Be Clued Up On Buying With E-Bay

E-Bay can be complicated and confusing, this is a summary of some important points for buyers:

A shorter summary is available on our site: http://www.becluedup.com/AuctionSites.html

Find out if he’s a trader because the law and your rights are different:

A trader is anyone who buys and sells, goods, services, according to UK + EU law. His, feedback, sitestore, other items, links, should reveal this.

Your rights are different depending on the Country you purchase from.

UK + EU Obligations:

Listing and product description must conform to ‘Trades Description Act’

A Trader is responsible for the delivery of your purchase in the condition described.

You’re entitled to a full refund:

Cancel order within seven days (even in a ‘buy now listing auction’).
Return the goods within seven days of receiving it.
Item isn’t delivered within thirty days.

A fuller account of buyer rights are published here: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_world/consumer_affairs/buying_on_internet_auction_sites.htm

However, if you deal with a rogue trader, despite the law, you're likely to be disappointed and they’re best avoided.

E-Bay gives you pointers to determine a good trader.

Never trade with feedback including the words, ‘Counterfeit’ ‘Paid Never Got Item’ ‘Item Didn’t Work’ ‘Item broken’ unless you can determine it’s untrue or there’s a very good explanation.

A trader’s reputation is critical because he has to turnover and move lines, if bad he puts customers second and is likely to let you down.

If he has negative feedback check the reply, this can tell you a lot about his character.

Feedback from an established user carries more weight and credibility.

Don’t make an assumption, just, based on his feedback rating. Check it against the items sold. Be suspicious of a lot of low cost items, especially, if your item is higher value.

Is the negative deserved? You could, reasonably, assume one customer in a hundred might be awkward, but anyone with a rating less might have a problem.

Check the postage costs:

Remember a trader is responsible for insuring delivery whether he charges you for it or not.

He could be selling an item cheaply and putting it on postage costs.

Check a trader doesn't add VAT on the sale price; he has to state this in listing.

Protect Yourself:

Always use a credit card when using Paypal because your credit card company might be quicker at reimbursing you.

If a product is wrongly described, or you didn’t receive the goods, he could be charged with obtaining money by deception, trader or not.

A product description is a legal statement for both parties and must be studied thoroughly. You should avoid vague descriptions like, a few scratches, bit dirty, unless you can get an exact description or picture that fully describes the item. If he makes assurances they should be amended in the listing or in an e-mail.

Avoid desperate traders, these types of people are easily picked from their listing and use terms like:‘I’m the best’ ‘I’m the cheapest’ ‘I’m better then….’ Generally overdose on superlatives. They're the type who leave insulting feedback like, 'he's a waste of time!' 'Idiot!' etc.

Non-trader:

If he has bad feedback check:

If he has an attitude problem he will deter bidders. If know how to handle awkward people you could get a bargain.

If he sounds dishonest don't bid.

Paypal payment listings get more bids so don't ignore auctions without.

Bidding Tips:

Don’t start a bidding war, bid as late as possible, it can fuel impulsive bidding:

The seller could be bidding against you.

Check the feedback of bidders:

Attention to:

Low or no feedback.

Low value buying.

Could it be another account associated the seller?

Using a service, or software, like Snipe, to lay your bid seconds before closing is good because you can decide precisely how much you’re willing to pay.

Copyright Becluedup.com 2007