How to Buy a Used Fur Coat

If you love fur coats and are considering buying one, buying used is a far less cruel option than buying a new fur coat. If you are opting to buy used, there are several factors to keep in mind before you go shopping to make sure you come home with a coat that is in good condition and sold at a fair price.

Instructions

1. Do some research before you buy a fur coat. Visit a fur salon in your area to see and feel different types of fur and learn to better gauge the quality of different fur coats. It's easy to get mixed up on the type of fur you're looking at when you see a used fur coat, and there's a big difference in value between mink and weasel, though to an untrained eye they look similar.

2. Determine the type of fur coat you'd like to own and set a budget. It's wise to check the current market value for different used fur coats by checking online classifieds and auction websites to help you set a budget. Rabbit and chinchilla fur is much more affordable than mink and even beaver fur, and there is a wide range of other furs available in every price range.

3. Get as much information as possible. If you are buying fur sight unseen, you need to at least see detailed photos including the leather side of the fur, the seams, edges, and labels. Because the condition of used fur is so important for determining value, ask for receipts for all care and maintenance for cleaning and storing the fur coat. If the seller has none, move on.

4. Buy carefully, and cautiously. Fur is tricky because the condition affects the price more than it does with other garments, and at the same time, it can be hard to truly determine the condition of used fur without a careful inspection and some research. Verify the type of fur and the manufacturer whenever possible to get an accurate picture of the value of the coat so that you don't pay an inflated price.

5. Inspect the fur coat for any damage before you buy. Stiffness, cracking, bald spots, odors, and matting are the most common signs of a poorly cared for fur coat. Check the seams and edges of the coat carefully for signs of wear and for poor construction. The better made the coat is, the more likely it has a higher value.

6. Take the coat to a professional furrier and have it inspected before you buy. They clean and maintain fur coats for a living, so they can give you the best information on the condition of the garment.

Tips & Warnings

• Older fur coats, especially neglected ones, often are infested with carpet beetles and other small insects who feed off of the fur coat, but these little invaders are hard to spot except by the tiny holes they leave on the fur.