BST Meaning. What is BST?

BST stands for Buy, Sell, Trade. BST is its own corner of the internet, typically facebook groups made up of little tribes of brand loyalists, with its own customs and language. I stumbled upon the BST world when I became a mother several years ago, and have been immersed ever since!

BST can be a side hustle and a way to address overspending. I try to purchase brands with BST facebook groups so I can resell items my daughter didn't wear or outgrew. Some of my favorite brands are Little Bipsy, Nora Madison Designs, Pink Chicken, Posh Peanut, Slumberkins and Taylor Joelle Designs.

Facebook Buy, Sell, Trade groups can be brand specific, but some pages allow "all free" weekends where anything goes. BST is a great way to purchase sold out and/or gently used branded items. But buyer beware - secondhand doesn't always mean less than retail. 

Certain designs, particularly collaborations with popular trademarks tend to be highly sought after, sell out quickly, and may be sold above MSRP even if used/worn! Now, let's look at the ABCs of BST.

Abide by the RULES.

Each BST page has its own set of rules that can vary in content, strictness and enforceability. If you don't buy or sell often, revisit the rules before claiming or listing to refresh your memory or note any changes. Rule violations can result in being muted or removed from groups. 

Some rules common to all groups are to be kind and respectful. Self promotion via links, multilevel marketing (MLM), etc. are either frowned upon or prohibited. There are rules on how to claim items, how to pay, whether or not passing after claiming is allowed, timelines in terms of sending and paying invoices as well as mailing the purchased item(s). Templates for posting may also be required.

Buyer Beware.

Unfortunately, BST groups are not free from scammers. Groups try to protect buyers, but you should also protect yourself. Proof that an item is in hand may be required; for example, you may have to include a picture of the item out of packaging, and with a handwritten note including your name and the date. 

PayPal goods and services is preferred or required for transactions. While there are fees for use, PayPal goods and services, as opposed to friends and family, provides some protection against undesirable outcomes. If you do not receive an item or the item is not as described, you can file a dispute through PayPal. 

Cover Your A**.

Whether you're the buyer or seller, screenshot everything: the item, description and claim. If I'm the seller, I provide a detailed invoice for the item(s) and the tracking number via direct message. Take a picture of the package with the shipping label and tracking number on it. 

Using Paypal makes it easy to send invoices, print labels and track packages. If a buyer claims an item was not received, but you have proof that you sent it, then you did your part. If you "keep receipts" with screenshots, then you can upload and submit them with your response to any case opened against you. No one can control the mail, but you can at least show that you took care of everything on your end. 

Devil is in the Details. 

Describe, describe, describe! Descriptions are subjective. Even items that are new with tags can be flawed. Describe how items were washed and dried, detergent used and any fragrance. Include home disclosures: if you have pets or are a smoker. Individuals with allergies, sensitive skin or eczema will appreciate these disclosures. 

Note fabric condition - is there fading, piling (little balls of fabric) or wash wear? Are there holes, snags or stains? If there are stains, was stain removal attempted? Is there color bleed or other flaws? Be as descriptive as you can! You may wish to make a quick sell, but I bet you'd also like to have a good seller reputation and avoid cases and returns. 

Employ Proper Use of Language: BST abbreviations.

BST has its own language in terms of looking for specific items, listing items for sale and describing the condition of items. I'm not sure if I will be able to recall all of the acronyms used. 

Luckily, context clues are often helpful, or you can ask the the original poster (OP) what the abbreviation means :) Consult each specific BST page, as they often have a featured or tagged post with preferred abbreviations and descriptions.

Here is a list of some common BST abbreviations - this BST abbreviations list is in no particular order and by no means all encompassing! 

OP: Original Poster

FFP: Following For Passes

NIB: New in Box

NWOB: New Without Box

NWT: New With Tags

NWOT: New Without Tags

EEUC: Extremely Excellent Used Condition

EUC: Excellent Used Condition

VGUC: Very Gentle/Good Used Condition

GUC: Gentle/Good Used Condition

ISO: In Search Of

CISO: Casually In Search Of

DISO: Desperately In Search Of

PPFF: PayPal Friends & Family

PPGS: PayPal Goods & Services 

FTO: For Trade Only

FSO: For Sale Only

NFS: Not For Sale

NIL: Next In Line

PMPP: Private Message PayPal

PPA: Paypal Above

OOB: Out Of Box

SFPF: Smoke Free Pet Free

PPD: Postage Paid Domestic

XP or Xposted: Crossposted (listed for sale elsewhere) 

OBO: Or Best Offer

OBRO: Or Best Reasonable Offer

SS: Short Sleeve

DOND: Deal Or No Deal

DD: Dirty Delete (a claim has been deleted - a big no no in the BST world)

HTF: Hard To Find

Fix Thine Eyes Upon Thy Items. 

Open packages and examine items right away. If you purchased via PPGS, then you can open a case if items are not as expected. To resolve the case, the seller may offer a partial or full refund, which may or may not involve mailing the item back. This is where screenshots of the initial listing including pictures and descriptions of the items come in handy. Point out anything not disclosed. 

**PRO TIP: the window to open a case is  90 days, but the sooner the better so there's no suspicion that the item has been altered or damaged after it was received. This is how long I keep screenshots as a seller.

Give Grace and Have Fun!

At the end of the day, we're all human. Yes, there are scammers, but there are also busy parents. You may receive an item with an undisclosed imperfection that could have been overlooked. Reach out to the seller. If someone is taking a long time getting back to you about an offer, perhaps they got held up at work or are experiencing a natural disaster. Different time zones could also be at play. 

Follow up in case notifications aren't working. Be kind, practice patience and give people the benefit of the doubt. No matter the BST page, I bet it's not that serious! There is no need to get upset over children's clothing, or whatever the case may be. Abide by the rules, make smart transactions and keep it light! This is supposed to be fun :) 

Let me know if you'd like a referral code or Facebook BST page invitation for any of the aforementioned brands :)  Email me if you'd like a referral link and incentive to open a PayPal account. 

Is BST new to you? If it's not, what brands do you support? Lmk in the comments!