Have you ever purchased a vintage clothing item on EBay only to be disappointed when it arrived at your door?  Have you received an item with undisclosed damage or a modern item described as vintage that's not?  You're not alone! Here are some tips to help you determine whether you'll be happy with your vintage clothing purchase.

• Shop with a trusted and experienced seller.  Check your sellers feedback rating! Does the seller deal mainly in vintage clothing? How long have they been selling vintage clothing? Read the seller's "About Me" page for more information on their background. Be careful when buying from a seller with less than 99% positive feedback or a seller with no experience in the vintage clothing field.
• Does the seller offer a detailed description and thorough condition report?  The listing should include all the information you need to make an informed buying decision.  Does the description include details about construction, complete measurements, and details about any flaws that are present?
• Make sure there are plenty of pictures.  Sellers should be showing the garment from front and back, full length and up close.  There should also be photos of any labels present, closeups of details, and photos of flaws. Photos should be sharp and clear.  Be careful of listings with only one fuzzy photo!
• Does the seller offer a guarantee or return policy?  A "no return" policy is fairly standard with vintage clothing sellers on EBay, but an ethical seller should have no problems taking a garment back that has problems or has been misrepresented. Look for sellers who offer the added assurance of a return policy. Beware of sellers who state that all sales are final. 
  
• Does the seller invite questions and answer them quickly?  Beware of a seller who doesn't respond to your questions, or who offers an answer that sidesteps or evades the question. 
  
• Are you buying an authentic vintage item?  There are many unscrupulous sellers trying to pass off new clothing as vintage.  Does the seller have the same dress in multiple sizes?  That's a sure sign that the item is a newly manufactured copy of a vintage style.
• Are the details correct?  An authentic 1920's dress will not have a zipper!  Study and learn about style details of the era you are interested in.  For instance, nylon zippers did not come into use in clothing until the 1960's, so most garments from the 1940's and 50's will have metal zippers.  Care labels were not mandated by law until 1971, so if there is a photo of a label with detailed care instructions, the garment was likely made after that date.  Experienced sellers will be able to accurately date a garment based upon the style and cut, the construction details, and the fabric used. 
  
• Is the length of the garment original?  As fashions changed from the 1930's to the 40's war years, and again from the 1950's to the 60's, hem lengths went up.  Instead of buying new, most women shortened the hems of their dresses to stay in style. Study and learn about the correct lengths of dresses from the era you are interested in.  Sellers should be giving you the overall length measurement in the listing. Does it sound right?  If a dress has been shortened, has this been disclosed in the listing? Most importantly, is all of the original hem length intact, or has the dress been cut off if it was shortened?  If the information is not in the listing, ask! The original hem tape should be intact. Hand stitched hems often  indicate a shortened dress. Restoring the proper hem length can make the difference between a great garment and one that has awkward proportions.
  

By following these simple steps, you CAN purchase vintage clothing on EBay and be assured you'll receive an item you'll be happy with!