Thrift Shopping Goes Online
By: Krissy Cruz
The Internet has become such an important fixture in our fast-paced lives. Because of the Internet, information we need is just a few clicks away. Let's not even begin on how it has made communication so much easier for us. And of course, for us girls, one of the best things the Internet brought us is how it has revolutionized shopping! From the days of having no choice but to line up in stores, the interwebs has given us the option of shopping from the comforts of our own couches.
I started shopping online when I was still in college trying to survive with my meager allowance. Online shopping is so easy and convenient that I became really addicted to it. Packages would arrive at home at least twice a week that it came to a point my father warned me that if another package is sent to me he would boil all my shoes :D It never did come to that though because I was such a clever girl; I redirected all my packages to my officemate's house XD
Let me introduce you to one of the facets of online shopping. One of the biggest clichés I've proven to be true is "A person's trash is another person's treasure." I've never been to ukay shops (until my blogfriend Mai took me to one just last month) but I can declare myself an expert in online thrift-shopping. I love scouring eBay.ph and Multiply for pre-loved stuff online because of: the thrill (you don't know what you'll find), the excitement (if the item is up for bidding), the choices (honestly, the online community does not run out of pretty stuff that catch my fancy), and the price (not one of the thrifted tops I got online are priced above P200, while the shoes range from P300 to P600!)
Here are some of my favorites:
I am thankful for my size 7 feet because it's so easy to find shoes in my size!
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I am a sucker for strawberries and cherries :D
Umm, is it too obvious that I love striped long sleeved tops?
Aren't they pretty? :)
These are loves at first sight. The pink and green skirt is from Gingersnaps while the light green one is from The Gap. I got them for only P100 each :)
Some looks I made with my thrifted items.
First image: Black and white striped skirt
Second image: Scarecrow skirt
Third image: Red, blue and white striped dress
Fourth image: Black and white striped bolero
My tips for online thrift-shopping:
- Don't get too excited with the first pretty item you see. You'll never know what other treasures await. (The Watch feature in eBay.ph is useful for this.)
- Try to haggle. Some online shoppers are more generous when it comes to pre-loved items.
- Keep a measuring tape handy. Measurements of clothes are almost always posted in the description. If it is not, ask. Don't assume too much because of how the item looks like in photos.
- Know the conversion of sizes when it comes to shoes. I have had the misfortune of buying a pair that is too small for me. Such a shame as I really loved it. Sigh.
- Inspect the photos thoroughly. If you are not satisfied, ask for more photos from the seller.
- Lastly, read and understand the descriptions. Most sellers already state the condition of the clothes, examples are BNIB (Brand New In a Box) and BNWOT (Brand New With-out Tag). I guess I'm lucky as I've had the pleasure of buying BNIB and BNWOT items for a much lower price than what they are being offered for in malls.
Most often than not, thrift items being sold online are those which hasn't been used because it: a). was given as gift but doesn't really match the seller's taste, b). was the incorrect size, or c). just takes up space in the closet without really being worn. Which reminds me, my closet badly needs some breathing space...
Good luck on online thrift-shopping! There's nothing like shared experiences, share your tales here! :)
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ANAGON Recommends: Online Shops with the coolest thrift store finds
1) Aisa Ipac's Archive Clothing
2) Stef Martinez and Lissa Kahayon's Love Vintage
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