buying men's suit on ebay

I'm a bargain shopper (ie, cheap), and I've been looking on Ebay for
men's suits. It's not for any specific occasion, just want to own a
few quality suits. I've searched through alt.fashion for brand
recommendations, and came up with a few that's supposed to have
consistent good material, craftsmanship, and durability like H
Freeman, Oxxford, J Press, Gieves & Hawkes, Zegna, someone mentioned
Belvest (looking for more good brands if someone wants to make a
suggestion). Stay away from highly mass marketed brands like Hugo
Boss, Armani, Tommy, etc.
Searching on Ebay turns up these brands with wild range in prices,
some are at <$100 with no bids and did not sell. Why are people not
interested in Gieves & Hawkes sports coat for <$100 when it costs
thousands new? Is the off the rack stuff such poor quality compared
to bespoke that people don't even want it for that price and they'd
rather pay a few hundred at Sears for a new one? What am I missing ?
Grant it, I'm not very fashion savvy, so I don't know what's in or
what's out, but a good navy blue or gray suit is timeless, isn't it?
And owning a Gieves & Hawkes should last me a long time...
I could also use some help in deciding what styles of suit I should
have in my wardrobe, like single v. double breasted, sports coat v.
suit, what styles are appropriate what occasion, etc. I'm just very
lost when it comes to clothing and fashion. TIA

On Feb 7, 10:56 pm, hsias...@wowway.com wrote:
Evidently you do need some help. Nobody but an idiot would buy a
suit, sight unseen on ebay especially when you don't even know what
you want or how the clothes would look on you. I guess trying on
clothes to see if they fit to begin with or getting alterations from a
reputable men's store has ever entered your mind. What's to keep a
shady ebay dealer from selling you a suit and you get it home and it's
not fit for a dogs bed? Then you have to fight with the seller and
ebay to get your money back. The best advice I can give you is to get
your butt to men's store, try on pants and jackets, and buy from
them. They will also advice which cut of suit coat/sport coat is best
for your shape and body type.
Geez.

On Feb 8, 10:39 am, "itsjoannotjoann" <itsjoannotjo...@webtv.net>
wrote:
Okay, fine, I'm an idiot. Sorry you had to waste your time on my silly
questions. Thank you so much for your helpful input.

On Feb 8, 11:58 am, "hsias...@wowway.com" <hsias...@wowway.com> wrote:
You're welcome.

<hsias...@wowway.com> wrote in message
news:1170910598.018384.314...@v33g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...
If you want a decent suit for just a few hundred dollars (on sale) check
out Jos. A. Banks. They have a website but you should know your
measurements. They are a decent quality for the money for someone who only
needs a few suits and doesn't want to spend a lot of money.
<snip>
Navy, grey, black, they are all pretty classic.
Then I'd reccommend buying your suits in person instead of Ebay. You don't
always get the best deal on Ebay and suit styles can vary so much depending
on body type. You really should talk to a good salesperson and try them on.
Feel fabrics, etc. Personally, I like a single breasted, three button suit
for a classic look but that's just on my husband. HTH
JennP.

"itsjoannotjoann" <itsjoannotjo...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:1170949148.672314.203...@v45g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...
Geez Joan, are you trying to drive off the last of the on–topic posters with
that attitude?
JennP.

<hsias...@wowway.com> wrote in message
news:1170957484.820315.197...@p10g2000cwp.googlegroups.com...
Ignore it and see my reply.
JennP.

"itsjoannotjoann" <itsjoannotjo...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:1170965368.913582.285...@a75g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
But your attitude sucked. You could have been a bit more polite. Alt.fashion
needs on–topic posters. Calling people idiots is not going to do that.
No, the former members of alt.fashion wouldn't have screamed anything.
JennP.

On Feb 8, 4:44 pm, "JennP." <jenniferpinck...@comcast.net> wrote:
Get off your high horse and see my response back to him at 4:05 p.m.
CST.

"itsjoannotjoann" <itsjoannotjo...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:1170974942.807912.88...@a34g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Enjoy your silent newsgroup Joanne.
JennP.

On Feb 8, 1:14 pm, "JennP." <jenniferpinck...@comcast.net> wrote:
Maybe he doesn't know anything about buying suits, but his idea he
should shop on ebay NOT knowing what he wants or needs is just plain
ridiculous. For people like him, this is *exactly* why reputable
men's stores hire knowledgable sales staff to guide men in what looks
best. That's why I found his post to be so silly. Why he thought he
was going to find just what he wanted/needed on ebay is astounding.
Why he was even comptemplating looking there?
This would be on the same par as a woman saying she is getting married
and has no idea what style wedding dress she should purchase/wear.
Then saying she's off to ebay to pick out her dream dress. We would
all be screaming "HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?"

I freely admit that I know nothing about fashion or clothing. I came
here seeking knowledge but instead I'm called an idiot because I was
seeking advise and trying to learn. I think being ignorant is
different from being an idiot. Yes, my standards are low. If something
looks like a suit, came from a respectable shop, "fits," and it's
priced right, I'm happy. Even if I'm only getting it 75% right by your
standards (but at 25% of the price), I consider that a success. I'm
not trying to be fashionable at any cost or look like Mr. GQ.
Point taken about going to a suit shop. But if it's anything like
going to an electronics store, then salesman is probably not any more
fashion savvy than I and is clueless beyond what he's trained to say.
Most of the time I know more about the item I'm purchasing than the
salesman while he tries to feed me misinformation. But with clothes, I
wouldn't know right from wrong, so whatever they say, even if it's
wrong, I would have to take their word. But my original point is why
these expensive suits and jackets are going for so little on Ebay?
Even if it's the wrong way to buy a suit, I have to believe there's
lots more people like me out there (ie, fashionably clueless) who
would be bidding on nice suits. Maybe those people are only interested
in Armani, Hugo Boss, RL because they think anything by those
companies is automatically fashionable...they don't appreciate
workmanaship of a good, not just heavily marketed, suit.

<hsias...@wowway.com> wrote in message >
Don't mind her, put her in your killfile as most of us have. I hope you
get some positive feedback––stick around––she's the worst apple in
the cyber–barrel (and I am being charitable.)
CW

On Feb 8, 7:21 pm, "KarenCannoli" <XFra...@cannolicast.net> wrote:
Sweetie–pie, I'm extremely mild compared to some people who post on
the groups. You must lead a sheltered life if you think I'm a bad
apple in the cyber barrel. Personally, I don't know what you are
whining about. I came back and apologized and gave him some good
information. But I guess you decided to pass by that part. Doesn't
surprise me.
Why you are commenting on something I wrote hours ago is baffling. I
thought I was in your killfile. Better put me back in there so you
won't have to look at my comments and be annoyed while you lurk
here.

On Feb 9, 7:08 am, "JennP." <jenniferpinck...@comcast.net> wrote:
It's no sweat off my nose.

On Feb 8, 2:40 pm, "hsias...@wowway.com" <hsias...@wowway.com> wrote:
Ok, ok. Point taken and I *was* too hasty and harsh, I apologize for
being so snotty and we got off on the wrong foot. Let's start over,
ok?
You really shouldn't be looking at ebay as you will be getting, as the
old saying goes, a pig in a poke. You won't be able to feel the
material to see if it is quality fabric, does it have stains, been
ripped, or have those gosh awful pills on it? Ebay is a bad choice to
begin to build your wardrobe when you really don't know what you are
looking for in the first place.
I strongly suggest you go to a reputable men's clothing store and see
what they have. Try on as many jackets, suits, dress pants, and
casual pants as you want. Just because you are in their store doesn't
mean you have to buy. Get an idea of the fabrics. How does one
jacket look and feel compared to another? And don't think you have to
shop only at a store where the sales person is under the age of 30 and
knows exactly what a young man would want. Those old geezers that
work in the mens shops are an absolute wealth of knowledge on the
correct cut of a coat and the type pants that should be worn with the
jacket and just the right shirt to finish your look.
If there's several men's shops in your area hit them all. Not in one
day, though! Shopping is hard work believe it or not. Check them all
out to see what they have to offer, how does the sales staff hit you?
Are they willing to take the time to show you different lines of
clothing or are they just wanting to make a quick sale? These are all
things to take into consideration when buying. If you find a good
shop you will go back to them time and time again knowing you will
look great and get your monies worth, too.
One rule of thumb about men's jackets is the double breasted style is
suited more to a man on the slim side. That's not to say he has to be
as skinny as a rail, but no tummy or wide hips! The four to six
buttons on a double breasted jacked draws the eye to that area and if
your a bit plump in that area, it will make you look even larger.
Hope these small hints have helped and we're back on speaking terms.
:–)

On Feb 8, 5:49 pm, "itsjoannotjoann" <itsjoannotjo...@webtv.net>
wrote:
Okay, let's all just get along and get back to talking about fashion.
The original response was a bit stronger than I had expected, but I'm
a big boy, I can handle it. So anyway, the thing about materials and
rips, stains, etc. That is why I'm only looking at originally
expensive suits from reputable high–end shops. I'm assuming (yes, I
know what happens when I assume) high–end places like Samuelsohn, G&H,
Freeman, Anderson & Sheppard, will have consistently high quality
workmanship and fabric even the off the rack stuff. Or am I wrong?
Feedback on Ebay can help me in deciding how reputable is the seller.
So far the suits that catch my eye seem to be from clothing only
sellers, so lots of feedback on clothing they've sold in the past, and
they give plenty of measurements like chest, waist, sleeve length,
back seam to seam, etc. I'm not looking at individual sellers who's
selling their own personal collection.
I guess I will also start going to men's shops for education. I'm in
the Detroit area so no shortage of high end places, despite recent
economic conditions. Learning and anything that makes me a smarter
shopper gives me satisfaction.
Just for reference, the one on Ebay I'm looking at now is http://
cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=020&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA
%3AIT&viewitem=&item=300077836014&rd=1&rd=1
JennP, thanks for your recommendations and standing up for me. Really
appreciate it.

"itsjoannotjoann" <itsjoannotjo...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:1170965368.913582.285...@a75g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
I totally disagree. Sometimes when you look at photos you figure out
what it is you want. Lots of sellers have stores with more than one
piece of merchandise to sell so the OP may find a seller who has what he
will like. I just don't get your attitude.