How to Buy Safely on eBay

Make sure you read and understand all the information provided on the listing page; listing description, terms of sale, and pictures. Check payment options, S&H fee, insurance, delivery method and time, refund policies, etc. If specific information is not supplied or you have a question, be sure to contact the seller BEFORE placing your bid. Avoid making assumptions about details that are not included. If there is anything that seems odd or out-of-place contact the seller.

And remember, if it seems to good to be true..... it mostly likely is!

Before placing your bid, be sure the seller offers shipping to your country AND if there any additional costs.

Buyers are responsible for any duty, taxes or brokerage fees that might apply. Ask the seller to include a copy of the listing or an invoice and mark on any shipping (custom) forms the actual price paid not the value and do not include the shipping and handling fees. Please do not ask the seller to mark it as a gift.

If you are a Canadian buyer purchasing from a US seller (depending on the value of the item) ask if they could send by USPS if possible. It is much less expensive to have the item sent from the US to Canada by the post office. If sent by a courier company such as UPS or Fedex, this will add on a brokerage fee where as through the post office there is only a $5 handling fee.

This only takes a few minutes of your time. From the listing page, or wherever you see the seller's User ID, click on the number in brackets after the seller's User ID. You will be able to read what previous Buyers have said about doing business with that seller. If you have doubts, either contact the seller or move on.

While there are bad sellers, there are also excellent sellers who have received undeserved negatives. Let your conscience be your guide.

Most Store owners have custom Store Pages and many also have a ME page. You can learn about more detailed Store Policies (Terms of Sales) and about the seller or their products. Look for custom links or buttons on the seller's Store home page and the ME icon beside the seller's User ID after their feedback rating.

If you have any questions, contact the seller. You can do this by:

i) Within a listing page, click on "Ask seller a question", located on the top right side of the listing, under "Meet the seller".

ii) Click on the seller's feedback number, you will be directored to their Feedback Profile. Click on the Contact Member link.

iii) The seller may also include their email address on their Me Page or one of their Store custom pages. When contacting the seller with a question, be sure to include the eBay Item Number and Title of the listing. Many sellers have hundreds of listings.

If you have not heard from the seller within a reasonable amount of time, be sure to check any "spam" folders first, in case your email program filed their reply email there.

Be sure your personal information on eBay is correct and up-to-date (if your address is incorrect, you are not eligible for eBay or PayPal Buyer Protections). Since you registered on eBay, you might have moved or changed email addresses.

Make sure your shipping address is up-to-date on PayPal as well, as most Sellers ship to Confirmed PayPal addresses when different than the address registered on eBay.

If you are bidding on an auction style listing, submit your bid accurately and carefully (to prevent any unnecessary bid retractions)

Sellers will send you an invoice or email advising you of the total cost of your purchase. Many sellers have specific payment methods and also a time limit on when payment should be made. If making a multiple purchase from the same seller, most will require one combined payment in order to qualify for a combined shipping price.

Sellers may advise you of the estimated delivery time for your item to arrive, however, they cannot be responsible for the service of the post office or courier company. Keep in mind that carriers count business days, not weekends or holidays. If cross border shopping, there may also be border delays.

Understand how the feedback system works before you leave feedback. Feedback should be left after you consider the transaction complete. If you are happy with the transaction, be sure to leave positive feedback for the seller. If you had a problem or you are not satisfied, before you leave negative feedback, try and work it out with the seller first, give them an opportunity to "make it right". If you leave negative feedback before contacting the seller, the seller is less likely to work with you for a solution. And if they work out your problem or complaint to your satisfaction, that should be considered when leaving feedback.

If any problems do come up, contact the seller first, before taking any action. Be factual, reasonable and polite. Give the seller an opportunity to address your concerns. Keep in mind, most eBay sellers are just one person with a life outside of eBay and do their best to make you happy.

Be sure to understand the four points in Detailed Seller Ratings and rate carefully.

This was my Blog Article on Detailed Seller Ratings when it first came out as it was not described accurately to buyers.

Once you have bought from a seller and you were happy with them, be sure to save them in your favourites and sign up for their Store Newsletters if available.

New To eBay

eBay Buying Basics