While browsing on eBay you see a fantastic dress that you would love to have for your wardrobe.  You hesitate to buy it because you've never purchased pre-owned (used) clothing before and are afraid you'll get a worn-out rag that you'll be too embarassed to wear anywhere or you'll get it and it won't fit you.  

Don't let these worries stop you from buying great clothing on eBay for mere fractions of retail prices.  This guide will help you determine how to search and what to look for in your clothing listings to get quality clothes that will enhance your wardrobe. 

Why buy pre-owned (used) clothing?

The words used clothing can convey images of dirty rags that are too worn out, stained, damaged or smelly to ever wear in public, however this image is grossly inaccurate of most used clothing available on eBay.   In truth, buying used clothing is an excellent way to get the most out of your clothing budget dollars as well as find clothes that fit your style and taste.  And unlike what's available new at your local mall, used clothing can offer you classic and vintage styles that will fit your personal taste and style whatever the current fashion trend. 

Long before society gravitated to a disposable attitude about all consumer goods, clothing was routinely re-sold again and again until it eventually disintegrated into rags.  Manufacturing clothing was not inexpensive so clothing was naturally worn and re-used until it fell apart, with people of all economic levels buying and selling their clothing when it no longer fit or they (the wealthier families) tired of it.  Even the aristocracy would sell their pre-worn clothing to merchants who specialized in used clothing or they would give them to servants and friends. 

In today's world, there is so much quality used clothing available at great prices that no one need go without their own well-stocked wardrobe with outfits for any occasion.  You just have to know what to look for in clothing listings.

What to look for in listings when buying used clothing:

Size - First and foremost, you should always look for the size of the item you're interested in.  It can be the most fabulous dress on the planet, but if it's three sizes too small or too big you won't be able to wear it.  The seller should have the marked size of the item listed or, if the item has no size tag, their estimate of the size based on the measurements.   Always check the actual clothing measurements, even if a size is given, to make sure it will fit you.

Measurements - Look for the measurements of the clothing on the listing.  If there are no measurements, you should click the Ask Seller A Question link and ask for them.  Manufacturers vary considerably in their sizing, so a size 14 from one seller is not the same as a size 14 from another, sometimes by as much as two full sizes different.  Actual measurements will let you know if that item runs small or runs large or is spot on for the size it's marked.  Take your own measurements and keep them handy by the computer so you have the numbers to compare the measurements against.  More on taking your own measurements shortly.

Pictures - Most sellers post pictures of the clothing item they are selling.  The quality of these pictures vary greatly, but they should give you at least a general idea of the style, color and cut of the item you're considering.  If the picture does not give you all the information you need, do ask the seller for more pictures and ask questions to clarify, color, style, trim, etc.. 

Condition - Look for an accurate description of condition in the listing.  Does it have stains, rips, holes, loose stitching?  Is the fabric worn or covered with wash fuzzies?  Are there buttons missing or is the zipper broken?  If the condition is not described nor even mentioned you should not hesitate to contact the seller and ask.  Never go by pictures alone as flaws can be easily concealed in the pictures.  If there appears to be a stain on the item in the picture, but nothing is mentioned in the description, do ask the seller for clarification of the spot you see in the picture.  It could be an oversight on the seller's part or the camera could just have cast an odd shadow or had dust on the lens. 

Fabric Content & Care Instructions - This information is usually the most likely to be missing from the listing.  What the clothing item is made of can make a big difference in your use of the item.   People with allergies to fabrics (specifically the plants and/or animals that make up the fabrics) must be careful to buy items that won't trigger an allergic reaction.  Even if you don't have specific allergies to be careful about, the fabric content can give you an additional idea of what the material would feel like.  A good seller will usually describe the feel of the material, even if briefly, such as soft, smooth, silky, nubby, etc..  Being able to read in the listing how to care for the garment, with care instructions, will help you decide how much work and money you want to put into each item of clothing.  For example, if you are buying a business suit that must be dry-cleaned, you'd be more inclined to buy the item despite future dry-cleaning costs as that expense is generally part of a professional appearance in your office workplace.  But if you are buying an item that you are planning to wear very often to the beach, you may find that arranging the dry-cleaning, paying for it and waiting for it to be cleaned could get tiresome and expensive rather quickly. 

Shipping Costs - Clothing is heavy.  There is no getting around that simple fact.  A single pair of jeans, for example, can easily weigh over three pounds just packaged in a mailer bag.  The best way to deal with higher shipping costs for clothing is by purchasing more than one clothing item from the seller.  Look at that seller's other items and see if there are more clothing items in your size and style.  Make sure the seller offers combined shipping before you purchase.  You'll pay much less per item to ship than buying single items from many different sellers.  Another way to save money is to see if the seller offers USPS flat-rate shipping for combined purchases to addresses within the USA.  I've found that three to five clothing items can easily fit in a USPS flat-rate box.  These flat-rate boxes are a set rate of $9.80 regardless of weight as long as the box can close and seal shut without bursting open.  As a seller, for example, I charge $11.05 for a flat-rate box, which is the flat rate plus $1.25 for handling.   Keep in mind that handling charges (the amount you pay over actual shipping charges) do vary by seller.  Many sellers will offer flat-rate shipping if you ask nicely and the item can fit in the flat-rate box.

Cigarette Smoke & Other Odors - This can be a difficult and delicate topic to bring up with a seller, but for the sake of your budget, allergies and sinuses, I recommend clarifying whether the seller is a smoker, which will most likely scent the clothing they sell, before you purchase any clothing from that seller.  Most non-smoking sellers will clearly state that fact in their listings.  Many sellers who smoke will also also note that fact in their listings.  The decision to buy or not to buy an item from a seller who smokes is up to each person, of course, but this is information you should know if you are at all sensitive to or intolerant of cigarette smoke.  If you don't ask before purchasing you could end up with an item you can't even bring into the house, let alone wear, until after it's cleaned.   As for other odors, I've purchased items from sellers who enclose unlaundered dryer sheets or pieces of dryer sheets in with the clothing.  While it's definitely a fresh smell, it can be absolutely overwhelming, even causing sneezing and watery eyes.   If you have allergies to scents, do yourself and the seller a favor by letting them know not to enclose anything scented in with your purchase.  No seller wants to inadvertently trigger allergic reactions in their customers. 

Return Polices & Credits - Not all sellers offer return polices because not all sellers have the time, money, storage room and/or patience to deal with them.   If you do your shopping correctly, as outlined above, you will rarely need to return a clothing item.  Be aware of a seller's return policy before you purchase the item, that way if you're not positive if the style will work for you, you can know in advance if you'll be able to return it so you can spend that money on something else.  Keep in mind that sellers who do accept returns, almost uniamously, will not refund shipping costs for items you want to return because they don't fit or you just don't like.  Expect to pay for shipping both ways and be required to ship back the item you are returning in order to receive a refund of all of your purchase price (or most of the purchase price in case the seller charges a restocking fee).  If you do get an item that was improperly described and the size, condition or brand are not as stated, do contact the seller and politely and nicely explain the circumstances.  Most sellers offer a return, credit or partial refund option for items that were improperly described.  Do not, under any circumstance, expect to be able to buy an item, wear it to a special function and then return it for a refund.  That's unfair to the seller and will make you an undesirable buyer quick to be blocked from buying from that seller again along with every other seller they share information with.  Sellers do share the names of undesirable buyers so their friends can block them before ever having to deal with them. 

Pricing - This is the best part of buying used clothing on eBay - the fantastic prices!  For example, an Ann Freedburg skirt suit that sold for over $600 new can be purchased in like new condition for under $80.  Trendy shirts that cost $25 each in the stores can be had for as little as $2 each.  No one will be able to tell that the cute $85-retail dress you're wearing was purchased for $20 on eBay.  You can buy at least three or four used clothing items for every one item you purchase new in the store.  Take shipping costs into account when purchasing.  If you use buy-it-now on a shirt for $2 but pay $10 for shipping, you're really paying $12 for that shirt.  Make sure that the cost of the item plus the cost of shipping aren't more than you would willingly pay for that item.  If you buy more than one item from each seller, you'll spend even less on shipping and really maximum your budget dollars.  

What's in a brand name? - Labels for some shoppers are a very big deal.  Some people wouldn't be caught dead in a brand name you could find at Kmart yet other shoppers don't care what the label name is as long as fits well and feels comfortable.  Whatever label or brand you like can be found on eBay, from couture fashions hot off the runway to casual clothes that are available at your local Target.  Usually, used clothing is going to be just a fraction of the original retail price of new clothing, regardless of how high or low the original price was.  Some highly sought-after vintage items or designer labels may cost more on the secondary market, but those items are not typical of most used clothing.  Searching by label/brand name is a great way to find the clothing makers you're comfortable with.  For example, if you love sweaters by Heirloom Knits, you can look for more sweaters by that maker just by searching on Heirloom Knits in titles and descriptions on all listings.   Don't forget to search on alternate spellings of hard-to-spell label names as you could find a true bargain with little bidding competition to contend with.  For example, if looking for Betsey Johnson items, also search for the incorrect spelling Betsy Johnson.

How to take your own measurements - Since you can't try the clothing on before purchasing, the easiest way to find clothing that fits is by knowing your own measurements.  For women, take your bust (with a well-fitting bra on and around the center of the breast at nipple level), waist and hip measurements with a measuring tape.  Write these figures down so you have them handy when browsing for clothing.  For extra effort in ensuring clothing fits, also take your arm length (from wrist to shoulder) measurement, ankle-to-waist measurement and inseam measurement for clothing with long sleeves and/or pants.  For men, take your chest (around the middle of your chest at nipple level), waist and hip measurements along with your ankle-to-waist and inseam measurements.  An arm length measurement and an across-the-shoulders in back measurement would also be handy.  For children, the same measurements can be taken, though, thankfully, most children's clothing is more accurate and consistent in sizing than adult clothing. Divide the circumference measurement in half to get your across measurement as some sellers list the measurements as distance across instead of distance around.  Keep in mind that you will be moving around in these clothes - walking, running, lifting, reaching, sitting, dancing, bending, twisting, etc. - so buy clothing that measures at least one inch over your actual measurements.  If the garment is stretchy, you don't have to do this as long as the maximum stretch of the garment is not smaller than your actual measurement.  Look for indications in the listing if the measurements provided are the stretched or unstretched measurements.  So, if your bustline measures 46" in circumference, you'd want to buy clothes that were a minimum of 47" in circumference (23.5" across), perhaps even larger to allow for room to move.  Unless you like wearing skin-tight clothing that's a size or two too small, you'll be much more comfortable in your clothing if you allow that extra room.

Asking Sellers A Question: - Never hesitate to ask a question of a seller when the information you need in order to decide whether or not to bid/purchase an item is missing from the listing.  If the seller doesn't answer your question, it is possible that your question was not received, so ask again if you're particularly interested in the item.   I myself always try to answer every question received and I know most sellers are the same.

Smart shopping with attention to price, shipping costs, condition, sizing and measurements can help you fill out or replace your wardrobe at minimal cost.  You can find classic styles that flatter you and that can last a lifetime.  You won't be forced to choose from colors and styles that may be currently in fashion but that you can't stand or are unflattering with your body type and coloring. 

Once you've made your first clothing purchase and received that perfect little plaid skirt or classic tailored suit or sexy cocktail dress in the mail, you'll discover that clothing shopping has never been easier or more fun than buying pre-owned clothing on eBay. 

Thank you for reading and happy shopping!