subject: What To Do When Bidding Online [print this page] Many people turn to online auction sites like Amazon, DubLi and eBay for great deals, bargains, and fun auctions for jewelry, clothes, accessories, shoes and collectibles. With the financial crisis still burdening people's purchasing power, it may be difficult to find a good deal at malls and personal shops, so online auctions are the next alternative in online shopping. Buying through online auctions can be confusing for beginners.
Once someone learns how to choose a seller, how to bid safely and what to take note of before placing a bid on items, they can participate in online auctions whenever desired.
-Research is the key to landing that good deal. This means browsing through the top 100 listings or so, listing down possible sellers to buy from, and comparing prices of similar items to be able to find the best deal available. For auctions, it is important that one bids at auctions started by trustworthy and credible sellers. This can be noted through the feedback score he or she has received from previous buyers.
-Before placing a bid in an auction, it is important that buyers read the item descriptions to see if the item being sold is exactly what he or she is looking for. Reading the terms of use, shipping policies and return policies are also very important because if anything wrong happens during the transactions, both the seller and the buyer can decide on what to do based on the policies and terms stated in the listings.
-When considering whether to start bidding on something, read all of the description of the item, not just the heading. There may be important factors involved in whether this is a good item to bid on or not, such as whether the item is brand new or classified as an antique. There may be pieces or parts missing. An honest seller will include this in the preview of the item, so be sure to watch for that.
-One of the most important tips for newcomers to online auctions is, be prepared to win. Bidding can be exciting and people can get caught up in the moment. Make sure there is enough money in the bank to pay for the item. If not, don't waste everyone's time by participating or by not dropping out when the point of affordability gets passed. Also, consider where the item will go when it arrives at the house. Is it going to be stuck in a closet and never really used? Large items, like vehicles, take up a lot of space and need special accommodations. Be realistic about how much room it will need and whether it can be taken care of properly upon arrival.
-Check the feedback scores if one is unsure of the seller's credibility. Previous buyers would normally rate the seller based on the clarity of the item description, the communication between seller and buyer, how fast the item was shipped, and if the shipping and handling charges were fair and agreed upon by both parties. If three to four of these items are satisfactory to previous customers, this seller is considered reliable.
-Do not use payment methods or options that are suspicious, dangerous and that could result in a scam, such as personal wire transfers, so if a seller lists this as a payment method, immediately move on to the next one.
by: Christine Harrell
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