Common eBay Scams to be on the Lookout For

Common eBay Scams to be on the Lookout For

Are you looking to start buying on eBay?  If you have never used eBay before, you may not necessarily know that it is relatively easy to fall victim to an eBay scam.  While eBay is considered a safe place to shop online, there are a number of eBay scams that you should be on the lookout for.  Knowing what these scams are, before you start shopping on eBay, will help to reduce or completely eliminate your chances of becoming a victim.

Before we start to examine some of the most common eBay scams that you should be on the lookout for, it is important to mention why those scams exist.  eBay is considered an online market place or an online auction website.  Just about anyone with an internet connection and an eBay account can start eBay sale auctions.  This is what makes it possible for scammers to trap innocent shoppers like you. While eBay does work to combat these scams and eliminate the individuals behind them, there are some people who slip through the cracks. That is why you will always want to be on the lookout for eBay scams.  

Speaking of common scams to be on the lookout for, one of the most common scams involves selling a product that the seller actually doesn’t have.  This type of scam is sometimes difficult to spot, but there are signs that you should look for.  When posting an eBay auction, an eBay seller should have pictures of the item or items that they are selling or at least accurate descriptions.  With some items, such as books, CDs, or movies, eBay sellers are given the option of using a stock photo; one that is provided by eBay.  All other items should have a genuine photo, taken by the seller.  If not, you may want to refrain from making the purchase, as it may mean that the seller isn’t even in possession of the item or items that they are trying to sell you.

In addition to selling items that they don’t even have available, another common eBay scam involves lying about the items that they do have. For instance, there are some eBay sellers, although a small number of them, who claim that they have an item, like a car radio, which is in brand new condition, but it isn’t always.  It is not uncommon for some eBay seller to outright lie or strength the truth a little bit.  Unless you have a watchful eye, you may not find out until it is too late.  That is why it is advised that you not only purchase items from eBay that are accompanied by pictures, but that you also examine those pictures.  You will want to try and see if something really does look new or if it is in “like new,” condition.

Another common eBay scam that you will want to look for involves those who want your personal information.  This type of scam is implemented in two different ways. First, there are a small number of sellers who tell you that they need your credit card information, but they shouldn’t.  Whether you pay by PayPal, personal check, or money order, you shouldn’t give out any personal information to any eBay sellers, even if you are buying an item from them.  If you are not using PayPal, just send a check or money order to the address given to you, nothing else needs to be done.

The second eBay scam that involves trying to get your personal information is phishing.  Phishing scams are increasing in popularity, making it easier to fall victim to one. With phishing scams, a scammer sends out an email that looks like it is from eBay. The email is often accompanied with a message stating that something is wrong with your account and that you need to click on the attached link, sign in and fix it.  This is a scam.  What they are trying to do is get your eBay account information.  Once that has been done, they may have access to stored personal account numbers, as well as the ability to use your eBay account to make fraudulent purchases.  

The above mentioned eBay scams are just a few of the most common ones that you may run across. Although there are those on eBay who are trying to scam or take advantage of you, the chances of falling victim to a scam on eBay are actually quite low, as long as you proceed with caution.

The Importance of Checking fantastic Feedback

 The Importance of Feedback

Are you interested in using eBay to shop online? If you are, you are definitely not alone, as eBay is one of the most popular online marketplaces.  As you likely already know, eBay is an online auction website; an online auction website that allows internet users to post items that they have in their possession, but not longer want or need, for sale.  While this tends to give you a large number of products to choose from, it can make getting scammed on eBay relatively easy; however, there is a way that you cannot fall victim to some of the most common eBay scams.  That way involves checking feedback.

If this is your first time using eBay, you may not necessarily know that buyers and sellers are able to leave each other feedback; in fact, they are encouraged to do so.  Now, if another eBay buyer, just like you, were to have a positive experience, like they got their item in a timely matter and it was what they expected, they would be likely to leave a positive feedback.  Positive feedbacks are marked with green circles with plus signs in them.  On the other hand, if an eBay buyer has a negative experience, like they never received their item or it was in poor condition, a negative comment may be left.  Negative comments are market by red circles with negative signs in them.  In addition to positive or negative comments, eBay buyers are also able to leave neutral comments, which are commonly used when a problem arose, but the seller in question fixed it in a timely matter.  Also, next to the positive, negative, or neutral markings, eBay buyers can also leave comments.

Although you might not necessarily think about it, the feedback that an eBay seller has can give you insight into the type of service that you may receive. As a way, this feedback serves as reputation for an eBay seller.  When shopping at a traditional retail store, there is a good chance that you wouldn’t shop at a store that is known for selling poor quality products or a store that has poor customer service.  The same thinking should be applied when using eBay.  You don’t want to business with an eBay seller that has a number of poor feedback ratings, as it is a sign of what may come.

If you are interested in examining the feedback of an eBay seller, you can easily do so.  When visiting an online auction listing page, say a listing for a new set of hair clippers, in the right hand corner there should be a “Meet the Seller,” section. That section has information on the seller’s eBay feedback, as well as a link that you can click to see each individual feedback rating. You are urged to click that link.  When examining an eBay seller’s feedback, you need to remember that it is not uncommon for a seller to deal with disgruntled customers; customers that may leave negative feedback for no reason at all.  That is why it is not uncommon to see a few negative feedback ratings; however, be on the lookout for any eBay seller who has an excessive number of them or a new eBay seller that has a large number of negative feedback ratings, as they are someone you should try and avoid.

In short, examining the feedback ratings or comments of an eBay seller will only take a few minutes of your time, but it may end up saving you a considerable amount of money.  When shopping on eBay, it is advised that you use your best judgment.  A number of negative feedback ratings may be a sure sign that an eBay seller may be out to scam you, in one way or another.

Benefits of Buying on eBay

Benefits of Buying on eBay

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Are you one of the millions of Americans who prefers to shop online?  Shopping online is popular because it
is quick, easy, and convenient.  It is also popular because, when shopping online, you have a number of different options, as there are a number of different retailers that you can choose to shop online with.  One of those is eBay.  If you aren’t already shopping on eBay, you may want to look into it, as there are a number of benefits to doing so.
Perhaps, the greatest benefit of shopping on eBay is all of the products that you have to choose from.  eBay isn’t like a traditional retailer.  They are actually an online auction website.  eBay has other internet users sell products that they have to consumers, just like you.  With this type of set up, eBay has an unlimited number of products to choose from. For instance, you can buy real estate, cars, clothing, toys, pet supplies, home décor, entertainment items, and much more on eBay.  Basically, anything you are looking for, within reason of course, you should be able to find on eBay.
Another one of the many benefits to shopping on eBay is that you have a number of sellers to do business with.  As it was previously mentioned, eBay allows all internet users to sell items that they no longer need or want to own.  Over the past few years, the popularity of eBay has reached an all time high.  This is what has lead to an unlimited number of eBay sellers.  Since many sellers are selling the same products or similar products, you should have the option to choose who you want to do business with.  When buying a product online, particularly one that is offered for sale by a number of different sellers, you are advised to examine product costs, shipping and handling costs, as well as each seller’s feedback. Doing so will make shopping on eBay a positive experience for you.
It is also important to note that eBay is easy to use.  In fact, ease of use is one of the many other reasons why eBay has become so popular in recent years.  As an eBay buyer, you need to create a free eBay account.  That account will allow you to buy on eBay.  Once you are a registered eBay member, you can easily start searching for products that you are looking for.  For instance, if you are looking for a particular music CD, you can just type the artist name and album name into eBay’s search box and you should be presented with a number of auctions which have your CD available for sale.  If you are only looking to spend a certain amount of money or purchase a CD that is located in the United States, you can perform an advanced search.  An advanced search makes it easier to find what you need.
The above mentioned benefits, to doing your online shopping through eBay, are just a few of the many that exist.  In fact, even if you are unsure as to whether or not you want to start shopping on eBay, you are advised to at least examine it.  eBay guests can navigate the site to get a taste of what items can commonly be found for sale on eBay.  With a large selection of products, a number of sellers to choose from, and ease of use, there is a good chance that you may find yourself doing the bulk of your online shopping on eBay.  And, if you end up doing so, you will definitely not be alone.