E-bay is undoubtedly one of the best venues to find bargains on just about everything, and 90% of these transactions go off without a hitch. But what can you do to protect yourself in the event that all does not go as planned? Here is one basic, commonsense tip that can make all the difference.

Paypal

Paypal claims to offer buyer protection, but many people learn the hard way that Paypal's protection may not be all it's cracked up to be. In the event of a dispute, Paypal may offer mediation, investigate, and even settle the dispute in your favor, but the bottom line is that if the seller has already cleaned out their Paypal account, you won't see a penny of your money. What to do?

Credit Cards

When buying on E-bay, unless you can afford to take the loss, ALWAYS use your credit card. Paypal should allow you to use your credit card to pay for your e-bay transaction, and this affords you a measure of safety you won't get anywhere else. Many credit cards offer their customers great protection against fraud and may even extend a product's waranty beyond what the seller or manufacturer promises.

So, if you really want that item, but the seller's feedback is not all it should be, or you have doubts, use your credit card, because it's always better to be safe than sorry.