15 Tips to Help You Snag the Perfect Gymboree Girls Clothing You Want

Everyone loves a bargain. Savvy shopping moms -- and those who shop for grandchildren, neices, friends' little girls -- who want only the best quality and variety in girls clothing are always on the lookout for Gymboree items.

I know. I'm one of them.

To say that I've made ia a serious pastime is an understatement.  Some folks have a thing for anqitues. Others paint, garden, cook, read books or go to movies. I confess to everything but the antiques. But, first and foremost, I consider myself a serious Gymboree shopper!

After years of scouring stores, catalogs and the Internet for sales, I decided to check out what eBay has to offer. Wow, was I blown away by the number and variety of sellers offering new, like-new or gently used Gymboree girls clothing. I ditched my catalogs as a first resource, saved a lot of legwork, and dove into buying and selling on eBay.

I quickly discovered there is an art and a knack to finding the best deal on the site. Here are my top 15 tips for snagging just the right Gymboree girls clothing on eBay:

1. Do your homework.  Know the lines, bookmark or print out descriptions of your favorites and know the prices. Besides coveting that adorable sequin-studded top and matching denim jeans, know what the articles cost, what the store sale prices are and what you are willing to bid for in an auction. These should be your order of priority.
2. Find an alternate seller.  Of course, if you get your heart set on a particular item or outfit, make sure you have a little wriggle-room. It is a good idea to find an alternate seller that also carries the Gymboree line, and offers the sizes and types of clothing you seek. That way you can bid on another item of similar nature if you do not win your bid on the first auction.
3. Know your bidding limit.  Often we buyers get carried away when we just have to have a particular item. But you want to be able to pay the rent, too, and not have to come up with excuses when your credit card or PayPal account suddenly mushrooms with eBay charges. When you put a bid in on an item, make sure you set a maximum automatic bid. This does two things: first, you won't be tempted to go overboard, and second, you'll be automatically notified if you are overbid so that you can adjust your own bid upwards if this is still within your spending range.
4. Keep a list of Favorite Sellers.  That way you are always up-to-date on their current offerings. You certainly do not want to miss out on a prized sweater just because you do not check the site for a while. And, getting an email with your Favorite Seller offerings is a lot easier than spending hours searching tons of listings. Another reason to add a seller to your Favorites list is that once you know what they offer, you want to be the first one to snag what you want!
5. Sign up for Seller Email Newsletters.  Some sellers offer an email list that you can subscribe to. This is different than adding them to your Favorite Sellers list. Read what the seller has to offer. An email marketing campaign can be a monthly newsletter, news and tidbits, promotional announcements about upcoming sales, specials or gifts. Remember that email is an opt-in, opt-out decision that you, the buyer, make.
6. Watch Seller ratings.  Look for Power Sellers, sellers with My World  and About Me information (it will tell you a lot about the seller, what they offer, perhaps a bit about their background), sellers who have their own eBay stores (an opportunity to see all the seller has to offer without waiting for an auction listing). Do not be afraid to shop a newbie eBay seller -- we've all been there once. Just read everything carefully, communicate as much as you feel you need to with the seller, and bid accordingly.
7. Ask Seller a Question.  Ask questions to clarify any missing information, like the auction title reads size 5, but the listing description reads size 7. Sometimes it is just an oversight, which can happen when sellers re-list items in a different size. Dash off a quick email to clarify; it only takes seconds and the seller will appreciate that you brought it to their attention.
8. Read Seller Feedback.  Besides the overall score, take a moment to read through some of the feedback comments. These are very instructive and give you a good idea of the seller reliability, promptness in shipping, accuracy of item descriptions, whether or not they offer quality merchandize at great prices. When you see comments that indicate the seller had poor communication, failed to ship, item not as described or other potentially negative statements (even if the rating was positive), steer clear! There are plenty of great eBay sellers of Gymboree girls clothing out there who are highly reputable and trustworthy. Again, check before you bid. A little diligence ahead of time will pay off in the long run.
9. Give Seller Feedback.  Equally important -- for you as a buyer and for us as sellers -- make sure you give immediate feedback once you receive your items. This is the only way that buyers can be sure of seller integrity. Feedback is a grading system whereby buyers can ensure their voices are heard relative to the honesty, integrity, promptness, communications, etc., of the sellers.
10. How does the Seller Communicate?  If you ask a question of a seller through the Ask Seller a Question link on the auction listing, monitor how quickly the seller responds. Do they answer your question promptly (within one business day, better if they answer within an hour or two), completely and to your satisfaction? Do they offer to assist you in any way possible, like shipping via a less expensive method, setting up auctions with other items you are looking for, different sizes, etc.? In other words, how customer-friendly are they? After all, this is a business, and you are the customer. You deserve the very best service. Demand it and reward those sellers who give it to you by becoming a repeat customer.
11. Put a Watch on Items.  If you are just testing the waters, but do not want to bid yet, put a watch on an item. This way you will be notified about bidding and can adjust your plans to bid or not. This is a good strategy if something you have been searching for is consistently priced beyond your range; you may find it through the same seller or a different seller. Just do not not bid on the same outfit with more than one seller at the same time! You may wind up with two identical outfits that you will be obligated to buy. That is okay if you have twins, but not for most of us.
12. Shop Seller Stores.  When you find a great seller, check out their store offerings. Many times you can find terrific accessories, outerwear, basic necessities, gifts and other items that you may not have time to look for in auctions or the mall. You can buy them all at once and have them shipped together. It is a whole lot easier, believe me.
13. Look for Sellers that offer Combined, Discounted or Free Shipping.  We are all looking for the best deal, and shipping costs can really put a dent on overall shopping. Not every seller can offer free shipping, although some specials may include it. Definitely look for sellers who offer discounted or combined shipping when you purchase other items from them. If you plan to bid, or are bidding, on more than one item from the seller, drop them an email (use the Ask Seller a Question link in the auction listing) to let them know you are actively bidding on other items and which ones those are. Some sellers will allow you to wait for 3-5 days or longer for other auctions to close before they send you an invoice for all your winning bids. Sometimes buyers are in a hurry for a certain item. Make sure your seller can accommodate your request for fast shipping too.
14. Shop for Outfits and Sets.  Ever try to find a matching sweater or toop after you have already purchased one item? It can be maddeningly frustrating. There are not too many sellers offering complete outfits in auctions, and this can be a buyer advantage. Many sellers offer items singly, and that can really add up when you are trying to put together an outfit. Of course, if you just purchased something at a Gymboree store or online but they were out of what you need to complement it, a seller that offers single items is a boon. But check out the outfit sellers as well. Many times you will pay far less for a complete outfit than you would pay for it individually. This is not a well-known tip, but it can certainly save you money.
15. Have fun!  This is the cardinal rule. With a little patience and a good sense of humor (who has not gotten frustrated over a lost auction bid!) you can find terrific bargains during your eBay shopping for Gymboree girls clothing. Keep it light, shop often and wisely.

Take care and God bless!

Suzanne Kane, ExquisiteFindz

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