Bargains abound at online auctions and in classified ads
Editors Note: This is the final segment in a three-part series on innovative ways to save money while shopping or getting new clothing and home decor.
Shopping online is increasingly popular, and many sites beyond major retailers offer great deals on used items or merchandise that’s new, but no longer available in stores. Even store owners are using the sites to supplement their sales.
Stacie Pansky, owner of Butterfly Boutique, a consignment store in Feasterville, said she sells collectibles online.
“We don’t get serious collectors in the store. We have a better shot on eBay than we do in the store with something valuable,” she said.
When people shop in person, they are looking for a deal on clothes, accessories or shoes, she said. But people who shop online are more likely to be looking for something specific and know what it’s worth.
She admits to scouring auction Web sites even while not at work. “You can do it when you’re up at night and you can’t sleep, and you can find any obscure thing,” she said.
Pansky said she’s never bought anything obscure online, but she thought it was funny when a friend sold a shower head on an online auction.
“You could probably sell just about anything, although the market is dry right now because of the economy,” she said.
She enjoys shopping on www.eBay.com, a Web site that describes itself as a “global online marketplace where practically anyone can trade practically anything.”
She said it’s great if you are looking for a specific size, color and brand of an item. If you know exactly what you want, just type in almost any query and a few options pop up available for bidding in an online auction.
Although Pansky sticks to eBay, there are many other options to buy items in a nontraditional method. Newspapers and many publications list classified ads within local communities.
Craigslist.com is a classified site where people list their goods and try to sell them, usually locally.
More than 50 million people use Craigslist each month, including more than 40 million in the US alone, according to the site.
Usually people meet in person to exchange the agreed upon payment, which can mean driving a somewhat long distance to look at an item before buying it.
If you don’t want to spend a dime but need new gear, there is www.freecycle.org. The site describes itself as “all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.” It is free to join, but membership is required.
It is a grassroots, nonprofit site with more than 6 million people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns. It has several groups for the Philadelphia area. The disadvantage of this site is that the items are hit or miss. Members can post requests for things they want, but there’s no guarantee that they will get them any time soon.
There are also many obscure items offered, such as a box of paper envelopes or a fish tank. This might not be the spot if you are looking for a very specific item.
Shopping online is increasingly popular, and many sites beyond major retailers offer great deals on used items or merchandise that’s new, but no longer available in stores. Even store owners are using the sites to supplement their sales.
Stacie Pansky, owner of Butterfly Boutique, a consignment store in Feasterville, said she sells collectibles online.
“We don’t get serious collectors in the store. We have a better shot on eBay than we do in the store with something valuable,” she said.
When people shop in person, they are looking for a deal on clothes, accessories or shoes, she said. But people who shop online are more likely to be looking for something specific and know what it’s worth.
She admits to scouring auction Web sites even while not at work. “You can do it when you’re up at night and you can’t sleep, and you can find any obscure thing,” she said.
Pansky said she’s never bought anything obscure online, but she thought it was funny when a friend sold a shower head on an online auction.
“You could probably sell just about anything, although the market is dry right now because of the economy,” she said.
She enjoys shopping on www.eBay.com, a Web site that describes itself as a “global online marketplace where practically anyone can trade practically anything.”
She said it’s great if you are looking for a specific size, color and brand of an item. If you know exactly what you want, just type in almost any query and a few options pop up available for bidding in an online auction.
Although Pansky sticks to eBay, there are many other options to buy items in a nontraditional method. Newspapers and many publications list classified ads within local communities.
Craigslist.com is a classified site where people list their goods and try to sell them, usually locally.
More than 50 million people use Craigslist each month, including more than 40 million in the US alone, according to the site.
Usually people meet in person to exchange the agreed upon payment, which can mean driving a somewhat long distance to look at an item before buying it.
If you don’t want to spend a dime but need new gear, there is www.freecycle.org. The site describes itself as “all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.” It is free to join, but membership is required.
It is a grassroots, nonprofit site with more than 6 million people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns. It has several groups for the Philadelphia area. The disadvantage of this site is that the items are hit or miss. Members can post requests for things they want, but there’s no guarantee that they will get them any time soon.
There are also many obscure items offered, such as a box of paper envelopes or a fish tank. This might not be the spot if you are looking for a very specific item.
