BUYING MEN'S SHOES FROM EBAY | HOW TO SPOT A BARGAIN 

Just dipped my toe (excuse the pun) into buying shoes off eBay. I've just received a derby style, brown, full grain leather, Goodyear welt with day and night sole for the princely sum of £20. I'm chuffed to bits with them. Thanks Ash for all your advice as to the pros and pitfalls, love the channel, and you have another subscriber...

Completely agree years ago I would have said no to used shoes however I now follow a few sellers on ebay who sell used church’s, Crockett and Jones, cheaney and lobb for around 100 to 150. It’s a great way to increase my shoe collection at a price point I can afford.

Just bought a pair of Trickers Lambourn which retail for £475 for £49. So you’re definitely talking my language!😆

Restoring old shoes is like an art. It's like bringing life back into it again.

eBay is a very good option I’ve bought Crockett and Jones hand grade for less than £250 new and very lightly worn for £150-200

Great video. Never thought of buying shoes on eBay but I’ll look into it after this video. Specially high end brands. Good advice. Love the blue sweaters. Good look on you. Thank you.

Useful tips Sir. Keep up the great content 👍

Nice tips!

The thing I like is how well researched these videos are. I am snagging a screen shot of the list of in most cases, little known shoes brands, that are on par with Loake etc. I had not heard of most of these. On the assumption most folks aren't therefore actively hunting for these, this information is jolly useful. A point on purchasing second hand shoes, or leather jackets. Before wearing them, or treating the leather. I make a washing up bowl of warm water with a couple of caps of disinfectant and/ or anti bacterial spray in it. The inside of the shoe/ in sole (or leather jacket liner) can be given a thorough wipe (not soaking) with a damp cloth. Same with the leather. Allow it to dry then treat the leather afterwards. Any bugs or build up of dust/ dirt will be removed. It will come up like new and super clean. Most folks can't be bothered with this and would rather just buy new cr@p which won't last more than a season. But on this channel we are not 'most folks', we are Chaps!

Thank you for this great tip.

You can also get seconds on eBay, which are new with imperfections.

I really took your advice from previous videos and got some great bargains. A pair of 1880's for a quarter of the price. They were bought for a function and spent a few years in a cupboard so when I got them they were practically new. I think the key to it is patience. Have a fixed price and don't get caught up in a bidding war! It can be quite fun.

A lot of the high quality vintage shoes are equal in quality to a modern pair of Edward greens and can be had for under £100. Plus if you resole them with Jr soles you end up with a brilliant shoe

Great video Ash! For my own experience, I have bought eight pairs of Crockett and Jones off ebay, and I would entirely agree with your point about the more popular models such as Conistons or Pembrokes, although I have bought several lesser known models (handgrade albany adelaide) or rebranded (Crockett jones for polo Ralph Lauren Bostons) for an absolute steal (relatively speaking of course!). I would absolutely encourage any aspiring flaneur to step out in a pair of preloved Northampton best quality shoes, from the quality, the style, the longevity, and the fact that supporting a more circular economy is far more sustainable!

I am all in for dead man's shoes. Especially, when you know to whom the shoes belonged to... When I was in my 20's, my uncle had always on this weird pair of shoes that gave him a certain flair. Nowadays, after watching videos (and learning from them), I can describe those shoes as brown, split toe derby shoes (the leather was pebble grain). I wish that somehow (or somewhere), I could find something similar. Definitely, I will smile every time that I look down at them. Thank you very much, Mr. Ash. Each video brings and explains information in a very precise and clear manner.

As I have bought a dozen shoes or so during the last month from Ebay here's some advice: 1. If you do not know the name of the brand, google it. Very often you come up against a name that's feigning tradition or English heritage - and that's really made in some Asian sweat-shop. 2. Google the original price! 3. Do not "fall in love" with a pair of shoes, i. e. do not bid too high - there's always a tomorrow and new shoes. 4. Try "Ebay-Kleinanzeigen" (not available in the UK, but in Germany). Sometimes there's a real bargain hiding. 5. Do not believe if it says "worn only twice" - if the picture says otherwise. 6. Look at the photographs - in particular the soles, as these repairs will be costly. 7. Be prepared for disappointments - as sizes and widths do vary considerably. In that case it helps, if your bid (i. e. your loss) wasn't too high. 8. Stick to one brand: if one pair of shoes fit you well, chances are that the others fit you well, too. 9. And one more thing: you will have to take into account, that the inner sole (which cannot be taken out) is worn in and therefore is not too comfortable!

just bought a pair of Jones the bootmakers brogues, £30 great condition off e bay

My biggest bargain must have been a really scuffed up, worn down pair of Ed. Meier half-brogue oxfords in a rather unattractive pale tan (Ed. Meier being one of the most prestigious german heritage shoebrands, starting at around 700-800€). Apparently, no one wanted this battle scarred pair, but I could tell, that the leather itself was still intact. So I placed a bid, got it for the starting price of 30€, invested in some acetone and Saphir leather dye and, well, now they the twinkling, dark burgundy gem of my collection.

Some great advice here, I managed to get a lovely pair of Barkers for £25

Another great video - TY. Snagged a new pair of Barker rosewood cap toe oxfords £50 🤑

Ash I have purchased numerous pairs of Allen Edmonds off Ebay from $20 to $150 for shoes and boots all in New condition and would have cost over $400 new. Cheers Ron

Just got a pair of Church's dessert boots for £40 - great for knocking around in

I really like Florsheim shoes and have found several pairs of Imperial wingtips that have only been worn a few times if ever for less that $60.- each.

Loake don‘t make much in England any more. Even in the 1880 range the uppers are made in their factory in India. It took me a while to get to the bottom of it. They send the uppers then back to England where they last them and finish the shoe. When I found out, I sold all of mine. Tricker‘s on the other hand make everything in-house, even the thread. Doc Martens is a bit of a different category altogether I would say. They moved their production to Thailand after 2009. Only the Made in England version for £100 more is made in Northampton.

I would add do a bit of research on the last a shoe is made off as it can affect the fit vs your foot

I've got some fantastic bargains on ebay! Not just shoes. Rolex etc!

A list of branda mentioned in this video to search in his opinion: companies from North Hamtonshire. Grandson Sanders &Sanders Alfred Sargent(?) Loake top brand: "1880 "

I wish this video had come out 2 years ago when I started my second hand shoe journey. I have made all the same judgements and found this through trial and error. One thing I would note is that whilst I have more grenson than any other shoe brand, I only rate the triple welt of the current ranges, the other ranges have some truly terrible quality leather. The retro shoes that say footmaster etc. are absolutely brilliant quality and at a much lower price than the more recent fashion shoes they are producing.

I bought a pair of J. FitzPatrick 'Holman' brown boots off Ebay, cost in their shop £640. I was the only bidder at £45. They are in great condition, couldn't believe nobody else bid.

great tips, great video. I'm in the states, and over the last few months I've bought 5 pair Allen Edmond's and 1 pair Alden's off eBay. I'm paying $50-$125, after taxes and shipping. The $125 pair was the 1st pair i bought and probably overpaid a little. But overall I've landed some beautiful shoes at great prices this way.

I recently picked up a pair of Church’s derbys for a nice sum of €50. Probably worth 10x that retail. Lovely jubbly.

Crown Northampton make some great shoes 👍

I'm a little baffled on how a lot of Ebay sellers don't clean their products before selling them. In my opinion, you could probably increase your chances of selling more products when you make them more more presentable. Dirty looking products turn me off but other people don't seem as picky as I am I'm guessing.

What’s your advice regarding used shoes having an inner sole which has been shaped by the previous owners foot? Or is that an urban myth and not a real thing? Thanks

Crockett and Jones Pembrokes for £50. They were made for a Scottish shoe shop, and were advertised under the shops name.. its all about the research!!

In my experience the problem is even wealthy people buy on eBay so they give such high offers for used shoes that an average person cannot afford anymore. You just get upset and your nerves become affected. Thats why I save money the whole year and buy brand new ones on discount. And they look great. As of now I have 2 pairs of Cheaneys. Not many but for my spending capabilities a good start. Next year will be a third one. Besides eBay is not eBay. Ebay UK is the best on earth as the British are the best well dressed people so you get the best offers. Im some countries its not worth it.

I do not necessarily agree. I only buy Brand New quality dress shoes. I spend much more on dress shoes than on my clothes. I view them as works of art. Have to pick the right style and build quality that hold up over time. This way dress shoes fit properly, are more comfy, and form to one's feet. You can re-sole every few years and thus get a decade of use. Realize that a man only requires two or three pairs of well-made leather dressy shoes. Buy Made in Europe, preferably UK or Italy. Athletic or Casual shoes however are a totally different game. Replace those latter casual shoes every couple of years to keep one's feet healthy.

Great suggestion. But I think you need many years of “visual training” and some mistakes... excellent video

Buying shoes on Ebay is all well and good. But I think it's time for Ashley to follow in Prince Philip's...er, well...in his _footsteps._ I think it is time for him to make an appointment with John Lobb to get himself a pair of good old bespoke leather shoes. They can be Ashley's for a little under 6000 Pounds - inclusive of VAT. I'm sure his late Royal Highness would heartily agree that they are an absolute bargain at the price :-D

Have you seen the news about church's ?? They are upping all there prices, the only reason being that they want to be seen as more of a luxury from 450 to over 700. It is disgraceful, especially seen as their quality has only dropped.

Alfred Sargent is no more :-( But might be resurrected in the future.....