Making a Purchase on Ebay

Virtually everyone has heard of Ebay. Many have made successful purchases there and unscrupulous dealers may have ripped others off. I once thought that I had gotten a great deal on a Persian rug only to find the shipping to be outrageous. But more to the point, how can you make sure that your Ebay experience is optimal? Let’s look at five rules to consider when using Ebay:

First, always check out comments on a seller before you buy, and be wary of one with all great comments from only a few users. One or two negative comments may actually be a good sign (depending on what they say) as no one can please everyone.

Second, know the value of what you are bidding on. Do an Internet search on the item and establish a range of prices, and don’t forget shipping and handling costs!

Third, use a bidding engine. (I use www.esnipe.com) A bidding engine will usually do a few things for you:
1. Verify the amount you want to pay as being valid, before the end of the auction
2. Bid on the item just seconds before the close of the auction
3. Prevent you from getting into a bidding war, probably with a bidding engine!

Fourth, use PayPal or a credit card that will go to bat for you if there is an issue. Being able to reclaim funds is a great way to prevent unscrupulous dealers from selling you a ‘bill of goods’.

Fifth, be sure to leave accurate feedback after you have received your purchase, which helps in building your own positive profile.

If you follow these five rules, you will find that you win more auctions and are generally happier with the purchases you have made.

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NEW POTTERY BARN HAYDEN PERSIAN STYLE WOOL RUG 5 x 8 AUTHENTIC ONLY ONE ON EBAY $269.99

NEW POTTERY BARN HAYDEN PERSIAN STYLE WOOL RUG 3 x 5 AUTHENTIC ONLY ONE ON EBAY $152.99