If you don’t know exactly what kind of item you want, you can browse eBay listings by category to see all of the items listed.
What the seller tells you becomes part of the sale deal and provides a reason for return if the seller misleads you. It is better to be aware of everything than to throw away money in the hope the item will live up to your expectations.
Pay extra attention to the condition of the item in the photos. Are they only showing the picture of the box? You should be able to see the condition of the item in detail.
Check how many transactions the seller has performed. While it may not be wrong to do business with someone with only a few transactions (they may be new!), you are more likely to receive good service from sellers that have performed a large number of sales. A seller with a lot of sales will usually process your order faster and work to ensure that you are satisfied.
Don’t purchase from sellers who only accept cash. Avoid these sellers.
You can perform a Completed Listings search by clicking the “Advanced” link next to the search bar. Check the “Completed listings” box in the “Search including” section. Enter in your search keywords and then click the Search button. Listings in red will be completed listings.
Be sure to check the average price for the item you are purchasing. If you use the “Buy it Now” option, you may end up paying more than it’s worth.
Placing any bid binds you to the auction. By placing the bid, you are agreeing to pay the amount that the auction closes at. You cannot retract bids, so be sure that you are sure that you want the item. Bids can only be retracted if there was an error in entering a bid to begin with, not if you change your mind on an item.
Paying quickly will often result in the seller leaving good feedback for you, which will make future sellers more likely to quickly work with you. Did you know that wikiHow offers coupons for eBay? Check them out here.
Positive: You are satisfied with the transaction and would likely buy from that seller again. Neutral: You may have some issues with the sale process but not enough to leave a negative. Negative: Something about the sale disappointed or upset you. Before leaving negative feedback, always try to contact the seller and seek resolution. Most sellers will try to remedy any errors that they have caused because they value their feedback status. Many now offer refunds and in some cases, you may be able to reach a compromise that makes both sides happy. If you cannot reach a resolution, eBay can also intervene for you. After trying a reasonable amount to resolve the issue and you still have no happy outcome, leave a factual message as to why you found the transaction to be negative. Avoid abuse or inflammatory statements; these reflect badly on you and may cause future sellers to block you.
Always try to resolve your issue with the seller directly before using the Resolution Center. Most good sellers will attempt to make things right without having to escalate to eBay customer service.
