Ebay Unfashionable!

As a fashionista on a budget who wants to keep her closet fresh and fund new purchases, in the past few months I've successfully sold quite a few designer items on Ebay - even have sold a few for some friends. And I've never had a problem - all positive feedback from my customers, items shipped out quickly - no complaints from anyone.

So imagine my surprise when, a couple of weeks ago, I got a pop up message saying that I had "reached my limit" for selling certain designer goods - the ones that are often knocked off (LV, Chanel, Hermes, Gucci, etc.). The email was incredibly vague - no hint as to what the limit was, what exactly was included, etc. It just said "don't try to relist this item for 30 days." 30 days?? You've got to be kidding.

Well, after much investigation and many, many emails to the Ebay Trust & Security Department (I even got my hands on the PowerSeller Customer Service number and spoke to a real live person), I now know the scoop - apparently Ebay has placed a limit on the number of items by these desirable designers that you can list in a 30 day period. This is after first being told that the limit is a limit on the number of items you can post at once (that came from the PowerSeller Customer Service person) and that the limit was probably "about 10 at a time" (that came from the Ebay "LiveHelp" operator I communicated with on my second or third try at an answer).

Now here's the even crazier part - no one will tell me what the limit is. Apparently they keep that confidential to allow themselves some "flexibility." Hmmmmm. Sounds a little fishy to me.

Look, I understand that Ebay is embroiled in a lawsuit with LVMH over selling fakes. I also understand that they are virtually the only game in town when it comes to auctioning off your items. What I can't understand is 1) How imposing this selling limit is really helping to eliminate fakes (you can sell all the fakes you want as long as you stay under the limit); and 2) Why almost no one who works at Ebay in a "customer service" (such as it is) role knows and can explain what's going on.

This is why monopolies are really bad for consumers, and why I'm now recommending www.imagechic.com for all of your bag purchases and sales. Everything on the site is authenticated, the fees (for sellers) are much lower than the fees on Ebay (so prices can be lower, too), and the whole limit thing isn't a concern.

That's where I'll be posting my things from now on, and I recommend you do the same. Happy hunting!

Cheap Thrills

A Saturday excursion to Castleton Square Mall caused me to take a second look at Bakers - yes Bakers, formerly known (at least in my mind) for not-even-real-leather-only-suitable-for-exotic-dancers shoes.

Well, I don't know what's happened over there or when it happened, but Bakers now has apparently become a hot spot for cheap-ish (but at least made of leather) knock-offs of fabulous designer shoes.

Case in point: I purchased both the Bakers version of the Dior shoe worn constantly by Carrie Bradshaw in the Sex and the City movie, as well as a note-for-note knock-off of the seen-on-every-celeb YSL Tribute sandal. Purchased both pairs for about $150, less than a tenth of what you would pay for the originals.

I know, I know - I love a true designer shoe as much (or more) than the next gal. But in these tough economic times, it's nice to know that you can always just go to Bakers for a cheap fashion fix.