eBay Guide
eBay is the leading online marketplace in the world. It allows individuals and small businesses to buy and sell goods and services safely and securely online, either through auctions or fixed-price trading. For those looking for a great bargain, a source of products for your business or as a way of making extra income, eBay could be just what you are looking for.
Buying on eBay
Before shopping on eBay, you need to register with them. It is free and quick to do. Click here to get started now.
To begin shopping, you need to find an item that you would like to buy. There are a few ways you can do this. One way is to type in a general keyword or phrase into the search box at the top left of the screen. As you type, a list of suggestions will drop down to select from if you wish. In the example below, you can see that as "digit"" was typed into the search box, the drop down menu suggested likely items that match the existing letters, such as "digital camera", "digital radio", "digital photo frame" and so on. Simply select one of the choices with your mouse or keyboard if it is what you are looking for, or you can finish typing in your keywords. Click on the "Search" button to the right of the search box once you are satisfied with your selection.
As shown in the example below, you can further refine your search by clicking on the tab at the top of the search results for "Auctions only" if you only want to bid on an item, or the "Buy it Now only" tab if you prefer to buy an item outright. There are also a number of options to the left of the search results under the "Refine search" and "Preferences" tabs that enable you to narrow your search even more. These include a chance to choose the category of the item, your price range, whether the seller is based in Australia only and whether the item is new or used. Finally, clicking on a phrase in the "Related Searches" area may bring you closer to the item you are looking for. Once you have refined the search to your satisfaction, you can look over the items listed and click on any that you may be interested in.
Alternatively, you may simply browse the different items that are currently available in the many different categories eBay lists. On the eBay home page, as seen below, there is a "Categories" tab under the search box. If you place your cursor over the tab, a selection of categories will be shown. You may click on any of these to be brought to a second screen showing sub-categories within the main category chosen. Or you may click on "Lots More..." to choose from other, more esoteric, categories.
Whichever search method you use, once you click on a selected item, you will see an enlarged image of the item along with all the relevant information relating to it. An example of what you will see is provided below. For those items taking bids, you will see the current highest bid or the starting bid and a blank form where you can enter your maximum bid. If you would like to place a bid, you need to enter the amount you would like to spend into the form and click on "Place Bid". Alternatively, many items are able to be bought outright. Simply click on the "Buy It Now" button to do so. Other information you can see on the item page include the time left to place a bid for those items taking bids, the cost of postage, where the item can be posted to and the location of the item. If you scroll down the page, there is more information provided by the seller, such as a more detailed description of the item, larger photos, payment methods and the seller's refund policy.
Before placing a bid or buying an item outright, you should check out the seller. You can do this by looking to the right on the item screen. This shows the name of the seller, the feedback score she has received, how long she has been a member and where she has been located. You can also examine the comments left by other members, which forms their feedback score, and contact the seller if you have any questions about the item you would like to buy. You should also take note of their refund policy. In Australia, you are legally entitled to a refund on items purchased if they are faulty or not what was advertised. You are not covered though if the item was bought at auction or if you simply change your mind. By doing all of these things we have discussed, you decrease the chances of having a bad buying experience on eBay.
After winning the bid for an item or clicking to purchase an item outright, you need to pay for your purchase. Depending on the seller, you may pay via your PayPal account, a credit or debit card, bank transfer or COD. The seller will send you the item you have purchased once they have received payment for the item.
Once you have received the item you have purchased, you should examine it and make sure that everything matches the description of the item provided by the seller. It is a good idea to leave feedback on the seller, and also to ask them to do the same for you. Building a good reputation for yourself on eBay will ensure that people are happy to trade with you. Letting people know about sellers will also add to your reputation and help you be part of the eBay community. To leave feedback, click on the "My eBay" button at the top right of any eBay page. On the left side of the screen, click the "Feedback" link under the "My Account" tab. Finally, click on the "Leave Feedback" button to leave a comment for the seller you purchased your item from. Note that you must leave feedback within 60 days of your purchase. They also have a checklist that you must complete before leaving negative or neutral feedback in the interests of better communication between buyers and sellers.
Ready to shop on eBay? Click here to become a member on eBay and start shopping!
Selling on eBay
If you have a number of items that you no longer need, you may want to consider selling them on eBay to receive some extra money. If you have a small business, you can also use eBay as an extra way to trade your goods or services.
To become a seller, you will need to become a member of eBay, select your payment fees for selling your items, confirm your identity and choose your payment method for your buyers.
Once you have completed this process, you can click on the "Sell" tab at the top right of most eBay pages. You will be asked for a description of the item to begin the selling process, and eBay will then guide you through the other options that you need to choose from to complete a listing.
For a complete tutorial on how to sell on eBay, click here.
Ready to sell on eBay? Click here to become a member on eBay and start selling!
Questions? Comments?
Are you a member of eBay? Would you like to be, but have some questions first? Want to talk about the good and bad about eBay?
Join the community discussing eBay on our forum here.
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