eBay is a website full of great deals on anything from TVs to vintage collectibles. However, since anyone can create an eBay account, there are some sellers who try to scam their buyers on this site. Although there is a money back guarantee to protect buyers, cases of fraud are quite troublesome and should be avoided. If you're going to buy something on eBay, read the seller's reviews to make sure he's trustworthy. Also, identify some of the traits that could indicate a fraudulent seller. If you are vigilant, you will avoid being scammed when shopping on eBay. The guide is aimed at the English language eBay site.
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Method 1 of 2: Analyzing Seller Reviews
Step 1. Pay attention to the seller's score on the product page
When viewing a product on eBay, there is a box to the right of the screen containing the seller's overall score. There are two pieces of information in the box. First, a star with a number next to it. The figure shows the number of ratings the seller gets. Second, the percentage of positive reviews that sellers receive. Both of this information can be used as a reference to find out how competent the seller is.
- Sellers who get 10 positive ratings will get a yellow star from eBay. This star will appear on the product page, right next to the seller's name. This indicates that the seller is trusted. The star will change color if the seller receives more positive ratings. A seller with at least a yellow star is a pretty good choice…and can be trusted.
- In general, look for sellers with a high number of positive ratings. If the seller has 300 ratings and the positive percentage is 98%, this indicates that the seller is highly trusted. You don't need to investigate this seller any further.
- However, if the seller has little or no valuation, you may need to investigate further before buying. This is not always a bad thing. The seller may have just created an eBay account. However, fraudulent accounts generally have a low number of ratings. Therefore, look for more information.
Step 2. Click the seller's name to see the full review
If you need more information after viewing the seller's rating, click the seller's username on the product page. By doing this, you will be redirected to the seller's profile page. On this page, you can see past reviews of the seller and all the products he sells. Visit some of the pages that contain information in the seller's profile to analyze their reputation.
Step 3. Analyze the 4 categories of seller reviews under their profile picture
eBay sellers are rated according to 4 categories: Item Description, Communications, Delivery Time, and Shipping Cost. Each category is rated from 0 to 50. Look at the rating of each seller category to see how competent the seller is.
- Most trusted sellers on eBay score above 40 for each category. Sellers with a rating of less than 40 may be untrusted or weak in that category.
- Some categories may be more important than others. For example, you may not mind paying high shipping costs because you prioritize the suitability of the product with the description provided by the seller. Consider your priorities when analyzing the ratings sellers receive.
Step 4. Click “See all feedback” to see all the reviews the seller has received
This page contains detailed reviews received by sellers. Under “Recent Feedback Ratings”, you can read all the positive, neutral, and negative reviews that sellers have received over the past year. Generally, trusted sellers will receive more positive reviews. If the seller receives more negative reviews, avoid the seller.
For more information, carefully read the reviews the seller received. You can find out the characteristics of the seller by doing this
Step 5. Read the negative reviews the seller has received if any
Trusted sellers can also receive bad reviews, especially if they've been selling for several years. If you want to investigate the negative reviews a seller has received, click “Negative” under “Recent Feedback Ratings” to display all negative seller reviews. Use this review to understand why the seller received the bad review. Trusted sellers generally rarely receive negative reviews. Also, usually these negative reviews are caused by an unintentional mistake.
- There are some red lights to watch out for when reading negative seller reviews. If the buyer complains that the product he receives does not match the description listed, the seller may not be trusted. A trusted seller will describe the product accurately.
- Consider that some sellers may receive unreasonable criticism. An example of unreasonable criticism is “The seller didn't deliver the item an hour after I ordered.” If you find reviews like this, the seller may still be trustworthy.
Method 2 of 2: Recognizing Red Lights on Sellers
Step 1. Do further investigation if the seller is offering a high-value product at a low price
Some products are generally cheaper on the internet. eBay is known as a buying and selling site with tempting offers. However, there are some offers that should be investigated. Some scammers create new accounts to sell high-value products at deep discounts. This product may be counterfeit, damaged, or stolen, and the seller will describe it as new. Do further investigation if you find an offer that is too tempting.
- For example, a seller might offer a new iPhone at a much lower price than another seller. This is a red light. You need to question why sellers offer iPhones at far below normal prices. You should also be more vigilant if the seller receives very few reviews, or none at all.
- Very cheap products are not always bad. The seller may be moving in the near future and must sell the product as soon as possible. However, it never hurts to do further investigation.
Step 2. Be careful if the product uses stock photos
eBay allows sellers to upload photos of products for sale. If the seller uploads stock photos from the internet or the product's official website, the seller may try to hide the actual condition of the product. If the product is being sold using generic stock photos, visit the seller's review page to make sure it's trustworthy.
This is especially important if you are going to buy used or collectible items in good condition. If you can't see the actual photo of the product, the product may be damaged or doesn't match the seller's description
Step 3. Check if the seller sells similar products on their profile
On the seller's review page, scroll down to find the “Items for Sale” page. Click “See all” to see a list of all products sold. If there are many products in the same category, this indicates that the seller is selling a particular product. This is a good sign. Salespeople who specialize in one category are generally very professional and serious. The seller will work hard to deliver your groceries and resolve any problems that may occur.
- A seller who sells many products in different categories is not necessarily bad. Some people use eBay to sell items that have piled up in their homes or garages. Therefore, he may sell many different products. However, he or she may not be a professional salesperson and may not have the ability to serve buyers well.
- Be careful if the seller only sells one high value product. This profile may be fake. The seller may attempt to offer a defective product.
Step 4. Ask the seller for the product
If you are unsure of a product or seller, contact the seller via eBay. Click the “Ask a Question” option on the product page to contact the seller. Ask for more information about the product or its price if unsure. If the seller avoids your question, avoid this product.
Observe how quickly and completely the seller answers your questions. Generally, a trusted seller will respond within 24 hours, or 48 hours if you contact them on weekends or holidays. Sellers who are slow to respond to inquiries may be less reliable
Step 5. Don't make transactions outside of eBay
If the seller asks you to leave eBay and buy the product from another website, or he asks not to be contacted via eBay, don't buy the product. When you leave eBay, you don't get a money back guarantee. Fraudsters will try to keep buyers away from the eBay website. This is done so that the buyer cannot receive his money back. Don't follow the seller's orders like this.
