Shopping with eBay

[charleychacko]

One of the greatest and best Internet stores out there is www.eBay.com.  In case you were burrowed under a ferret for four years, eBay is an online marketplace. 

People sell or buy EVERYTHING on eBay - video games, toys, collectibles, mugs, rugs, cars, and pretty much anything.  You could pick some antelope poop off the road and sell it on eBay.

eBay is fun to visit, even if you don’t plan to buy something.   Go to You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login and search for whatever interests you.  I did a search for “Prescott” and found tons of stuff up for sale â€" from historical photographs to Christmas mugs (nope, no antelope poop

Want to get in on the action?  Here are some tips to getting a good deal.

1. A good strategy is to wait until the auction is near its end before bidding.  Your bid has less chance of being topped by someone else.

2. Start slowly.  Begin using eBay by buying a low-priced item.   

3. Avoid counter-bidding. This strategy can raise prices unnecessarily.

4. Whenever possible, use a credit card, This protects you from losing your money outright.  If for any reason you don't get the item, or it arrives broken or in a condition other than promised, you then have the credit card company on your side.

5. Don't jump in too fast.  Take time to browse through comparable items, get a sense of what's out there.

6. If you lose out to another bidder, don't take it personally.

7. Set the maximum price that you will pay for the item.  Sometimes during an auction, buyers get caught up in the "competition." 

8. Before you bid, look at the seller's rating.  Have other buyers had a good experience with this particular seller?

9. Be skeptical.  Items are sometimes sold on eBay for more than their real value.  And although eBay has an internal police force that keeps an eye out for cheaters, scammers do exist.