Buying on Ebay - A Member's Guide

1. Always make sure that you know your stuff, always check prices of the product that you are wanting to buy at a reputable store first. Lots of these stores are online, so no need to go out to check. Towsure, Millets, Argos and Woolworths are just a few, there are lots more.
2. Check your spelling when searching on eBay.co.uk, as not all items for sale will come up in your search, so be led by ebay at the top of the search page.
3. When looking at an item, always check out the sellers feedback score, then read some of the feedback, just to make sure that he/she is one of the 'good' guys.
4. Always look at the postage costs, if there isn't any and you are really interested then contact the buyer and ask. It spoils a buy when you pay over the odds for postage. Also on the top of search pages you can change to 'Distance nearest'. That way you will be able to save on postage costs. If you are unsure if you can pick up, that the seller has not mentioned this, then again contact the seller.
5. Read the description carefully and look at the pictures. If you aren't sure or you think something might be missing then again contact the seller.
6. Don't be in a rush to buy, just because it may have a minute left of the auction, don't bid if you haven't read all the information, it is very easy to get carried away in the moment.
7. Once you have decided to bid on an item, you can click on the 'watch this item', then it will be in 'My Ebay' for you to look at. Before bidding, decide on a price that you would like to go up to, remember to include your postage costs.
8. I personally recommend that you do not bid straightaway, especially if the auction has 7 days left. I do find that this pushes up the price, as others start to bid. As they say, I like to keep my cards close to my chest and not let others know that I am interested. If I have time I will wait until the last 2 minutes of the auction and put in my highest bid straightaway. This high bid will not show up, it only goes to an amount a little higher than the previous bid. I then find that other bidders frantically bid to try and win, but they only go up 10p/20p's at a time and so run out of time, and you win. Also when I place a bid I go to a odd number, for example instead of straight £2.00, I will go to £2.36, as others think in evens and I have won on the 6p.
9. Payment. I find paypal is the fastest payment, though I know there a some who don't trust this method of payment. If you pay by cheque, remember that you have to wait until the seller receives it and then has to wait to it to clear before sending out the item. Some sellers are trusting and will send out the item before the cheque has cleared, others wait.
10. Once the item has arrived and you are satisfied then please leave feedback for the seller, remember to click the positive first. The seller will then leave feedback for you and then your reputation will grow. If you are unhappy with the seller or the item then contact the seller as soon as possible. They may be reasonable, but if not, do not leave feedback, but start up a dispute through ebay, to recover your money. If you leave feedback, then you will not be able to start a dispute.

Enjoy. If you are careful, then eBay.co.uk will be a great source for bargains. Though do remember that some products are still cheaper in stores, online or otherwise. If you are new to Ebay, click here for more info about the site, and how it works