What to check when you buy used
Short answer: Check the measurements in centimetres, pictures of the labels and a clear description of wear. Without those three you are buying on a guess, and that gets expensive if the garment does not fit.
Three things to check
When you buy used, you cannot try the clothes on first. That is why there are three things to check in the listing: measurements in centimetres, pictures of the labels and a clear description of wear. If one is missing, ask before you buy instead of hoping it goes well.
The measurements
Letter sizes say too little, because they vary between brands and between decades. Ask for chest width and length in centimetres if they are not in the listing. Compare them with a garment you have at home and like, by laying it flat and measuring it.
Compare with your own clothes
Measure a garment whose fit you know, such as a polo or a dress that sits well. Write the measurements down and hold them next to the seller's numbers. Then you know whether chest width, length and sleeve length fit without guessing. See bamboo polos for men as an example of a garment where length matters.
The labels
A picture of the label at the neck and in the side seam shows brand, size and material at once. If the labels are cut off or unreadable, the seller does not know what the garment is made of either. Ask for a description of the fabric in that case, or do not buy if the seller cannot answer.
The material
The material says something about how the garment is washed and cared for and how it feels. If it is not in the listing, ask for a picture of the label. If you do not know the material, find out what it means for washing before you buy. See bamboo dresses.
The wear
Ask for close-ups of the underarms, elbows and neckline. Those are the three places where wear always shows first, and a listing without pictures of them usually hides something. Also ask for a picture of the crotch or leg hems if you buy trousers or shorts. See bamboo shorts for women.
Look for lint and thin spots
Lint is small balls of fabric that show a garment has been worn and washed many times. A slightly linty garment is not ruined, but one with a lot of lint and thin spots does not have much time left. Ask the seller whether the fabric has gone thin, and hold the picture up to the light.
Ask before you buy
In private sales you usually cannot return the goods, so ask before you buy. Ask about everything you are unsure of and save the answers. A seller who replies well and quickly is usually one who wants to deal properly. Also write when you want to receive the garment so there is no misunderstanding about delivery.
What if the seller does not reply
If the seller does not reply, do not buy. No answer is also an answer, and rarely a good start to a deal. There is always another listing with a similar garment, and waiting is better than buying something you cannot get information about. It often takes only a few days to find an alternative.
Check the pictures yourself
Look at all the pictures, not just the first. Check whether the light is the same in them and whether the colour looks the same. If the pictures look taken from a shop, ask for a picture taken by the seller that shows the garment as it looks right now.
Frequently asked questions
Can you return a used purchase?
Usually not in private sales, so ask beforehand. Agree in advance what happens if the garment does not fit or does not match the description, and save the messages.
Where does wear show first?
Under the arms, at the neck and in the crotch. Those are where the fabric rubs most, so ask for close-ups of them if they are not already in the listing.
What if the seller does not reply?
Then do not buy. No answer is also an answer, and there are always other listings with similar garments where the seller gives you the information you need.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
