How to keep a secondhand wishlist when every listing is different

Name the particular item you found

A title such as “Oak side table — round, marked top” tells you more than “Vintage table”. Include enough detail to recognise the listing when several similar pieces are saved. For clothing or equipment, keep the seller’s size or model label and note anything you have not confirmed.

Save the individual listing rather than the search that led you to it. Search results can change, and a saved search link does not identify which item caught your eye. If the exact page is unavailable to Fancies, you can still enter a title and note manually.

Separate the seller’s description from your questions

Write down the condition details that could affect your choice. “Seller describes a mark on the top; close-up needed” makes both the reported fact and the uncertainty visible. Avoid turning a general description such as “good condition” into a more specific claim you have not checked.

For example, two used chairs with the same model name may differ in wear, included parts or repairs. Keep the details for each listing separate. A picture and price alone will not preserve those differences.

Exact model / size / finish:
Condition described by seller:
Detail I can see in the photos:
Measurement or photo still needed:
What is included or missing:
Collection / delivery question:
Listing last checked on:

Compare the whole listing

Choose the same few questions for each alternative. A cheaper table that needs work and collection may be a different proposition from one that arrives ready to use. Write down those differences without assuming a repair will be easy or assigning costs you have not checked.

Use the original listing and the seller’s answers to resolve questions. Fancies stores your notes; it does not verify condition, authenticate an item or contact the seller for you.

• Do I have measurements for this particular item, with units?
• Do the description and photos address the condition that matters to me?
• Are parts, accessories or a matching pair included?
• What would I need to check about collection, delivery or assembly?
• Which question would rule this listing in or out?

• Record the space and access measurements for furniture ↗

Decide what to keep when a listing disappears

Saving a link does not reserve the item or keep a copy of the page. A listing may sell, be removed or become inaccessible. Reopen it to check availability; Fancies does not monitor stock or notify you when it changes.

If the broader idea still matters, edit the entry to say what you want to look for next, such as “Round oak side table, about 45 cm wide”. Remove the old price if it no longer describes the idea. Keep a note that the original listing is unavailable so you do not mistake it for a current option.

Use the right outcome for the item

Delete an entry when you no longer need it. Use Mark purchased only if you actually bought the item; a listing selling to someone else is not a purchase you made. Purchased items stay in the private archive inside that Fancies list.

Before sharing your shortlist, read the notes and remove private contact details, collection addresses or messages meant only for you. Anyone with a shared link can see the full notes on active items.