How to trade on eBay without getting ripped off

There are 3 main ways people get ripped off when it comes to trading on eBay. They get ripped off by a buyer, by a seller, or their info is stolen through fraudulent emails claiming to be ebay or paypal. I will give you some tips to keep you safe in this guide.

#1 "Spoofed" emails claiming to be from paypal or ebay.

From an email I got from ebay: "Emails such as this, commonly referred to as "spoof" or "phished"

messages, are sent in an attempt to collect sensitive personal or financial information from the recipients."

They look very much like regular ebay and paypal emails, and are usually telling you about a "problem" with your account, your password, your shipment, your payment. I decided to write this guide after getting two of these emails so far today alone. Your credit card has been declined; your payment for seller fees can not be processed; we are confirming your bid on this outrageously priced item you would never want; all sorts of good things to make you go "Uh oh, I better fix this."

How can you spot a spoof?

A. For starters, anything that really IS from ebay appears not just in your regular email, it is in your my messages on the ebay site. Any email sent to your registered eBay email address from eBay or from another eBay member via eBay's member-to-member communication system will now appear in My Messages. Just remember, if you get an email to your registered eBay email address that looks like it's from eBay about a problem with your account or requesting personal information, check My Messages first. If it's not there, it's a fake email.

B. Even though the link in your email SAYS paypal.com or ebay.com, if you hold your cursor over the link (WITHOUT clicking, do NOT click these links!) and look at the bottom left of your browser window, you will see the URL the link really sends you to. It usually is something like paypaldotcomsomestupidnamedot net. Ebay and paypal's URLs will have a "/ " after the com if the URL is long, not another com name.

C. Your best solution when you find an email that you are unsure about? Click forward and send it to spoof@ebay.com (if the emails claims to be from ebay) or spoof@paypal.com (if the email claims to be from paypal). They will get back to you, usually within minutes, letting you know if the email is real or not. Why take chances? Forward suspicious emails to them and let them sort it out if you are still unsure after using my above tips.

D. Remember if there truly is a problem with your ebay or paypal account you will always be able to find that info out ON ebay and paypal's websites. So there is never a need to take a chance with bogus emails.

Here is info from ebay on the subject "If you still have any doubt about whether an email message is from eBay, please forward it immediately to spoof@ebay.com. Do not respond to it or click any of the links. Do not remove the original subject line or change the email in any way when you forward it to us.

If you have already entered sensitive personal information, financial information, or your password into a Web site based on a request from a spoofed email, you should take immediate action to protect your

identity and all of your online accounts. We have developed an eBay Help page with valuable information regarding the steps you should take to protect yourself.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/isgw-account-theft-reporting.html

#2 Buying on eBay.

Millions of transactions are processed for ebay orders on a regular basis. So how do you protect yourself as a buyer?

A. buy from established sellers with decent ratings. Sellers with at least 50 positive feedback and a rating of 97% or better are your best bet.

B. If the seller's listing does not say, contact them to find out if the item(s) will have a tracking number. Shipments through Fedex and UPS will have tracking numbers, but shipments through USPS (the post office) may or may not have a tracking number. If your seller will be shipping through USPS and is not planning on putting a tracking (delivery confirmation) number on the package, offer to pay the extra 60 cents to have one added. 60 cents is a small price to pay to make your package trackable. Or better yet, offer to split to cost of it with them. Tracking numbers benefit both buyers and sellers so most sellers will probably accept that offer.

C. Insure your package. If your seller offers insurance, and you opt not to take it, then most of the time you will not be covered if a package is lost or damaged. Sellers are not responsible for how the shipping carrier handles (or fails to handle) your package. If you want to protect yourself against a shipping carrier mishap, be sure to insure. Chances are your seller won't (and shouldn't) cover loss or damage to a package once it leaves their hands.

Sellers DO, however, have a responsibility to package safely and with proper packing materials to reduce the chance your item could be damaged. They also have a responsibility to ship in a timely manner.

D. Use paypal to make your payment. Paypal offers buyer protection and dispute resolution. And you may even qualify for special financing options. If you buy a guitar, and receive a handbag instead, start by contacting your seller. If your seller will not respond, or refuses to fix the problem, you can file a claim with paypal.

E. Read the description and terms of sale carefully. If you have any questions, or if there is something that is not addredded in the listing, use the ask seller a question link and ASK. Don't ever make assumptions, it is safer and easier to just ask. And if it takes the seller forever to get back to you with an answer, or they don't respond at all? Well then, it's better you found out now that they were unreliable... rather than after they have your money.

In summary; buy from established sellers, have a tracking number added to your shipment, insure your package, and use paypal to make your payments. If you follow these tips you will have fewer problems buying on ebay.

#3 Selling on eBay.

You know you are a good seller, but will that stop people from trying to take advantage of you? Sadly no. So how can you protect yourself as a seller?

A. Use tracking numbers. If you put a tracking number on each package, how will a buyer ever claim not to have received an item when they really have received it? Include the cost (if any) of a tracking number in your S&H fees and explain on your listing description that you do track your packages. This helps buyers feel more secure.

B. Offer insurance. Even if you do not require insurance (I don't) you should at least offer it. If your shipping method already insures your package automatically, be sure to note this in your listings. If your shipping carrier does not offer insurance automatically, make an option for your buyers to purchase insurance. And make it quite clear in your listings what your policies on lost or damaged items are.

For example: Insurance is optional on purchases from me. But if someone opts not to purchase insurance, they are accepting the consequences if it is lost or damaged. My listings clearly state that: Insurance is highly recommended. We are not responsible for items lost or damaged in transit. We will not pay to reship, replace or refund uninsured orders. By purchasing from your listing, and then choosing not to insure, your buyer is accepting these terms.

C. Prefer Paypal. Paypal offers sellers protection against claims and charge backs. Plus, you can search paypal's records in several different ways. This allows you to locate a payment should a question or problem arise. Plus, you can print USPS and UPS labels right from paypal. You can save yourself alot of hassle by using paypal.

D. Keep good records. Need to know Susy Lou Who's tracking number because she hasn't received her package? Want to know if Sally Made Up's order shipped yet? There are so many questions you will have over the course of your sales, it makes sense to have an easy way to reference your info.

If you are a small scale seller, a simple card box and index cards should be enough. For medium to large sellers consider databases, spread sheets or one of ebay's selling tools like selling manager. Records are vital. No buyer wants to deal with a seller that says "Yeah I shipped when Susy had a baseball game. What was that? Monday, Tuesday? Ah who knows"

Besides, it gives you the support you need when dealing with your customers. What's that Sally? You haven't gotten an email from me? My records show I issued emails on the 3rd, 5th and 8th of this month to you about this issue. You will get alot father if you can back yourself up with dates, it's a great way of covering your behind.

E. Provide good customer service. You will have less problems with buyers who have less problems with you. Answer emails promptly and completely, address questions and concerns thoroughly.

F. Package well. It is amazing how many sellers overlook this very important step in the selling process. Your goal isn't to get something to your buyer. It is to get the item(s) they ordered safely to them. Whereas it is true you can not control your shipping carrier's actions or how they handle your package, you can however control the likelihood that something will become lost or damaged. If you labels the shipment clearly, and protect the contents, there is far less likelihood of a problem.

Print out, or clearly hand write, a shipping label with the buyer's and seller's addresses clearly displayed and legible. You can print labels from paypal or from USPS, Fedex, and UPS websites. Ship items in a bubble mailer or a CD sleeve. If it is to go in a box, bubble wrap each item and/or use packing peanuts. Mark the outside of the package with any special instructions such as; Do not bend, Fragile, Contains Liquid, etc.

If you use these tips you should find your time on ebay safer and more profitable.

Happy Trading!

Sandy, thewitchescupboard

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