Buying a Used Tux from eBay

[HooKooDooKu]

I just completed the purchase of a tux off of ebay and though I'd share my research and experience (so far) for others here that might be contemplating purchasing a tux.

If the general wisdom used to be that you can buy a [new] tux for the money is cost to rent one three times, then I'd have to say that the ebay general widsom is that you can buy a tux for the money it cost to rent one once.

Now that statement does have some caviots. When you consider ALL of the costs (such as paying to clean and press your own tux and the inconvenience of having to pack and travel with it etc), a rental can be considered cheaper. It is also very easy to spend MORE to buy than rent if you want to.

Here's a starting point for anyone who wants to consider purchasing a used tux:
1. The cost of a complete tux will run about $80 - $100 (plus shipping). That includes the coat, pants, shirt, cuff-links and studs, tie, and cummerbund.

2. If you spend time searching and looking for the bargins building your tux piece-meal, you can get a tux for as little as $80 (and that includes shoes and shipping charges, but not the "hidden" fees such as paying for laundry and possibly alterations).

3. If you are willing to spend a little more money, you can get a package deal for about $110 (again including shoes and shipping charges).

Real world examples:
I could have spent as little as $80 to get tux, pants, studs, shirt, vest & tie, shoes and shipping.

I did spend $145, but I got: tux, pants (hemmed to my size), 6 shirts (three different styles), cuff-links & studs, 2 [full] vests, one [fit-all] vest and matching tie, a black tie, button cover (to go with a mandurin shirt), shoes, and shipping. (And no, I don't plan on taking it all with me for a single cruise. I've got another event comming up that I bought some of these pieces while I could to combine shipping costs).

Suggested sellers.
I recomend checking out the following eBay stores:

mikedante:
http://stores.ebay.com/Tuxedos-by-Mike-Dante_W0QQsspagenameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
Quick to answer questions.
Hems pants for free.
Generally doesn't accept returns when you've ordered the wrong size.

thetuxxman:
http://stores.ebay.com/THETUXXMAN_W0QQsspagenameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
Works with you a little bit more with what he's got for sale.
Generally doesn't accept returns when you've ordered the wrong size (but appears to be more flexable on this issue).

monkeysuits:
http://stores.ebay.com/Formalwear-Outlet-by-Monkeysuits_W0QQsspagenameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
Does not do any alterations (at least not when I asked a week ago).
Generally doesn't accept returns.

tuxedoss:
http://stores.ebay.com/THE-FORMAL-C...ZallQQsocolumnlayoutZ3QQsotimedisplayZ2QQtZkm
Tends to be a little more expensive, but...
Claims to make all necessary alterations.
Generally Accepts returns (in the form of swaps when things don't fit).
Doesn't sell shoes (at least not during the week I was looking for a tux).

All four generally are selling wool tuxedos (not polyester). If they are selling something other than wool, they tell you. They also seem to differentiate between merchandise that they are selling in "good" condition, and merchandise they are selling will possible problems ("might have stains that require dry-cleaning", "tends to have minor scuff marks", "might have minor rusting that can be concealed", etc.).

I am NOT endorsing ANY of these four businesses NOR am I trying to say that they are better than other eBay stores.

I list these four eBay stores because they each have a nearly spotless feedback rating, their ratings are near or well over 1000, and they have LOTS of tuxedos items for sale. These were the only eBay stores that I could find that fit this criteria. Please list others should you find them.

So far, I haven't even recieved the items to let you know what sort of condition they are in. But I've got high hopes because of the great feedback these guys are getting. I'll keep you posted on the condition of the items I get.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I bought DH a really nice tux off ebay 2 years ago. He wears a size that's a little difficult to find. Got shirt, cumberbun, suspenders, and cufflinks for around $80. Figured even if he only ever used it once - I got my moneys worth.

 

[justmestace]

I've used the Tuxxman several times.....my son keeps growing.....and we have never been disappointed. The tuxes always are clean and appear to be brand new.

There's also a site for boys: www.tux4boys.com that WILL do exchanges, if the size isn't right.

And I also think that buying one this way is far cheaper than renting one for the duration of a cruise (from the time you would pick it up, until the time you return home).
Along with this, though, I must admit that I haven't tried the service available on the ship. It seems that their service is good, from what I've heard.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I've used the Tuxxman several times.....my son keeps growing.....and we have never been disappointed. The tuxes always are clean and appear to be brand new.

There's also a site for boys: www.tux4boys.com that WILL do exchanges, if the size isn't right.

And I also think that buying one this way is far cheaper than renting one for the duration of a cruise (from the time you would pick it up, until the time you return home).
Along with this, though, I must admit that I haven't tried the service available on the ship. It seems that their service is good, from what I've heard.

Using the onboard service company is great. The tux is delivered to your stateroom and you leave it in your stateroom at the end of the cruise. One less thing to pack and lug around and the price is about what you would pay for a weekend wedding rental.

The down side is that you don't get the opportunity to try the tux on for proper sizing until after the boat sails. They do maintain a small onboard stock to make last minute sizing corrections, but you can't be guarunteed that they will have a corrected size in stock.

[BTW, they also allow last-minute tux rentals from on-board stock on a first-come first serve basis. So if you didn't rent a tux before boarding and change your mind, it can be possible to still rent one.]

The company's web site indicates their price structure is good for cruises up to 11 days in duration.

But I decided to buy a tux because we are repeat cruisers and our next cruise will be the 14day panama canal cruise. I don't know if they will keep the rental rates the same, double them, or increase them by say 50% for this cruise.

 

[firsttimemom]

I got one for my 5 yr old for $10 on ebay and then I found shoes- brand new- for $0.01 (of course they then charged $9.95 for shipping).

LOVE Ebay!

Liz

 

[HooKooDooKu]

The tux purchases have arrived, and it's been a bit of a mixed bag...

The shoes were beyond expectations. The tux jacket, shirts, most of the vests were about what I expected.

However, I've run into a list of issues:

The pants were hemmed too long. Rather than a 31.5" inseem that would have been perfect, the inseem measures 32.5". Even with shoes on, I still step on the pants leg.

When I asked about a total, I stated that I would like to add item #X if he could do "Y". The response was affirmative, #X was included, but "Y" was NOT done.

I found this vest that looked great, and so I splerged and spent the $25 for it. The other vest that I purchased for $8 and $9 were in better condition. (The vest had a lot of pulled threads that will have to be cut to clean up it's look).

Based on my experience, the thing I would possibly recomend to the next person that wants to buy a tux on eBay... Consider any pants you get to be a "bonus" and instead plan to buy some new ones at JCPenny for $30. Of course the caviot to that is that the tux I bought only cost $35 (and included the pants). Some of these auctions where they will provide you with everything (minus shoes) for about $99, perhaps their pants are a little better shape.

 

[Aisling]

Thanks for the detailed tux info. I've been looking on Ebay to get some ideas, since I have three guys to tux for my cruise.