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Auction Bidder Tips
Read through this section and you will discover tons of great auction buyer tips that will help you get what you want for the price you want. Check back often as more tips are always being added.
1. When you are shopping on eBay or other auction sites, read the item's description very carefully. Is it complete, does it answer all of your questions regarding the item? If not, send the seller an email and ask them to clarify the description.
2. Look at the items picture. Is the item clearly depicted? Does the picture match the items description? Does the picture make you feel confident that the item is as described? If not, then send the seller an email requesting additional pictures. If they don't send you additional pictures think twice about bidding on that item.
3. View the sellers feedback and read what others have said about them. If the seller has predominantly good feedback then you can feel confident bidding, but if the seller has a lot of negative or neutral feedback, then you should probably look for another seller.
4. See what else the seller is selling. Maybe they are listing multiple auctions for the same item. You could save money by bidding on one with fewer bids.
5. Check to see that the shipping and handling costs are clearly stated. If they are not stated, then email the seller for a shipping quote. Include your zip code and any pertinent information so they can give you an accurate quote. Print out a copy of the quote for your records and do not delete the email until you have received your item.
6. Before you bid on an item, check to make sure your preferred payment method is accepted by the seller. Many times I have had a winning bidder try to pay for an auction with a type of payment that I didn't accept. Don't let this happen to you.
7. You should include a copy of your invoice with your payment. This makes it easier for the seller to quickly ship you out the right item.
8. If you are paying by check or money order, it's a good idea to write your auction number on the check as added insurance against the seller mixing up your item with somebody else's.
9. After receiving the seller's invoice, always respond to it letting them know how you are going to be paying for your item, and if you are paying with a check when you are putting it in the mail. Good communication between buyer and seller is crucial.
10. It is also a good idea to look at what you are buying and see if the seller has sold similar items in the past. This helps you figure out if the seller has experience with the item they are selling. You can also email them and ask them what their experience is with the item.
11. If you are bidding on a used or old item, make sure you are certain of the condition of the item before you buy.
12. Check to see if the seller is located near you. If so ask if you could come and pick your item up thereby saving money on shipping costs. Especially nice if your item is heavy.
13. Another good idea is to save a copy of the picture to your computer and compare it to your item when it arrives.
14. If you want shipping insurance for you item and the seller doesn't offer it, send them an email and ask for it. 99% of all sellers will let you add insurance to your package. Of course you will have to pay for it.
15. The fastest and safest way to pay for your auctions and have them shipped fast is to pay with PayPal. You can pay instantly with a credit card or funds from your account, and it is totally safe. Almost all eBay sellers accept and prefer PayPal.
16. Read the item description to see if the seller has a return policy, if its not clear or if there is not one posted, then (can you guess what to do ?) send the seller an email and ask about it.
17. If you are buying a high value item on eBay I recommend that you use an escrow service for payment transaction. Also make sure you ask the seller about escrow before you bid. Some sellers do not accept escrow as a form of payment.
18. If you want to use and escrow service, then make sure you choose a reputable and reliable escrow company. There are many phony companies out there that are just waiting to steal your money
19. Inspect your item as soon as it arrives. If there is a problem, politely inform the seller and give them a chance to rectify the situation.
20. A good tactic for saving money is to check prices at several of the other auction sites to see if you can get the same item for cheaper. Your two best bets for finding what you want at the price you want are eBay and uBid.
21. Try searching for you item with different spellings. You would be surprised how many sellers misspell their auction titles. You can save big money by finding misspelled auctions.
22. Look for items that end during the week, as there are less people ebay shopping and you have a better chance of winning that item at a lower price.
23. Search ebay during the summer for hot deals. Internet auctions are slow during the summer so you will find better prices for what you want.
24. Pay for your auctions with credit cards. Most credit card companys offer fraud protection.
25. If your auction site allows sniping like ebay does, then I highly recommend that you use a sniping tool that will help you get what you want at a great price. It is very hard to snipe manually. The two best sniping tools available are Powersnipe and Stealth Bid
26. Do not get emotional about the product you are bidding on. Remain rational and calm. If you can do this you will save lots of money and there will be fewer hindsight regrets.
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