Ebay Tips: How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off and Common Mistakes Sellers Make

Here are some things you can do to avoid getting ripped off on eBay:

1. Check the persons feedback rating. This is where others give their appraisal of the seller.

2. Check how long the person has been a member of the day. The longer they have been a member of the better.

3. Look at the number and scope of products that the person sold in the past. If they have been selling cheap magazine clippings for a few months and all of a sudden they're selling a Gulfstream jet then this obviously would be suspicious.

4. Never send money outside of pay pal or the normal eBay processes for submitting payment. I would advise against using Western Union or some type of obscure payment process.

5. If something looks too good to be true it probably is.

6. Beware of spoof e-mails. This is something to eBay has been having a lot of trouble with. Spammers and scam artists are crafting clever e-mails that look like they're really from eBay or an eBay user. Don't fall for this trap. Go to the eBay web site to see if you have any messages in your inbox. Even after doing this be cautious.

7. Don't ship products unless you received payment and can confirm that the payment is legitimate. People are buying things on eBay with stolen credit cards and stolen funds. It is okay to wait a day or two to let the money cool off before you ship your item.

8. Check and see if the person has had previous usernames that have been canceled. If they have had a history of using multiple usernames then this is a red flag. Don't ever buy from people who have a history of multiple usernames.

There are a number of mistakes to avoid while selling on eBay. Here are some below:

1. Not giving an accurate description. People want to know every single detail about the product they intend to buy. If there is a scratch they want know about it, if something doesn't work they want to know about that. Remember to under promise and over deliver and you'll ensure a satisfied customer.

2. Using poor pictures. I'm amazed at how many people take the time to write a good description but have a distorted picture presenting their item. the picture is the most important thing. The majority of people will not buy something unless they can view a quality picture of it.

3. Asking too high of a price. Many people ask too high of a price and they end up getting hurt by the overhead costs when no one buys their item. Study competitors prices to gauge a reasonable price for your products.

4. Not listing a detailed shipping process. People want to get the product quickly and in good order. Be clear on the cost of shipping, the time it takes to ship, and the policies put in place in case the package is missing or damaged.

5. Not having enough patience. It is not reasonable to wait a week for someone to submit payment but some people only check their eBay accounts a couple times a week. So give the customers at least a few days to pay for your item if you're not using the pay now option.