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How To Buy Safely on eBay and Buyer Tips

1.  Thoroughly Read the Listing Make sure you read and understand all the information provided on the listing page; listing description, terms of sale, and pictures. Check payment options, S&H, insurance, delivery method and time, refund policies, etc.  If specific information is not supplied or you have a question, be sure to contact the seller BEFORE placing your bid.  Avoid making assumptions about details that are not included.  If there is anything that seems odd or out-of-place contact the seller. And remember, if it seems to good to be true..... it mostly likely is! 2.  International or Cross-Border Shopping (USA and Canada) Before placing your bid, be sure the seller offers shipping to your country AND if there any additional costs.  Buyers are responsible for any duty, taxes or brokerage fees that might apply.  Ask the seller to include a copy of the listing or an invoice, and mark on any shipping (custom) forms the actual price paid, not including S&H fees.  Please do not ask the seller to mark it as a gift. 3.  Check the Sellers Reputation (Feedback) This only takes a few minutes of your time.  From the item page, or wherever you see the seller’s User ID, click on the number in brackets after the seller's User ID.  You will be able to read what previous Buyers have said about doing business with that seller.  If you have doubts, either contact the seller or move on.  Let your conscience be your guide. While there are bad sellers, there are also excellent sellers who have received undeserved negatives. Let your conscience be your guide. 4.  Learn about the Seller Most Store owners have custom Store Pages and many also have a ME page.  You can learn about more detailed Store Policies (Terms of Sales) and about the seller or their products.  Look for custom links or buttons on the seller’s Store home page and the ME icon beside the seller’s User ID after their feedback rating. 5.  Ask the Seller a Question If you have any questions, contact the seller. You can do this by: i)  Within a listing page, click on "Ask seller a question", located on the top right side of the listing, under "Meet the seller". ii)  Click on the seller’s feedback number, you will be directed to their Member Profile.  Click on the Contact Member button. iii)  The seller may also include their email address on their Me Page or on one of their Store custom pages When contacting the seller with a question, be sure to include the eBay Item Number and Title of the listing.  Many sellers have hundreds of listings.  If you have not heard from the seller within a reasonable amount of time, be sure to check any "spam" folders first, in case your email program filed their reply email there. 6.  Accurate Buyer’s Information Be sure your personal information on eBay is correct and up-to-date (if your address is incorrect, you are not eligible for eBay or PayPal Buyer Protections).  Since you registered on eBay, you might have moved or changed email addresses. 7.  Place your Bid 8.  Pay Promptly and Correctly Sellers will send you an invoice or email advising you of the total cost of your purchase.  Many sellers have specific payment methods and also a time limit on when payment should be made. If making a multiple purchase from the same seller, most will require one combined payment in order to qualify for a combined shipping price. 9.  Understand Transit Time Sellers may advise you of the estimated delivery time for your item to arrive, however, they cannot be responsible for the service of the post office or courier company.  Keep in mind that carriers count business days, not weekends or holidays.  If cross border shopping, there may also be border delays. 10.  Leave Feedback (Voluntary) Understand how the feedback system works before you leave feedback.  Feedback should be left after you consider the transaction complete.  If you are happy with the transaction, be sure to leave positive feedback for the seller.  If you had a problem or you are not satisfied, before you leave negative feedback, try and work it out with the seller first, give them an opportunity to "make it right".  If you leave negative feedback before contacting the seller, the seller is less likely to work with you for a solution. 11.  Communications If any problems do come up, contact the seller first, before taking any action.  Be factual, reasonable and polite.  Give the seller an opportunity to address your concerns.  Keep in mind, most eBay sellers are just one person with a life outside of eBay and do their best to make you happy. 12.  After the Transaction Once you have bought from a seller and you like their products and service, be sure to save them in your favourites and sign up for their Store Newsletters if available. New To eBay eBay Buying Overview

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