How to read a listing, when to make an offer, and the signals that separate a careful seller from a careless one.
A good listing does most of the work for you. It states measurements, names flaws, and photographs the piece honestly in natural light. A thin listing is not necessarily a bad piece, but it is always a reason to ask more questions.
Reading the listing
- Are there measurements, or only a size tag?
- Do the photos show the actual item, or stock imagery?
- Is there a shot of the label, the hem, and any wear points?
- Does the description name flaws, or only strengths?
Making an offer
An offer is a conversation, not a haggle. Anchoring far below asking tends to end the exchange rather than open it. If you think the price is high, say what you would pay and why — a flaw you spotted, a comparable sale you have seen.
Equally, if a piece is priced fairly and you want it, buying at asking is not a defeat. Good listings move quickly, and the difference you were negotiating over is often smaller than the piece is worth to you.
After it arrives
Inspect it the day it lands, against the measurements and the flaw list you were given. Raise anything that does not match straight away, politely and with photographs. Most discrepancies are honest oversights and get resolved quickly when they are raised early.