A Penny Saved

It seems anymore that more and more people are catching on to the deals that can be had on ebay. Unfortunately, some of those same people become skittish of buying anything of a larger dollar value because of the scams and hoaxes that some have experienced. While it is true that there are scams and hoaxes that happen every day on eBay, there are many more auctions that are not scams or hoaxes and still represent a great deal.

So, how does your average person with little experience on eBay filter through them all to find the true deals? Here are some tips to help you avoid the scams and hoaxes.

1. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. This is actually advice that is applicable in everyday life as well. Chances are if the $2000 computer you’re looking for is selling for $200, it’s either a scam, hoax or just plain broken.
2. Do your research. Many people who get scammed on eBay fail to do any research on the item before they bid. Use the completed auctions option in your search. Research the prices that the item you’re looking for sell for on average. Expect to pay close to that price for your item. If the price is significantly lower than that average, chances are it’s either a scam or defected. Also, compare descriptions of the many items that are listed. Be sure that the item you’re going to bid on isn’t missing some important piece or component that the others that are selling for more have.
3. Check the shipping. One of the most popular scams on eBay is the shipping scam. A seller will list an item for a rediculously low price only to charge a huge shipping fee to cover the cost of the item. A good example of this is an auction for printer cartridges. While the items easily ship for less than $5 through USPS parcel post, many of the sellers will charge nearly $20 for shipping. Sure they can then sell the cartridges for much less than most of the honest sellers, but you’ll pay more because of the shipping. Also, overcharging for shipping like that is against eBay policy. There is no current way to report said over-shippers, but eBay claims to be cracking down on the practice.
4. Try to bid only once. Bid once. The bid should be the highest amount that you are willing to pay for the item. Don’t forget to factor in the shipping cost either. Many people will put in last second bids on items trying to win an item and invariably end up spending much more than they had planned on the item. Not exactly a scam per-se, but a tip worth noting.
5. Protect yourself. Use whatever means necessary to protect yourself from scammers. This means using the built in eBay policies, Paypal buyer protection(if you use paypal), and any protection that you may get on purchases on credit cards. Many purchases through paypal are protected up to $1000. Many credit cards offer purchase protection in case of fraud as well. Make sure to read the policies so you are familiar with them and know who to contact in case of fraud.

Armed with these tips, any eBay user can safely navigate around the scams and hoaxes of the eBay market. Of course, following these tips doesn’t necessarily make you 100% safe from scams and hoaxes either. Are there any other useful tips for avoiding scams and hoaxes on eBay that I missed? Feel free to add them to the comments and help us all out!

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