if you're a style noob, stay away from ebay

[Reevolving]

Low button stances are totally in.
So, you got amazing jackets and great deals....
Next week, however, your jackets might be total ****.

Welcome to SF.

 

[escheriff]

Originally Posted by westinghouse

If you're buying 18 items for $290, you're making bad decisions.

If you're buying one $700 cashmere sweater or sport coat for $290 from your favorite designer which fits like a glove, you're a smart shopper.

+1

My advice to OP, if you like buying stuff on eBay: Don't start buying on eBay until you've decided what your favorite brands are and what size you are in their lines. For instance: I love the look of Luciano Barbera jackets, but having never owned or even tried one on before, I would never blindly send $600 to some eBay seller for a jacket whose cut I hope looks good on me. I've made that expensive mistake before and have several SF closet cleaning threads to prove it.

On the other hand, there are things I already know about as far as sizing and cut are concerned. The Polo Prospect shorts--I've been buying them at Dillard's for years and know that I am a 36; I have bought half a dozen various colors this year on eBay for less than half of retail. They all arrived and fit great with no surprises. Oxxford suits and jackets-- I bought my first Oxxford Mason cut suit at the Saks outlet last year. I love the 44L Mason cut and it fits me perfectly. So I had no qualms buying another a NWT Oxxford Mason cut wool/cashmere sport coat for $380 before Christmas. Amazing deal: it would have cost me $2500 retail. And I felt completely comfortable buying it because I knew it would look and fit great.

 

[SpooPoker]

Many a grail item has been found on teh Bay. **** I also never knew I needed, but now I cannot live without.

 

[Klobber]

I generally avoid second hand stuff - that is one way of beating dissapointments. Sometimes though the odd second hand gimme comes up - and then you have to know how high to bid for any deal to make sense.

Trouble is eBay attracts all sorts, not just bargain hunters, but also brand junkies / clothing collectors that could easily pay too much.

Eg: Ralph Lauren Purple Label suit. I have seen numerous times fairly nice suits selling for way over what they should. One of the suits was clearly 10 - 15 years old - it sold for $350 second hand. Most bidders had low amount of feedback, i.e. probable newbees going for brand.

Prada shirt with massive 2 inch hole, sold alarmingly to a brand monkey for $50. Wow!

I avoid eBay unless a really good NWOT/NWT item comes up. If I have to be pulled into a bidding war with 5+ bidders going gung ho, I usually steer clear.

 

[pvrhye]

My philosophy is to set the auto-bid to what you're willing to pay and never look at the auction again lest you be tempted to exceed that.

 

[BevisFrondFan]

I love vintage cashmere sweaters from Scotland. Ebay is the only viable option.

 

[Knucklehead]

I effing love ebay. I never really spend 30 bucks on one item so I avoid guilt if its a dud....but I haven't had any duds.

 

[Pantisocrat]

I don't know. You have to pay for your mistakes to learn. It's like when I first got into sound systems. A lot of experimentation and money to learn what works best for my needs.

 

[greyinla]

now realize that most of the clothes on ebay are just utter crap, things people won't ever wear these days mostly things that look like they're from the 80's
super low button stance on the jackets, huge shoulder pads, etc

Yep. But don't feel too bad, you've gotten off fairly cheaply. Like Klobber, I've often seen ancient and out-of-date items selling for ridiculous prices because of the brand. Escheriff's advice is good; if you're going to shop ebay, educate yourself in a particular niche.

 

[MBreinin]

Know what you are looking for and what is worth buying, and it is a great resource.

Mike

 

[Wayward]

Originally Posted by Pantisocrat

I don't know. You have to pay for your mistakes to learn. It's like when I first got into sound systems. A lot of experimentation and money to learn what works best for my needs.

+1

What I've learned is to know your own measurements exactly, and to have the seller give you specifics. The stuff I've bought that I regret, I chalk it up as a lesson. ~$300 is not bad all things considered, especially if you've ended up with things you'd like. Case in point, my first shirt from Modern Tailor arrived, and it fits poorly. However, now I know what to do next time, and will make the proper adjustments. Once those numbers are down, I'm golden.

My strategy: get a measuring tape, measure the hell out of my favourite clothes, and not deviate from those numbers when shopping online.

 

[A Canuker]

I've won a few items on Ebay that worked well. I've bought more here that turned out to be a total waste but the chance can be worth it. The worst event I've had is trading on the boards and getting totally stuffed on my item.....have not made a trade since as the taste is still bitter. To the guy who has since left the boards, I still think your a dick.

 

[tim_horton]

Originally Posted by escheriff

+1

My advice to OP, if you like buying stuff on eBay: Don't start buying on eBay until you've decided what your favorite brands are and what size you are in their lines. For instance: I love the look of Luciano Barbera jackets, but having never owned or even tried one on before, I would never blindly send $600 to some eBay seller for a jacket whose cut I hope looks good on me. I've made that expensive mistake before and have several SF closet cleaning threads to prove it.

On the other hand, there are things I already know about as far as sizing and cut are concerned. The Polo Prospect shorts--I've been buying them at Dillard's for years and know that I am a 36; I have bought half a dozen various colors this year on eBay for less than half of retail. They all arrived and fit great with no surprises. Oxxford suits and jackets-- I bought my first Oxxford Mason cut suit at the Saks outlet last year. I love the 44L Mason cut and it fits me perfectly. So I had no qualms buying another a NWT Oxxford Mason cut wool/cashmere sport coat for $380 before Christmas. Amazing deal: it would have cost me $2500 retail. And I felt completely comfortable buying it because I knew it would look and fit great.

This is excellent advice. There's nothign wrong with eBay, what's wrong is the way the OP is using eBay (and I say that as someone who made the exact same mistake as he did!

) Live and learn...

 

[Harold falcon]

You should always be cautious about buying on eBay, noobs particularly so. But once you know what to look for it can be a great resource.

1. Know your measurements.
2. Demand pics, especially of interior coat labels and the interior soles of shoes.
3. Be reasonable about your bid limit.
4. Never assume the seller knows what he or she is talking about, descriptions are often wrong.

 

[JohnShaft]

Lots of excellent advice in this thread!

Don't be discouraged OP, we all make the occasional misstep.

I have a love/hate relationship with ebay that is probably different from many men on here. I preferred it in the old days when it was less 'strip mall' and more 'estate sale'. It seems to me that there were more good items for the discerning eye to purchase for a real deal. I still find things but the searches are so easy that I'm usually up against ridiculously financially liberal brand whores.

If I'm going to drop $600+ on something, I'd rather go to a shop where I can have service.