With the rising prices of fashion finds and the need to fit in the
trend, it is really hard for consumers to weigh down. Consumers could either:
buy lavish clothes and have nothing to eat, or find them cheaper clothes and
eat three times a day. I have to live with the latter considering that I am
still a student who barely survives with a minute allowance a month. After
doing some economical analysis, I have discovered an alternative way to satisfy
my taste and my wallet.
Being away from home is really difficult to live by. I often feel
nostalgic and
worse, 50% of my clothes are left in our house. It feels so uneasy to have less
clothes considering that I go to a school which doesn't have a strict dress
code or a uniform. Every morning when I wake up, I get more stressed thinking
what to wear than thinking about my assignments for the day. I was wrong to
leave my clothes behind; I didn't expect that a month would be that long. So in
my first few weeks here in Cebu, I looked for clothes, pants and shoes in
malls. I found some cheap items that were on sale. But I wasn't satisfied; I
believe that I paid more than what I deserve. The clothes I bought are now in
their worst possible condition, they are torn. And the soles of the shoes I
bought are now tampered. I did not get the quality that I was looking for. Yes,
those things were cheap but they only last for a short period of time, so I
have to buy replacements which would cost me again. Then suddenly, I remembered
what my father told me: to buy high quality yet cheap clothes, to buy segunda mano.
Segunda mano,
originated from the Spanish words segunda and mano which literally means "second
hand" or more commonly known as ukay-ukay here in the Philippines. These
are the used things from the states or any country abroad that are being sent
here in our country to be sold at a very very low price. The things that are
sent here are labeled, so they are of high quality therefore, you have nothing
left to worry about. Since the stocks are one of a kind, you have to be
"Hunger Gaming" first before getting the item you desire. Therefore,
you have to possess that certain skills that will help you find the item of
your preference that is still in good condition and that will surely give you a
money back guarantee. For beginners, I suggest some tactful ways for you to be
guided during your shopping:
1. Choose the right place. Even though ukay-ukays are cheap, they
should be displayed properly, not just like a pile of dump. There are some
ukay-ans that are clean and well presented. You surely must go into those
places because those are places where first class items are handed. These items
are usually the ones which are not yet damaged and not that used. So, if you
find a place where they just pile up items like trashes, please do avoid them. In one of my future entries, I will be featuring the best and the lousiest ukay-ukayans here in Cebu City.
2. Examine the item. Since the items are second hand, some of
them already contain a lot of damage. You can see there are stains and holes in
some clothes. You can also notice that some of the leathers in the shoes are
chipped and the soles are already damaged. You need to find that item which
looks closer to brand new. In finding this item, you have to carefully examine
its anatomy. In dresses or blouses, you have to look carefully at the sleeves
near the armhole, you have to spot the hole, and if you do, please reject these
items. In shorts or pants, you have to look at the crotch and see if there's a hole
in there again and you have to examine the zipper carefully. If it doesn't
work, don't dwell on it. Show the Sherlock Holmes that's within you!
3. Check the label. Since ukay-ukays are imported, almost 99%
of them are branded. Some of the brands are commonly known and some are not. I
suggest that you go for the brands that you are familiar with. You do not have
to worry because it would still cost the same to those that are unbranded. The
brands you are familiar with simply imply that they are globally popular and
trustworthy. If possible, you must choose the brand that you already know.
Segunda Mano is indeed a great deal. You can have a good quality purchase that is right for your taste and right for the budget.
