Any Do's and Don'ts on eBay?

[Antoneo]

Thanks for the advice guys, if there's more tips keep posting 'em. I'm sure this thread will help out others as well.

One quick Q: Is it a bad idea to tie a credit to the paypal account (as opposed to checking accounts)? Is it a better idea to use "one-time-use" credit card number to the paypal account and update it accordingly?

 

[Yossarian]

I use credit card paypal whenever possible. My credit card company will do more to protect me from fraud than the bank will. Plus if your checking account gets zapped, that money's gone. If a credit card gets charged without your authorization, it's not like you lost anything.

 

[MrBond]

Lots of feedback doesn't always mean a good seller. Always check a few of their completed auctions.

Recently some auctions have cropped up where expensive goods (laptops, cameras, etc) have been offered at low prices by people with perfect feedback. But when you check the feedback, it's either for a bunch of cheap items (1 cent each or something) or auctions that aren't even selling anything.

Some sellers take a while to ship. I do some dealing in the FS/T forum here (check there if you need pc hardware) and most of the stuff gets shipped right away. I ventured onto Ebay a week ago and won an auction for a sony cd changer. I paid last sunday and got an email from the seller yesterday saying he had shipped out the cd player on saturday morning.

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: PipBoy
I use credit card paypal whenever possible. My credit card company will do more to protect me from fraud than the bank will. Plus if your checking account gets zapped, that money's gone. If a credit card gets charged without your authorization, it's not like you lost anything.

Paypal's user agreement specifically states that by using it you bind yourself to arbitration and in no way issue a chargeback. They send that to your credit card company if you claim one, and more often than not you won't be granted one.

 

[queenzbwai]

Do: If it's too good to be true, it's too good to be true.
Do: Lots of contact with the seller.
Do: Wait till there's about 10 seconds left to bid and bid the next lowest amount allowed.

Don't: Expect to NEVER be ripped off or lied to.
Don't: Buy used stuff.

Moral: BE SMART, KEMOSABE!

 

[Choralone]

DO: Browse aroung to your hearts content laughing at what some people are bidding on and at the prices their bids are.

DON'T: Actually buy anything. Not unless you're prepared to end up with no product at all or one that is NOT in the condition it as stated as being in the auction.

Sorry, had some bad exp. with both U-bid & eBay. Mostly stuff the wife bought. Never again.