I always love purchasing new designer handbags to celebrate a new season, major milestone or accomplishment, or sometimes just because!  But with my handbag addiction, it can get pricey so I’m always looking for ways to find designer bags for cheap. I’ve been resorting to eBay for over a year now to find designer bags for cheap and I’ve been loving my results!

5 TIPS TO FIND DESIGNER BAGS FOR CHEAP

RESEARCH THE SELLER

It can always be a bit daunting to purchase a designer bag from a 3rd party source (over the brand retail location) because there has been a huge amount of fake and replica bags popping up online for those looking for the designer look for less.  But the old saying still holds true; if the price is too good to be true, it probably is. If you find a seller on eBay offering a designer bag for cheap–let’s call it a Louis Vuitton LockMe backpack purse for $500 chances are its a replica and you’re the one getting scammed.  Research your sellers in advance and look for those with high ratings, positive feedback, and a solid amount of listings.

DETERMINE AUTHENTICITY

Expanding on my previous point, there are sellers out there looking to take advantage of buyers who are looking for a good deal, so make sure you determine the designer bag to be authentic before placing your bid or making a purchase.  I remember a time in high school I found that 2004 era multicolor Louis Vuitton bag for $200 and I thought I found the deal of a lifetime scoring a designer bag for cheap–but turns out I got taken advantage of and when I received the bag it was low quality, smelled horrible, and most importantly the artist behind the design wasn’t properly compensated.

eBay offers a new service called eBay Authenticate which helps protect buyers from shady sellers by providing expert authentication services to independently check the handbag for key details to help you buy with confidence.  And if you want to sell a handbag? They can help with that too and make sure you get it’s value with a verified listing.

WATCH ITEMS AND OBSERVE THE PRICE CHANGES

If I know there is an “it bag” I want for the season, I’ll watch some items to see how the prices flux and adjust based on demand.  You can start to observe what offers get accepted, what auctions ultimately end up going for, and can get a pretty nice deal on your dream bag!

And aside from designer bags for cheap, I’ve been loving saving searches for seasonal items that I’ll want to purchase later.  Specifically I’d been looking for these Vans slip on sneakers for summer.  They are sold out everywhere but I was able to set a search and find them on eBay!

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ‘BUY IT NOW’

This is probably my favorite feature on eBay–wanting that instant gratification of finding a good deal! As fun as auctions and bidding may be, it can be heartbreaking to find your perfect designer bag for cheap just to have someone outbid you at the last minute.  If I find something that is a solid deal and something I love, I click that “Buy it now” button and make it mine.

FIND BRAND NEW ITEMS

Looking for cheap designer bags that are current? eBay has them! eBay isn’t just used items but a huge percentage are actually brand new.  Filter your search to include new items to make sure you’re the first one to love that designer bag!

What about you? What do you do to find designer bags for cheap? Ever bought one on eBay? Let me know in a comment below!