Brenda M.

Honestly, I'm shocked to see mostly negative reviews for Tophatter :/ I have been a member there since 2013. I have bought SEVERAL items there. Mainly from the Designer and Luxury Cosmetics schedule. I have NEVER overpaid on an item, nor have I had a bad experience as a buyer.
As a new seller though. I am off to a rough start. I understand the selling process here, but I am a rusty ex-Ebay seller and my guesstimated shipping charges were wayyyy off or an item sold low and it cost me more to ship than sold for... lol. But! That is not the sites fault, nor the buyers... it won't take long to get things sorted. But, as I see in most negative comments here. I would assume bad experiences are most likely due to seller error (not all. But in cases such as mine).
As a buyer. It is YOUR responsibility to pay attention to what you are bidding on. Depending on attendees, time of day and number of auctions going... winning bids can have a huge difference for the same item.
If you are a frequent Tophatter shopper... you will begin to take notice of which items are likely to be up for bid again. This is good, because sometimes the item will go ridiculously high, and if you are patient enough. You will catch the same item at a different time for next to nothing! I personally like the L'ior Gold and Dfi aging line... if you were to visit the actual L'ior Gold of Paris website. You will see these items retail for $200-$3000:/
I have never paid any more than $35 for any product... but I will sit here and watch others bid all the way up to $80 for the exact product. Crazy!
Things I have picked up for $1. I have seen go for $30 or so. If I can offer any advice. That would be the main tip. Is to be patient. The bidding process (battle for the item), can be fun... but it is up to you to put yourself at a limit to ensure a satisfying purchase :))
I will agree though, there is alot of low-quality items auctioned there as well. But most generally, everything starts out at $1. If folks want to buy a $1 item for $12. Well, what can you do? This again. Is not Tophatters fault.
Overall, I am all around happy...=)

Welp, it is now Jan. 1,2016 Happy New Year!
I figured I would update here. Since I am still seeing alot of negativity towards Tophatter. Although, I am sure everyone has valid concerns, with past purchases. Who are unhappy here. But honestly, some things CAN be avoided.
I have been selling there now since July. I still buy as well... so I can speak on behalf of both sides of the fence. I am still patient, I still wait for deals, I still read the descriptions & overall super satisfied with my purchases. I have been there long enough to know who to avoid vs who is top notch, as well as items in question. Ultimately, even though I am a Seller there, the Shopper side of me takes responsibility of what I bid on/purchase.
I'm actually a VERY avid shopper online, using many venues... and TBH? I am disgruntled with Wish & Ebay both right now. Getting orders wrong, out of stock, fake... you know the story... I have ZERO complaints buying at TH. All of my Sellers have been perfect thus far.
I have also sold probably 1,000 items since I have started. So far, my experience has been Positive. Buyers are mostly happy. Those who have an issue, who take the time to message me vs leave a spiteful bad feedback or grumble somewhere else. Get RESULTS. Sometimes things will happen beyond a Sellers control... such as PO mishaps, Damages, etc. 98% of the time, if a Buyer would let their Seller know there is a problem, Sellers are quick to offer a solution.
What I see alot of though, is alot of "assumptions" being made by bidders... who just look at the initial photo & "believe " it is something without looking at it's description. I am guilty of that as well... at Ebay :/ I know how it goes. Especially when it is a live, quick auction such as TH. That's part of the fun really. Adrenaline going, hoping to get that bid that wins the goods... yayy! Got it... finally read the description (that was available all along... I just didn't look), errrggg... it was not quite as it seemed... lol. Oh well... not the Sellers fault I was in a hurry.
I haven't found too much to gripe about actually. I have heard great things about Odz as well. I am signed up there, but have not done anything yet... all I can say is... slowww down & get to know what you are looking at, if there is a problem, your best bet is to reach out to your Seller... if they are one of those yet lingering "bad" apples, who deny you a proper response? Then by all means, start a case.