ebay.co.uk

WARNING THIS IS A LONG REVIEW.
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Review on EBay.
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Web Address
United Kingdom: - http://www.ebay.co.uk
International: - http://www.ebay.com

About EBay.
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EBay is an International online auction site. It is free to join and is a great site if you like a bargain and enjoy auctions. EBay offers over one million listings of items for sale everyday, all listed under many different categories. There are hundreds of different types of product listed on Ebay, but Ebay is actually just the auction host. When you make a purchase from eBay, you are actually buying from another registered member of Ebay.

Opening an Account.
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Opening an account is quick and easy with eBay. All you need to open an account is a valid email address and a credit card to confirm your address. There are ways to get confirmed without a credit card but it is a little long winded and I personally have never had to do that as I had a credit card to open my account.
Firstly, you will need to fill in all you personal information in the boxes required, ensuring that everything is spelt correctly. You will need to choose a user I.D. when you register and a password. There is a password security measure at this point of the form that will indicate to you how secure your password is. This will also not allow you to register a password that is not secure. Once you have completed this you will be taken to another page to fill in your credit card detail to confirm your address and details. Your card will not be charged in anyway for filling these details and the details are only used to confirm your name and address re correct and real. It is 100% free to join EBay and to bid on items however; there are fees for being an EBay seller. (See Below).

What Products are Available on EBay.
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To be honest, it would be impossible for me to list the full range of items on sale on the EBay auction site so I am going to give a rough guide to some off the type of products available:-

Vehicles, Parts and accessories.
Collectables from thimbles and fine china, to works of art and memorabilia.
Arts, crafts and all sorts of hobby materials.
Office supplies, Paper and envelopes.
Toys, teddies and Action figures.
Dolls, dolls houses, miniatures and Train sets.
Music CD's, DVD's and Video's
Electrical, Home and Office.
Computers, Printers, Scanners and all accessories.
Mobile Phones, phones, cases and accessories.
Computer Games, Console Games and even Board games.
Furniture, Fixtures and Fittings for the home and Office.
Camera, Pictures and Picture Frames.
Paints, Inks and Stationary Products.
Tools, Nails and D.I.Y. accessories.
Clothes, Hand Bags and Shoes.
Plus many, many more.

To be honest the list of Categories and products just goes on and on, and you can sell any of the above as well as buy them.

About Pricing.
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You can buy the items you want from EBay in three main ways:-

1. Online Auctions.
This is where EBay members set a starting price for the listed item they wish to sell on EBay. This will vary depending on the individual EBay member who is selling the item, what they are selling and what the minimum price that they are willing to receive for that item.

2. Buy It Now.
Some EBay members who are selling new items on EBay, multiple items or have a shop on EBay will usually list the item with a `Buy It Now` price. These auctions mean that you can buy an item immediately for the `Buy It Now` price on EBay. When you take this option, the seller usually expects immediate payment to be arranged and this will end the item listing immediately. (Unless a multiple item listing.)

3. Best Offer.
This is dependant on whether an EBay member has chosen to take this option, but when available can save you some money. You are able to bid less than the `Buy It Now` price with this feature and make an offer on the item for sale. The EBay seller than has a set amount of time to either accept or reject your offer. The seller is under no obligation to accept you best offer and wait is fully allowed to wait for someone else to bid on `Buy It Now`. This is a good feature as well when available as you can sometimes get a good bargain this way.

How to Bid.
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To bid on eBay you must be a registered member of EBay. To bid on a `Buy It Now` listing is easy you just click on the `Buy It Now` button and this takes you to the page that ensures that you are logged in correctly and requests that you confirm your bid. If you confirm you bid you are legally bound to complete the transaction with EBay and its register member. Once you confirm the contract you have then won the item and if a single item listing ended the listing early. You will then need to arrange with the seller for payment of the auction won.
To bid on a best offer you must click on the box in the Best Offer section at the bottom of the page of the listed item. Type in the amount you are willing to offer insuring that you enter the amount in pounds and pence and include the decimal point. You can then enter the Best Offer bid, again you will be asked to confirm this bid which is legal and binding if the seller accepts. You will be notified if the seller accepts or declines and if they accept, you must arrange payment as this again will end the item listing. If the offer is declined, you bid is removed and you are not legal bound to purchase that item any longer but you have not won the item so will need either to either make another offer or pay the Buy It Now price to ensure you win that item.
To bid on an auction is very similar to Best Offer in such that you have a box to type the amount you are willing to bid with a decimal point and pounds and pence in the place a bid box at both the top and the bottom of an items listing page. The amount you bid must be at least the minimum amount stated by the box you fill in. Either at this point, you can enter the minimum bid required or you can enter the maximum amount you are willing to bid in at this time. If you bid your maximum, the listing will only show the minimum amount required but will have registered your maximum bid. This will stop anyone who bids lower than your maximum amount from winning the item you are bidding on. (Both options of minimum or maximum bids have there downsides. Please see point 5 of other info.)

Want it Now.
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Want it now is a relatively new feature on EBay that is free. This section of eBay entitles you to list an item you are looking to buy, and give a good description of what exactly you are looking for. Members who are then selling items that match your description can then reply to your post in the want it now section giving you details of there auction listings and items for sale. Therefore, it is a new free Wanted section of EBay that can be very useful when looking for a specific item.

Reservation Listings.
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Some listing on EBay have a reservation price. This is when the seller has set down a price, which is the minimum that they gave to sell the item for. You can bid on the item but you will be told if it is below the reservation price and you are not guaranteed to get that item if you are the highest bidder at the end of the auction but it is still under the reserved price. The seller has to choose at there own discretion as to whether they accept the highest bid by contacting whoever made that bid, but they do not have to sell the item if they do not want to if they feel the price was not high enough. You do incur extra fees when selling an item with a fixed reserve price and the extra fee is also payable even if the item does not sell.

How Long Do Auctions Last?
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The amount of time an item is listed for is totally dependant on the seller. EBay members who run a business account or have an EBay store are able to list `Buy It Now` items for at least 25 days ahead, but they usually have multiple listings and sometimes even have those items available for cheaper to bid on in an auction. Remember though that you can `Buy It Now` at any time and this will end the listing of that item unless it is a multiple quantity listing. Items that are sold via an online auction can also vary in the length of time they are listed for; this can be anything from 1 day to 9 days depending on the seller's choice. As soon as an item is listed it is immediately put on the sit for other EBay Members to view, and at the side of the listing is a clock telling you how long is left on that auction. The listing time is also on the individual items listing page as well as when it was listed, time remaining, the name of the seller and more often than not the amount the postage will cost.
Some EBay members also like to choose to list there products as both an online auction and a Buy It Now listing. This is perfectly acceptable and totally legal, however if you want that item but wish to wait until the end of the auction before bidding you could find yourself disappointed as someone else could buy the item and end the listing early via the `Buy It Now` feature.

Payment Options.
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EBay offers sellers a variety of options from which to choose from as to how they accept payment for there items they are selling. The seller is obliged to offer at least one option of payment but most eBay members choose to offer two to three various options on which you are able to make payment by.
The choices available are:-
Paypal via a credit card (this covers all major credit cards but you need to register with paypal to use this option).
Cheque made payable to the seller (the seller will send you details of who to pay and where to send the cheque with there invoice to you via email).
Postal order (this runs on the same basis as paying by cheque).
Cash on Collection (This is for EBay members who are listing an item as available for collection only facility).
Bankers Draft / Standing Order (This is entirely at the discretion of the seller and not used very often due to having to give out bank account details)

Also available, but again at the seller's discretion is the option on using Money Brokers, Escrow, E-Gold or even NoChex. These are all like Paypal and you need to have a registered account in which to use them, however, they are nowhere near as widely accepted on EBay as Paypal who are EBay Partners.

Delivery and Collection.
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Only a minority of items available on EBay are available for `Local Pick-up Only` options, and is usually used on large bulky items and vehicles, it is great if someone local to you is selling something as you can pick up a bargain as not as many people are bidding on this item, however that is not guaranteed. Although you save on postage you have to realise, you are going to be paying for the cost of transporting it yourself, as well as making all the necessary arrangements to collect the item and find the address etc.
Almost 99% of items sold on EBay everyday and listed are usually via delivery. The seller will usually set a fee, which is stated on the item listing for the postage, packing of the item, and sending it to you. When you pay for an auction you have won, you will clearly see that the postage and packing is stated and you are liable for that fee. The seller is then responsible for insuring that they securely pack the item and dispatch it to you. Always insure the seller is going to obtain proof of postage and check to see if you are covered by postal insurance or whether the seller is charging an extra fee (either optional or not) for insurance. Postal charges obviously vary from seller to seller; as you have to take into account the size and weight of the item, you are buying or selling. Sellers will sometimes offer a choice of postal options as well that gives you the choice of which option you want to use.

Insurance.
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Some sellers offer a separate charge for insurance on the item they are selling and are given a choice as to whether the insurance is either optional or compulsory. Either way it can sometimes benefit from taking out the additional insurance as if there is any problems you are covered and while recover any monies lost buy the seller.

What is Feedback?
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Feedback is comments other EBay members have left when you either Buy or Sell something on EBay. It indicates to you whether the EBay member is a good or bad member of EBay. You are given a choice of feedback options to choose from whether you are buying or selling. These options are positive, neutral and negative. Always check when dealing with another EBay member that they have a good feedback score, and try to take some time to read some of the feedback that member has received as this will give you an idea as to whether the member is trustworthy or not and give you an idea of the quality of service they provide.
Good EBay members always have a minimum or 97% on there feedback score so take the time to check before bidding.

Items Not Posted/ Not Received.
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If you have paid for an item on EBay and not received it within a set time, firstly you should contact the seller to find out when the item was posted. Always allow for weekends and Bank Holidays when giving time for the items arrival. Allow the member time to get back to you and see what they have had to say, most will tell you when it was posted and give you a date to give it until to arrive and ask you to get back to them if it has not arrived by that date. Most EBay members will sort out the fact that you have not received an item with you direct via there proof of postage and the fact that any parcel posted with a receipt obtained is covered up to £28.00. IF THE ITEM IS WORTH, MORE YOU SHOULD BE OFFERED INSURANCE. If however the seller is not willing to help you sort the matter out you are able to complain to EBay via the Item Not Received link and EBay will do everything possible to help sort the matter out for you, but be warned that if no insurance you may only be able to get part of the amount you paid back. If you are the seller always, keep the receipt as you may be requested to supply proof of postage to EBay as well as the Postal service suppliers in order to claim compensation. It is important that you try to solve any issues with the Buyer / Seller first before contacting EBay.

Items Not As Described / Damaged.
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If you have received an item that is damaged or is, nothing like the description of what you thought you were purchasing again contact the seller about the matter and see what they have to offer as a solution. If you are not happy with the solution try and explain to them what you would like done about the matter. If they still do not wish to sort it out, you can take the matter further and begin an item dispute with EBay and they will try to resolve the issue with your help and the help of the seller. It is important that you try to solve any issues with the Buyer / Seller first before contacting EBay.

It is also important to know that under no circumstances should anyone buy or sell illegal copies of CD's or DVD's. If you buy an item, that is an illegal copy, contact the member immediately complaining and report this matter to the correct department of EBay.

Selling with EBay.
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If you choose to sell an item on eBay, you should be aware of the following points:-

1. Make sure you list your item under the correct category to insure you get plenty of members viewing your listing.

2. Make sure your item listing and title is spelt correctly so that members just searching for an item via the site search engine will get to see your listing.

3. Always give a clear and accurate description of the item you are selling and insure you list any fault, flaws or damage to the item you are selling so that the buyer knows exactly what they are bidding on and the quality.

4. Always try to list a picture using the upload system available on eBay so that buyers can clearly see what they are bidding for, and if there is any fault or damage to the item, you should always try to show a photo of that too. Listings with pictures have a higher chance of selling on EBay.

5. Always try to offer a variety of postal services whether it is first class, second class or recorded so that the buyer has a choice of postage options.

6. Always try to offer a variety of payment options on your listing as not everybody has a credit card or Paypal account and if this is the only service available, they cannot bid on you item.

7. Always ensure that you pack items you are selling well and that the package is safe, secure and clearly labelled with the correct spelling of the address and postal code.

8. Always obtain a receipt as proof of postage as you may require proof when dealing with a dispute over an item, or insurance due to loss or damage.

9. Try and make sure you post your item as soon as possible after payment is received as EBay members are demanding of a fast service. Ensure funds have cleared from cheques or postal orders first though.

10. EBay charges a fee for listing your item to sell on EBay and this is still payable even if the item does not sell. In addition, there is a fee on the amount that you actually sell an item for on eBay, these fees are not huge but you need to be aware of them. EBay will send you an invoice each month with any fees owing to them on the invoice plus ways to pay the invoice.

Postage and Packing.
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As I said earlier the price of postage and packing will vary depending on the seller, weight and size of the item for sale, but some sellers will add costs to there postage cost. If they choose to do this is should be clearly stated on the item listing so make sure you check what you are paying for in the postage costs. Some sellers will charge you, as they have to travel to there nearest post office, some may add on the cost of the listing fees for the item. The EBay member is allowed to do this but they must clearly state that they are doing this in the listing. When posting an item you should ask the post office clerk to write down the house number and postal code of where the parcel is going on your receipt and to either initial or stamp the receipt. They should do this automatically but this does not mean they will so check.

Receiving a Parcel.
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When you receive an item you have bought on EBay, it is always best to check the sticker on the front of the Parcel from the post office. This sticker will clearly tell you how much the item cost to post. Check the quantity and quality of the packing; you are then able to judge as to whether you feel you have been charged fairly for the postage and packing costs. If you feel you have been overcharged a lot then contact the seller and ask why, it could be a genuine mistake on there behalf when calculating the postage for the listing and will usually happily offer you a refund of the excess. If they do not and you feel you have been overcharged more than £1.00 for postage and are still not happy you can raise a dispute with EBay.
When selling an item it is usually a good idea to measure and weigh the item you are selling and then check the postal costs with you local post office or www.postoffice.co.uk to get a guide to the price. Add the price for packing materials to this price and remember the parcel may be slightly heavier or bigger with the packing so compensate a little with that in mind. This is a good way to get an idea of what you should be looking at to charge for postage and packing when selling you items on EBay.

SECURITY ON EBAY.
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Security on eBay is of a very high standard, yet as we all know there are not many sites that can offer us 100% security these days. On saying this though EBay do set a very high standard and are constantly alert on fraud issues and making the site even more secure, but it is still very important that you yourself take some responsibility for your account security. Hear are some ideas to keep your account safe.
Change your EBay password at least once a month and try to make it as hard as possible so nobody will guess it.
EBay will never email you and ask you for your password, so never respond to any such request via email.
Never give out your password to anyone as they could accidentally tell someone else and your account security could be breached.
If you have received an email message from another member asking where there item is or payment yet you have made no bids or listed anything for selling do not click on any of the email links to check your `EBay Account` or to respond to the members question `Respond` link. The reason for this is that 99.9% of these emails are fake, spoof emails and the links will take you to a fake log in page. When you then try and log in to EBay via that link you are actually giving somebody your account details.
If you are concerned about you, account open a new browser to log into EBay and check for suspicious account activity from the new browser you opened only. If your account has not been compromised then simply forward the fake email to spoof@ebay.co.uk with a note to them explaining why and whether you account is safe or not.
EBay will then send and automated reply telling you they are looking into the matter and will then email you to let you know whether it is a fake email or not.

IMPORTANT: - NEVER CLICK ON A LINK FROM THE EMAIL IF YOU HAVE NOTHING BUYING OR SELLING ON YOUR ACCOUNT.
It is also important to know that under no circumstances should anyone buy or sell illegal copies of CD's or DVD's. If you buy an item that is an illegal copy, contact the member immediately complaining and report this matter to the correct department of EBay.

Other Info. (Important and Helpful)
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1. Listings of an item with multiple quantities are usually `Buy It Now`. If you use this feature on these listings, it does not end that listing as the seller has more than one to sell. You have however made a purchase and should check your `EBay Account` on the `My EBay` section for the item details and to arrange payment.

2. Sellers have to pay a fee for listing there item on EBay, which is, payable even if the item does not sell, and they are charged another fee for the amount the item actually sold for. These fees are calculated by a percentage basis and vary depending on what you are selling.

3. Always take the time to check other member's details before bidding and avoid members who regularly receive neutral or negative feedback as they have obviously received this feedback for a reason. If unsure, you are able to read what the neutral or negative feedback is to help you make a decision.

4. Never add extra to the cost of postage and packing to compensate for extra money for the item you are selling, as this is unfair to the buyer and illegal on EBay.

5. Try not to place you maximum bid until close to the end of the listing unless you will be unable to watch the final few minutes of the listing, as sometimes it can raise the price on your wanted item out of your maximum bid range before the listing even comes close to ending.

6. Always try to solve any problems with regards to buying, selling, loss, damaged or not as described with the seller first before raising a dispute with eBay as most members are only too glad to try and sort matters out amongst themselves, and this service is only there for those who have chosen not to be helpful or disagree with you point of view.

7. Always try to set yourself a maximum amount you are willing to bid and do not go over that amount or you could end up feeling you paid more than you really wanted to for an item.

8. If you are waiting to bid until the end of the auction you should always give yourself enough time to register and confirm the bid (and sign in if necessary), always try to bid your maximum, or at least above the minimum amount required in the last two minutes as this will give you more chance of winning the item as another member could be bidding the minimum at the same time as you and it goes to the bidder who registered there bid first ad cause you to lose the auction bidding.

9. Always remember to change your password and secret question regularly and never give your details out to anyone.

10. When selling an item, always ensure you pack the item well to protect it from damage in the post and always obtain proof of postage.

Important: - When contacting a member with regards to you being unhappy with some part of the service, or an item damaged / not received always be polite and never suggest that the other eBay member has done anything wrong. It is most likely that they have not done anything wrong but everyone will respond better when asked politely. In addition, EBay will not tolerate any form of aggression, threats, abuse or otherwise, they will freeze your account and try to stop you opening another.
Most eBay members are always only to glad to help anyway, as they will then achieve better feedback and keep there EBay account running well for them.

My opinion of EBay.
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I personally have been using EBay for about four and a half years now and have not had hardly any problems on the site. I am however always careful and alert when it comes to receiving emails from EBay. I was personally caught myself by clicking on a link via a spoof email and have since managed to sort it all out with EBay who were extremely helpful and get my account back safe and secure. Since this has happened, I have been very alert on this matter and this is why I am able to tell you all to do the same. I think EBay is a fantastic site where you cannot only get a bargain, but you can get it delivered to your door as well. It also offers great opportunities to people who make stuff at home to sell there items on EBay without having to think of costs like renting premises etc. It is no wonder that the site continually goes from strength to strength. EBay always seem to be updating there security features on the site as well which is very reassuring. I am not saying it is 100% safe but if you follow the EBay rules on Buying, Selling and security it is an extremely good site. Therefore, I am giving this site 9.5/10 and highly recommend it.