Pearl of Wisdom: Online Auctions 101

Sites like TradeMe (for us NZers) and eBay (the actual auction-y side) are fantastic because they combine two of the greatest activities of modern life: thrifting and online shopping. Paradise.

I've bought some absolute gems over TradeMe. I got a Uniqlo skirt for $3 (inc shipping). I've also got- no, we'll be here if I list all the great things I've bought off TradeMe. Incidentally, I've been to the TradeMe offices! They have a slide. I went down it. It was super flimsy and creaky. They were also planning to go international back in 2012- I'm not supposed to talk about that, but hey, it's been long enough and I never signed anything.

Right, off topic.



To skip to the point, there's a right way to do online auction sites. Instead of searching for the cheapest Buy Nows and auctions that have a week to close, use whatever filters are available to you on your local/fave auction site to mirror this search function:

Sort Order: Closing Soon
Price: $0-$5


The price is flexible, but you get the gist. You want to find what auctions are about to end, because this means there's less time for you to get outbid or involved in a bidding war. Either narrow down your category or do what I do and look at everything under the sun in a broad category, such as Woman's Clothing.

If you're looking for something specific, then don't use this method. This is for 'rummaging', and finding really cheap goods that you don't really need (although marketing discourse actually defines 'need' as including 'wants', so you can argue that you do 'need' that new pair of shoes you're coveting).

Another TradeMe tip for NZers: Use the mobile app, not the website! The app is configured to show thumbnails of all listings, not just the ones which have paid extra for a photo on the search screen.

Also, Happy 2015 everyone! Welcome back to Absolootely for the year :-)

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

I have no idea what sort of sites people outside New Zealand use! Do you have something like TradeMe? Link us to your local online auction site below. 

Keep An Eye Out For... Vintage Binocular Cases!

We usually review brand new items that everyone can get their hands on, but I felt this was just as useful! I spend a fair amount of time in opshops, so I'm always on the look out for things to be on the look out for, and I'm happy to add to other peoples' scavenging quests.

Over the past three years, I've found a couple of vintage binocular cases in opshops, just your standard, unfancy, no-frills thrift stores. And I absolutely adore mine, so I highly recommend snatching one up if you stumble upon it.


The first one I bought comes with a story that makes it twice as special. I saw the most beautiful bag, like, ever in Ziggurat, a fancy Wellington vintage boutique, when I was about 16. The red lining was what I really loved, because it was so stunning. The bag was $70 though, which meant it was far too pricey for me. However, I added it to my birthday wishlist and would pay visits to gaze upon it every time I was in the area.


This stopped, eventually, and I forgot about it completely. Until the day, about a year or so later, we were reunited. I was rummaging through bags in Recycle Boutique, a secondhand clothing chain store, when I suddenly saw my coveted bag, just chillin' with the other, inferior, cases. I think the most probable reason for it switching stores is that someone bought it from Ziggurat, for $70, and gave it to Recycle Boutique after it broke.


Oh, and I am certain it was the same bag. But it had some extra wear to it and it had a couple of issues. However, it was $15 and I still loved it, so there was really nothing stopping me from running to the counter to finally make it mine.

It did need some fixing up, which I was into, because it's not hard and it means you can get a great vintage item for a cheap price. I had to sew the fastening strap back on and replace the lid lining. Both of these tasks were very easy, and it allowed me to personalize it with some pretty nautical fabric.

The two pieces where my finger is had to be sewn back together.
I use this bag regularly and it's definitely the best bag I've ever had. It's really sturdy and holds a good amount of items. I don't mind that it isn't soft and flexible like fabric bags, because it means that it's pretty good at protecting my things. The main reason I adore it is because I think it's really whimsical and it always gets attention. It was made to hold binoculars, which is something a few people guess, but most people just assume it's a cool vintage bag.


A month ago, I was hanging around a Salvation Army store in mid-Wellington, when I spied an almost identical bag to the one I had around my shoulder. I became a bit self-conscious as I approached it, wondering if people would notice the girl with an unusual vintage bag admiring a very similar one. And after I bought it, I suppose I did look a bit like a hipster voyeur, walking around town with my two vintage binocular cases.


My first bag has a gorgeous red lining, so I expected the second one to have a similar shade. Much to my surprise and delight, it has a bright purple lining! So cool! Even cooler was the price: $5.


However, like my first bag, this bag was also slightly broken. One of the little pieces of leather holding the strap in place had been torn. I've fixed this by hand-stitching the broken pieces back together, which has done a really good job so far. If the stitches stop holding, I'll glue the strap to the base and the broken bits to the strap. It's fine. It was $5 and better than any bag I've bought brand new.


Some other differences between the bags is that the second one is a dark brown, while the first is tan. The first one has a longer strap. They both have adjustable straps, which is really useful, so you can alter the length. The first one has "Made in Japan" stamped on the bottom, but the second one has no claim about its origin. Both are a little scruffy, which is to be expected from vintage items, and it justs makes them look what they are (old and heavily used).


If you find one of these, NAB IT! They are awesome bags and they really add some charm and whimsy to every outfit. And they're super practical, to boot.

I've had a nosey round online and I haven't found many bags at all, let alone for as cheap as mine were. The main problem seems to be people emphasising "Vintage" and that shipping isn't cheap (if only this beauty was a bit cheaper!). Also, most of them come with binoculars, which bumps the price up. There are different styles to the ones I have, which is pretty cool. These bags are wasted on binoculars!

Apparently my late granddad had one of these bags in storage, so if I'm lucky, I'll have another in my collection soon, that is extra special because it's an heirloom. Look out for these in your grandparents' homes, they're totally the sort of thing your oldies would have had back in the old days.

Happy thriftin', everyone!

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

Pearl of Wisdom: Opshopping 101

Play me in, Macklemore!


Guys, opshopping is awesome. It's cheap, good for the world in general, excellent for your street cred, everything. However, it is a little intimidating. There is so much junk to sift through, and there's always the huge risk of buying something faulty. 


But it's actually a really good way to buy practical and novelty items. If you've never really had a good thrift before, then you need to start ASAP! As a seasoned opshopper, here are my top tips for thrift shop glory:

-Haggle. I've been known to haggle down from $40 to $20, so take my word for it when I say that it's fine. Give it a shot! If you've noticed something wrong with the object, or can just make it sound like you're more of an expert than the seller, then point it out. Opshops have to have a high turnover rate, so they really want to get rid of their stock. I've never haggled at charity shops, because it feels like a douche move, but at fairs and for-profit vintage/secondhand stores, go for your life!


-Look at EVERYTHING! You never know. I didn't go to opshops seeking pattern pieces, and I barely noticed them. When I did, I found an absolute treasure trove for the hobby sewer. You'll be surprised what people get rid of. I've gotten into an obsessive habit where I can't leave an opshop without looking through all of their cds, which is a hefty task. Maybe don't look at absolutely everything, then.... especially if you're on a time frame! 


-Have a really good look before you buy. As these items are second hand, they're far more likely to be faulty. Look for stains, rips and missing buttons on clothes. Look for cracks in mugs, plates, records, etc. Look for missing disks in dvd and cd cases. Don't get overexcited, things may be super cheap for a good reason!


-Don't donate your goods to your local opshop. My mum once dropped off a stack of books to a nearby Vinnies, only for my dad to accidently purchase one of the books back, because he thought my mum might like it. Good one, parents. Do donate goods, that's a nice thing to do, but maybe not to a shop you frequent.


-Avoid those musty old antique shops. I was dragged through every antique shop in New Zealand as a child, due to my dad being a record collector, and I've never quite forgiven them. They're almost always overpriced and a little unfriendly. Sure, there are some real treasures to be found for a good price, but you're far better off searching through a not-for-profit. I do have a hilarious "Society For The Prevention Of Mixing Peas And Carrots" membership card from an excellent antique store in Nelson, but that's as far as my luck has gone.

Seriously, opshops are the BEST for pattern pieces. 

Contributor: Kate, @Springerfield

NB: The store in the photos is a really great vintage shop in Martinborough called Gertrude Snyder Vintage Treasure. It's an old house converted into a shop, such a cool idea! I bonded with the owner over our shared appreciation of buttons, Etsy and her lovely wheaten terrier, Bella, so thought I should give her a plug! They also have an online store, if you're not planning to be in the area.
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