So you want to buy on Ebay but don't know where to begin or just have problems trusting the system enough to complete a transaction? Well you've come to the right place. Buying online is so much fun if you know what you are doing. It can also be a nightmare if you run into the wrong type of sellers. Most sellers are honest people looking to unload their old stuff for a little change. However there are sellers whose only intention is to mislead, decieve and steal your money from you. I will tell you how to avoid these types of sellers. Nothing is guaranteed but if you follow my suggestions and tips you will be ahead of 99% of the buyers out there and should have mostly smooth pleasant transactions.

Tip #1: Look at feedback percentage. I usually buy only from sellers with at least a 98% or better feedback. Of course you've to to use common sense here and your gut feeling as well. If  a seller has something that you really want and is lets say 97% you've got to make that call and you create your own standards that is just my standard. You've got to look at the overall picture as well not just the positive feedback percentage.

Tip #2: Read the feedback comments. Looking at the positive feedback percentage is one thing but actually reading the comments is more reliable in determining if the seller is any good or trustworthy. Try to read between the lines. Some buyers won't give negative feedback fearing they will get negative feedback in return if they leave negative feedback so they may something leave neutral or positive feedback but no so positive comments. So you must read the comments. It will tell you if the seller really ships fast or on time and how they ship it. It can tell you if they are willing to work with the customers should something go wrong such as sending a new item or giving a refund.

Tip #3: Avoid sellers with many negative feedback no matter how low the price for the item is. It's just not worth taking the risk for a suppose "bargain"  if that bargain ends up being a nightmare. So don't just go for the cheapest seller but take into consideration the big picture and not just the price you just might end up paying more if you don't choose wisely to begin with.

Tip #4: Try to buy from sellers with at 20 feedback or more if you can. It shows you a pattern or record of their past transactions and gives you an idea of what type of seller they are. Any feedback less than 20 can be a fake seller maybe up fake sales using fake accounts. Many will only make a couple or several fake sales to make them look like legit sellers most however will not go to the trouble of making 20 fake sales as it is time consuming and too much work for the con artist. The more feedback the more you can rest assure you won't have problems. Too much transaction or feedback usually won't end up as fraud however can end up with shipping delays since they have many sales and customers to tend to. I suggest buying from 20 feedback to a few hundred feedback sellers are the best in my opinion. These sellers have enough experience and a proven track record to not be frauds and aren't too busy as the many thousand feedback sellers so you get more attention to your item being shipped on time.

Tip #5: How long has the seller been selling? If the seller has been registered say for 4 years yet only sold a few items or none I would stay away or be a little hesistant. Why hasn't this seller bought or sold anything in all this time? Let's say the seller has been selling few a few months but have already reach a few hundred feedback then that seller is okay in my book as long as the feedback are mostly positive and so are the comments.

Tip #6: Avoid zero feedback sellers or with many negative feedback and with a percentage less than 98%  or at the very least 95%. If the item you are bidding on is not expensive and you are willing to take a risk then so be it however I would avoid 0 feedback sellers if someone else with more feedback is selling it for just a little bit more. You've got to make the call.

Tip #7: How many times have the seller change his or her name. If the seller changes their name too many times within a short span of time then take caution and beware they might be trying ot hide their previous identity.

Tip #8: Never pay with Western Union only pay with credit cards or Paypal. If the seller only accepts Western Union or cash that is a red flag. Even if the seller is not looking to decieve you the rest is just too great and not worth the transaction. Past experience has proven these methods to be use by thieves and crooks and still continue to use these same methods. In my opinon if they don't that Paypal I go somewhere else it's just not worth the risk for something that you think is a deal and turns out to be your worst nightmare.

Tip #9: Auctions with good, big, clear pictures of the actual item being sold and not just some generic photo tend to be the real deal. Honest sellers have nothing to hide so they will describe in detail the condition of the used item. If the item is new they will still provide a decent description and spell out all the terms of the transaction out clearly in the auction such as return policy and shipping costs. Watch out for sellers who write in fine print the fine details or use no or bad pictures are probably trying to hide something.

Tip #10: If the auction you're interested doesn't give you enough info or tell you what you need to know always send an email through the Ebay messaging system by clicking on ask seller a question link. If the seller is slow to respond that is not a good sign. Doesn't mean the seller is necessary a fraud it just means they will probably ship your item slowly as well or refund your money slowly as well. All emails should be answer within 24 hrs in my opinion. Faster than that such a immediately or a few hours is excellent and highly recommended and is what I do for my customers. Any seller that respond in say 2 -3 or more days I will avoid because I don't like to wait for my stuff even if they eventually send it it shows me they lack customer service skills and doesn't make the buyer feel special or a priority at all. If the seller has a lot of sales then I give them  48hrs or 2 days at most to respond to my question however if the seller has only a few hundres or less feedback they should respond by 24 hours in my book

Well these are the top ten tips I came up with through years of trial and error and personal experience and what I read from other buyers as well as from books I read. I hope you enjoy this little guide to help you feel safe in this vast marketplace. Don't let your fears hold you back from so much fun and excitement as long as you learn from my tips, trust your gut feeling, and use some common sense you should have a trouble free shopping experience in the biggest mall in the world. Happy shopping.