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 Clothing, Shoes & Accessories Buying Guide  

Welcome! You're about to embark on an exciting shopping adventure on eBay, the world's most popular fashion site. With 1.5 million items listed in Clothing, Shoes & Accessories, you can find everything from designer jeans, to wholesale lots, to one-of-a-kind vintage items. This buying guide offers tools and information to help you find that perfect item. Have fun—eBay is a great place to find anything and everything you want, all within a great community. So, start shopping!
  What Kind of Shopper Are You?
No matter how you like to shop, eBay makes it easy—and fun! And with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchases are covered up to $1,000. There are several ways to shop for Clothing, Shoes & Accessories on eBay:
  • Browse: Use the links on the left side of the Clothing, Shoes & Accessories portal page to browse by category.
  • Brands: Find over 400 of your favorite designers when you browse by brand.
  • Deals & Trends: The main graphics on the right side of the page are a great way to see what promotions are running, what's hot for the season, and what's new.
  • Stores: Visit eBay Stores—it's like walking into a virtual mall.
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 How to Find Exactly What You Want
If you know just what you're looking for, you can go straight to searching. The following guidelines will show you how to find what you want and gather all the information you need to make an informed purchase.
 
Basic Search
If you're looking for BCBG Heels, as an example, you could run a basic search:
  1. Enter the title of the item you are looking for in the search box that appears at the top of every eBay page (in this example, "BCBG Heels").
  2. Your search will return all listings with BCBG Heels in the title.
  3. To find even more listings, click the box that says "Search title and description" at the top of the yellow column on the left hand side of the page.
There are several ways to make your search more efficient, so you can find just what you want quickly:
  1. Product Finder: From the Clothing, Shoes & Accessories portal page , choose Women's Shoes. Then use the product finder on the left side of the page to narrow your search.

    • To search by brand, enter the Brand Name into the search box. In this example, type “BCBG heels” and click on the "Show Items" button. Your search will return all listings under Women’s Shoes, with the item specifics that you chose that have BCBG heels in the title.
       
    • To search multiple keywords, use parenthesis. For example, if you type “(BCBG, Bebe)” into the search box, you will get all items that contain BCBG or Bebe. If you search “BCBG (black, brown)” you will get all items that contain BCBG and either black or brown. If you type “BCBG, Black, Brown” you will get all items that contain BCBG and black and brown. Note that the key difference in all of these searches is where you place your parenthesis.
       
    • To further narrow your search, include the following acronyms commonly used on eBay:

      NWT: New With Tags
      NWOT: New Without Tags
      NIB: New In Box
      NBW: Never Been Worn
           SZ: Size
      DB: Double Breasted
      SB: Single Breasted
      AUTH: Authentic
      NR: No Reserve

  2. Want It Now: Looking for a hard to find item? Create a post on Want It Now and tell millions of sellers exactly what you want! Chances are it's out there somewhere!
     
  3. Saved Searches: Still can't find exactly what you want? Save your search and eBay will email you when a match is available.
Watching Items
If you find what you’re looking for, but want to wait a bit before bidding or buying at a set price, you can choose to "watch" your item. Simply click on the link in the upper right corner of the listing page that reads “Watch this item” and it’ll be added to your My eBay Watching Page (under the All Buying section in the left hand column). Treat it as your own online shopping bag—with no commitment.
 
Item Details
Once you find your item, be sure to read the details and the fine print. Look for information about fit, fabric and style. Know what you’re getting—a designer handbag and a "designer inspired" handbag are not the same thing. Some sellers will even tell you whether the item you’re considering comes from a smoke-free home or a home with no pets.
 
Below are some commonly used terms that will help you determine the item’s condition:
  • New with Tags or New without Tags: never washed or worn; no flaws.*
  • Like New: Appears new, no signs of wear; washed and possibly worn; no flaws.
  • Excellent: Previously worn, with only very slight wash wear; no flaws.
  • Very Good: Previously worn with moderate wash wear/fade, but no visible flaws.
  • Good/Play: Previously worn with minor visible flaw(s), and/or significant wash wear/fade.
  • Fair: Previously worn with significant visible flaw(s), and/or heavy wash wear/fade.
  • Poor: Not wearable, has severe flaws/damage, but with desireable useable element(s).
      * Flaws might include spots, stains, holes, tears, fabric irregularities, or problems with buttons, zippers, snaps, etc.
 
You should also always look for the seller’s return policy and review their feedback. Feedback is an indicator of their reputation on eBay and an unbiased source of information about their quality, customer service, and reliability. Think twice before purchasing from a seller with significant negative feedback or from a seller who doesn’t respond to emails.
 
If you still have questions, ask the seller. There’s a link for this built into the top right hand side of every listing under "seller information" and most sellers are more than happy to respond.
 
Need More Help?
Visit our help pages or post a question to the Clothing, Shoes, & Accessories Community Board; there’s bound to be a seasoned eBay veteran with just the information you’re looking for!

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 How to Get the Right Fit
Sizing can vary significantly from one manufacturer to another or between countries. The following measuring guidelines will help you select the appropriate size. For additional help, you can print out our handy measuring tape or reference standardized sizing charts.


Men/Boys
 
Neck: Measure the circumference of your neck just above the base and around your Adam's apple. Place two fingers between your neck and the tape measure.
 
Arm/Sleeve: With your arm bent slightly, put your hand on your hip. Start the tape measure at the center of the back of your neck. Run the tape measure across the top of your shoulder, down to the elbow, and then to your wrist.
 
Chest: Standing with your arms at your side, place the tape measure around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms. Ensure that the tape measure remains parallel to the ground. Place two fingers between the tape measure and your body.
 
Waist: While standing, wrap the tape measure around your natural waistline. Keep the tape comfortably loose.
 
Inseam: Lay out flat a pair of pants that fit you well. Using a measuring tape, measure from the crotch seam to the bottom of the pant along the seam.



Women/Girls

Bust: With your arms at your side, place the tape measure around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms. Make sure that the tape measure remains parallel to the floor.
 
Waist: While standing, wrap the tape measure around your natural waistline. Keep the tape comfortably loose.
 
Hips: While standing with your feet together, wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your body between your waist and your knees. This is approximately 8 inches below your waist. Make sure that the tape measure remains parallel to the floor.



Accessories
 
Hats: Wrap the tape measure around the part of your head where your hat would naturally rest. This is generally 1" above the ears.
 
Gloves: With your hand lying flat, wrap the tape measure around the knuckles of your strong or dominant hand, excluding your thumb.
 
Shoes: Place a piece of blank paper on a hard floor. While wearing socks of normal thickness, place one foot on the paper. Using a pencil, mark the end of your heel and the tip of your longest toe. Measure the distance between the two marks using a tape measure or ruler.
 


Need More Help?
Visit our help pages or post a question to the Clothing, Shoes, & Accessories Community Board; there’s bound to be a seasoned eBay veteran with just the information you’re looking for!


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Designer Jeans
Athletic Shoes
Jackets and Blazers
Snow and Winter Boots
Men's Wallets
Women's Sweaters
Velour Sweatsuits
Handmade Baby Clothing
Cashmere Sweaters
Designer Handbags


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