Avoiding Counterfeit Items on eBay

Every now and then I hear from someone I know who has paid what they consider to be a fair price for an eBay item—only to receive a poor-quality copy of the item they thought they were purchasing. The common thread that runs through many of these complaints is the unusually low price at which the item was purchased.

While there are good deals to be had on eBay, it's also true that smart shoppers don't cut corners or believe offers that are far too good to be true. Buy with your eyes wide open and don't let yourself be taken by sellers that traffic in fake or grey-market goods.