Tag: tips

Tips on How to Safely Buy Luxury on eBay

Posted on by bargain.hunting.blonde@gmail.com

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Lately I have been posting more and more vintage luxury finds on my Instagram in both posts and stories. Inevitably when I do this I get questions about how to safely buy authentic luxury goods on eBay. Below are my tips and tricks for finding a good authentic deal on eBay.

  1. SEARCH– Run a search for what you are looking for. I would recommend thinking like a seller. For example, typing in “vintage Chanel” is likely not going to yield what you want. But trying “Chanel flap bag” or “Louis Vuitton Speedy 30” (basically any search with more detail) will probably lead you to what you are looking for. Also in the course of reviewing your search you may come across different phrases that you should add into your search. For example when looking at vintage Chanel flap bags you will often find the word “metalasse” in the title of the item. Try adding that into your search so now instead of just “Chanel flap bag” you are searching for “Chanel metalasse flap bag.”
  2. CHECK the Seller’s Information– Once you find an item you are interested in check out the seller’ s information. I check to see how many items the seller has sold which normally indicates if they are a “top seller.” Plus I look to see their overall ratings as well as their recent reviews. I find that sellers that are from Japan and have thousands of listings and reviews are the best to purchase from. I rarely (if ever) go with a sellers that has only 0-10 reviews, especially if the reviews are only on the sell side.
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  3. READ the Details– Looking at the pictures is a definite must bust so is reading the description. The description will tell you what other accessories might come with the item you are looking to purchase, like the dustbag, authenticity card, ribbon, box etc., as well as point out flaws that may not have been very clear in the photos. For example you might comes across a Hermes bag at a steal of a deal. But when you read the description it has been re-touched and likely not by hermes. For me this is not a deal breaker but for some it is as Hermes will no longer repair it. Plus in the description there is often even more pictures!
  4. TRUST You Gut Instinct– If something seems too good to be true then it likely is and this applies to luxury goods too. If you are worried about an item feel free to message the sellers and ask for more pictures. Or you can go right to step five and authenticate the item in the listing. (This is not always the best option since items can sell quickly so you might authenticate a listing that sells before you can authenticate and purchase!) A positive thing about eBay is they have a money back guarantee that can save you if you do purchase a fake.
  5. ALWAYS Authenticate– eBay does have their own verification program for luxury goods (which is great!) but I always get my bags authenticated a second time. That stands true if I buy from eBay, Fashionphile, Poshmark, The Real Real, etc. It’s worth the little extra money to know your piece is authentic. I personally like Real Authentication. I find them reasonable, very fast and their phone app is very easy to use. (Use my discount code “E0D81C3” for $5 off your first authentication!)

If you want to see more posts about my eBay finds please check out this post about buying vintage Chanel on eBay or this post about more tips and tricks.

This post is NOT sponsored by eBay and these tips and tricks are just what I personally do. Please always be cautious when shopping online and use your best judgment!

Bag Hunt- Why You Should Purchase In Europe

Posted on by bargain.hunting.blonde@gmail.com

I am a legendary handbag hunter. I find a bag I want and I go on the hunt to find it. Plus to make my life a little more challenging I have to find it under retail even if the search takes a year. So when my family decided to go to Europe I could not contain my glee! Immediately I started listing out all the bags and slgs (small leather goods) that I wanted to purchase from the various fashion houses. My family immediately questioned why I couldn’t just buy these goods in the US, so naturally I had to explain.

  1. High End Designer Goods in Europe Retail for Under Retail in the US– This is true of all designers that are based in Europe. So for example Louis Vuitton bags retail price is lower in France then in the US. Plus the country where the fashion house is based is generally the cheapest place to buy the goods in Europe. But word to the wise do not buy US based fashion brands in Europe. I was looking at Coach in Europe just to look and the prices were crazy!
  2. The Euro and The Dollar are Very Close in Value– When I was in Europe the Euro to Dollar was about 1 Euro to 1.10 Dollar, so the lower retail prices in Euro equated to a lower purchase price in Dollars. Of course this value fluctuates but in general the Dollar and the Euro have been much closer in value than a couple years ago.
  3. The VAT taxes– The tax amount for luxury goods in Europe is included in the price that you see on the price tag. So unlike the US you are not paying more on the good you purchase. Plus if you are not an EU citizen then you get back a percent of the VAT tax you pay. This percentage ranges based on the country. This website is incredibly helpful when looking at what percentage you will get back. (just in case the hyperlink doesn’t work- https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/vat-rates-in-europe).

TIPS

  • Bring your passport with you! To get your VAT tax exemption forms correctly filed out at the store you will need to show your passport to your sales person.
  • Spend over the VAT amount! In order to get your VAT taxes back you need to make sure to spend over the minimum threshold. This does not have to be on one good just need to be on your total purchase. This amount varies by country.
  • Get the VAT tax amount back on your credit card! You do have to wait a little longer to get the VAT tax amount back on your credit card but the amount you get back after fees is higher then when you go to the cash window at the airport.
  • Get your refund at the last European country you are in! You cannot obtain your refund until you leave the EU.
  • Allocate time at the airport! The VAT process to obtain your refund can be really hard or very easy. It all depends on the country, the refund company and the amount of people traveling. For example if you are using Global Blue its often just a scan of the documents in a machine and dropping them in a box. But there are other times where I have had to talk to an agent, show them my goods and have them hand stamp it. This all depends on where you buy your item from. In my experience I have had the easiest time with LV and the hardest with Gucci.
  • Get your refund before you check your bags! As I explain below you might have to take your new purchase to the refund agent.
  • Make sure your goods are packed on top of your luggage! When you pack make sure your new purchases are easily accessible! I have had to dig through luggage because the refund agent wanted to make sure that I had not used the bag and actually had the bag in my possession.
  • Do not use your goods before you leave the country! If the refund agent asks to see your purchase they will expect to see a purchase that has not been used and is in its original packaging. While it is tempting to use your new purchase don’t because they can deny you the refund!