"Safe Buying" is a subject which has come up again and again on eBay, but cannot be stressed enough.  Safe buying is smart buying, and here's a few tips to help you become a smart, successful online shopper.

Shop With Your Credit Card, Pay Instantly With PayPal.
Why?  Quite simply, PayPal is one of the most secure, trusted, and widely used online payment services in the world.  You can pay with funds stored in your PayPal account, or draw funds from a major credit card or bank account which you can keep on file at PayPal.  Many sellers process credit card payments through the PayPal gateway (because it allows them to accept more types of payments from different countries at a very low cost) and will require you to have a PayPal account to do so - however some will process your credit card purchase via PayPal without requiring you to have a PayPal account.  But even if using PayPal to pay for your purchases, it is wise to fund that payment through your on-file credit card.  Should something go wrong, your credit card company may offer protection from fraud even in situations where PayPal may not be able to resolve the problem for you (check your cardholder policy for details).  For instance, PayPal's dispute claim service is available up to 45 days from date of purchase, but your credit card may protect you for far longer.  If you have purchased something from overseas which may take quite a long time to arrive, this kind of protection is very good to have.  

• There are people who don't like PayPal, usually because they have experienced a transaction that went "wrong".  As both a buyer and seller, I have used it for 95% of my online transactions since 2001 and have yet to be disappointed by them - even when I had to file a dispute.
• When using PayPal or your credit card online there is no chance of your payment being lost or delayed due to postal service interruptions (holidays, labour disputes, natural disasters, etc.).  It is also faster and easier for the seller to give you a refund should it be necessary. And unlike mailing cheques or money orders, there are no stamps or envelopes to buy!
• Many people are nervous about paying online - but rest assured that PayPal is one of the safest ways you can make an online purchase: the seller does not see ANY of your financial information, at any time.

Know Your Seller.
Always read the seller's feedback - and if you get a really uneasy feeling, don't buy until you've taken a closer look at them to be sure.  Often people ignore their instincts and end up regretting it later.  Believe me, the world market is a very big place, and someone else will eventually have the same item for sale at some other time - so if something looks suspicious it's better to be safe than sorry!  If your seller has any negative feedback, read the comments from buyers, and read what the seller had to say in their follow-up remarks. Sometimes negatives can be deceiving, because sadly, some buyers will leave negative comments for very minor complaints, although they really shouldn't (always try to resolve the situation with the seller before leaving feedback).  Keep an eye out for seller responses that sound professional and helpful - good customer service often isn't noticable until a problem needs resolution, and a good seller will be more than happy to work with you to ensure your satisfaction.

• PowerSellers. As my father always said, "there are no gaurantees in life other than death and taxes".  "PowerSeller" status does not imply that the seller is 100% superhuman perfect, however only sellers who maintain a very high positive feedback rating and who do a great amount of business on eBay can hold that title.   Chances are if your seller is a PowerSeller, you are in very good hands.  But as with any seller, I still recommend checking their feedback just to be sure.

Know Yourself.
Take your measurements accurately, double check the model and part number, ensure that your software is compatible, and check your budget! "Buyers' remorse" is unfortunately extremely common because people don't take a moment to check these few simple things. Saving yourself from regretting your purchase later by making sure you're buying the right item also saves the seller a lot of time and effort - everybody wins!

Read, Read, Read!
Before you click that "bid now" or "buy it now" button: READ!  That item description is there for a reason, and can tell you more about the item AND more about the kind of seller you are dealing with. Here are 5 steps you should put on your buyer's checklist:

1. Do they ship to your country? If they don't say "worldwide" or list your area/country, keep searching. Not everyone delivers worldwide. However on occasion I have found an item I absolutely loved, and asked the seller if they would ship to me in Canada, and they did.  However don't assume this is always the case.  Most sellers list certain countries only because they mean it.
2. Size and specifications.  If the seller hasn't included that information, either find one that has, or ask them (use the "contact seller" button) BEFORE you buy! Personally, I won't buy clothing from a seller that doesn't list the size and measurements (not all mediums are truly "medium", actual measurements are a huge help), describe the colour (since all monitors are different and may not display colours the same way), or mention whether it's new, used, flawed, etc.  It only takes a moment to measure something or provide a description - nothing says "professional individual" more than putting in time and effort to sell you something!
3. Pictures.  Pictures speak a thousand words.  I would not recommend buying from a seller who didn't include at least one photo of the item, even if it's a poor quality photo - because the fact that they even have a photo is a good indication that they actually have the item in their possession. Look for a seller who provides clear, well-lit colour photos.
4. Terms of sale (return policy, payment policy, buyer requirements, etc.).  Make sure the seller accepts your method of payment, and check to see if they have any requirements. Many sellers will only sell to local buyers, buyers with a certain number of feedback points or with a confirmed PayPal address, or have other conditions which you may need to meet in order to purchase from them.   Also, have they made any mention of a return policy?  It is a great comfort to know if an item can be returned/exchanged, especially if you are not sure if it is going to be the right size, colour, etc. Remember, according to Ebay policy, by buying a seller's item you are expected to have agreed to their terms of sale - ignorance is NOT your friend!
5. Shipping methods.  Ensure that the shipping service offered will suit your needs.  In many cases a seller will ship your item with a faster (or slower) service to either save you money or get your item to you on time for your special event. It never hurts to ask (but ask before you bid or buy).

International Buying - Customs. 
Delays and customs fees/taxes/duty charges due to international shipping are completely beyond the seller's control - they cannot predict what you will have to pay, if anything at all.  When buying internationally, you should prepare yourself for possible delivery delays and having to pay customs fees on top of what you have already paid for the item, even though the item may in all likelihood arrive in time and without incurring customs fees.  If you are concerned what these delays and fees might be, I advise contacting your local post office or government customs office for more information.  In my experience, usually if an item's value (closing price) is over $50 USD you should expect to pay some sort of duty or tax.

Getting the Best Price.
The "search" feature is your best friend here on eBay - use words or short phrases which describe what you are looking for.  But keep in mind, the more words you use, the fewer results you will get, which can be both good and bad.  By being too specific ("navy blue mens golf shirt size large") you may miss out on some great deals.  "Blue mens shirt" is less specific and will give you more results, but may also make it difficult to find exactly what you're looking for quickly.

• Check their other listings. Many sellers have more than one of an item available - always check their other listings (or eBay store) to see if they have another item in the size you need, or at a lower price, BEFORE you bid or buy.  Most sellers combine shipping for multiple items, so while you're there take a look around and see what else they have, and save on shipping costs.
• Bidding.  When bidding on auctions, a good idea is to bid up to the highest amount you would be prepared to pay (imagine bidding $15 and then kicking yourself later because you would have gladly paid $20 for it in a department store - it's best to just bid the $20).  Ebay bids on your behalf automatically up to your maximum when other people add their bids ("proxy bidding"), so you don't have to keep coming back.  This helps prevent being outbid at the last moment - you may lose an auction if you wait until the last second to enter a higher bid.  That being said (and I know sellers are going to HATE me for telling you this), I have found that waiting until the night before the auction closes, or when possible early that day, is the best time to put in my bid.  Bidding too early often draws attention to an auction, and we all know that deep inside we hope we're the only one who has seen it and are going to win it at the opening price!  But bidding at the very last moment ("sniping") can backfire.  I have tried this and discovered that right while I was trying to bid, the system had logged me out - and by the time I logged back in, the auction was over. Also, try bidding an unusual number such as $1.03 or $20.57 - most people will only bid up to the nearest round number out of habit ($1.00, $20.50, etc.)!
• Ebay stores have a wealth of items which don't show up when you use the default auction search. Try out the "advanced search" options and check the box which says "All items including Store Inventory Items" (near the bottom of the page) and prepare to be dazzled with selection!

Communication
Buying online means relying on email as the main method of communication.  Make sure that your "spam" blocking software or "junk mail" filter will allow messages from eBay (ebay.com, ebay.ca, ebay.co.uk, etc.) through.  Check your messages frequently after placing a bid or winning/buying an item, and always keep communication with your seller polite and to-the-point. That being said, there is a lot of spam/fake email going around which use the PayPal and Ebay domains in the addresses, which are very convincing.  These are designed to make you log in to a fake Ebay or PayPal login page so they can steal your password and other acccount information.  To be on the safe side, DO NOT click any links in the email, and instead log into Ebay or PayPal in a new browser window manually to check your account and "My Messages" in My Ebay.

After the Sale - Feedback and Disputes.
Feedback is important on eBay, because it helps shape the reputation of both buyer and seller.  Buyers should leave feedback when the transaction is totally completed, in other words, when there is no more need to communicate with the seller.  In fairness both to yourself and your seller, if you are dissatisfied enough to think about leaving a neutral or negative remark, you should be dissatisfied enough to approach the seller with the problem and ask for a resolution.  Leaving a negative feedback remark without contacting the seller first to resolve the issue is unfair to the seller (who may be more than willing to help you, or have a return policy). Sometimes things happen beyond the seller's control (shipping delays, damaged parcel, etc.), and sometimes innocent mistakes are made, mistakes that can be easily fixed - we *are* human, after all!   But if you must leave a negative remark, keep it factual and impersonal - do not use threats and insults. Please don't abuse the feedback system. The last thing you want is a future seller blocking you from bidding and refusing to do business with you because they read the abusive or sarcastic comments you left for previous sellers.

Caveat Emptor ("Buyer Beware").
It is your responsibility to make sure you are buying the right item in the correct size and desired condition, so find out what you are getting into before you commit to it.  However the seller cannot read your mind and cannot possibly anticipate all the questions you might have about their item, and have all  questions answered in their listing.  So if you aren't sure, ASK before buying!  Remember, your bid is a legally binding contract.  If you win (or "buy it now") you are 100% obligated to pay for the item.

Buying on eBay should be a fun and rewarding experience, not a nightmare.  So whether you're a new buyer or a seasoned pro, buy safe, buy smart, and remember to have fun!

About The Author

My name is Elaine, I'm 36 years old, I'm from Vancouver (Canada), and I have been buying and selling on eBay since May 2001.  I love shopping on eBay, and although I am constantly learning, I am also more than happy to share what I've learned with others.  You can find out more About Me, or browse the many unique and unusual hand-crafted jewelry and accessories items I make and sell in my eBay store, Art of Adornment.