Shopping can be lots of fun when you have time to kill and are not looking for anything in particular. Or in other words, browsing. But what if you have people to see and places to be, and you don’t have the time or effort to go find the outfit to your next event? And buying that Marc Jacobs dress online is still too expensive for you? That’s when discounts come into play, or another alternative, online auctioning. Did you know that eBay has a huge online outlet mall that is categorized by designer and prices? Discovering this amazing option for shopping opened my eyes and I’d like to help you open yours too.

Don’t be scared! Turing to eBay for shopping can be, at times, risky and I can totally understand that you have doubts about online auctioning. You’re not the only one with such thoughts, and eBay is aware of that. But keep in mind that the $21.7 billion auctioning site has been around for a while and eBay provides tools and options to make your shopping experience worry-free and more fun. While negative buyers and sellers exist, buyers usually have the advantage of reading feedback and reviews of the sellers. Just be smart and use your good judgment; don’t buy items from negative sellers.

You don’t have to be growing a money tree to be up-to-date with fashion. Turning to eBay as your favorite store is a smarter way to be fashionable. What’s a better store than a place where you get to name your own price?! So going back to that Marc Jacobs dress as an example, try finding it in the store and then turn to eBay for a cheaper price. True, some outfits may not be available, or they may not have your size, but chances are that the  huge outlet “mall” like will carry it. Be smart about your hard-earned money, don’t spend it at the first store you walk into and instead do research! You’ll be surprised just how many online stores or sites like eBay may carry the same outfit for a high discounted price! However, before you place a bid make sure you give yourself a limit to how much want to spend. It’s easy to get carried away while online auctioning, and don’t let that fool you. I always tend to write down my maximum bid and tell myself how much the item is worth to me. Paying the same price or more than in a store defeats the purpose of online auctioning.

If you don’t find the outfit you are looking for, keep refreshing and check back everyday. eBay is like an online fashion magazine that is constantly being updated. Timing is vital and depending on how obsessed you are with the outfit you are looking for, you may want to refresh your browser or at least visit the page everyday. If you are short on time and NEED that dress immediately, you may be better off just paying the full price at a store but if this is something that you WANT (instead of need), have some patience and you’ll eventually find it!

You like what you see? Act on it! “Window shopping” on eBay should be a fun experience, and they offer some unique items that you may not see again unless you act on it. Don’t think that the item may still be available the following day. If you something catches your eye, I recommed placing a bid on it and keep a watch.

eBay is fun and don’t feel overwhelmed! If you are serious about eBay shopping, I recommend doing some background research on books (like the Dummies series) and becoming familiar on some of the tips. Think you are ready? Shop till you drop and place your bid! Go to eBay!

Love always,
Mia