When you watch retail sales, you become acutely aware of the best time to stock up on certain items. Like looking for winter coat clearance from January through March to buy for next year. Or spotting fitness deals in January when stores are pushing that whole “New Year, New You” mantra. When you’re considering what to buy on eBay in May, the same ideas hold true — certain categories and products feature better deals than others during this time of year.
Before we dive into what to buy on eBay, read up on our guide to saving on eBay and check out our favorite eBay deals. And feel free to text HACKS to 57299 to receive savings tips and tricks across all of your favorite stores.
What to Buy on eBay in May 2024
Searches for home and garden supplies continue to tick up in May, with a bigger emphasis on gardening and patio decor. Fashion interests are heavy on warm weather picks and new shoes (like ones kids can kick around in at camp this summer). Plus, eBay shoppers are seeking out deals on skincare and sporting equipment.
Home & Garden
Cleaning items are a hot commodity when considering what to buy on eBay. Look for vacuums, fresh linens, organizational helpers, and even home appliance parts that are cheaper on eBay than elsewhere. The eBay Refurbished section is a great place to search tools for home improvement projects at a fraction of their original cost.
Fashion
From our view, May is all about "getting outside clothes." We see great deals on baseball caps, T-shirts, sneakers, and even Crocs. For dresses on eBay you can shop by brand like Free People, Kate Spade, BCBG, Anthropologie, and Zara. From there you can sort by size, dress length, color, condition, and, of course, price.
Sporting Goods
You’ll see deals on equipment and gear for outdoor activities, like water play, hiking, running, and cycling. Now would be the time to check out deals direct from brands themselves through the eBay Brand Outlet.
Electronics
Health & Beauty
RELATED: The Definitive Guide to Shopping and Saving on eBay
What are the best things to buy on eBay?
First things first: the best things to buy on eBay are the ones that offer you the biggest discount (like 50% or more). That said, when people are considering what to buy on eBay, know that their most popular categories are fashion, electronics, home and garden, collectibles, and (wait for it) motors. Yes, motors — car parts. This is a significant part of eBay's business with demand for parts & accessories, plus buying and selling cars, motorcycles, and other motor vehicles.
What's selling on eBay right now?
Uh, just about everything. We like to monitor the Daily Deals section where there are all sorts of trending categories. We're seeing everything from Pokemon cards at 40% off to a PlayStation 5 at up to 17% off. There's also a seasonal eBay Sales & Events page so you can see what's trending at any given moment.
Can I buy on eBay without an account?
Yes, so long as the item you're purchasing is a Buy It Now listing and rings up under $5,000. Remember that if the item you're eyeing is an auction listing, costs more than $5K, or is something you want to make a best offer on, you'll have to sign up for an eBay account.
How do you pay on eBay?
You can use the usual suspects to pay on eBay — credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. However if you're using a pickup option instead of shipping, there are some cases where purchases can be made with checks, money orders, and cash (these are just less common ways to pay on eBay).
To complete a transaction in most cases you simply:
Click on 'Buy It Now'.
Then click 'Go to checkout'.
Enter your 'Ship to' address, then your 'Pay with' information.
At this point you can apply any applicable coupons in the 'Add coupons' box if your item is eligible.
Finally, click 'Confirm and Pay'.
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