How to Buy on Ebay
 
We have made some great decisions and purchases on Ebay.  We have also made mistakes and bad decisions on Ebay.  Most importantly we have learned from the mistakes we have made and would like to pass on some advice to you.  There are some simple rules to follow when making purchases on Ebay that will save you money.
 
Buying on Ebay has become so popular because you can find almost anything you want in its auctions.  Here are the most important things to do when looking for an item on Ebay:
1. Rare items are normally easy to find, but using the right keywords will help you find the best deal.  Don't think like a buyer, use keywords that you would use if you were selling the item you are looking for.  Be as vague as possible with those words and you will find some very interesting items.  You can always narrow down your search if the words you use don't find the right item.
2. Try looking in the category that you think the item would be listed in.  By checking the category, you will find misspelled titles and other items that you may not have found otherwise.  Other sellers put their items into a category that is too vague, so make sure you check every possible category that the item you want may be listed in.  Many people do not research items properly before purchasing on Ebay.  Take advantage of this and make sure you leave no stone unturned in your search for the best deal.
3. Check out all of the small print!  Sellers used to apply huge shipping costs to items and hope that buyers would not notice until after they agreed to purchase the item.  This is not done as much today, but should you pay shipping for something that is delivered through Email?  Make sure you read the fine print.  Larger sellers have typos in their listings and you would be best off to check with them before agreeing to buy from them.  It is easier to get a question answered than it is to back out of an agreement to purchase.
4. Use the Watch function while doing your research.  This will leave items that you are interested in buying in an easily accessible area where you can find them when you are ready to purchase.  It will also leave you time to research and think about your purchase.  Impulse buying on Ebay can cost you a lot of money if you aren't careful.
5. It is extremely important to look elsewhere online!  Google Base or Froogle, as well as other price comparison sites, are a great place to check whether the deal you found is as good as you think it is.  Normally you can find the best deal right here on Ebay, but it is always best to look around before you buy.
6. Ebay's feedback system is extremely important.  If a seller is by far the cheapest seller for the item you are looking for and has a -1 feedback score, odds are that they will take your money and run.  The system is in place to make you feel more secure about buying from a person on Ebay.  Keep in mind that even the best sellers get a negative feedback here and there.  If they have a score of 10000 and they have 2 or 3 negatives, they will be a safe purchase for you.  We have personally been robbed on Ebay and never saw our money or the product.  Ebay does the best they can to protect all of its customers, but there are too many scammers out there for Ebay to save us all.