Buying Designer Clothes on eBay - Pros and Cons

Does Purchasing eBay Designer Wear Really Save Money?

Jan 14, 2009
Asa Ghaffar

Clothes on eBay - MIZCLASS

Does buying designer clothes on eBay save people money? Sellers of fake designer clothes are rampant. Find out the pros and cons of buying designer wear on eBay.

Buying cheap designer clothes on eBay has really taken off over the past decade. Sellers on eBay are able to open the equivalent of their own designer clothes shops. Buyers are then able to provide ratings on their overall shopping experience.

It's a simple system that has proved extremely popular. Unfortunately, the ability for a seller to remain anonymous attracts a number of unscrupulous merchants. It is important that any buyer is aware of both the pitfalls and potential savings before making an eBay purchase.

Advantages of Buying Designer Clothes on eBay

Great bargains. It is possible to purchase designer wear for amounts that are vastly below RRP. Those that wait until a few seconds before the auction ends are sometimes able to pick up men's designer clothing for a couple of pounds;
It is possible to find obscure items. If a line of designer clothing has been discontinued it can make it virtually impossible to get hold of in the shops. It may be possible to find obscure designer wears on eBay;
Convenience. There is no need for routing through lots of busy shops. Instead, any designer clothes purchased will be delivered directly to the buyer's door;
Multi-buy discounts. Many sellers offer discounts to those that buy several items of designer clothing at the same time;
"Buy-it-now" auctions. Many sellers of designer wears offer buyers the opportunity to make an immediate purchase prior to the conclusion of the auction. This can save time for those that don't wish to wait several days;

Disadvantages of Buying Designer Clothes on eBay

Fake designer clothing. The sale of fake designer clothing is rife on eBay, although the situation is monitored by the authorities. According to an article by Suzanne Evans in Wales Online, "A woman who marked Primark clothes with a designer stamp to sell on eBay was caught by Trading Standards officers monitoring the website.";
Not possible to try on designer wear. Not all designer clothes sizes mean the same thing. Not being able to try them on can be inconvenient and also create issues in terms of getting a replacement or refund of money;
Seller anonymity. Although there is a feedback system, some sellers come and go pretty quickly. Unless purchasing using Paypal, it can be difficult to recover money using the formal eBay channels;
Pre-existing problems. If an article of designer clothing arrives with a mark, hole or stain it can be very difficult to prove that it wasn't caused by the buyer;
Postage costs. The cost of sending a parcel of designer clothing is usually added to the final price. Some sellers switch part of the selling price to postage to minimise eBay charges;
Non-delivery. Unless an item has been sent by registered post, it can be difficult to get a refund in the event that an article of designer clothing isn't delivered.

In March 2008 Tiffany & Co announced that it is taking legal action against eBay after finding that almost 75% of items claiming to be originally from its stores were really fakes. The best indication whether an article of designer clothing is fake is the price. Who sells a £200 designer jacket for a tenner?

Whilst there are some wonderful opportunities to purchase discount men's designer clothes on eBay, there are also many pitfalls. Fake designer clothes is a major problem so it is important to learn how to spot them as quickly as possible. Always make purchases via Paypal to ensure maximum buyer protection.