Buying Effectively on eBay
Buying on eBay may be fun and cost-effective, but it can also be an art form—one with many common pitfalls. These articles help you to complete the buying process, from deciding which item and seller are right for you to making your bid and paying for the item(s) you've won.
» Visit eBay Shopping Tips for tips and guidance to help you shop successfully for goods of a specific type or value.
» Visit Parts of eBay Item Listings to learn more about the specific parts of eBay item listings and how to use them to determine whether the item you're looking at is the right one for you.
» Visit eBay Shopping Tips for tips and guidance to help you shop successfully for goods of a specific type or value.
» Visit Parts of eBay Item Listings to learn more about the specific parts of eBay item listings and how to use them to determine whether the item you're looking at is the right one for you.
Buying on eBay: Quick Tips at a Glance
Just the quick and dirty tips on how to buy most effectively on eBay. What to do, what not to do, and links to more information.
Just the quick and dirty tips on how to buy most effectively on eBay. What to do, what not to do, and links to more information.
How to Make a Purchase on eBay
How to Bid or Buy on eBay: An index to the basics, from joining to finding your item to placing a bid.
How to Bid or Buy on eBay: An index to the basics, from joining to finding your item to placing a bid.
Evaluating Item Listings
Evaluating Item Listings on eBay: what they contain, how to read them, and whate each part means for you as a bidder.
Evaluating Item Listings on eBay: what they contain, how to read them, and whate each part means for you as a bidder.
eBay Feedback Evaluation Quick Guide
Even if you understand how eBay's feedback system works, it can sometimes be hard to decide how to measure feedback percentages and scores against one another. Just what percentage is good? What score is good? This quick guide gives you an easy-to-read table detailing it all.
Even if you understand how eBay's feedback system works, it can sometimes be hard to decide how to measure feedback percentages and scores against one another. Just what percentage is good? What score is good? This quick guide gives you an easy-to-read table detailing it all.
Understanding Listing Details
eBay item listings contain a wealth of information that can make bidding seem to be a complicated affair. Never fear, use this handy visual guide to the official information at the top of eBay item listings to help you decide whether or not to bid.
eBay item listings contain a wealth of information that can make bidding seem to be a complicated affair. Never fear, use this handy visual guide to the official information at the top of eBay item listings to help you decide whether or not to bid.
Understanding eBay Bidding
How the proxy bidding system at eBay works and why it's different from live auctions.
How the proxy bidding system at eBay works and why it's different from live auctions.
A PayPal Primer
Understanding the payment system preferred by eBay and the majority of its active buyers and sellers.
Understanding the payment system preferred by eBay and the majority of its active buyers and sellers.
Returning eBay Purchases
It's inevitable that eventually you'll buy something on eBay, maybe even as a gift, that just doesn't work out and needs to be returned. When it happens, there are a few things to keep in mind as you proceed.
It's inevitable that eventually you'll buy something on eBay, maybe even as a gift, that just doesn't work out and needs to be returned. When it happens, there are a few things to keep in mind as you proceed.
Using eBay Reviews & Guides
Use eBay Reviews & Guides to find out how other eBay members rate the products that you're interested in buying and to get hints and tips on the best way to shop.
Use eBay Reviews & Guides to find out how other eBay members rate the products that you're interested in buying and to get hints and tips on the best way to shop.
Innocent Gotchas to Avoid While Buying
Hasty buyers can find themselves annoyed or dissatisfied with otherwise honest sellers if they fail to study item listings carefully. Here are some things to look for and avoid.
Hasty buyers can find themselves annoyed or dissatisfied with otherwise honest sellers if they fail to study item listings carefully. Here are some things to look for and avoid.
Buying and Selling To Order With Want It Now
If you're having trouble finding a very specific item on eBay or are interested in finding a buyer before you place a listing, consider using Want It Now to streamline the process.
If you're having trouble finding a very specific item on eBay or are interested in finding a buyer before you place a listing, consider using Want It Now to streamline the process.
Bid on Items, Not Auctions
Ever wish you could bid on a whole group of items since you're willing to buy any of them? In the past, you couldn't do this without the potential for being responsible for more than one purchase in the end. Now, with Bid Assistant, you can tell eBay, "I'll take any one of the following."
Ever wish you could bid on a whole group of items since you're willing to buy any of them? In the past, you couldn't do this without the potential for being responsible for more than one purchase in the end. Now, with Bid Assistant, you can tell eBay, "I'll take any one of the following."
From eBay: Buying—Getting Started
eBay's own guide to getting started as an eBay buyer. Covers the basics, from searching through payment and delivery.
eBay's own guide to getting started as an eBay buyer. Covers the basics, from searching through payment and delivery.
From eBay: Guide to Buying Formats
eBay's guide to the many ways that buyers can make purchases from eBay sellers, and how each differs from the rest.
eBay's guide to the many ways that buyers can make purchases from eBay sellers, and how each differs from the rest.