8 Quick Tips to Find A Stylish Second Hand Bargain on EBay</a>

Buying second hand has had a bit of a renaissance lately, with the move to be more sustainable. My preferred way to shop second hand is on EBay which I’ve been doing so for a couple of years. It not only saves me money compared to paying the full price, but I’m also extending the garments lifecycle and preventing it going into landfill. I’ve managed to pick up some fabulous pieces that I wear, a lot!

I mainly use EBay to buy pieces that I’ve seen in past seasons but didn’t but because they had sold out or pieces that simply were not in my budget at the time. My favourite purchases have been a shirt dress from French Connection, a Oui Tweed Biker Jacket and a Hush Kensington dress.

Here’s my top tips and how to use EBay to find pieces that you’ll love and wear:

Know The Brand

The majority of pieces that I buy I know the brand and how it fits and have often tried the items on beforehand so I know that it will work when it arrives.

2. Specify Your Criteria

Be specific with the search terms so you don't hav two trawl hundreds of items, narrow it down by size, brand, colour

3. Save It

Use the Save feature to be alerted of any new pieces in your search criteria. It's particularly helpful for items that don't become available very often.

4. Be Specific

Be specific with the search terms so you don't have two trawl hundreds of items, narrow it down by size, brand and colour. Some of my current saved searches are 'Protected Species Jacket' and 'Whistle Jacket size 8'.

5. Set a Budget

Have a budget. If you're not sure, watch a couple of similar items to get a feel for how much they sell for, sometimes sellers can be unrealistic with their expectations. Make your maximum bid and stick to it. If you loose, there will always be another, you may just have to be patient!

6. Make an Offer

Seen something you like but you feel the price is more than you want to pay? Make an offer. Especially if something has been relisted. The likelihood is that they want to get rid of it and you're more likely to get it for a lower price.

7. Other Items

Search the buyers other items for sale. If they are a personal seller, they may well have other items in the same size, similar brands or styles to the one you like.

8. Out of Season

Plan ahead and buy out of season. For the best deals look for summer dresses in winter and coats in summer. People clear out all year around but don’t like storing stuff and other people are less likely to be bidding.