Bidding on eBay can be a very laborious process. Waiting for the countdown to end to ensure you win the auction can be exciting and profitable. However, you can lose money on eBay if you are not careful and thorough. Read the bottom of the article to learn how to buy safely and successfully on eBay.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Finding the Right Item
Step 1. Sign up for an eBay account
You need an account to bid on items and track purchases. You don't have to pay to create an eBay account, and you only need your name and email address. To buy on eBay, you need to enter contact information.
Step 2. Find items that interest you
Look for the item or type of item you are looking for in the search box. If there are a lot of search results, try customizing your search with Advanced Search.
If you're not sure what item you want, you can browse eBay ads by category to see all the items for sale
Step 3. Learn anything about advertising goods
When you find the item you want, read the ad carefully. Does the ad tell you anything you should know? Is the ad clear, detailed, and easy to understand? Does the ad tell you that the item is new or used? If that's not clear, or you still have questions, email the seller and ask for an explanation. Advanced Search tools.
What the seller tells you is part of the sales agreement and can be a reason to return the item if the seller cheats on you. It's better to research before buying than to waste money hoping that the goods will meet your expectations
Step 4. Look for information about goods from other sources
Check item ads and other sites to make sure that the item described in the eBay ad is what you're looking for. Many products have the same model with different features, so it is very important to know the product you are looking for.
Step 5. Use photos
If a photo of the item is available, take a look at the photo. Are there certain features that are interesting? If you can zoom in on a photo, do it. There's nothing wrong with sending an email to ask for more photos if you want, with other questions about the items you have.
Pay more attention to the condition of the item in the photo. Does the photo only show the item box? You should be able to see the condition of the item in detail
Step 6. Check shipping and packaging costs
This fee is a trap for many buyers. The price of the item looks like it's cheap -- until the shipping and packaging costs count. If shipping costs are not shown, please send an email to ask for shipping costs to your area. Also, be aware that some sellers will not ship to some areas.
Step 7. Check the feedback the seller has
Comments and feedback are generally good reflections of the seller's honesty, his success selling the item, or even the speed of his delivery. Feedback above 95% is generally an indication that the seller is a good seller - negative feedback may exist in the world of sales, and may simply indicate an unruly buyer or someone who has too high expectations.
Check how many transactions the seller has made. Even if buying from a new seller has a few fair deals (they might be a new seller!), you are more likely to receive good service from a seller who has made a lot of sales. A seller with a lot of sales will usually process your order faster and ensure your satisfaction
Step 8. Check the payment method
PayPal is the most common payment method on eBay, as payments can be processed instantly. If you don't have a PayPal account, we recommend that you create one before you start bidding to make the process easier.
Do not buy items from sellers who only accept cash. Avoid these sellers
Step 9. Do a "Completed Listing" search for the item you want
This will let you know the average price of the item in the past, and allow you to make comparisons and judge whether the "Buy it Now" price or the auction price is a fair price or not. If you buy at auction, instead of buying outright, this will give you an idea of how much you should bid.
- You can do a Completed Listings search by clicking the "Advanced" link in the search box. Check the "Completed Listings" box in the "Search Including" section. Enter your keywords and click "Search".
- Ads marked in red are auctions that have been completed.
Part 2 of 3: Bidding on Items
Step 1. Decide if you want to buy outright
The "Buy it Now" option allows you to buy items at a predetermined price instead of going through an auction process. For rarer items, the Buy it Now option may save you some money once the auction war begins.
Make sure you check the average price of an item before buying. If you use the "Buy it Now" option, you may end up paying more than you should
Step 2. Enter the highest amount you want to pay if you buy through auction
Your bid will increase automatically according to auction multiples until you reach your highest bid. This will allow you to set the maximum amount you want to pay without having to constantly monitor the auction process.br>
- Bidding any amount binds you to the auction. By bidding, you agree to pay the final auction price.
- You can't withdraw bids, so make sure you want the stuff. Bids can only be withdrawn if there is an error in bid entry, not because you changed your mind about an item.
Step 3. Increase your bid during the auction
During the auction process, you will be notified if your maximum bid has been defeated. If you are willing and able, you can increase your bid by returning to the auction page and entering a new amount.br>
Step 4. Wait for the auction to end
If you win the auction, you will be notified. Once the auction is over, you should contact the seller and discuss payment and shipping details.
Part 3 of 3: Completing Transactions
Step 1. Contact the seller
After the auction is over and you are declared the winner, you must contact the seller. This communication will allow you to select your payment options and confirm your address and shipping and packaging costs. The seller will ship the item after they receive confirmation that payment has been made.
Step 2. Pay for the goods as soon as possible
If the seller has not received payment two days after the end of the auction, they can file a complaint against you on eBay. This can be avoided if you pay immediately after the auction is over.
Paying quickly will usually make the seller leave good feedback for you, which will make other sellers more eager to satisfy you
Step 3. Leave feedback
The entire eBay system revolves around the exchange of feedback between sellers and buyers after they complete a transaction. Leaving feedback on the seller after the transaction is good etiquette. Use feedback to let other buyers know that the seller is a good seller. Feedback options include:
- Positive: You are satisfied with the transaction and will buy again from the seller.
- Neutral: You have a few issues, but not big enough to call it Negative.
- Negative. Some things in the sales process disappoint or upset you. Before using this feedback, always try to contact the seller and find a solution. Most sellers will try to correct the mistakes they made because they value the value of their feedback. Most sellers now offer refunds and in some cases, you can reach a middle ground that pleases both parties. If you can't find a middle ground, eBay can mediate for you. After trying enough and not finding satisfactory results, leave a message explaining why your transaction was rated negative. Avoid torment or angry messages, they will get you a bad rating and may cause other sellers to block you.
Step 4. Contact eBay if you have any issues
If you have problems receiving an item from a seller, receive an item in a different condition than advertised, or have other issues, contact the eBay Resolution Center. You can use this online tool to submit a complaint and possibly receive a refund from eBay for your purchase.
Always try to resolve the issue with the seller directly before using the Resolution Center. Most honest sellers will try to resolve the issue before going up to eBay customer service
Tips
- Be honest and responsible in your transactions. If you know the shipping and packaging costs before the transaction, you accept the fee, so don't complain after the transaction. If you don't know it, blame yourself for not asking for shipping costs before making a transaction.
- Also keep in mind that any time an item is marked "As-is", especially electronics, it usually breaks and needs repair.
Warning
- Do not bid or buy unless you are sure you want the item. Don't bid too high or experience a "buyer's remorse" after you bid on an item. Be wise, honest and patient, and treat every transaction the way you would like to be treated.
- Make sure you know what you want to buy. Make sure the item you want to buy is not a fake. Fake Legos are widely sold on eBay, as well as other rare collectibles such as coins or stamps.
