Welcome :: Buying on online auctions

Buying items on eBay and other online auction sites

The first thing you need to do on any online auction site is register. Here is a direct link to the eBay registration page. It’s fast and free, and you’re not required to put in any credit card information.

(The rest of this page is devoted to eBay specifically, but most of the principles in this discussion apply to using any online auction site.)

Then you can browse through eBay's never-ending listing for items that you might want to buy. (Visit the eBay categories page to see the different types of merchandise offered on eBay.) If you know specifically what you’re looking for, use the search function at the top of the page. To search for auctions with an exact name or phrase, use quotation marks, such as: "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix". To search for an auction more generally, just type in keywords into the search function, such as: Harry Potter books. Try to make your search keywords as specific as possible.

Many eBay auctions allow buyers two options to try to acquire items. You can "Bid" or "Buy It Now". Bidding on an item requires you to state the maximum amount that you're willing to pay to buy the item (at this point in time). Be sure to take the shipping-and-handling cost into account when judging the worth of an auction. Of course, you can always raise this amount if you're outbid (so long as the auction has not ended). If you decide to choose Buy it Now, you'll pay the seller the advertised price for the item.

When you find an auction you want to bid on, read over the entire auction page and terms. Be sure you’re comfortable with the listed shipping-and-handling cost the seller will charge, and check the seller’s eBay feedback rating. It’s probably not a good idea to bid on an auction where the seller has a neutral or negative feedback rating.

If you make a bid, be sure to track the auction, since many people don’t bid on a item until the last five minutes of the auction. Some people even use so-called "Auction Sniping" software to bid on an item in the auction’s last few seconds. (This is perfectly legal according to eBay, by the way.)

After winning an item, be sure to promptly pay your seller. Most sellers prefer PayPal, and if you plan on doing a lot of buying or selling on eBay, opening an account will make your life much easier.

Also, leave a feedback rating after you receive your item or service. The seller should leave a feedback rating about you as well. Be sure to take these feedback ratings seriously, as a good reputation will get you a long way on eBay.

If you’re not positive that you want an item, bookmark it on your "My eBay" page. This page lets you easily keep track of items your interested in, and you can receive email notifications when the auction is close to finished. Good luck buying on eBay! May you find the best deals...