Second Hand Success

Posted August 8th, 2008

OK, so I don’t know where you can save on pre-owned gas. But I do know how you can save money buying pre-owned fashion. In addition to cutting costs, there are other advantages to buying pre-owned pieces. For one thing, you’re helping the recycling effort.

Further, with pre-owned, you can often snag a personality piece (as opposed to say, plain black pants).

Shopping pre-owned looks affords you a wider variety of choices. You are not just limited to the brand of the moment or what stores choose to stock. Finally, the savings you reap allow you to turn over your wardrobe faster and jump on the latest trends.

Keep in mind that pre-owned doesn’t necessarily mean used or vintage. It’s all of that, but there are also the accessories or clothes that have never been worn let alone taken out of the bag. A mis-directed gift, an impulse purchase, a wrong size - all these mistakes by someone else can end up being your treasures.

Here are some tips for buying pre-owned successfully:

1. Check out on-line sources, consignment shops, vintage stores, charity stores like The Salvation Army, garage sales, flea markets and your friend’s closets.
2. When shopping on eBay use a variety of search terms including: pre-owned, one-of-a-kind, gently used, rare, second-hand.
3. Haggle. On line or off, sellers of pre-owned tend to be a bit flexible on price. On the other hand, don’t be unreasonable in your offer.
4. Cut your back-to-school bill by stocking up on pre-owned kids clothes - from toddlers to teenagers. Don’t forget sneakers, many kids keep their sneakers in pristine condition.
5. For men - suits and jeans yield big savings.
6. For women, accessories are a great way to extend your wardrobe and not your wallet. In particular, designer handbags often go for hundreds of dollars off their original retail price. But even less pricey bags that have been gently used are a bargain.
7. Who wants to spend thousands or even hundreds on a gown or formal suit that will be taken out of the closet a couple times a year? Pre-owned formal wear for the whole family is an excellent money saver. Women can stretch dollars while looking glamorous and trendy in gently-used cocktail dresses and gowns.
8. Fall is approaching. Look for big savings by shopping for pre-owned cloth coats and furs. They are only worn for a season so they’re usually in good condition.
9. Be clear on the condition of the item you are buying. Read the seller’s description carefully. Is it in fair condition, good condition, excellent condition or like new? Some specific questions might be: Are there any tears or stains on the garment? If so, where? Most savvy sellers will have already provided this information, if not it’s always a good idea to ask.

Tagged: accessories, designer, formal, fur coats, gown, hand bag, jeans, one of a kind, personality, pre-owned, rare, second-hand, sneakers, suits, used, vintage