eBay is a wonderful venue for buyers and sellers to come together and trade in collectibles of all imaginable types. These buying tips will assist you in getting your favorite collectible items for bargain prices. They will also help ensure that the transaction goes safely.

1) Search for auctions ending on Saturday nights, in the middle of a holiday, during the Super Bowl, etc. These are statistically low traffic times meaning you can sometimes get an item for a lower price because there are fewer bidders.

2) Search for items with titles containing misspelled words or typos, such as Llardo figurine instead of Lladro figurine. Misspelled items get found much less often and many times you can get them for a steal. Try all of the variations in spelling that you can think of and see what bargains turn up!

3) It's a good idea not to place an early bid on an auction. You can bookmark the item or add it to your eBay watch list but be sure not too forget to go back before it ends! Go back on the last day of the auction and bid as close to the end as possible. You'll potentially avoid setting off a bidding frenzy which means you have a better chance of getting the item at a lower price.

4) It's a known fact that most bidders bid in even amounts such as $100 or $25.50. If you bid an amount such as $100.11 or $25.52 it can sometimes make all the difference in winning the auction.

5) To ensure a safe transaction it's a good idea to pay for items using Paypal. Paypal is the most convenient as well as the safest way to buy on eBay since it lets you pay with your credit card and offers you numerous protections to ensure a safe transaction.

6) Before bidding be sure to check out at the shipping costs to ensure that they are fair and accurate. Be sure to factor in how much packaging material and time is needed. It's completely fair for a seller to add a few dollars to cover materials and labor as quality packaging materials are not cheap.

7) Check the seller's feedback and make sure their positive feedback percentage is 99% or higher before placing a bid. It's also a good idea to read some of their current feedback to see comments from recent buyers.

8) It's best to avoid sellers with private or hidden feedback. More often than not a seller hides their feedback because of a large percentage of negative feedback from buyers. The only valid reason I've ever seen for a seller to hide their feedback is when they sell adult related items and want to protect the identities of their buyers.

9) Definitely stay away from a seller with a low feedback count or no feedback who is selling a high dollar item with a short duration auction cycle such as a 1 day auction. Many times a short auction, especially the 1 day variety, means that the seller is trying to pull a scam and get away with it before it gets reported to eBay. In the world of collectibles this doesn't really happen but this is a common scam with high tech items such as laptops.

10) Read the auction terms and ensure that the seller has a fair and clearly stated return policy. An honest seller will stand behind what they sell.

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When it comes to valuable collectibles such as Giuseppe Armani figurines or Lladro figurines, crystal collectibles such as Swarovski crystal figurines or art pottery such as Roseville you want to do everything you can to keep them in the best condition possible. Here are some simple and effective ways to do this.

It's best to keep your collectibles in an enclosed curio cabinet. This will minimize their exposure to dust. This also keeps them away from children and pets (or clumsy adults for that matter).

The easiest way to dust your figurines is with a small, soft bristled brush. An artist's paint brush or a makeup brush are good choices.

Be sure to keep figurines and pottery out of direct sunlight. Exposing them to direct sunlight can lead to color fading over time.

If you have a figurine that has managed to get dirty the best way to clean it is with warm water, mild dishwashing detergent and a soft cloth. Art pottery can be cleaned using warm water and a soft cloth

When cleaning figurines or pottery be sure to never use a strong cleaner like bleach or any cleaner containing ammonia. Also make sure you don't use anything abrasive to clean them. Strong cleaners or abrasives are almost certain to cause permanent damage.

When cleaning a figurine that has an air hole be sure to put some tape over it to keep water from entering the figurine's cavity. If water gets inside it could possibly damage the figurine.

It's a good idea to put a bath towel in the bottom of your sink before cleaning a delicate collectible. This will provide protection against breakage if you accidentally drop it.

While it might seem like a good idea make sure you never attempt to clean a figurine in a dishwasher. Porcelain figurines are more delicate than dinner china and the high heat of a dishwasher is certain to damage them.

Thankfully, art glass collectibles such as Swarovski figurines and Orient and Flume paperweights are much easier to care for. They can be safely and easily cleaned with a soft cloth and a mild glass cleaner.

With these simple tips you're sure to enjoy your favorite collectibles for many years to come!

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