Bidding and Buying on eBay - Top 10 Do's and Don'ts

It can be overwhelming when you first endeavor to join the eBay community and begin tapping into all that it has to offer.  You are probably wondering where to begin, how to find the best deals, what is safe, how to avoid getting burned, what protection is offered ... among dozens of other things.  This guide is to help steer you in the right direction, to recommend the most useful and helpful resources, and to share the most important do's and don'ts that I've learned along the way. 

I have been an eBay member for roughly 7 years (eBay has been around for 10).  For the first year or so, I timidly bid on small items and made isolated purchases here and there.  Over the next couple of years, I grew more comfortable with eBay, mainly by reading up and learning as much as I possibly could about it.  eBay became my first stop whenever I wanted or needed something ... and I began bidding and buying extensively.  I could see the potential that eBay harnessed, and eventually began to consider starting up a small business.  Within another year, I did just that.  I did not take any classes (on line or otherwise), did not buy any 'get started' kits or 'e-books'.  I navigated my own way, using strictly eBay's 'Help' section as a resource.  I now run a successful side business, an eBay Store called All About Beauty.  I have achieved Power Seller Status, a strong Feedback Rating, DSR (Detailed Seller Rating) and Reviewer Ranking, and a great customer base.  Along the way, I have dealt with all aspects of eBay in relation to both buying and selling.  This has given me a broad perspective that I hope will make my Top 10 Do's and Don'ts a helpful resource to new eBay members.

These tips are all in relation to bidding and/or buying on eBay ... and have been geared toward new members.

DO'S:                                                              

• Use resources / Get comfortable
• Read carefully
• Ask questions
• Leave feedback after every transaction
• Join PayPal

DON'TS:

• Guess or make assumptions
• Rush to bid/buy without reading
• Bid more than you originally intend
• Leave positive feedback before your item arrives
• Leave negative feedback without contacting seller first

DO - Use resources and get comfortable:  eBay offers a wealth of resources to answer questions and teach you how to get started with whatever it is that you are looking to do, from browsing and searching, to competitive bidding, buying or selling, from simple Help Topics to the Learning Center to eBay University.  All of these are available from the drop down menu on the "Help" tab which appears at the top right corner of every eBay page.  Start by simply browsing the Learning Center.  Walk through the steps of registering, browsing, searching and bidding.  That way, it will all be somewhat familiar when you go to actually begin.  Then, if you have specific questions, enter them in the Help Section.  You can also get live help by phone, email or live chat.  Get answers to your questions, and spend some time just navigating around the site and getting comfortable BEFORE you begin bidding/buying.  This will increase your confidence and comfort level - and will definitely help ensure a positive overall experience on eBay. 

DO - Read carefully:  Remember that eBay sellers are a varied group of individuals.  Policies and Terms will vary from seller to seller, so always read carefully.  Know what the most important pieces of information are to look for:

• Seller's Rating
• Item Authenticity
• Shipping and Handling Charges
• Terms (forms of payment accepted, how long you are given to remit payment)
• Returns (whether they are accepted and if so for refund or for credit and timeframe)

Because these policies will vary from seller to seller, it truly is your responsibility to protect yourself by reading carefully and seeking out these important pieces of information BEFORE bidding or buying.  Once you place a bid, you are committing to paying for that item if you win. 

DO - Ask questions:  If any of the above pieces of information are unclear to you, simply use the 'ask seller a question' link which appears in every single eBay listing, right beneath the seller's eBay ID.  Make sure you have received clear, definitive answers to all of your questions before bidding or buying.  Most sellers are friendly, responsive and more than glad to answer questions.  If not, this is most likely an indicator that you are better off finding your item elsewhere.

DO - Leave feedback after every transaction:  The Feedback Forum is the single most important way that sellers establish their reputations on eBay.  eBay has made it simple by encouraging this to be a normal part of each and every transaction that takes place.  When you log into your eBay account, just as your summary page displays a reminder for items you still have to pay for, it will display a reminder of items you still have to leave feedback for.  For those who do it, feedback seems to be a regular part of transacting on eBay, and they seem to do it 100% of the time.  Sadly, however, there still appears to be nearly a third of buyers who don't take the time to leave feedback.  It's as easy as the click of a button, and should take no longer than one minute.  It allows you to choose a Positive, Neutral or Negative rating, along with a single, brief line of text about your experience.  Recently, eBay has incorporated Detailed Seller Ratings (DSR's), which are the 4 most important categories in which eBay Sellers are ranked:  Description Accuracy, Communication, Shipping Time and Shipping Charges.  It's a simple 1-5 star system, quick and easy.  These rankings are important to sellers, and will become even more important this year as it will eventually tie to how visible a seller's items are in eBay searches and the fees that they pay for their listings.  Remember, feedback is not just for sellers - feedback helps other buyers decide which sellers to trust ... or to avoid.  It is truly an integral part of transacting on eBay.

DO - Join PayPal:  eBay's sister company, PayPal, is rapidly earning the reputation for being the safest way to pay for online purchases ANYWHERE ... not just on eBay.  This is because of the ingenious concept - you register with PayPal and decide how you would like to pay for purchases (you can set it up with any credit card, debit card or bank account!).  However you set it up is how your payments will be made ... however ... your account numbers are NEVER REVEALED to the company or individual you are transacting with.  PayPal is the one and only entity that has visibility to your personal account information.  It truly is the safest way to pay for purchases, and PayPal also offers a wealth of other benefits such as the ability to send or receive money to/from family and friends instantly, protection against unauthorized payments, dispute resolution, and special purchase protection on eBay. 

DON'T - Guess or make assumptions:  Never assume a product's size, condition or authenticity ... likewise, don't assume shipping and handling charges will be reasonable, that returns will be accepted, or that the listed retail value is accurate.  If any of this pertinent information is not readily available in the listing, contact the seller directly (use 'ask seller a question link' in every listing beneath seller's eBay ID) and get clear, definitive answers prior to bidding/buying.  If you are unsure of the listed retail value, don't take it at face value.  Do your own 'goole search' for the item and see what the going rates are to get a real idea of the value of the item you wish to bid on or buy.  Do NOT place a bid or use 'Buy Now' before getting all of your questions answered.  A bid is considered a binding contract on eBay, and while some sellers may be remiss in leaving important information out, you must ask your questions PRIOR to bidding or buying. 

DON'T - Rush to bid/buy without reading:  This may sound redundant or like common sense, but you would be surprised how often this happens, especially with new members.  It is not uncommon to get caught up in all the excitement that is eBay ... you see that favorite perfume that normally costs you $80 a bottle and it's about to sell for $20 ... and BAM! ... you've just purchased a previously owned, half-full bottle of perfume.  Remember, people sell EVERYTHING on eBay ... which is part of the fun ... but you have to read.  $20 for a half-full bottle of perfume may be a great find for some - while it may be awful to others.  That's why it truly is every member's responsibility to read carefully before bidding or buying.  This will prevent you from being disappointed with your purchase and will prevent the seller's frustration as well when they have honestly and accurately described an item they are selling only to find out their buyer is unhappy because they had an unrealistic expectation. 

DON'T - Bid more than you originally intend to:  This may also sound like common sense, but when bidding on eBay, and element of our competitive nature can sometimes kick in ... and it's alot easier than you may think to find yourself bidding higher than you had originally intended  because 'you'll be darned if that member dini701 is going to beat you again!'  Remember, most often, there will be the same or similar item up for bid soon; many times the exact same item from the same seller will go up for bid immediately upon the close of the auction.  You are much better off sticking within your personal limit and bidding over and over again until you win within your own parameters.  eBay helps make this even easier for you - if you're after a certain item, you can have them send you an email alert every time that item is listed, so you'll never miss it!

DON'T - Leave positive feedback before your item arrives:  I see this quite a bit with new members.  I answer a few questions for them ... they purchase something from me ... they're pleased with the communication, and the order confirmation and shipping details I send them ... and the next thing you know, they've left me positive feedback (which is very nice, and much appreciated - but it does not protect the buyer's best interest).  Feedback should be reserved until the conclusion of the transaction.  You never know exactly what you are getting until it has arrived and is in your hands.  Once you have received your item, and have inspected it, then by all means, please leave feedback.  Remember, the 4 most important ways eBay Sellers are rated (via Buyers' feedback) are Description Accuracy, Communication, Shipping Time and Shipping Charges.  You won't have a clue about Description Accuracy or Shipping Time until your item has arrived. 

DON'T - Leave negative feedback without contacting seller first:  If you are, unfortunately, disappointed when your eBay purchase arrives, resist the urge to pound out a derogatory remark via negative feedback.  In all fairness, before rendering 'final judgement', see what the seller has to say.  Maybe it was a genuine mistake, an oversight, or something that occured during shipping that may be covered.  Regardless of their listed policies, they may issue you a refund, replacement, credit or exchange.  Most good solid (service oriented) sellers are eager to go the extra mile for a customer, particularly if they've made a mistake.  You may wind up happier than you think!  Remember that feedback is meant to be a rating of the entire transaction, which is not complete if you have an issue you've not yet made your seller aware of.  How a seller reacts to and handles a problem should be part of what they are rated on - as buyers we all know that how you are treated when you have a problem is extremely important.  In any event, you always have the option to leave negative feedback after corresponding with your seller if you are still not satisfied.  If you do this before giving the seller the chance to 'right the wrong', you are even less likely to get the result you are hoping for (generally refund or replacement), as you will have permanently damaged the seller's reputation without even letting them know there was a problem or giving them the chance to rectify it.  Once you leave feedback, it cannot be retracted, so think carefully first.  By all means, if you have done all of the above and are still dissatisfied, then be honest and let other members know about your poor experience. 

I hope you find these tips useful as you navigate your way to finding your own comfort zone on eBay.  I truly love buying and selling on eBay and am always glad to help a fellow member.  If you have any questions, or think I may be of help with something - please - don't hesitate to ask!

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