Buying high end fashions can put a damper on your wallet, so one of the best ways to resyle your wardrobe is to purchase resale clothing. Vintage clothing and accessories are hot right now, and are fun to shop for. You can't always walk into your local thrift store or Goodwill and find "the" piece you were looking for, so online shopping is another great alternative for consignment and thrift store savvy shoppers. Ebay has become one of the top online marketplaces to purchase new and used fashions and accessories. The selection is incredible and the prices are usually very good!

With the convenience and variety of online shopping, there are also risks. Online fraud is at an all time high, and the more ways that come out to counteract the fraud, the more ways people can find to keep on scamming. Don't let this be your reason to shy away from online deals. Just be sure to be a savvy shopper!

A few things you can do to keep from being scammed into buying a fake piece includes:

Become knowledgable in the items and designers that you are interested in, especially the very high priced ones. There are many sites and resources out there to familiarize yourself with brands and counterfiets. Shop around a little. If you find an offer that is "too good to be true", it just might be. Be sure to check into the store policies and member feedback if applicable. Do a search for the item you are looking for and read up on it a little to ensure the item you are considering is seamless with the item it represents. Some high end designers have tips and tricks for noticing a "fake" right on thier website.

Shop around! Ok, so you found a great deal once but missed out on it because you weren't sure if it was "too good to be true". That doesn't mean that a similar offer will not be around soon. You can even post a want ad for the item you desire. Be sure to check the feedback for the seller before committing to a purchase.

Be understanding of feedback. Many times, even though it is not encouraged, sellers and buyers alike will leave retaliatory feedback even when the terms of the sale were met. Reasons for this could include: buyer's remorse, scams to receive item and keep money, misunderstandings, and even hasty feedback before contacting to resolve matters. If you have questions about a particular seller's feedback, email the seller and the buyer to get both sides of the story. You might be surprised at what you find. The amount of characters permitted for feedback isn't always enough needed to fully describe the experience or situation.

Last, but not least, don't pay more for an item than it is worth. Many sellers are gulping up items that are in limited supply and selling them at high prices to get a larger profit margin. If buyers do not fall for this, then the sellers will be forced to lower thier prices to market value. With the holiday rush for shopping underway, expect to see lots of inflated prices online. Be a savvy shopper, and keep the prices reasonable. If an item is too expensive through Buy It Now options, find a similar item from a seller who is offering it via online auction. Bid up to the amount that is retail (maybe slightly more, but let's not get crazy), and if you don't win, move on. The reason the sellers are able to make the prices so high is because the buyers want the item at any cost. Take that away from the equasion and you have items at fair costs to the consumers.

Finally, before I close, I have one more tip. Pay for your items through Ebay or other online retailers using Paypal. This ensures that if there is a problem with the transaction, that there is someone on your side to advocate for you. When you pay with a money order, cashier's check, or bank transfer, you risk losing your money and the item you purchased. If you don't have an account with paypal, you can sign up for free on thier website at www.paypal.com.

Good luck to all you savvy shoppers out there! Let's work together to keep internet shopping safe and fun for us all!