How to Buy Boys’ Clothes on eBay

April 24,2014

Aside from food, clothing is perhaps the next biggest expense when it comes to raising children. Every parent knows that boys can be rough on their clothes, and there are few things more disheartening than spending a fair sum of money on a new outfit only to have it come home stained or torn after the first wear. Parents who want to save money on quality clothes for their little boys should take advantage of the great selection, low prices, and convenient shopping features on eBay.
With eBay’s vast selection of both new and used items, parents are certain to find something their little boy will love to wear. Universal terms used in item descriptions and sizing charts make finding the right shirt or pair of pants simple. Navigation tools such as keyword search and item categories make it easy to search for a specific item. The ability to review a seller’s policies prior to purchase and read feedback from other customers helps shoppers buy with confidence. Adding an item to a "watch" list allows shoppers to keep track of an item without committing to buy it. Multiple purchasing options, to include bidding and Buy It Now, give buyers greater flexibility when buying an item. Read on to learn more about how to buy boys’ clothes on eBay.

Reasons to Buy Boys’ Clothes on eBay

Consumers looking for a great selection of new and used boys ’ clothes at competitive prices should consider shopping on eBay. Shoppers can take advantage of eBay’s simple navigation and search tools for effortless shopping. A large selection of secondhand items means consumers can find name-brand clothes at deep discounts, saving time and money while also helping the environment.

Excellent Selection of New and Used Items

The enormous inventory of boys’ clothing on eBay includes both new and used items. There are near-limitless options when it comes to shirts, pants, outerwear, and even sleepwear. Such a large selection offers parents the chance to buy quality, name-brand clothing at prices much lower than those found in retail stores. Being able to choose among sellers from all over the world allows shoppers to find pieces that are sold in local shops and department stores in other countries.

Effortless Shopping

Shopping on eBay means being able to sort through hundreds of clothing items without ever leaving one’s house. Parents can find a new outfit or an entire winter wardrobe for a little boy with a few clicks of the mouse. eBay’s category listings, search tips, and keyword tools make searching for a specific item or size fast and easy.

Competitive Prices

Thousands of sellers with extensive inventories of boys’ clothes translates to competitive prices for shoppers. Free shipping is often offered as well. Shoppers can save even more by purchasing in lots, rather than one item at a time.

Name Brands for Less

The majority of sellers on eBay offer gently used, name-brand clothing, in excellent condition. Some sellers also list items that are still new, either with or without the store tags still attached. Many of these items are listed at far below the retail price, enabling parents to obtain high-quality designer clothing for the same price as low-quality new clothing from a store.

Save More by Buying in Lots

The best bargains are often found in lots. Many eBay sellers list clothing in large groups of like items rather than as individual pieces. Lots make it possible for shoppers to buy up to 20 or more items of boys’ clothing in one transaction, saving both time and money. Parents can sometimes find an entire season’s worth of clothing for a child in just one or two lots.

Buying Secondhand Is Environmentally Friendly

Buying secondhand items from websites like eBay is a great way to help the environment. Every item that is sold for reuse reduces the amount of waste headed to a landfill and decreases the adverse effects that come from the manufacture of new clothing. Also, shopping online reduces the number of cars on the road, as well as the number of stores necessary in any given community.

How to Select Boys’ Clothes on eBay

Finding the right boys’ clothing on eBay is a matter of understanding the terminology used by sellers. It is important for buyers to read item descriptions and pay attention to the details of a listing. Using the size charts provided by most sellers will help parents find items that fit well. Shopping for a brand name that the child already wears makes it easy to find a great piece of clothing in the correct size.

Understand Sellers’ Descriptions

Most sellers include detailed item description with every listing. Pay attention to information regarding fit, fabric, and condition. Descriptions should bring to light any imperfections in the item. Numerous sellers will also let buyers know if the items come from a smoke-free or pet-free home.
Several of the most commonly used descriptions are listed below. Becoming familiar with these descriptions and terms will help determine an item’s overall condition before purchasing.

New with tags/without tags	Never washed or worn; no flaws; may have tags
Like new	Item appears new with no signs of wear; washed and worn, but with no flaws
Excellent	Item was previously worn, but only shows very slight wear and has no flaws
Very good	Item has been worn and has some wash wear and fading, but no visible flaws
Good/Play	Previously worn item with noticeable fading and wear, and minor visible flaws
Fair	Item shows significant visible flaws, and may also show excessive fading and wear
Poor	These items generally have severe damage and flaws and are not wearable, but may have some usable element

Note that flaws can include, but are not limited to stains, tears, holes, fabric irregularities, and missing or broken zippers, snaps, or buttons.

Pay Attention to Size Charts

Buyers should first look to the seller’s description for information on size and fit. They can also ask a seller directly for more details regarding the fit of an item. Since sizing can vary considerably among different countries and from one manufacturer to another, the following tables should only be used as general guidelines for finding an approximate fit.
These sizing charts are meant to be used as a general guideline when shopping for boys’ clothing. Standard sizes are listed along with a corresponding weight and height range, and waist measurement.

Size	Standard	Height in inches	Weight in pounds	Waist in inches
4	S	39-41	33-37	17.5-18.75
5	M	42-44	38-43	18-20
6	M	45-46	43-48	19-21
7	L	47-48	49-54	20-22
7x	XL	59-51	55-60	22-24
8	S	49-54	53-65	23-24
10	M	53-57	66-75	24.5-25
12	M	57-60	76-87	26-26.5
14	L	60-63	88-100	27-27.5
16	L	63-65.5	101-110	28-28.5
18	XL	66-67	111-126	29-29.5
20	XL	68-69	127-138	30

The measurements provided are given as a basic guide to sizes and will not necessarily correlate to all clothing, as different manufacturers follow different sizing parameters.

Shop by Brand

Parents who have a preference for certain brand-name items can use the category choices to narrow a search to a specific brand or brands. Manufacturer websites often have their own brand-specific size charts. Parents can consult these if they are unsure what size their child wears in a certain brand. This makes it fast and easy to find an item that will fit in both size and style.

Find a Good Deal on Boys’ Clothes on eBay

A few simple steps will get buyers on their way to finding good deals on boys’ clothes on eBay. Starting off with a budget in mind helps narrow down choices to ones that will be affordable. Reviewing a seller’s policies will help prevent misunderstandings and ensure customer satisfaction. Understanding the importance of feedback and knowing how to communicate directly with a seller will also guide a buyer through a more satisfactory transaction.

Set a Budget

Every savvy shopper knows the importance of starting with a budget in mind. For those without a good starting point in mind, begin low and then adjust as necessary after doing some comparison price shopping. With the vast number of boys’ clothing items for sale on eBay, narrowing down search results by price is a great way to reduce the number of item listings to a manageable number.

Get Familiar with a Seller’s Policies and Procedures

Before purchasing, always read the seller’s return policy and make sure it is acceptable to the purchaser. Also pay attention to accepted payment methods, and shipping costs and times, especially if an item is needed by a particular date. A great tool for finding out more about a seller’s business habits is the feedback section. Look for sellers with high ratings from a large number of customers.

Ask Seller a Question

Buyers who have more specific questions that are not answered in an item listing can use the "Ask Seller a Question" link. Most sellers are happy to answer questions about their items and respond in as little as 24 hours.

Purchasing Boys’ Clothes on eBay

Parents in search of a great selection of boys’ clothes will find a wide variety of items on eBay. Knowing how to navigate the site and narrow a search makes shopping on eBay a breeze. Understanding the various buying options and how to use them how will help shoppers find great deals on boys’ clothing.

Finding an Item

By navigating to eBay, shoppers can experience first-hand the benefits of worldwide sellers, many of whom offer free shipping, along with competitive prices and easy-to-use search tools.
To find an item of boys’ clothing on eBay, find the Kids ’ Clothing category under the Fashion heading on the eBay homepage. Then select Boys ’ Clothing to begin searching for items such as sweaters, jeans, outfits, shorts, and swimwear. Additionally, keywords can be used to narrow down a search. Simply type some words related to your specific item (e.g., "boys’ jeans") into the "Search" box to find all the listings that match your specifications. Listings can then be narrowed by size, brand, and other parameters. The Search tips page on eBay offers more tips on searching with keywords. For more shopping choices, try searching eBay Stores.

Bidding on an Item

Auction-style listings have a starting price set by the seller. The item is then sold to the highest bidder. Every auction style listing will have an end time, which is given in Pacific Time. Other information provided in the listing includes the number of bids already placed, as well as the current high bid.
A bidder can enter a bid and then wait to see if she is outbid before bidding again, or she can use automatic bidding. With automatic bidding, eBay will automatically raise a bid by the amount needed to remain the highest bidder, up to a maximum set by the bidder.

Buy It Now

The easiest and fastest way to purchase an item on eBay is the "Buy It Now" method. Items with a "Buy It Now" price in the item listing can be purchased and paid for immediately, without the buyer having to wait for the auction listing to end. Once the "Buy It Now" button is clicked, the item has been purchased for the listed price, and the buyer needs to pay for that item. Although many items have a "Bidding" price as well as a "Buy It Now" price, some may only have one or the other.

Best Offer

Some items include a "Best Offer" option in the item listing. If this is the case, the seller is willing to consider offers made by potential buyers. A buyer suggests a price to the seller, and the seller gets back to buyer and either accepts or declines the offer.

Watching Items

Many buyers find an item of interest but decide to wait before submitting a bid. The option to watch an item makes it easy to keep track of desired items with no commitment to buy. By clicking the link that says "Watch This Item," a buyer can add items to their watch list, which works similar to an online shopping cart, and can even be notified via email when an item on their watch list is about to expire.

Conclusion

Parents who shop on eBay can discover a way to purchase quality, name-brand boys’ clothing at affordable prices. The selection of boys’ clothing on eBay is extensive, and includes items from all over the world. The ability to sort through a wide selection of new and used items in a short time without leaving the house appeals to many modern shoppers. By purchasing secondhand items, buyers are not only able to save money, but can also help the environment by keeping items out of landfills. Shoppers will want to pay particular attention to the condition of listed items as detailed in their item description.
Universal terms used in item descriptions and access to online sizing charts makes it easy for shoppers to know exactly what they are buying before committing to a purchase. Consumers who take the time to become familiar with a seller’s purchase, return, and shipping policies, and site features such as "Feedback" and "Ask a Seller," can purchase with greater confidence knowing they are purchasing from a reputable seller.
The various options for searching for and paying for an item give buyers flexibility when shopping for boys’ clothing on eBay. Knowing how to use the "Search" box and keywords to find a specific item makes shopping fast and convenient. Understanding the difference between bidding and "Buy It Now" will help consumers get the best price on an item. With all these great tools at their disposal, parents are sure to find plenty of high-quality clothes for their little boys at affordable prices.