Shoot your shot! How to shop preloved on eBay

With Love Island back on our screens the nation is glued to the re-couplings, romance and rejections in the hit TV show. 

And this year reusing is key, as shopping second hand is at the forefront of this season’s fashion with the show partnering with eBay for the very first time.

Contestants are dressed in all things preloved and we are encouraging shoppers to visit our eBay shop, the largest charity retailer on the site in the world, before opting to buy new.

Not only will shoppers be able to emulate the singletons as they spend a hot summer looking for love, but they will also be doing their bit for the environment.

To avoid any unnecessary grafting in the shops, we’re pulling you for a chat to share some top tips to find the best bargains on eBay:

• CRACK ON and use keywords to search what you’re looking for. It may sound obvious but words like ‘vintage’ and ‘y2k’ will help refine your search and hunt down exactly what you want.  

• I’VE GOT A TEXT, or an email…add brands and key words into your search and use the option ‘save this search’. Registered users will get alerts when anything similar is listed and you’ll be the first to know.

• DON’T GET PIED and add charity sellers to your saved searches. Thanks to a team of listing experts, we only sell genuine goods on eBay. 

• SHOOT YOUR SHOT and wait until the last few minutes to place a bid. Bidding last minute will help you snap up items at the best price. Add your highest bid and you’re pretty likely to win the item.

• DON’T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET, if you missed out on an item then don’t give up hope. There is something out there for everyone and plenty more fish in the sea. Keep those saved searches on and await those alerts!

Allison Swaine Hughes, Retail Director said: “As the biggest charity retailer on eBay, rest assured we know what we’re talking about. We sell over 9,000 items a week so take our advice. 

“This year’s season of Love Island is turning heads for all the right reasons and bringing preloved fashion to the forefront of everyone’s minds. It might not be your type on paper but consider looking on eBay or visiting your local BHF shop before buying new.”