eBay Buyers Guide.
There has been a lot of media attention lately regarding ebay seller scams. Unfortunately, the media doesn't point out the 1000's & 1000's of happy transactions that take place DAILY on eBay, where the buyer is EXTREMELY happy with their deals and bargain purchase(s).
The majority of buyers and sellers on internet auction sites are honest, although there are some that are there to scam people.
A recent auction scam that has been in the media, is where dishonest auction sellers
were posting pictures of items for sale and included in very small print that buyers were bidding on the photo of the item instead of the real item itself. When the photo arrived in the mail, and not the product, the buyers were obviously very upset! Many of these dishonest sellers HAVE been arrested for this fraudulent activity!
Here are 6 steps to avoid online auction problems and fraud:
(You may wish to watch our short eBay SAFE buying Video -- click here.)
1) ALWAYS Check the Seller's Feedback Profile:
One of the best ways to judge a seller's reputation and honesty is to check their feedback. Many buyers will give feedback on a sale or transaction made with a seller, this rating is found in the seller's Feedback Profile -- at the top right of the auction page.
Make sure the seller has a large number of feedback entries, with the majority of them as positive (a few negatives are okay -- you can't please everyone all of the time!). If the seller's feedback has a lot of negative entries, it will be very difficult for that seller to buy or sell anything on that auction site in future. Again, always Check the seller's feedback, and if it is not predominently positive, DO NOT Buy from them. There are, of course, some instances where the seller is new to eBay and has few feedback ratings. Be VERY careful with these sellers. They may be Perfectly honest, yet with no positive feedback, it can be very chancy for you. Consider the cost of the item -- if it is a higher priced item, it is advised to look elsewhere or offer to purchase through "escrow."
2) ALWAYS Read the Auction Listing Thoroughly:
Make sure you read all the Auction details completely. Look for wording like New, with tags, in sealed box, for new items. Alternatively, the seller should detail the item as used or previously owned if it is not a new item. They should also tell you what the condition of the item is in, etc. In addition, make sure you are aware of the SHIPPING and HANDLING cost. Sometimes a Seller will list an item at a very low cost, yet charge an unusually HIGH amount for shipping. Most sellers detail their auctions indepth -- so be sure to review the Entire auction listing.
3) Get the seller's contact details:
Before you bid on an item, especially a higher priced item, make contact with the seller. On eBay, you can usually click on a "contact seller link" (and send an email to the seller) found on the auction you are viewing. You could contact the buyer through email by requesting further information about the product in which you are interested in buying or bidding on. If you can get a phone number or an email address, you have a better chance of solving any possible problems that may arise with the product you are purchasing.
4) Safe eBay Payment Methods:
Credit cards are the safest way to buy anything online. Usually, in the case of fraud, the credit card companies will back YOU up, the buyer, and cover the cost of the purchase. Online payment services such as PayPal (Need a Paypal account – Signup (Click Here)) are also popular with auction site users -- both buyers and sellers. PayPal is an account-based system that sends money via credit card or bank account. If you do use PayPal, it is recommended you either keep Only an amount in the account to use for eBay purchases or other PayPal type purchases and/or use the "pay by credit card" option through PayPal.
5) Use an Escrow Service for High Dollar Items:
For high priced items, you may wish to consider using an escrow service. An escrow service acts as the middleman between the buyer and the seller to ensure a fair and complete transaction.
The escrow service will hold the item, and the money, until you (the buyer), has approved the purchased item. Once you (the buyer), approves of the item, the escrow service releases or pays the money to the seller.
An escrow service will usually cost you (the buyer) extra. However, when buying expensive items, it may be well worth the extra expense.
6) Complaints / Fraud Protection through the Auction Site:
Most online auction sites, including eBay, have a complaints' department available. For example, if you are unhappy with the goods, or you have not received the goods, you can report your complaint through eBay's complaint department. PLUS, you can also leave negative feedback on the seller's profile. Many times, leaving negative feedback on a seller's profile will increase your chances of having your complaint settled by the Seller quickly. They absolutely do NOT want negative feedback and will usually take the necessary steps to make you happy, if your complaint is justified.
In summary, most buyers and sellers on internet auction sites are above board and honest. And, if you use the above 6 eBay buyer safety tips, you should have not any problems with transactions on eBay or other auction sites.
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