Until a fortnight ago, I was an ebay virgin. I knew of the site, of course - who doesn't, with the amount of pop-up ads it has with other sites? - but I'd never been so much as tempted to go beyond a quick glance at the home page. It all seemed rather complicated - signing up, browsing, bidding, checking back, ways of paying etc. Then I started collecting DVDs and a friend told me to get myself registered with ebay and start bidding, as there were some serious bargains to be had. Now, two weeks later, I have a pile of movies awaiting my perusal, and a serious ebay addiction.
So here is my guide to other nervous ebay virgins, or EBAY BUYING FOR DUMMIES…
What is Ebay?
It's an online auction site. Simple as that. It's like a real auction, except online. You bid for items and, if you're the highest bidder, you've got them.
What does Ebay sell?
What doesn't it sell, more like! There are categories on Ebay for just about everything you could think of, and for things you can't think of there's
a category called 'Everything Else'.
Browsing the Site
From the Ebay home page, you can search for a specific item, or choose a category and browse.
When you choose a category, you then have the choice of looking at items in that category that are added that day, ending that day, or 'going, going, gone' (i.e. if you want them you've only got minutes left and you'd better get your bid in quick).
When you see an item that interests you, click on it and you are taken to more information about that product. There will also be information about the seller, about the methods of payment the seller accepts, and about the postage and packing charge the seller will add.
Next to the seller's name will be a number in brackets. This indicates the number of feedback notes from buyers the seller has received. ALWAYS check this out, and only buy from sellers who have largely (or all) positive feedback.
If you like what you see, go back to the item description page and make your bid from there.
In order to bid, you need to be registered. Registration is a simple process and can be done from any page on the site (link top of page).
Place your maximum bid in the bid box on an item's description page. Ebay will then bid on your behalf up to your maximum stated amount. Bidding increments (e.g. 10p at a time, 50p at a time) are stated below the bid box.
Once you're registered with Ebay, you will have your own page called My Ebay. This page is accessible via a link at the top of the page from all pages on the site.
On your page you'll find all the items you're currently bidding for. This table will show you whether or not you're the highest bidder, and how much your bid is currently worth.
If you get outbid, Ebay will email you immediately so you can go back and increase your maximum amount if you so choose.
My Ebay
This page really is your gateway to the site. As well as showing the status of your current bids, it has sections for:
Items you've won Items you've bid on but not won Items you are selling Items you've sold Items you put up for sale which did not sell Items you're watching
If you see an item you're interested in but don't know whether to bid or not, you can go to that item's description page and select 'watch this item'. You can then track the item from you’re my Ebay page to see how it's doing.
Last minute bidding
In any category, you can select 'going going gone' to see items which only have minutes or hours left before they sell. By refreshing your page frequently, you can watch the price and get involved in some last minute bidding if you really want something or it looks like a bargain.
This can be really exciting, but don't forget to refresh the page frequently to remain up to date.
Winning an auction
If you win an item, Ebay will email you immediately. The email will include instructions on how to pay.
Paying
Many Ebay sellers accept Ebay payments, aka billpoint. If they do, you will see a little gold padlock/bag symbol next to the item. This means that you can pay straight away with your debit or credit card when you get the email, and ebay then pay the seller. In order to do this, though, you must register as a billpoint user (instructions on the site). Unfortunately, however, this facility is due to end soon and will be replaced with paypal, a similar system which many sellers are already using. (Visit www.paypal.com to find out more).
Many sellers also accept cheques and postal orders.
There are sellers who have their own Ebay Shop and these usually accept credit cards too. When you click on an item and go to its description, you will be informed next to the seller's name if they have their own Ebay Shop (basically their own section of the site on which they sell things).
After payment
Sit back and wait for your goods to arrive. And when they do, you can go to the seller's feedback page on the site (find it in the Items I've Won section of your own My Ebay) and leave your comments.
Things to watch out for
I've bought from Ebay about 12 times now, everything under a tenner, and I've had nothing but quick, trustworthy transactions. Some sellers I've bought from have sold hundreds of times, others just once or twice.
When you buy from Ebay you are taking a chance. If the seller is a fraud, you are the loser and you have no come back on Ebay. Any contract is between you and the seller, not you and Ebay.
Probably the best way to avoid coming a cropper is to only buy from sellers who are long-standing members and who have loads of positive feedback and are clearly trusted.
Obviously this isn't foolproof and there's always a small chance you could get stung, so you have to make up your own mind.
However, all ebayers have to start somewhere and it seems rather unfair to ignore new ones just in case. So my advice is not to buy anything expensive from a new seller, but to give them a chance on cheaper things.
And if you use your credit card (NOT your debit card) to make all your purchases, then you are covered by your credit card company and won't lose your money if you don't get your goods.
Overall
I'm absolutely delighted that I discovered Ebay. I've had great fun bidding and buying, and all the DVDs I've bought have cost half of what I would have paid in the shops.
If you're doing a lot of bidding, then Ebay can be time consuming, what with all that watching and waiting and checking your emails, but for me that's half the enjoyment.
Like everything else, my ebay addiction will wear off and I'll get tired and look for a new toy to play with, but for the moment I'm enjoying every moment.
That's it from me. I've a couple of bids I want to track and tomorrow I intend to start selling so I've some research to do before I begin.
Happy bidding, bargain hunters!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I've not used it myself because of all the negative press I'd heard. Shame though - it appears you scooped up a few good bargains on it! :o)
KarenUK 28.02.2003 13:08
Just as well I haven't got a credit card!!
SusanLesley 12.02.2003 08:13
I started as Auburnsue selling stuff before we moved house and I still use this name for bits and pieces, but I have now opened a shop called Braemargifts and it's doing quite well! So I guess I'm addicted! Susan
Advantages: Sell unwanted items; Buy wanted items cheaply; Well structured site. Disadvantages: Transactions are the users risk. People who don't pay up for goods they've won.
HappyBunny 23.04.2002 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of ebay.co.uk
Jan 22nd, 2003
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