My Tips for Shopping Secondhand Online

Photo by Thom Bradley on Unsplash
 

Spring is around the corner and you might be looking to pick up a few new additions to your wardrobe from Depop, Vinted or any other online secondhand shops. Some of these places can be a bit daunting as there's so much stuff to browse through and it's often hard to find the hidden gems. 


I have managed to snap up some great secondhand pieces recently, particularly on Vinted including some brand new Weekday jeans and brand new sportswear. Here are my top tips for shopping secondhand online.

1. Have an Idea of What You're Looking For.

Before you start aimlessly browsing make sure you have an idea of what you want. Make a pinterest board with outfit inspiration and make a note of any pieces that keep popping up. This will save you from endlessly scrolling and will prevent any spontaneous and wasteful purchases.

For example, I really into white straight leg jeans at the moment. I then had a look on some fast fashion websites to find a pair that I wanted and settled on the Weekday Rowe or Voyage jeans. From then on, every week I searched for them on Depop and Vinted until a pair in my size and within my price range popped up. I managed to get a brand new pair of Weekday Voyage Jeans for £15 (RRP £40). 

2. Use the Filters 

Repeat after me - "The filters are your friend!". When shopping on Depop and Vinted I always use the filters. I hate finding the perfect item and then realising that it's the wrong size. You can narrow down your search by size, colour and brand to find the items that you will love and again stop you from endlessly scrolling.

3. Make a List of Brands and Styles that Match Your Aesthetic 

I am really enjoying a very classic, minimalistic and neutral sort of style at the moment. Brands that would usually sell clothes in this style are Arket, Cos, &Other Stories etc. so I simply search for those brands (in my size as per tip no. 2 of course) and see what's available. 

4. Have Patience 

This is the most important tip. If you can't find the exact item you want straight away, you need to have some patience and try again next week. Shopping more sustainably is a much slower process but worth it in the end. If you can't find the exact pair of jeans you want but find a pair that's okay rather than perfect, I'd advise that you wait. Chances are if the item isn't perfect because let's say it's the wrong size, chances are it's going to get shoved to the back of your wardrobe and forgotten about.

5. Don't be Afraid to Message the Seller

So you've found the perfect piece but there's only one picture. Or maybe you want to know what the item looks like on. Just send a message to the seller and most of the time they're happy to help!

6. Do Some Research

It's becoming more and more common for sellers to sell items for ridiculous prices such as a worn primark dress for £15. Check the brand and do a bit of research to ensure you're not getting ripped off. 

7. Pay Through the App/Website

Some sellers may ask you to pay via Paypal or bank transfer to avoid seller fees but please please try and pay through the app as some dodgy sellers use this method in order to scam people. If you pay through the app, you will be covered for buyer protection meaning if they are trying to scam you, you won't lose your money.


Do you have any tops for shopping secondhand online? Leave them in the comments!

                                                        

Comments

Popular Posts