How to shop eBay like a Pro
How to search, how to spot quality, how to negotiate, and how to get the best deals possible.
I spent three days on set this past week on set with one of my favorite makeup artist and WMIY readers (hi, Shannon!). She was asking me about something I was wearing and I shared that basically my entire outfit came from eBay.
I asked her if she’s ever shopped on eBay, she said no. Something about the platform and bidding that makes purchasing feel a little overwhelming.
It made me wonder how many of my readers may feel the same way. Here I am sharing links to incredible vintage finds on platforms that can feel intimidating if you don’t know where to start.
So today, we are starting from the top.
Consider this your official guide to shopping eBay (and Etsy) like a pro- how to search, how to spot quality, how to negotiate, and how to get the best possible deals.
How to Shop eBay like a Pro:
The Search Term Formula
The key to being successful on eBay starts with a good search term.
In order to hit the bulls eye you have to have a narrow target. Start your search narrow and specific. This will lead to a smaller amount of listings, specific search results, and less overwhelm.
I’ve come up with a simple fill in the blank search term formula to get you started. Consider this your Ebay Mad Libs:
“Vintage (decade) (brand/ genre/ place of origin) ( color) (material) (style)”
ex: Vintage 1930s French striped silk shirt.
If the results are too narrow take one word away.
ex: Vintage 1930s striped silk shirt.
Keep stripping descriptors away until the search pool is just the right size. It’s always better to start small and open the scope.
*Advanced tip- If I’m shopping a designer sometimes I’ll drop the word vintage and the decade because many sellers are trying to pitch their items as new not knowing vintage is more desirable.
ex: instead of “Vintage 90’s Calvin Klein ivory silk dress” I will search “Calvin Klein ivory silk dress” and hunt for tags from the 90s.
The Rabbit Hole
eBay is very good at suggesting related items or you might also like. Once you click on a listing scroll down a bit and you will find their suggestions.
Look at the listing titles. Search brands you’ve never heard of before. This is how you get lost in a proper eBay rabbit hole and where you are most likely to find your most treasured and unexpected finds.
For example, when I searched for Vintage 1930s French striped silk shirt, a suggested listing was this gorgeous Manhattan silk stripe shirt.
I scrolled to the bottom of that listing which suggested this listing- which was even better than the last. Do that a few times over and you’ll be lost down a beautiful eBay rabbit hole in no time.
The Dig
Buy Now vs Bid- I filter my results for Buy Now listings. I usually have no patience for bidding!
When studying a listing here are four things to look for:
Sizing- never rely on sizes on tags. Only look at measurements. Compare measurements to similar items you have at home. The more you know your measurements the more successful your online vintage shopping becomes.
Fabric- always look for fabric content of description in a listing. If there is no information or description in the listing I move on. There is nothing worse than buying what looks like a beautiful silk dress and it turns out it’s 100% nylon.
Visual weight + drape- study the listing and see if you can gauge the weight and drape of the piece. Does it hang? Does it look like light? Heavy? So many vintage sweaters, leather jackets, pants, etc were made intentionally stiff and thick. These are unwearable. I skip these pieces.
Damages- keep an eye out for stains, holes, and irreparable damages. Although, in some cases, I do consider these a bonus- Re: How to add more soul to your wardrobe.
Always read the description. A lot of sellers will sneak in important information in the description that is not visually obvious in the photos.
Many sellers offer returns if the item isn’t what you expected. Often times you just have to pay for return postage. This is something I always keep an eye out for on a listing if you’re unsure about fit.
Lastly, before making a purchase, take a look at the sellers rating- how many sales they’ve done, and if they have a generally positive score. This way you know you’re dealing with someone reputable.
The Power of the Watchlist
So you found something you like and you want to make a purchase. Hold your horses! Now comes the fun part. We’re going to get a good deal.
The first and easiest step to getting 10-20% off a listing without any effort whatsoever is by simply adding the item to your watchlist. In less than 24 hours you have a 95% chance of receiving an email with a 10-20% off offer from the seller.
It’s that easy.
Only a couple hours after adding the first listing to my watchlist I received $40 off!
Make an Offer
If you are in a rush, grab the 10% off Watchlist offer and run with it. But if you have more nerve and a little more time you should always negotiate.
Make an Offer- On eBay listings will show you the listed price of best offer. After you received the discounted offer by adding the item to the watchlist you can make a counter. I try to find the sellers lowest they are willing to accept as a starting point for sending an offer. You have 5 shots until the seller accepts so start low!
Message the Seller- In some cases listings do not have the Make an Offer button. This doesn’t stop me from negotiating. This is when I message the seller directly and ask if they can do any better on price and start the negotiations from there. This is what I do on Etsy as well. If the price seems high I will message the seller directly and more times than not I get a better deal.
For ex. That Manahattan shirt I linked above. There was no make an offer option so I messaged the seller like so:
A swing and a miss! But better to ask than not. The culture on eBay is to negotiate. It is to be expected so don’t be shy and don’t be afraid of a no. You can always come back with a better offer.
Notes on Platforms
While I write these tips with eBay in mind most of these tips apply cross platforms.
eBay
The reason I love eBay the most is it feels the most akin to a flea market- there is a huge selection and there are some incredible treasures, an opportunity to negotiate, and the best chance at a good deal.
Etsy
Etsy feels like a more curated vintage shop experience. Smaller selection, more edited, and a little bit more expensive- although great treasure and deals to be had. This is better for someone who really feels overwhelmed by eBay even after these tips.
Depop
Depop feels more akin to a Wasteland vintage in LA or an L Train in NYC. You can find great stuff, especially second hand designer, but it’s mostly second hand not vintage from the 30s-60s which is what I’m looking for.
Poshmark
Poshmark feels more like a Buffalo Exchange. Mostly secondhand with some real vintage scattered here and there.
There is truly nothing better than a good ebay find. The more you shop the more comfortable you’ll get with the platform.
I’ve never had an issue with a seller stiffing me without an item and eBay is quick to fix any issues in my own experience if a shipment gets lost.
If your nervous start small- go hunting for a great vintage tee or sweatshirt for $25. You can’t miss.
I hope this post leads you down some unexpected and beautiful ebay rabbit holes and leads to some extra good deals.
If you have any other questions on ebay or tricks to the trade leave them in the comments!
If this post was helpful, consider sharing with a friend!
Until next time!
xTess
Love so much about this, but just want to give perspective as a seller on eBay. The amount of time and skill it takes to source, photograph, research, price, list, store, and ship is astronomical. Especially a shop that’s highly curated. I price items fairly and always welcome reasonable offers, but there is a limit. Please keep the other party and the value of the items in mind when submitting an offer ❤️
Brilliant— so helpful. Always feels like an absolute jungle, I’m appreciating this guidance a lot!