Have you ever admired a piece of furniture, a carpet, or even a painting in a friend’s house, only to be told that they’d bought it on eBay for a song? With the increasing popularity of the internet auction house, more and more people are spurning the high street in search of online bargains. So, if you are yet to take the plunge and a little nervous about getting your fingers burnt, here are our top ten tips for eBay virgins.
Start small.
Don’t jump in at the deep end and shop for that three-piece suite straight away. Find your feet by bidding for something smaller and less expensive.
Be flexible.
You need some focus but take the blinkers off and keep your eyes open. If you’re looking for a dining table, don’t be too specific in terms of style or make. One of the joys of eBay is stumbling on something totally unexpected but just right. So give serendipity a chance.
Ask questions.
One disadvantage of buying online is that you can’t see and touch what you’re getting. So, however detailed the description and however many photos, always ask for more. Most vendors are perfectly happy to do this. After all, they don’t want to deal with unhappy customers and returned goods. And, if you’re not 100% satisfied or feel suspicious of anything, don’t bid for it.
Vet the vendor.
To do this, go to the seller’s ‘About Me’ page. The customer satisfaction rating there is based on their last 12 months’ sales. You want a rating of at least 90% but bear in mind how busy the seller has been and check out any detailed feedback.
Don’t be in a hurry.
You can buy or make an offer on many items straightaway on eBay but, in most cases, you’re in an auction. This can last up to 15 days but there’s no point in bidding too early. That just forces the price up and the winning bid will still be the final one. So be patient.
Don’t get carried away.
Auctions, even online, can become quite heated and it’s all too easy to end up bidding more than you intended. So decide the maximum you realistically want to pay. And stick to it. Getting competitive can cost you money.
Don’t lose it.
Once you have decided how much you want to pay, make what’s called a ‘proxy bid’, as late as you can. To do this, enter a maximum bid and eBay will automatically bid for you up to that amount. At least then you won’t lose out just because you didn’t update your bid in time.
Watch how you pay.
This is common sense. Sending cash or cheques gives you no protection and most eBay sellers don’t have credit card facilities. So your best option is to use PayPal which is owned by eBay itself and gives you a measure of purchase protection.
Check the goods.
Make sure that what you have bought is what you thought it was and in the condition you expected and don’t hesitate to return anything with which you are unhappy. The last thing vendors want is negative feedback so most will be prepared to accept this without question.
Finally, leave feedback.
This is vital. Negative or positive, feedback is the lifeblood of eBay. It’s the basis of the trust that makes the whole thing work so be sure to do your bit.
And good bargain hunting!