How to Buy on eBay

Registering for an Account

If you are a bargain hunter, then you will definitely want to take advantage of the great deals you can find on eBay®! To start shopping & saving money, simply go to www.eBay.com & set up an account. It is free to have an account, free to shop around, and free to buy items (except for the actual cost of the item of course).
 

Setting up an account is simple. Just click on the "register" link on eBay.com, enter your information (choose an eBay® user I.D., enter your name, address, email, etc.), and confirm your registration by clicking on the "confirm account" link in the email that eBay® sends to your email account. Once you register for an account, you can start by shopping & looking at listings.
 

Also, before you start searching or buying items, you may want to read our Preventing Fraud section to ensure you don't get scammed.
 

Searching for Items

To start searching for items on eBay® , enter a keyword into the search engine & hit "search." It will then bring up all of the items listed on eBay® with the keywords you entered. You can then browse through the various listings.

Also, you can sort your searches based on price (low to high, etc.), time the listing has left, or locations closest to your zip code. This can help you to narrow your search & try to find the best deals.
 

Once you find an auction that you are interested in, always read every description carefully. Make sure that is it is the proper condition, size, shape, color, format, etc, that you want. If you are ever unsure about something, always contact the buyer before placing your bid.

Also, take time to understand how much the shipping will be, and how long it will take for it to be shipped as well as the payment terms. I would estimate that 90% of the problems buyers have with an auction is the fact that they do not take the time to actually read what they are buying first. They then get the product & are unhappy (and usually blame the seller) because they did not read the entire auction.
 

Also, take time to look at the seller's feedback rating. If he or she has a poor percentage, then you may want to quickly browse a few of the recent comments.
 

Bidding & Buying Items

Once you have found an auction you are interested in, carefully read the entire auction, asked the seller any questions you have, and checked the feedback rating, you are ready to place your bid or "buy it now."

To place a bid, simply click on the "bid now" button in the auction. You will then be taken to a page where you can enter the full amount you are willing to pay. It is best to wait until the last minute to place your bid to avoid getting outbid by another buyer.

Also, bid in random amounts. For instance, most people will bid a whole dollar amount ($5.00). To try to ensure that you are the winning bidder, enter a random amount ($5.37). When you place your bid, make sure to enter the full amount that you are willing to pay for the item. You will only have to pay that much if the auction reaches that amount.

If the auction is a "buy it now," then you will not have to worry about bidding & you can immediately buy the auction.
Once you win the auction, you must pay according to the terms of the auction. Most sellers will accept Paypal® , money orders, or checks. It depends on the seller and some sellers may only accept one payment method.

Always make sure to pay as soon as possible for your item. There is no point in waiting several days before sending payment. You should try & pay immediately, or at least within 1 day. Also, NEVER place a bid unless you intend to pay. This costs the seller money and time, and you will likely get suspended from eBay if you do this.
 

Completing the Transaction

Once you have submitted payment, wait for the seller to deliver the product. If the buyer delivers the product as advertised in a reasonable amount of time, you should go ahead and leave them a great positive feedback. As a buyer, it is your responsibility to leave feedback first. For eBay® feedback etiquette, click here. If there are any problems with your purchase, always contact the buyer first to try & resolve any issues.

Now, you can learn how to sell items on eBay.

Learn How to Sell on eBay