( 
)
My main purpose in having written this
guide is to help new members of eBay avoid some of the common mistakes
that can cause an eBay purchase to leave you feeling frustrated and
unhappy. I hope that you enjoy it. I do ask that you consider taking a few moments to rate it at the end.
Thank you for taking the time to read my little guide and please have a delightful and safe eBay experience now and always.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of unscrupulous people that will take advantage of any circumstance where they can abuse peoples trust and kindness for personal financial gain. The eBay community it not invulnerable to these shady characters, but with a few precautions you can cut down on your encounters with such people and minimize the damage they cause if they get past your defenses.
I was a buyer long before I became a seller on eBay. I fell in love with eBay when I worked the graveyard shift. My first night using eBay, my eight hours flew by as I gobbled up a Louis Vuitton Porte Valeurs Organizer for cheap and a pair of cute Cavalli short shorts for a rock bottom price. I was beyond thrilled that these things that I wanted so badly were so readily available and so easily mine. I was so ticked off when the first couple of things arrived and they were FAKE ! I felt robbed, I felt cheated, and I felt betrayed. These auctions clearly and emphatically claimed they were selling only authentic merchandise and these things were clearly not the real deal.
I hated the feeling being lied to left me with, but I still loved the variety and fun the eBay shopping experience provided. I figured the best way to protect myself was to apply the same common sense I used protecting my checking account and credit cards from fraud and theft. I developed a few simple tools to use when bidding or buying on eBay and for the most part they have worked well. I have not had any major or unresolved issues since my initial sour experiences.
It's just awful when you get so excited for a new item you have purchased via Buy it Now or poured your blood sweat and tears into winning during a heart pounding auction only to have some cheap knock-off show up. Many sellers must think people are dumb dumbs, because most of the fake stuff that I have been tricked into buying on-line arrives and is awful fake. Only once did the seller offer a refund without having to involve a PayPal dispute. With that said, BE CAREFUL ladies and gentlemen! If it's too good to be true, chances are it is. Nobody is going to sell a $1500 Louis Vuitton Damier Uzes for $75.
Follow these few simple suggestions and you'll have a better chance of avoiding being scammed.
If you're spending more than an amount you can emotionally and financially handle losing, do a little leg work. Ask a few questions, check the feedback score carefully, check how long they have been selling, read the return & exchange policy, read the guarantees that they have regarding authenticity, and read & understand the protections PayPal or your credit card company affords you against fraud. And if you're spending more than just a few bucks, legitimate honest sellers will generally be anxious to put you at ease regarding authenticity and any other issues you might have to help you make your buying decision.
The smartest thing I ever did was realize that even on my beloved eBay if something is much to much too good to be true, then it probably is. I know, I know. That's supposed to be the point, but I think we forget that you get what you pay for and lunch is never free or whichever one of those old elegant little sayings works here. You're never going to fulfill your wildest fantasies of Louis Vuitton Damier Canvas Keepalls 50 and Coffet Tresors filling your closet shelves for $50 or $100 bucks or even $150 or $200 if it's in any condition worth having. That's the most important thing to realize. Most sellers are honest hard-working people just like myself, but there are those frauds that have no scruples and would probably sell their own grandmother a knock-off for a 500% mark-up if it would put a little coin in their pocket. Sellers that are honest WANT to make the most money they can and will sell items that meet the criteria that will get those bids up up and away. So, my first glowing suggestion, if it looks and smells like a con then it probably is.
The next thing I learned was how important feedback really is. If a seller has a lot of negatives feedbacks (like dozens and dozens out of a few hundred or hundreds and hundreds out of thousands) then chances are they are not a reliable seller. Yes, sellers will inevitably get their fair share of negatives, but an honest seller works to keep buyers happy and will do their best to keep that feedback score as high as possible. It's probably a safe bet that sellers with lots of red are not going to jump all over your transaction to help you if you're unhappy. So, another helpful bit of advice; check feedback, understand how feedback works, and leave fair thoughtful feedback for sellers so other buyers can learn from your mistakes or from your buying jackpots.
The most important thing I learned was always read the auction description and auction terms carefully. I know we all get so very excited over our items and bids, but so often we rush into ( i know i have!) bidding and forget to read the fine print. You're bidding on a beautiful cashmere sweater that is described in oh so poetic terms only to have it arrive with a big hole or stain and when we go back we see the seller had explained that small defect in small print just under the return policy. It's no fun to pay for something that doesn't meet our expectations, but it's also unfair to sellers to get upset over it when they offered the information and the buyer was too lazy or hurried to take the time to read it. So, my third suggestions is to take the time to read what is there. Consider the reading the "trying on" of eBay shopping. We hate to do it, but it's the only way to know if it fits right.
Another simple thing to do is send an e-mail to the seller before you bid to see if they are a considerate enough seller that they get back to you. This only works if the auction is still a couple of days out as many sellers have day jobs, but it does help for those big ticket items. I also will send an e-mail asking about the protections afforded me by the seller when I am buying a big ticket item. This way the sellers knows I am an informed buyer and I know the seller is willing to back up what they are selling. When you do repeat business with a seller, often times a fun personal distant friendship can grow. We have several buyers we see over and over that we just adore.
My favorite handy-dandy tip is to keep your measurements written down in a little notebook or sticky note next to your computer or if you're as vain as I am then locked in a safe underneath the phone book. Most sellers will not offer refunds for size issues, but will provide accurate measurements for you to use. This will help you make informed purchases so that little black Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress you want to wear on Saturday night doesn't arrive on Friday and look better on your cat than on you. This is such a helpful thing, because after a few purchases you'll have your measurements memorized and be able to scan quickly to see if the Chloe blouse in size 6 is going to fit you like a GAP Kids tee in size small.
One more tip that is crucial when shopping on the internet --- do not give out your password! If you receive an e-mail from eBay or PayPal that asks for your password in any fashion, do not provide it! If it is legitimate from eBay, you will have a exact copy of this e-mail in your eBay message box. This is a common attempt to commit fraud and once they have your password they can access your account and do what they want.
Finally, mark sellers you find and like as "favorites". This makes trusted enjoyable sellers easy to find in the wilds of eBay. I have about two pages of them that I visit quite often. Also, join the mailing list if it's offered. Most sellers only send out a few times a month and it usually contains a great notice of an upcoming sale or a short list of really hot newly listed items. Finally, you might get some e-mail worth reading!
I am a seller on eBay, but I am also an avid buyer. I think it's crucial for all buyers, new and old, to understand that the majority of sellers are honest and the few bad apples do not mean that you can't always have a fun time shopping on eBay. As a seller, I loathe the frauds and the liars that sell their junk and steal my money. I also know that most of it can be prevented with a few easy to take precautions. Be smart, be thoughtful, and be careful and hopefully you'll enjoy each and every eBay purchase you make.
I hope this helps a little. If we all do our part, eBay can be the best place to find just about anything and everything you need, and for a price that would make Granny Penny Pincher blush. Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to read my little guide and please have a delightful and safe eBay experience now and always.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of unscrupulous people that will take advantage of any circumstance where they can abuse peoples trust and kindness for personal financial gain. The eBay community it not invulnerable to these shady characters, but with a few precautions you can cut down on your encounters with such people and minimize the damage they cause if they get past your defenses.
I was a buyer long before I became a seller on eBay. I fell in love with eBay when I worked the graveyard shift. My first night using eBay, my eight hours flew by as I gobbled up a Louis Vuitton Porte Valeurs Organizer for cheap and a pair of cute Cavalli short shorts for a rock bottom price. I was beyond thrilled that these things that I wanted so badly were so readily available and so easily mine. I was so ticked off when the first couple of things arrived and they were FAKE ! I felt robbed, I felt cheated, and I felt betrayed. These auctions clearly and emphatically claimed they were selling only authentic merchandise and these things were clearly not the real deal.
I hated the feeling being lied to left me with, but I still loved the variety and fun the eBay shopping experience provided. I figured the best way to protect myself was to apply the same common sense I used protecting my checking account and credit cards from fraud and theft. I developed a few simple tools to use when bidding or buying on eBay and for the most part they have worked well. I have not had any major or unresolved issues since my initial sour experiences.
It's just awful when you get so excited for a new item you have purchased via Buy it Now or poured your blood sweat and tears into winning during a heart pounding auction only to have some cheap knock-off show up. Many sellers must think people are dumb dumbs, because most of the fake stuff that I have been tricked into buying on-line arrives and is awful fake. Only once did the seller offer a refund without having to involve a PayPal dispute. With that said, BE CAREFUL ladies and gentlemen! If it's too good to be true, chances are it is. Nobody is going to sell a $1500 Louis Vuitton Damier Uzes for $75.
Follow these few simple suggestions and you'll have a better chance of avoiding being scammed.
If you're spending more than an amount you can emotionally and financially handle losing, do a little leg work. Ask a few questions, check the feedback score carefully, check how long they have been selling, read the return & exchange policy, read the guarantees that they have regarding authenticity, and read & understand the protections PayPal or your credit card company affords you against fraud. And if you're spending more than just a few bucks, legitimate honest sellers will generally be anxious to put you at ease regarding authenticity and any other issues you might have to help you make your buying decision.
The smartest thing I ever did was realize that even on my beloved eBay if something is much to much too good to be true, then it probably is. I know, I know. That's supposed to be the point, but I think we forget that you get what you pay for and lunch is never free or whichever one of those old elegant little sayings works here. You're never going to fulfill your wildest fantasies of Louis Vuitton Damier Canvas Keepalls 50 and Coffet Tresors filling your closet shelves for $50 or $100 bucks or even $150 or $200 if it's in any condition worth having. That's the most important thing to realize. Most sellers are honest hard-working people just like myself, but there are those frauds that have no scruples and would probably sell their own grandmother a knock-off for a 500% mark-up if it would put a little coin in their pocket. Sellers that are honest WANT to make the most money they can and will sell items that meet the criteria that will get those bids up up and away. So, my first glowing suggestion, if it looks and smells like a con then it probably is.
The next thing I learned was how important feedback really is. If a seller has a lot of negatives feedbacks (like dozens and dozens out of a few hundred or hundreds and hundreds out of thousands) then chances are they are not a reliable seller. Yes, sellers will inevitably get their fair share of negatives, but an honest seller works to keep buyers happy and will do their best to keep that feedback score as high as possible. It's probably a safe bet that sellers with lots of red are not going to jump all over your transaction to help you if you're unhappy. So, another helpful bit of advice; check feedback, understand how feedback works, and leave fair thoughtful feedback for sellers so other buyers can learn from your mistakes or from your buying jackpots.
The most important thing I learned was always read the auction description and auction terms carefully. I know we all get so very excited over our items and bids, but so often we rush into ( i know i have!) bidding and forget to read the fine print. You're bidding on a beautiful cashmere sweater that is described in oh so poetic terms only to have it arrive with a big hole or stain and when we go back we see the seller had explained that small defect in small print just under the return policy. It's no fun to pay for something that doesn't meet our expectations, but it's also unfair to sellers to get upset over it when they offered the information and the buyer was too lazy or hurried to take the time to read it. So, my third suggestions is to take the time to read what is there. Consider the reading the "trying on" of eBay shopping. We hate to do it, but it's the only way to know if it fits right.
Another simple thing to do is send an e-mail to the seller before you bid to see if they are a considerate enough seller that they get back to you. This only works if the auction is still a couple of days out as many sellers have day jobs, but it does help for those big ticket items. I also will send an e-mail asking about the protections afforded me by the seller when I am buying a big ticket item. This way the sellers knows I am an informed buyer and I know the seller is willing to back up what they are selling. When you do repeat business with a seller, often times a fun personal distant friendship can grow. We have several buyers we see over and over that we just adore.
My favorite handy-dandy tip is to keep your measurements written down in a little notebook or sticky note next to your computer or if you're as vain as I am then locked in a safe underneath the phone book. Most sellers will not offer refunds for size issues, but will provide accurate measurements for you to use. This will help you make informed purchases so that little black Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress you want to wear on Saturday night doesn't arrive on Friday and look better on your cat than on you. This is such a helpful thing, because after a few purchases you'll have your measurements memorized and be able to scan quickly to see if the Chloe blouse in size 6 is going to fit you like a GAP Kids tee in size small.
One more tip that is crucial when shopping on the internet --- do not give out your password! If you receive an e-mail from eBay or PayPal that asks for your password in any fashion, do not provide it! If it is legitimate from eBay, you will have a exact copy of this e-mail in your eBay message box. This is a common attempt to commit fraud and once they have your password they can access your account and do what they want.
Finally, mark sellers you find and like as "favorites". This makes trusted enjoyable sellers easy to find in the wilds of eBay. I have about two pages of them that I visit quite often. Also, join the mailing list if it's offered. Most sellers only send out a few times a month and it usually contains a great notice of an upcoming sale or a short list of really hot newly listed items. Finally, you might get some e-mail worth reading!
I am a seller on eBay, but I am also an avid buyer. I think it's crucial for all buyers, new and old, to understand that the majority of sellers are honest and the few bad apples do not mean that you can't always have a fun time shopping on eBay. As a seller, I loathe the frauds and the liars that sell their junk and steal my money. I also know that most of it can be prevented with a few easy to take precautions. Be smart, be thoughtful, and be careful and hopefully you'll enjoy each and every eBay purchase you make.
I hope this helps a little. If we all do our part, eBay can be the best place to find just about anything and everything you need, and for a price that would make Granny Penny Pincher blush. Thank you.
Guide created: 11/01/06 (updated 10/17/09)
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