The final things to check for in any auction listing are all located near the bottom of the page, and include the following:
- Shipping availability. At the bottom of the auction listing you'll find a repeat of the shipping amount with new details: insurance pricing, shipping method, and geographic availability. Don't bid if you fall outside the stated shipment area or if you are unable to receive packages via the stated method.
- Return policy. eBay is not a retail store and doesn't behave like one when you want to make a return. Assume that you can never make returns unless the seller says otherwise or offers a guarantee either in the item description or in the return policy.
- Payment methods accepted. Check here and in the item description for details on methods of payment accepted by the seller. Note that these are the only methods of payment the seller accepts. Do not bid if you can't pay using one of the listed methods.
Understanding Availability, Returns, and Payment Details
These parts of the auction listing are important for buyers, but they represent a particular source of frustration for many sellers, since they are so often disregarded. It is considered very bad form to bid on an auction without taking the availability, returns, and payment information into account, and sellers are often unresponsive to the complaints of buyers who failed to read these terms. It is a violation of eBay rules to bid on an auction when you are unable to comply with its terms. This occurs most commonly when bidders outside the United States bid on an auction whose availability is "United States only," or vice-versa.More Availability, Returns, and Payment Details Tips
Payment issues are likely the second most common violation of sellers' terms. Every seller has groaned after receiving an email from a winning bidder who hasn't read the payment details terms: "I'm sorry, I didn't notice that you only accept credit cards. Will you take a check from me anyway, since I don't have a credit card?" Though some sellers are forgiving enough to bend their terms, they are also well within their rights not to do so.
In addition to payment methods you're familiar with, it's also common to see "PayPal" listed as a payment method on eBay. PayPal is a payment system that lets users quickly exchange money using checks, credit cards, or other sources of money without having to exchange account information. It is perhaps the most common method of payment in use on eBay.
