At this time of year it can be hard to spot an actual deal. From Black Friday discounts to Cyber Monday sales, the pursuit of taking your pennies is full steam ahead in the run up to the gift-giving season that is Christmas. That’s why I was so impressed when I stumbled across eBay’s Imperfect range. It’s a dedicated area on the site which has all new designer and high street items that for one reason or another can’t be sold elsewhere. Think of it like the online TK Maxx, minus the obscure items – oh, and if you haven’t seen what I’m talking about you need to watch the viral social media videos doing the rounds like this one by user @the_misfit_maw which has had 3 million views.
@the_misfit_maw Part 2 – with @Mother Rendall #tkmaxx #tkmaxxtrend #suspecttrend #fyp
♬ original sound – Mhairi Murray
eBay’s Imperfects range features a wide selection of clothing, shoes, and accessories that are considered new but with minor defects from over 100 high-street and high-end brands, such as The North Face, Off-White, Puma, and Timberland, all available at discounted prices. But as someone who is always a bit uncertain about how things work, and if it’s worth buying high cost items like this online without seeing them in reality, I was a bit concerned. Often when things sound too good to be true, like a new Jacquemus bag for 50% off erm yes please, they often are. So in the name of research I decided to do a mystery shop myself and check out if the bargains were as good as the website claims it would be.
Read on to find out why I am not only impressed but I will also be doing a quick search before I purchase anything else just in case there is one online.
What is eBay’s Imperfect Range?
It’s basically the fashion equivalent to a supermarket wonky veg initiative. It offers clothes, shoes and accessories which are considered new, but with defects. These can be anything from a small scuff or mark, a button missing or a loose thread or are ex-display which means they can’t be sold at full price as it did not meet the manufacturer’s strict quality standards.
What I Like About eBay’s Imperfect Range
It was super easy to navigate but I started with sunglasses as this is my go-to designer purchase and an area I would normally spend money. I ordered a pair of Alaia Sunglasses these had a RRP of £295 and I picked them up for £100. These are nothing like my usual style, which it tends to be large and black, as let’s face it, who doesn’t love a statement sunnie to pull out every so often? The sunglasses arrived in the box with the dust bag and as far as I can see there is nothing wrong with them. I wonder if the colour is slightly different and this is what stopped them passing, but quite honestly I cannot tell.
Next up was a full length River Island polyester coat, this was £40 reduced from £130. I had seen this in store and loved it so was delighted to see it for only £40. It arrived and there was a button missing, but a quick look showed there was a spare one on the care label which could easily be sewed on. For the sake of five minutes I will take that any day. Although this has now sold out, I did manage to find a similar River Island Polyester Coat (£40, originally £130)
My final purchase was probably the best of them all, a pair of Alexander Wang black Leather Ballet Pumps (£155, originally £555). This is a saving of £400, which I think is crazy good, and when I tell you they feel like butter I am not lying. I am not one for designer shoes as I can be quite clumsy and heavy footed so avoid splashing out, but these pumps may have convinced me otherwise. I cannot see anything wrong with them which makes them “imperfect” which is good enough for me.
Some of the other gems I found were this Ganni Reversible Riptstop Black Quilted Jacket (£158, originally £325) and Saint Laurent Pleated Collar Women’s Cream Pussy-Bow Blouse (£66, originally £845), which for under £70 I almost added to my basket again.
What to Consider When Buying From eBay’s Imperfect Range?
Obviously the stock is changing every day so if you want something I would suggest buying it there and then. It is also important to read the full descriptions, most the time the defects will be listed clearly if they are noticeable so you should be able to work out if its really worth the money or not. I also think as we become more aware of sustainability in fashion this is a great way of not only saving some money but also the environment, by preventing these clothes going to landfill.
As we become more savvy reselling our clothing too it is worth remembering that anything with a designer price tag can be easier to sell on. Then you can also feel happy about paying forward your savings to another person.
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Lauren Ezekiel (she/her) is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism she began her career in 2008. Lauren is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup. A mum of two, Lauren is an advocate for the benefits of beauty and self-care for your mental well-being, which inspired her award-winning charity initiative We C U 2020. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK!, Health & Beauty, The Sun, Asda, Dare and Metro.
