So you've done a search for all the common keywords to find the most suitable product for the health benefit you're seeking and there are hundreds of hits!  WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?  If you're like me, you've read not only what's on the auction/store listing descriptions, you've probably done considerable research outside of ebay as well.  What you already know is EVERYONE has an opinion, but that's all you know!

Lose Weight - Gain Weight - Build Lean Muscle - Get More Energy - It's So Confusing!

Selecting the nutritional supplements that are right for you, your body, your lifestyle and your goals can be a daunting process.   The most important first step is identifying your goals.  Are you trying to lose weight?  Is your body nutritionally bankrupt and you want to make some deposits?  Have you recently lost weight and want to begin building lean muscle?  Once you've identified your goals, then you can intelligently and efficiently seek information to succeed.  First and foremost:

1. Ask your physician or other medical advisor.  Either ask them outright or bring/send information about a product you're considering and ask for their opinion.  If you have a trusted relationship with this medical advisor, you can feel confident that they will give you the best information available to them.  If they are not familiar with the product themselves, then the information you provide them will help them evaluate the program for you and educate them at the same time.
2. Talk to family and friends about any products they have used, heard or read about.  You might be surprised to find that others in your sphere of influence have actually considered the same subject recently (particularly if it's near 'resolution' time!) and have embarked on their own adventure of finding the most appropriate product for their goals.  You get the added benefit of finding there's a support system in place for you when you do begin a program.
3. Ask the trainer or nutritionist at the gym.  Obviously, those in the fitness arena may know more about nutritional products than most people and will likely have an opinion about specific products.  Discuss your goals with them and take whatever information you get to continue your research.

Don't let the enthusiasm of one recommendation decide for you!

You likely now have the name of three or four products or manufacturers to further investigate.  Some you will have heard of before, others will be completely foreign to you.  Resist the temptation to choose the one product that your most excited friend told you about just because your most excited friend told you about it.  Take the product information you've gotten so far and search for the information available on ebay.  Topics like health, nutrition, weight loss will give you a broad range of results while searches like Isagenix, Herbalife, and Weight Watchers will give you specific listings about those products/companies. Take the information you received from your medical advisors, family, friends and fitness experts and do some research on ebay to find out all the products that are available there.  Read the descriptions of the auctions and also search in ebay stores, where some sellers provide more indepth descriptions of the products.

THAT many people are selling this stuff?

Your next social shock is that every name of every product or manufacturer you got from those other people will be available by hundreds of sellers on ebay!  Okay, that might be an exaggeration but you get the point. How do you decide from whom to purchase the products?  It's simple:  the same way you choose a doctor, dentist, car mechanic or favorite restaurant - trust, service, price and value.

1. Trust - When you read the listing descriptions you will begin to notice and recognize sellers of certain products, particularly in a specialized arena like nutritional supplements.  With a product as important as your health, use your instincts and the comments of other buyers to determine if you trust the seller you're considering.  You can see what else they've sold by reading the feedback pages for that seller, as well as what other buyers thought of the transaction.   Does the seller's auction listing make unrealistic claims that are substantially different than others selling the same product?  Is this seller specializing in nutritional products or just sells whatever seems profitable? Can you see feedback specific to the nutritional product you're considering?  These all offer important clues to selecting the best seller for the product.
2. Service - Feedback is the most critical area to review to determine if this seller offers the most appropriate service.  Anyone can write anything in an auction listing but the buyers will testify if the service was that which was promised by way of feedback.  Unfortunately, not all buyers provide feedback so there is still some risk that unfavorable service will not be reflected in the feedback, nor will exceptionally good service, sometimes, but feedback will give you a general idea.  No feedback from buyers of this product?  That tells you something, too, so make sure you're listening.
3. Price and Value - These concepts are inseparable.  Buying the product at the lowest price does not always mean the best value.  You must evaluate all that the seller is offering - amount of product, price, shipping (type and cost), and anything else, tangible or not, that adds to what you are getting when you buy from that seller.  This can range from refund policies to internet-consumer communities, free samples to bonuses with purchases.  What adds value for you may not mean a hill of beans to anyone else, so value is unique to you, the consumer, but it can make the difference between a good ebay transaction and a GREAT one, when the seller is offering something that is extremely important to you.  This can be particularly important in looking at weight loss plans or nutritional supplements, where you may want service, information or assistance after the actual purchase of the product.

Send emails!

By now you should have enough information to have narrowed down what you'd like to try.  Don't be afraid to send additional questions to the sellers you are considering.  The kind of response you get, the timeliness of the response and all the information you get back will give you even more information about whether this is someone you want to do business with.  Send the same question to several sellers (if there are several available) and compare the results of your inquiries.  Keep in mind that what you are considering will affect your health, so it's not excessive to be too careful. 

Make a purchase, not a constitutional amendment. . .

Go ahead, click on Buy-It-Now and make that purchase.  That first purchase is going to be an extension of the research you've already done.  If it goes smoothly, you get what you want and its shipped appropriately and it does all you thought it would, received all the support you needed and thought you would get, then by all means, leave that seller some positive feedback, add them to your favorite searches, and repeat the process as necessary.  But if you're not happy with any aspect of the transaction, if you thought you would get more value from that seller and didn't, then select a different seller the next time until you find what you need and are happy with. 

You have become an informed, satisfied buyer!

After all this you are now qualified as an expert on the subject to your own friends and family when they ask YOU if you know about appropriate nutritional supplements and a good place to buy them.  You can direct them to your favorite seller to get the same wonderful service you've received and achieve the same nutritional enhancements that have made you healthy and happy.  You can replicate this process for any product you want to purchase, and you should, to be the most efficient and cost effective buyer on ebay.