One of the most common mistakes on eBay is pre-maturely bidding on an item. Most users see an item with no bids and try to claim it for themselves by being the first to bid on it. Most users on eBay are more likely to bid on an active item than one that has yet to be bid on. When a second user starts to bid higher on the item, the price will begin to rise very quickly. This is known as a bidding war. While being great for the seller, a bidding war hikes up the price for no reason. If you're ever pulled into a bidding war, never let your emotions cloud your judgement; people become so obsessed about beating the other bidders that they end up paying much more than necessary instead of bidding on a different auction. Try to avoid any items where bidding wars are taking place. If the item happens to be rare, and there are no other close alternatives, then keep a close eye on the item, and try to snipe the auction. Make sure that you never participate in a bidding war, and consider moving to a different eBay auction if the item you're looking at has a long list of previous bids.
One of the biggest worries about eBay is the possibily of a fraud. Even with the feedback system, there's no telling when a seller with 500 previous positive transactions might decide to sell 3 $5000 items and run away with the cash. Even more likely, is that some unsuspecting seller gets their account hacked, and the hacker starts to pretend to sell high end items to gain easy cash. There are however, some steps you can take to make sure that you don't get ripped off.
Pay close attention to photos.
Looking carefully at a seller's photos will give you all the information you need and more. A good seller will try to prove that his photos are authentic--he may have his item on a kitchen cabnet, or against tiles. A photo against a white screen that looks professionally edited could give you a hint that the seller has just ripped a picture off the internet. Look through some of the seller's previous auctions to see if his new backgrounds match his old ones. If you're still unsure, message the seller and ask him for some more upclose pictures of the product. A seller who is reluctant to give them up should instantly register with you as a red flag. Don't bid on the item until you're sure you're not going to get scammed. Some sellers may even offer excuses like "Sorry my camera is broken right now". Even though you still might want to bid, remember that it's better to be safe than sorry.
Incredibly low prices.
This one is a real pain, because the main reason of shopping for expensive items on eBay is to buy them at low rates. However, before commiting yourself to anything by bidding, make sure that you know the ballpark price range of this item. If you see a $200 iPod Nano going for $50, then it's time to start asking yourself questions. Check the seller's past transactions, and have a look at some of the items he's sold. If he has several positive feedbacks for the same item at a similair selling price, then he may in fact, be the real thing. Check his shipping costs to see how much he's charging to make up for the low prices. Be warned that many scammers will try to convince you that they've "overstocked" on this item, and are selling them dirt cheap to get rid of them. Again, ask for closer pictures to see if the seller is a fake. Carefully read the auction over, as many people use fine print to sell buyers an iPod "connection cable" for $100, instead of the actual iPod.
Also known as shadowing. Sometimes the best way to find a great deal is to follow around users who have bid on the same items as you. Even though the prospect of following one's internet trail may come across as creepy, it's the perfect way to find a great auction that doesn't get listed (usually because a seller isn't using the right techniques). To shadow another user is simple: hit "advanced search" then on your left go to "items by bidder", and enter the bidder's name and search. Because the user originally placed a bid in the same auction as you, it can be assumed that you have similiar tastes. To avoid other users from shadowing you, you might want to start sniping eBay auctions.
For most international users, shipping costs are a real problem. Most users list their shipping costs to the U.S, and include that they ship worldwide, but leave out the cost for international shipping. One of the most common problems is to purchase an item, then inform the seller that you are an international customer. You are now at the mercy of the seller. They decide to charge what they want for shipping, but remember: sellers are in this for the money. The key to working out a good shipping deal is as easy as negotiating the price before buying. Simply send the seller an email asking about the shipping costs to your adress. Don't put yourself in an awkward position, don't make a comitment by bidding before you know what you'll be paying. Never be afraid to ask the seller extra questions about the item (as long as it's not included in the auction description): the model/make number, the color, the seller's location, etc. Most sellers are happy to answer as long as you're asking before the auction ends.
HowTo On eBay is a free eBay resource guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by eBay Inc. All trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective owners.
