Tips for buying vintage powder compacts on eBay

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Like many things, eBay can be a god send for buying unwanted compacts requiring a new home. While compacts being sold via eBay can still go for hundreds of dollars and there are many, many compact collectors utilising the auction website there are always great deals to be had.

Choose your wording // While you might want to type in vintage to your search box don't. You'll find a lot more without it. For example, vintage powder compacts brought up 1077, with 978 subdivided into collectables, in comparison to 4958, with 1617 under collectables using just powder compacts. Sometimes you can skip the powder compact line altogether and opt for vintage beauty and you'll find some hidden away. While you might have to wade your way through some more contemporary compacts and I always find Polly Pockets thrown in, you might just find some goodies hidden away.

Buy it now verses the auction // Me and Joe vary on options regarding the best way to grab a compact. I love the thrill of the auction - of not knowing till the last minute if that compact is yours. Yet you're always running the risk of loosing a compact you really fell for. On the other hand Joe, my partner swears by buy it now deals - while your paying more your guaranteeing that you'll get the item. While I'm still not too convinced either way, make sure you're aware of the pros and cons for both.

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Check and double check // When I'm selling compacts via eBay I upload a lot of different photographs to really capture the condition of the compact and this is what I expect of other buyers. I want to see photographs or have details of the mirrors, the puffs and shifts if they are included and the condition of the compact interior and exterior. If a seller hasn't detailed a compact in enough detail to judge the condition properly then always send an message - a good seller will always make sure you have all the details you want even if they have to go out of their way.

Watching // Watching items on eBay even if your not always going to buy a compact is a great way of figuring out the market and the going rate. When I'm after a certain compact I'll watch a couple of the same [if there is any] just to see what they end up going for. Then you know how much you should accept to be paying. 

Timing // When it comes to finally sticking down that bid, choose your timing correctly and you can find some great deals. Auctions which end during the weekday tend to go for less and are a little less likely to have last second bidders outbidding you. 

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As a place to see what is out there // Finally eBay is amazing for showing you just what compacts are out there and how beautiful they are. While you might get occasionally out bid on gorgeous compacts that sell for incredible amounts never get too disheartened, there are certainly compacts being sold on eBay for all price ranges.

Do you use eBay? Have any buying tips to share - just leave them in the comments box below!