BUYING TIPS: eBay 
 
While eBay does its very best to create a safe, secure shopping experience for its members, you as a shopper can follow these basic safety tips and suggestions to ensure a positive buying experience.
 
1. DO! Check the seller’s feedback.
Positive feedback rating of over 95% is good. If there are many recent negative feedback, then this is not a good indication. Also, read all the negative feedback. Are these negative feedbacks reasonable? What type of response does the seller have for these feedbacks? Does the seller’s defense sound reasonable?
 
2. DO! Look for verified sellers.
The sellers must have some kind of identification or recognition seal like Paypal verified, or Square trade or a Power seller seal on the auctions. Such sellers are more reliable. This is especially a good check when you buying an expensive item.
 
3. DO! Ask seller a question before bidding on the item.
Responsible sellers reply promptly to questions usually within 24 hours. Ask all the questions you need to feel comfortable bidding on the item.
 
4. DO! Look for auctions that have images on the listing.
If there is no picture, then the items are probably not there and the seller may be selling on behalf of someone else. Try to stay away from these auctions. Almost all sellers will put at least one picture of the item. Also, if no image is listed then it may be an indication that the item may not be in good condition. If you are still interested in the item, contact the seller for an image.
 
5. DO! Look for listings with complete item descriptions.
A good seller will put all of the necessary information about the item in the listing so you can make an informed buying decision. Look for the auctions that contain a lot of product information so you know that the seller has taken the time to give you as much information about the product as possible.
 
6. If the seller has not mentioned any shipping and handling terms, then ask before bidding.
There are many auctions where the seller mentions that shipping and handling will be paid by the winning bidder without actually stating what that shipping is. Do not put yourself in a position where you have agreed to the terms and condition of the sellers without having all of the information. Make sure you know how much it will cost to ship the item you you if it is not explicitly stated in the auction.
 
7. Reliable sellers have clear description on their refund policy.
If it is not there, then ask the seller for it. If the seller has no refund policy, then do not bid on the item. If the there is no refund policy in the auction description, then make sure you get the refund policy in an email from the seller. In this way, you have a document of the refund policy.
 
8. Do a search for the sellers past items on eBay.
Check to see if the seller has sold similar items in the past. To search on the past auctions, go to the Advanced Search page. Here click on the items by seller link and type in the sellers ID and check the box for Include Completed listing. It is always good to check this especially if you are considering buying something expensive.