Before you bid or buy on eBay, it is important that you get to know as much as
you can about your seller. Always check their member profile, and particularly
their feedback ratings. Don't just check their feedback score or % of positive
feedback - check the comments that other buyers have left, and whether they have
experience selling items of a similar type and cost to the one you're interested
in. You can find this information in the "Meet the Seller" section, in the top
right of the page on which the item is listed.
If a buyer leaves an unfair comment, a seller has the chance to respond, so read both sides and make up your own mind. You should be able to build up a fairly good picture of your seller using this method, and it should support you in making an informed decision when choosing who you will buy from.
In the "Meet the Seller" section, you can also see how long a seller has been registered on eBay, and look at what other items they have for sale. Or try their About Me page. Some sellers put a lot of time and effort into providing a lot of information about themselves, so this is a great place to start.
Make sure you read the item description fully before you place a bid or commit
to a Buy It Now sale. The item description is the part of the page where sellers
tell you about the characteristics, condition, etc., of the item they are
selling. Make sure you check the things that are particular to that item - for
example, if you buying clothes or shoes, check you've got the right size. If
it's a collectible book, check the printing date and edition, or if it's a
digital camera, check the model number, and make sure it has the features you
require. If a buyer leaves an unfair comment, a seller has the chance to respond, so read both sides and make up your own mind. You should be able to build up a fairly good picture of your seller using this method, and it should support you in making an informed decision when choosing who you will buy from.
In the "Meet the Seller" section, you can also see how long a seller has been registered on eBay, and look at what other items they have for sale. Or try their About Me page. Some sellers put a lot of time and effort into providing a lot of information about themselves, so this is a great place to start.
Other things to consider when you are checking the details of
the item include P&P costs, what payment methods your seller accepts, and
the details of their returns policy, if they offer one. If there are details you
need to know, use the "Ask Seller a Question" feature. You will find this on the
right-hand side of the page on which the item is listed. All sellers can be
contacted by email, and some by Skype, depending on the category. Good sellers
will be happy to help and should respond within a day or two. Also, study the
photographs closely, and if you can't see the item properly, you could always
ask the seller to upload more
Check The Buy Safely Box
You will find this to the right of the page on which the item is listed, under the Ask Seller a Question area. This will allow you to check the seller's feedback score and comments, and will give you details about whether the item is covered by PayPal Buyer Protection, and what returns policy is offered. This information is invaluable when it comes to comparing sellers and making informed buying decisions.
Check The Buy Safely Box
You will find this to the right of the page on which the item is listed, under the Ask Seller a Question area. This will allow you to check the seller's feedback score and comments, and will give you details about whether the item is covered by PayPal Buyer Protection, and what returns policy is offered. This information is invaluable when it comes to comparing sellers and making informed buying decisions.
