The world of online shopping has greatly expanded during the past few years, starting with books and expanding to groceries, drugs and apparel.

Buying clothes on the Web is almost as popular as going to the mall, for with the click of the mouse, an entire outfit can be bought from the couch in the living room.

But with online buying comes original retail prices plus the dreaded shipping and handling charges. So how is one to find cheap, trendy, affordable clothes one the Web?

The answer: eBay. Many items come directly from the department stores of New York, Los Angeles and Seattle, with prices drastically marked down from their original retail.

A mere example of the savings is found in purchasing a brand new pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans for just $45, rather than the customary $149. Although they do charge shipping and handling, it beats going to Nordstrom and spending half a paycheck on one article of clothing.

Alas, though, there are negative experiences: items sometimes look cute in photos, only to be hideously ugly when arriving, or one might encounter lies about sizing and having the perfect dress turn into the perfect nightmare when it doesn’t fit. And sadly, the majority of items are unreturnable.

So how to avoid these eBay problems, you ask? It’s simple: You must do your homework.

Know what you want, such as jeans, and know your size as well. If possible, go to a store that sells the clothing you want, and try it on. That way, you will avoid having to waste money on clothes that don’t fit.

Talk to the seller as well if you have any questions. Most of the time, they are more than willing to answer anything and are very accommodating. It also helps you to get an idea of the quality of the item, and if you want to spend the money on it.

And finally, make sure it’s not simply an impulse bid. Keep to your style — if something looks questionable, and you’re not sure if it works, then don’t bother.

Above all though, keep an open mind. EBay is a wonderful world full of trendy, inexpensive, awesome clothing. People are always looking to get rid of things, and, as they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

So good luck bargain hunting, and happy bidding! And remember, you can do it all on eBay.