My Unsponsored Experience Selling/Consigning with The RealReal Part 1: Why and How

So I’ve talked about purchasing from TheRealReal here (overall it’s a great way to buy some designer preowned stuff, despite the exorbitant shipping and returning fees). But what is it like selling on TheRealReal? I decided to test the waters for you guys so you don’t have to (and by the way this is not sponsored in any way).

But let me just first note that I’m a long time eBay seller and have sold most of my stuff on this platform (including really expensive bags) since 2005. And because I work hard to have a 100% rating with over 1000 reviews, I’m a pretty trusted seller. So my go-to will always be eBay first to sell items since they take the least amount of commission (about 10-15% depending on what you’re selling). Also I’ve sold a purse with Fashionphile before and you can read my experience with that here.

So why would I bother consigning with TRR? Well first I’ve been very lucky to have been handed down some fine jewelry from my mom and aunts, but they have no sentimental value for me. They pass it on to me to alleviate their own guilt of purchasing jewelry that they ended up not wearing. And I don’t want to be carrying around these items with me forever for no good reason other than that they’re worth something. For awhile I was taking it to my jeweler as scrap metal but the value I got from that was so pitiful that it really was a waste (part of the value of jewelry comes from the workmanship the jeweler puts into it). So then I decided to sell in on TRR, especially since I didn’t know the value of these items (are they 14k gold? 18k gold? is that a white sapphire or a diamond or just a crystal?). Since I didn’t have that info, listing through eBay would have been difficult. I also decided to sell some clothes that just weren’t moving on my eBay store. TRR has a much larger market than my one eBay shop so I figure why not try and see if it sells there.

So how does it work?

Well I like to use the app version of TRR for both my buying and selling (it’s a great app!). Just go to the consign tab on the bottom right and start listing what you want to consign (I use the self-service “Ship To Us” option instead of an appointment). All you have to fill out is the brand of the item (this is also where you will find out which brands TRR sells and which they will not. If your brand is not listed in their drop down menu, they don’t accept it). For fine jewelry you can select unbranded. Then you just select what kind of item it is and add item to the list.

Once you’ve added all your items, you submit your name and address and they will email you a packing list and free shipping label. Then you have to pack up your own items in whatever box you have lying around, stick the label on, and drop it off at your nearest UPS store. It’s super easy! (For awhile it was so easy I kept going through my jewelry drawer every week and finding more things to part with and sent off 4 shipments in November, probably wasting their shipping costs but hey they charge me an arm and a leg when buying. But also I wanted to break up the shipments in the off-chance that one of them went missing; I didn’t want all that valuable jewelry to get lost—but everything made it to their warehouse fine).

Anyway once it gets to their warehouse, it will show up as shipments received and they will send you periodic emails letting you know when your items are being processed. In the meantime usually a consigner rep will call and email you to see if you have any questions (I avoided all their calls but they’re readily available through email). So if anything doesn’t meet their standard (clothing with stains or jewelry that’s either too scratched up, made of less than 14K gold, or made from sterling silver—they only take brand name jewelry made of sterling silver like Tiffany’s) they will take the time to ship the item back to you for free.

Also they set all the prices so just be prepared to be low-balled. And yes sometimes the prices don’t make sense (but that means as a TRR buyer you can snag some real deals). But if these are items you wouldn’t have been able to sell yourself anyway, getting anything for them would be a win right?

If you’re still interested, part 2 is here and it details their commission structure, some of the difficulties I’ve had with them, and how it compares to selling with Fashionphile.

2018 Tech Guide Update

Tech items are one of those things that I feel are hyped up every year because it’s all shiny and new and then forgotten about as new tech items flood the market. Well I don’t believe in always getting the newest gadget so I thought I would update last year’s tech guide to let you all know whether the stuff I reviewed then were really worth it and stood the test of time.

Worth It

The Apple Airpods are still very much worth it. I use them almost daily, and they’re great for music and talking on the phone alike. This year I added a handy dandy case with them so I can easily find them in my purse and I keep them with me at all times.

My love for the Voloom Volumizing Hair Iron is still going strong. It’s about 6 years old now and still works great!

And I’m still using my Amazon Echo Dot with TP-Link Smart Plug daily for my bedroom floor light. We got another plug for our Christmas tree this year so all we have to say is “Alexa turn on the tree” :D .

Less Worth It

So after using the Awair air monitor for a year I have to say it’s been a mixed-bag kind of experience. The monitor still works, though the dust/PM 2.5 reading is permanently high which means the air quality rating is stuck at a fairly low reading all the time. I tried cleaning it but to no avail. However it still did a good job of letting me know how poor the air quality was indoors during the wildfires this season (even with all the windows and doors closed, the rating was the lowest I’ve ever seen it so it must still be getting in the house). I guess if I go and fix it, I will say this will be worth it again.

Not Worth It

The Coravin Wine System is not worth it. Granted I’m not drinking currently and haven’t for the last 6 months. But even before that I hardly touched it. TBH it’s just so much easier to open the bottle the old fashion way, use one of these things to seal it back as best as possible and then finish the bottle within three days.

And this was not on last year’s list, but one new tech gadget I tried this year was the Dyson Airwrap (reviewed here). And I have to say, it’s definitely not worth $550! Stick with your regular hair dryer and curling irons because this is just all a fad.

What were some tech gadgets that you thought were worth getting? I’m taking votes for next year’s tech guide :)

How to get your VAT refund in Europe

This post was a request so if you aren't planning a trip to Europe that includes shopping, go ahead and skip this post.  But for all those who are interested about the process read on :) . Also I'm no expert so please let me know if I got something wrong, thanks!

So first of all, VAT stands for "value-added tax" and it basically means all products sold in Europe already have their tax baked into the price of the good.  This is unlike the US, where we add an additional percentage of tax to the retail price.  So in the EU, the price you pay includes the tax, which you are eligible to get back if you don't live in the EU.  This is where the VAT refund process comes into play.

So depending on the country, the VAT tax rebate percentage varies.  In France it was about 10% and in the Netherlands it was up to 13%.  Some countries, like the Netherlands also increase the percentage the more you spend on the good.  There are also differing spending thresholds, so for example you have to spend at least 175 euros in France before the refund kicks in while in the Netherlands it was 50 euros.  I went online to see what the various VAT percentages per country are and for the most part the real VAT percentages are a lot lower (I think it also depends on what you buy).  Just ask the sales person before you purchase to find current VAT rates.

Also most stores will ask for your passport to fill out the VAT refund pages so you do have to bring your passport with you while shopping.  If this makes you nervous, just make sure to leave a copy of your passport in the hotel and carry your passport securely (as in a cross body bag that you keep in front of you at all times--this is what I did; or use one of these).   

So when you're buying something over the threshold amount for the refund, ask the sales clerk to prep your VAT refund documents.  If you're buying something at a department store, they usually have their own tax refund office so you can get your refund immediately (you'll still have to get your papers stamped, but more on that later).  If you're at a regular store, they'll give you the refund papers and the receipt.  Keep these together.

And the last step is to go to the VAT refund office at the last stop within the EU to get your papers stamped and get your money back.  You do the VAT refund process all at once at the very end of your trip even if you bought things from different countries.  So for me this was Heathrow Airport in London even though I purchased my things from France and the Netherlands.  There's a VAT refund counter at every terminal in Heathrow.  Check where the refund office is at the airport you're flying out of online.  Allow time before you check-in to get this done.  When I went I was able to do it all in less than 10 minutes but I had no lines.  If there's lines I heard it can take up to an hour.  They basically take all your papers, check your passport and then calculate what you get back.  They didn't ask to look at what I bought but it's a possibility so be prepared for that (either pack it in your carry on, or at the top of your stuff in your checked bags).  That's also why you want to do it before you check into your flight.

And here's my biggest tip for doing the VAT refund.  Get it back in cold hard cash if you can, not a refund via credit card.  I'm still waiting for my VAT refund from the department store in the Netherlands that 'guaranteed' it would get charged back to my card in 3 days.  It's been over a week and still nothing (boo!).  And at this point there's nothing I can really do about it.  So even if they take a commission for giving it back to you in cash it's worth it.  (My friend also said they didn't get their VAT refund from the airport when they did it via credit card so be warned).  Oh and I was able to get my VAT refund at Heathrow in dollars and they didn't charge a commission.  

So that's it!  If you guys have any questions just shoot me a comment below!

My tips on better skin for the acne prone

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I don't really talk about this on the blog very much though I have mentioned it from time to time, but I grew up with acne.  I had full on, zits covering every part of my face from age 10 to my late 20's (almost 2 decades folks!).  I went on Accutane twice in my teens and then Spirnolactone in my late 20's (which I think is the thing that helped finally clear my acne).  Don't get me wrong, I still get pimples (especially those hormonal ones around my chin), but I don't call that acne.  And even though that sucked majorly and did a number on my self-confidence, I'm just grateful it wasn't scarring cystic acne (I only have tiny scars which at my age now just look like enlarged pores) and I'm grateful I had the means to fight it with derm appointments and medication.  It also meant I got pretty good with makeup early on and I really took my skincare seriously from an early age.  Well I'm bringing this all up now because for 6 months out of this year I had zero zits.  I may have had inflamed pores that went down within a night, but no pimples that needed concealer and no heavy foundation.  I thought I was cured!  But nope, with a change in season and a change in my routines, I have zits again.  So what are my personal tips on better skin?

1) Exercise regularly

Sorry I wish I could just say, 'buy this product and all your skin care woes will be gone'.  But of course health comes from the inside and that means exercise.  The key to clearer skin for me is definitely exercise, specifically something like yoga that also helps me meditate.  (I pair that with swimming for the cardiovascular benefits).

2) Lay off the sugar and dairy (and gluten - see the comment below!)

Of course along with exercise, diet is a big deal.  A little bit of the bad stuff is ok but really stay away from these because it can cause inflammation, which in my former public health career I have learned is the root of modern chronic diseases (heart disease, pulmonary dieases, etc.) as well as annoying things like acne and allergies.

3) Take a daily probiotic

Again this is an inflammation issue.  Gut inflammation from all the junk food we eat can cause inflammation so taking care of our gut  with a probiotic really does help.  This is the closest to a magic pill for health that I can think of.  I usually get the ones in the refrigerated section of Sprouts/WholeFoods, but I've also recently tried these LoveBug Probiotics which I love since I don't have to keep it refrigerated.

4) Proper skin care routine

I always always wash my face at night and in the morning.  And if there's one product I swear by it's this Elemis SOS Emergency Cream.  Yes it says emergency but everyday is an emergency when you have zits.  I usually spread a thin layer all over my face and when I wasn't getting zits but slightly inflamed pores,  this would make it go down in the night.  Really I swear.  I discovered it through one of those interviews on into the Gloss and I'm so glad I did!  Other products I use come from a boutique skin care spa in San Francisco that specializes in acne called SkinSalvation (if you have issues with getting clearer skin and you live in the SF Bay Area, go to them!  They are worth it!).  I use their charcoal cleanser, sterilizing tonic, and spf15 lotion (not listed).  I also use their wash cloths to remove makeup.  And during the day I use this Suntegrity 5-in-1 moisturizing sunscreen in light (it's like a BB cream).  I buy most of my products (other than the SkinSalvation ones) from Dermstore and really love their selection and service (if you want $10 off your first purchase of $30 drop a comment below and I can email you a link).  

Like I said right now I'm back to getting zits on my chin and that's because I've completely stopped exercising for 2 months and been eating poorly.  And I can tell on my skin and just my body overall.  I hope to get back to the pool and yoga mat this week.  Anyway I hope this helps anyone with problem skin and just remind yourself it's just a zit and NBD. 

And now I really should be thinking about wrinkle prevention and spot brightening.  Does anyone have any products they swear by for this?

Holiday Tech Gift Guide

So as many of you know I live in San Jose, which is pretty unglamorous (well compared to where I used to live, San Francisco).  But San Jose is part of Silicon Valley and with a lot of my friends working in tech and my husband being a gadget nerd, I learn more than I need to about tech and I have a lot of pretty cool gadgets.  Here is my list of tools (not all are considered tech but I lumped these in since they're super useful) that I use weekly if not daily.  Consider them for yourself or for your friends

1) Apple AirPods

I purchased a pair of these after my husband got his pair and I saw just how awesome they are.  I've tried wireless bluetooth earphones before but they were always bulky and falling out of my ears.  Well not these!  I have yet to have one fall out of my ear, even when working out.  But that's not even the best part.  The thing I love the most is the simplicity of these earbuds.  You just have to open the case and it will automatically pair with your phone (well it did for me because I have an iPhone but I'm not too sure how they'll work with other brands).  And once the bluetooth is connected, the connection never drops (never!).  To charge, just put them back in the case (the case will need to be charged periodically).  To find out how much battery is left, just open the case and cool graphic pops up on your phone letting you know how much juice is left in your airpods as well as the case.  Oh and if you take out the earbuds, the music/sound will automatically pause, and when you put them back in your ears it starts back up again.  It's like magic, lol.  The earbuds can also be used for talking on the phone (and they have noise interference cancelling so you sound super clear on the other end).  The only drawbacks to these is that they don't have the soft rubber tips, which usually fit my ear the best.  And the sound quality isn't amazing, but to me they're just fine (but I'm no music/sound aficionado).  

2) Awair

My husband purchased this for me as a present and to be honest when I first saw it I thought 'what the heck is this?  another sleek looking useless gadget?'  But we've been using it for several months now and I love it!  So what is it you ask?  It's an air quality monitoring system that measures temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, chemical levels and dust levels.  Since I've been suffering from crazy allergies, my husband though this monitoring system would help.  And well it's been pretty essential since our Airstream is so small that air quality can quickly go down if we're cooking or in the winter months when we keep all our doors and windows closed.  You can connect your Awair to your Nest or Alexa to automatically control say your air purifier, but for the most part whenever I see a low air quality score on Awair I just open a window to ventilate.  This is a great tool to be mindful of your general air quality.

3) Voloom Volumizing Hair Iron

I've been using this hair iron for probably 5 years now and it's a pretty essential hair iron for those with thin hair that tends to lie really flat (like me).  Also since I have a round face, my hair just looks better when I have a lot of volume surrounding it.  But I'm not one to tease my hair or use hair spray (I don't even blow dry my hair).  But if I want to get my hair looking good and I have about 5 minutes to spare, this hair iron gives me about twice as much volume than my normal hair when air dried.  The trick is it's like a crimper but better (due to the really odd-looking but effective square iron shapes) and you essentially crimp the layers under the top layer of hair.  It's basically like teasing but twice as fast.  I usually just crimp about 3-4 thin layers of hair on each side and since I've been using this for so long, I'm quite fast at it.  I've also tried using a regular crimper in the same way but I don't get as much volume for the same amount of work.  The qaulity of the hair iron is also really good and I haven't had any issues with this even after 5 years of weekly usage.

4) Coravin Wine System

You might have seen this on my Insta-stories but basically since my husband doesn't drink alcohol and I drink a little too much alcohol, this Coravin wine system has been essential.  This fancy gizmo has a needle that draws wine out of the bottle and a trigger system that replaces the displaced wine with argon gas so that the wine inside won't oxidize.  It allows you to try a glass of wine without committing to opening the whole bottle.  It's also a great way to enjoy several glasses of different wines for tasting without wasting!  You can easily buy replacement argon capsules from amazon and once you get used to it, it's really easy to use.  Also since the needle is so thin, the cork reseals itself (but only if it's natural cork and not the rubber faux cork).  The only drawback to using this wine system is when you use it for wine that tastes best when opened and let sit (but you can always let your one glass pour sit before imbibing so really it's not that big of a deal).  This is the perfect gift for a wine-loving friend or family member!

5) Amazon Echo Dot with TP-Link Smart Plug

Amazon echo and Google home are both really good voice-command systems.  We just used the Amazon Echo Dot since we don't need the added speaker that the regular Echo and the Google Home have (we connect the Echo Dot to our built in Airstream speaker system through bluetooth).  I usually ask Alexa (the woman personified by the Amazon Echo system) the time, the weather and have her set a timer when cooking.  But my favorite function for Alexa is telling her to turn on/off the light in our Airstream, and that's where the TP-link smart plug comes into play.  If you want your house light to turn on/off with Alexa then you will need to use a smart switch like this one.  With this function, it's like the clap on/off system except you're not stupidly clapping for lights.  Instead you can just tell Alexa 'turn off the light' and presto you don't have to get up to turn off the light.  It's great for lazy people like me!

Anyway I hope you enjoyed this short gift guide and I know that some of these items are discounted for the Black Friday-Cyber Monday shopping period so hope you're able to snag one at a discounted price.  I swear by all 5 of these items and they are all super useful.  What are some of your favorite tech/gadgets that you swear by?

P.S.  The results for the giveaway will be up later today!  Thanks to all those who entered!