6 Tips for Safer EBay Bidding

There are treasures to be found on eBay that you won't find anywhere else. Yet stories of eBay scams are everywhere. Perhaps you've run into one yourself. While there will always be people out there determined to deceive, with a few simple safety tips, you can protect yourself and bid worry free.

1. Read descriptions carefully

Many eBay sellers use templates that contain a ton of information, and it's tempting to skim. If you don't take the time to read the descriptions with care, you may not be getting what you think you are. Is the item new or used? Is it an original or a reproduction? Is the seller using a stock photo, or one of the actual item? If it's a stock photo, does the written description vary from what's pictured? Know what you're buying.

2. Check for a return policy

Each eBay seller has their own policies regarding shipping and returns. Check the listing for the terms. It isn't unusual for buyers to be responsible for return shipping. Also check if insurance is included or available for an extra fee. This could be especially valuable for higher priced items. Insurance or no however, be cautious of statements to the effect that "the seller isn't responsible once the item is shipped". This is a red flag that you won't get any help from the seller if your item is lot in the mail. Credit Card companies consider sellers to be responsible for delivery of your purchase, not just shipment. I'll go into greater details in tip 5.

3. Check feedback

Even if the feedback score is 100%, click on the number and read some comments. Neutral feedback doesn't change the rating percentage. Many buyers and sellers on eBay are afraid to leave negative feedback from fear that the other party will retaliate with a negative as well. Some people won't leave feedback at all. Others will leave a neutral or positive, but describe a negative experience in the comment section. It's worth skimming over a page or two of feedback to see if there are negative comments in disguise.

4. Ask Questions

If there is unclear or missing information in the listing, don't assume - ask. Rip offs and copies are rampant on eBay. If a listing doesn't state that the item is an original, send a question to the seller to ask about it. Only communicate with seller trough eBay's message system. If they lie to you about something, having that correspondence in the eBay system will help your case in a dispute.

Sellers may be leaving information out of a listing deliberately to mislead, or they may just not have thought to include it. Asking questions is also a good way to test out the customer service. If you don't get a reply as a prospective buyer, you probably won't as a dissatisfied buyer after the sale either.

5. Always pay with a credit card

It is much safer to bid and buy on eBay with a credit card than with a PayPal balance or bank transfer. Your credit card company offers much better fraud protection. If, despite your best efforts to read the listing, check feedback and asking questions, the seller is determined to scam you, your credit card can step in to get your money back.

PayPal has their own fraud protection, but it has some holes. If you do use your PayPal balance or an e-check to pay, you need to open a PayPal dispute within 45 days of payment, and if this doesn't get the seller to resolve your problem, you have an additional 20 days from opening the dispute to escalate it to a claim. However, what you won't find out unless you dig deeply into PayPal's user agreement is that, "PayPal will seek to collect from the seller by debiting the seller's PayPal Account up to the amount of your loss, and you will receive a recovery to the extent that the seller has funds available in the Account. . ." So if the seller has had the foresight to remove the funds from their account, you won't get any money back.

Credit cards generally have much stronger protection. If you don't receive your item, or receive something that isn't as described in the listing, you can contact your credit company and reverse the charge. You probably have more than 45 days to institute the charge back too. Check with your card company for their policy on how to do a charge back.

In order to make a purchase through PayPal with a credit card when you also have a PayPal account, don't log in when prompted. Click instead on the credit icons. After entering your information PayPal may recognize you and will try to get you to log in. Click on "Continue without logging in" and complete your payment. You don't need a PayPal account at all to buy using a credit card through PayPal.

6. Don't buy off eBay

If a seller contacts you off eBay about an auction or item you bid on, offering to sell it to you without going through eBay, don't do it. eay will not protect you and the seller won't be punished for any scam they run off the site.

There will always be people in the world who are out to make a quick buck at the expense of others. That's no reason to let them ruin your eBay bidding or buying fun. Be alert, cautious, be safe, and happy bidding!