eBay, people, eBay.

I get a lot of questions about where I get my handbags, and I'm going to tell you my dirty little secret.

So get some popcorn! We're about to deplete your slush funds.

My latest find, purchased at less than half the retail value. Courtesy photo: eBay.com

 

I've been collecting handbags for years, and when I say collecting...I mean researching popular styles by designers I like, coveted bags from specific lines, limited edition colors/features... It's just my thing.

Pretty early on in my collection, I realized that it's far more economical to shop online. Though I love buying a bag in a store for instant gratification, I much prefer saving money through coupons or being able to find a pre-loved bag. Consequently, I'd say that over 80% of my collection now has been purchased online at a discount.

Here are my tips for buying on auction sites:

• Don't just search for the obvious. Some of my best bag finds are by searching with a misspelled or generalized search term. For instance, if you're looking for a bag from Coach's Legacy line in Ultraviolet, try searching for: "Coach legacy purple."
• Always, ALWAYS look at the feedback score. If it's not above 99.7, I don't buy without talking to the buyer. Always read the selling feedback.
• If you aren't sure about authenticity, ask for additional photos. If the bag is by a popular designer like Michael Kors, Coach, or Louis Vuitton (especially LV), go to the Purseforum.com for authentication. MK didn't used to be a highly faked line, but it is more and more prevalent now.
• Want a leather Coach bag without a killer price? Search vintage bags such as the City, Willis, or Basic. They can be revived with a little polish, and leather bags that aren't lined can be soaked in a bath of fragrance/dye free soap like Woolite to remove old dirt! A black vintage leather bag from Coach? You can't kill it!
• If you're competing in an auction, use a service like Auction Sniper, which will allow you to set your top bid any time before the auction ends, even days! The bid won't be placed until seconds before the auction ends, giving you a far better chance at winning at a low price. The best auction bidders don't bid until super late in the game. If an auction has days to go before ending and has 23 bids, I'd walk away.

 

What are some of your favorite eBay tips?

 

Posted with Blogsy

12 Days: Baby Shower Haul

                                 

    

I'm going to get a little mushy here for a second. Feel free to gag yourself with a spoon:

Y'all, after almost four years of trying to have a baby, I never thought I would even HAVE a baby shower. Do know how bittersweet it is to go to a baby shower for someone you love and feel so happy and sad at the same time? So believe me, my first baby shower is greatly appreciated. I am totally overwhelmed with all of the beautiful things that have been given to Riley. He's not even here yet (12 Days!), and people are already spoiling him rotten.

Here are a few pics of some of the lovely gifts and shower: