by Bridget Webber

Created on: May 23, 2007   Last Updated: August 04, 2011

If you've a passion for vintage clothing you may be thrilled to discover you can indulge on eBay. As a previous owner of a vintage clothing store this writer has a fair idea of what to look for, and what to avoid, and has made many successful purchases on this renowned online auction site. The following article is a guide to buying vintage clothing on one of the world’s favorite Internet shopping sites.

Vintage items such as embroidered kimonos and shawls, accessories, coats, dresses and shoes are easy to find. Their condition varies considerably, so make sure you read all information available about them if interested.

Have reference books handy while you search on eBay. If you spot an item that you are interested in, you can also research it further by looking at other websites too, before placing a bid.

You may head straight into the 'vintage' clothing section, but it’s preferable to search differently, as dealers put clothing in this section and know how much they are worth. You are much more likely to find a bargain by searching in other areas, still under the main heading of 'clothing'.

In the search bar type words that mean the same as vintage such as 'retro', 'old' and 'old fashioned'. You can also try years such as 1930's or 1970's if you want to be specific, and if there is a name brand of clothing you are looking for type it in directly, and you are bound to have many choices to consider.

If you do decide to hunt in the 'vintage' section, be aware that you may come across fake items, as well as original goodies. If you are unsure about an item be prepared to email the seller to find out particular details. Asking about the items history can also help you decide if the seller is genuine.

When you find an item you want to make a bid on, having checked available references, the next step is to look at the left hand side of the eBay page, and click on completed listings. Here you can check how much previous items similar to the one you are interested in have sold for. This will give an indication as to whether the item you are keen on is priced fairly.

Also look at the postage cost the seller is charging, as many unscrupulous sellers try to sting a buyer with an unfair price in-order to make as much money as possible.

If your item isn't being auctioned straight away, you can watch it on your eBay page and then put a bid in closer to the selling time. Placing a bid too early can make the price rise unnecessarily as you enter a bidding war with another buyer.

Buying vintage clothing on eBay successfully requires you to be vigilant with fine detail, and not to get carried away by unfounded enthusiasm. It's possible to snap up a vintage bargain via this well known online auction house, but you need to keep your wits about you to play the game well.

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