.

Now it does take a certain eye and time to find great pieces, but really.. I’ve seen cowboy boots, same quality as I’ve seen in the thrift stores, selling for over $90 at vintage stores. Makes business sense if people are willing to pay it, but it doesn’t make it right

what I find interesting is that if I was to discuss a store like Macys marking up their prices to over 100 times it’s wholesale price, you all would be the first to write letters to the store. But somehow, a vintage store has the right to over charge for a garment and that is okay? These agruments don’t make sense.
jojo

Can I just say to the above comment that I’ve seen plenty of mass-produced items from Banana Republic and Charlotte Russe being re-sold in “vintage” markets for unfair prices! In this case, the vintage sellers ARE ripping people off. Maybe there is no REAL rule for stuff like this, and if you believe in the free market and all, then it makes sense. But on a moral level, giving the charities the small pennies while reaping in personal profits is selfish. In my eyes there’s not too much difference btw the interests of mass producers and vintage buyers who want to get cheap goods and sell them for the highest profits possible. And they’re both perpetuating the rampant consumerism that plays into so many other problems….
http://4-the-love-of-fashion.blogspot.com/ For the Love of Fashion

I have seen lots of items priced higher than their value. However, you can sometimes find discontinued items that are no longer sold in department stores or even made by the designers. I think, in those cases, the prices are fair if they are full price or even a little higher.

Look at the feedback of the seller, too. And talk to the seller, back and forth communication, with any questions you have about the item. His/her response to your inquiry speaks volumes about what kind of seller you’re dealing with and whether or not you can trust if the item is authentic or a cheap knock-off.
Judy H.

Even if you think you’re getting a BARGAIN price on Ebay, check out the shipping and handling charges. Most times, they are OUTRAGEOUS!
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Debbi

I rather purchase a well made consignment, possibly vintage yes due to the fact they are well made, one of a kind and yes, you will not see that item on someone else.

Walmart, Target the big box stores all have the same thing. Buy there if you want to look like everyone else. Even with Target “shops of target” which are no big deal from what I saw at my local one here (cheaply made) . If you must shop at those stores, are a bit creative, you can purchase vintage buttons, bows etc and make the clothing your own one of a kind.

I say, stand out from the crowd, be yourself be unique in what your style is and be proud.

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eBay Shopping Tips: Are You Paying too Much on eBay?