eBay Advice?

[Nathan]

First, as to protocol: This seems to be a very cordial and polite forum, and I want to be a good member, so if I'm stepping on protocol here, just let me know, ok? But I trust that as compatriots here, I can post some live auctions without fear of getting poached - or if I'm poaching on one you are already stalking, you will tell me?

First of all, nice to meet you. Welcome to xmarks!

Second, regarding protocal, in my experience, there is no protocol for users to "call dibs" on live ebay auctions here. Many of us are on ebay all the time and some of your fellow xmarks users are probably already watching something you're interested in. If you post on here for advice about the purchase, you have no right to expect xmarks members not to bid on the item. While we're all cordial here, we all like our kilt stuff and our ebay hunting. If you want the item, you have to put in the highest bid and just because you posted it in a thread here, I shouldn't feel guilty about bidding on an item I like.

If someone wants to bow out of an auction to do you a favour, they certainly may but there is no expectation that they must.

Finally, read these forums and learn, learn, learn. Ask general questions before you buy. It will save you tons in the long run.

You should know how long a kilt should be from the buckles at your natural waist (not hips) to the top to the middle of your knee as you prefer.

You should also know your waist size and how far the fell should be on a kilt that fits you as mentioned above. Once you have these measurements, I recommend asking questions to the vendor to ensure that you will be reasonably happy with the fit of the kilt.

If you do these things and are willing to wait patiently for the right kilt to come along, you can get a great deal on a traditional kilt.

Warning: Kilt wearing is an addiction.

Slainte,

Nathan

[chasem]

Often a look at the pictures will be enough to tell whether the item is of mass produced (not necessarily bad) or Pakistani origin.

This actually goes for a lot of ebay items, so you may already know this, but if the picture for the item is clearly a stock picture or is used for multiple items, you can often move on. Note that some legit vendors will use this strategy as well, but this is one of those things you'll pick up on which way to go the more you mess with it.

[RockyR]

Don't forget to visit the sponsors here to look for deals on kilts!

I know that Burnett's & Struth (upper right corner advertiser) have a sale section with many tartans. USA Kilts (Full disclosure: It's my company... upper LEFT hand corner advertiser) has a few dozen Ex Rental kilts for sale in very good condition as well as a sale on select 5 yarder kilts in various tartans (all made to measure).

There are other good deals to be had outside of Ebay, if you know where to look.

[TomFromBama]

First off, Sincere and Heartfelt thanks to everyone who responded. I'm trying to be a sponge and absorb all I can, and I'm reading as many threads as time permits.... (Well, actually a little more than time should be permitting. )

I can report that in just my short time here, this board has already spared me from several purchases I was ready to make, all of which, I'm now convinced would have been ill advised.

I suppose my interest in Kilts at the moment, is sorta like the interest of a 15 year old boy in females.
I am filled with enthusiasm, I just don't have all the necessary information yet!!!

[tulloch]

Proceed with caution. Take your time. Get the very best you can afford. If you pay $500 for a good quality garment that will last you twenty years that is only $25 per year. There is a lot of low quality stuff out there and the chances of finding one with the correct measurements for you are really slim. You could easily spend close to $500 getting a few unsatisfactory garments and leaving a bad taste in your mouth.

CAREFUL
Be thrifty, not stingy.

[MacLowlife]

Having recently listed and sold three jackets at very very good prices, I was a little surprised to see no mention of them here. I may have missed it, but I did look. There was surprisingly little bidding action, too. Two of them were wool PCs in average sizes. One sold for $52 plus shipping and one sold for $86. My listings are pretty obviously the work of someone who has a day job. Had someone discovered one of my listings and clicked " see seller's other items" they would have seen the rest and they could have seen that I am not running some cheap goods factory outlet.

I agree with Tulloch- proceed with caution. But, if you have done a little research and educated yourself a little bit, don't be afraid to risk $50 or so.

One more thing: for you younger members, inflation is likely to be a lifelong condition. That is, we are not likely to see the return of the nickel Coca-cola, or the $2 kilt hose. If you do make a long term purchase, no matter how big the ticket is, you will probably live long enough to marvel at how little it cost when you were just a lad.*






* unfortunately, you may also have occasion to marvel at how much it shrank in your closet.

[Kilted Cole]

Hey, sorry for getting to this thread a little late. School keeps me busy, I started the Ebay Stalking thread primarily to see what people have won in the past or recently won. I would advise you to keep what your bidding on to yourself until you have either won or lost the bidding wars, to which after that feel free to brag or lament depending upon your outcome. lol. But there are a few tricks to the ebay buying of Highland Attire. I usually start my searches with ether "Used" or "Vintage" and then what I'm looking for. I've had better luck with that. As a veteran ebayer I'm sure you know always look at the sellers reputation, as well as where they are located. Are you looking for just kilts currently, or are you looking for pretty much Highland Attire related, sporran, kilt, kilt jacket, doublets, ect? I'm kind of a habitual ebay stalker now.....;)
Good luck and happy hunting!

And I completely agree with the Gentleman above me in this post, Pay a little more now, because it will cost more further down the road.

And I've found (in most cases) that in Highland Attire it seems that the more you pay for a product, the better quality it tends to be, and will save you from having to buy more and more of the lower end items down the road. This seems to be esspesialy the case with sporrans! I'd advise honestly ether keeping an eye out for a vintage sporran on ebay, or saving up and getting one from either Artificer or Fergusson Britt sporrans.