I believe each of us needs to look closely at who's selling and who's writing guides to see if they are the experts they claim to be.

No, I'm not a seller of Haunted items. No, I'm not an expert. I'm just an individual buyer who has had some good and bad experiences here in the Metaphysical area of Ebay. If one person can learn from this guide, then it's well worth the bit of time it took to share this information.

If someone claims to be an expert or has vast experience in the metaphysical field, how can you be sure?

While it's impossible to check what a person does in their everyday life, here on Ebay, if someone is claiming to be an expert in a subject I'd advise checking their feedback. Experts shouldn't hide their feedback. Experts should have more than 75 feedback relating to their field of "expertise".

 Experts should not be Ebay sellers/buyers who have joined Ebay within the last 5 or 6 months. In a nutshell, people claiming to be experts on Ebay should have plenty of Ebay experience for us to see.

I know there are new Ebay people who are quite knowledgeable about the paranormal. However, if these people are sellers, they should not be proclaiming to be experts, they should be letting their reputation build and  establishing a clientele based on their own merit, items and talent.

If they are a buyer writing a guide, they need to realize that we don't know them from a hole in the ground and if their feedback is very low in numbers or hidden, how do we know they are what they say they are?

This is what the feedback system, however flawed, was designed for. Use that feedback system and check:
1.  how long a member has been on Ebay
2.  if their feedback is private (why?) low rating or numbers (why?) not very many (why?)
2.  if they've changed names (and check that feedback)
3.  what their feedback relates to (many feedbacks are totally unrelated to whatever someone is claiming to
     be an expert in).
4.  Actually read the feedback. See if it's something like "fast shipping", "wrapped well" or if it actually
    pertains to the item sold and results or impressions.

After doing a bit more review of Guides and Auctions, I felt I needed to add one more thing here. It seems some sellers or guide writers claiming to be "Experts"  feel the need to put down or personally attack other sellers or buyer in their auctions or guides.This should set off  HUGE warning signals. If they are new to Ebay within the last few months, their feedback is hidden, low in number amount or low in percentage, then, personally, I would steer clear of them.

They may or may not know what they're talking about but I don't like braggers in real life and I like people who try to throw their weight around or bully even less. Why would I believe something written by or want to buy from someone who shouts their own praises so loudly here and talks badly about others? Whatever happened to proving yourself by your own actions?

Let me see the facts and statistics if you want my business.

In short, do your due diligence about a seller. And do your due diligence about someone claiming to be an "expert" writing Guides as well.

Please note: I am not saying all new Ebay sellers/buyers don't know anything, I know of a few with few feedback who are wonderful and great and I know a few with tons of feedback who are not. I'm just saying that if someone claims to be an expert, they darn well should have something to back that claim up with. If they are new, then perhaps they can direct us to another online site where they've been "selling for years, contributing articles, etc".

Anyone can write a guide and claim to be an expert on: Dragons, Fae, Djinn, Demons or just Haunted items. Heck, it doesn't take rocket science to type a few words. I just did it :)