eBay Shopping Secrets

Ramandeep singh ghumaan asked:


There are many eBay scams out there to keep an eye out for when you are selling on eBay. This article will cover a few of the known and not so known scams to be aware of. Whether you’re a causal seller, or a professional seller on eBay, you need to know about these scams so that you can take measures to prevent or recognize if it’s happening to you.

Bid Shielding

This scam is something you need to watch out for as a seller on eBay. Basically the scam is run using two separate eBay accounts. The scam works like this. You put your item up for auction. Let’s say your item is worth $100 and you have no reserve. The first bidder (scammer) comes along and bids $5 on your item. Right after that, another bidder working with the first bidder comes along and bids $200 on your item. Since your item is only worth $100, you receive no more bids for the duration of your auction. Right before your auction ends, the first bidder backs out and cancels their bid, leaving the $5 bidder the winner, effectively shielding all other potential bidders because of the $200 bid.

Because of the potential for this scam it is always good to have a reserve on your auction. Also, I would put some sort of disclaimer on your auction stating that if you suspect bid shielding on your auction, you reserve the right to back out of the sale. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your auctions and watch for this type of behavior. If you suspect this is happening to you, be sure to report the parties involved to eBay right away.

Wholesale List Scam

This scam takes advantage of the fact that many people don’t pay close attention or read the fine print on an auction. This scam is targeted at buyers who are looking for deals on electronics and technological items on eBay. The wholesale list scam is basically an auction that looks like the seller is offering a great deal on a product like an iPod for example. They may have a buy now price of $40 for an iPod that is worth $150. However, if you actually read the fine print on the auction, you will find that you are not really buying the iPod. In fact you are purchasing a wholesale list.

To avoid this scam, just be sure that you read the entire details of the auction before making a bid or a purchase. Basically, just use common sense. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is, so read the auction carefully.

Bad Check Scam

This eBay scam is exactly what it sounds like. The bad check scam is simple. Someone purchases your item and sends you a check as payment. You receive the check, and send out the item. However, 2 weeks later you find out the check bounces and now you are out your item and the money.

To avoid this, simply do not send out any products until the check has cleared.

Spoof eBay Emails

This eBay scam is an attempt to get your personal information and/or eBay account information. Basically the scammer sends you an email that looks like it’s from eBay. The email may direct you to a website (that also looks like eBay) where it asks to you verify your information. In reality, the website is created by the scammer to collect your personal information and use it for identity theft. The scammers can be very tricky and make everything look very official.

To avoid this scam, you need to be wary of any emails that you get. The first thing you need to check is the email header. Emails from eBay, will have “@ebay.com” as the last part of the senders email. Also any links that are in the email may be directing you somewhere other than where they say they are. Also copy and paste the links into your browser, and only visit official links that start with “www.ebay.com”. If anything seems suspicious to you, forward the email to eBay and wait for their response. They will let you know if it’s legitimate or not.

In conclusion, most people you run into on eBay are good honest people and not out to scam you. You may do business on eBay for years and never run into any of this. However, occasionally these things do happen so it’s important to use common sense and use your best judgment when it comes to this stuff. Just be aware that it can happen, and take the necessary precautions and you will be fine. There’s a lot of money to be made on eBay, so don’t let anything scare you off. Keep yourself armed with knowledge and information and you will be successful out there in the auction world!

Ellen Sabo asked:


A lot of us have items lying around the home, but don’t have the time to sell them.  eBay Trading Assitants, and eBay Drop Stores are there to help, but you need to make sure you ask the right questions to ensure you get the service you are looking for and avoid being scammed.

We asked an eBay Store “We’ll Sell You’re Stuff on eBay”, located in Bundaberg Australia, what common questions Buyers should ask, and their respones.

Is there an upfront listing fee?

There is a small listing fee of $5 if you list your item at a starting bid of $0.99 with no reserve.

 A $0.99 start price is a great way to get lots of people to track and bid on your item!

If you would like your item to start at a fixed price, we do charge a $20 deposit which is credited toward your item when it is sold, however it is not refunded if you item does not sell.  Keep in mind that we will do the research and help you set a realistic starting price, and make every effort to ensure you get what you want.  We also offer a free re-listing if your item doesn’t sell the first time!

How do I get my items to you for auction?  Is pick-up available?

Generally, you (the Seller) is responsible for delivering the items to us, however we are flexible and understand that sometimes it’s just not possible.  Give us a call and we can arrange to come to your home or workplace - why not get a few friends or co-workers together and Auction your items at the same time?  Items should be cleaned prior to drop off. Items will be inspected, discussed, signed for and possibly photographed at that time. The Seller is also responsible for picking up unsold items within 14 days of notification of online auction end, unless prior arrangements are made.

How long does it take to list my items on online auction after I delivered them to you?

Please allow 2 days for market research, and for us to help you determin the best start price (unless discussed prior to drop off). After the determined starting price has been determined, please allow 3-5 days for items to be listed on online auction.  Feel free to discuss the time frames with us - we understand different people have different needs, and are happy to try to accomodate you!

How long does the online auction run?

Auctions run for 5 days from start to finish unless otherwise specified by the Seller. eBay offers a 3 day, 7 day and 10 day option.

How and when are items posted to buyer?

How - Items are posted via Australia Post and packaged with extreme care.   Items over $100 are registered automatically, and is optional for purchases under $100.

When - Items are posted with 2 days of cleared payment being reiceved - we generally post items the same day, but need to allow for exceptional circumstances, so our Buyers will not be dissapointed.

Who pays for postage costs and materials like boxing?

Buyer pays for postage costs, insurance and delivery confirmation.  We are responsible for all packaging materials, so we can ensure they are properly packed and safely delivered.

When and how do I get paid?

Once we receive payment from the Buyer, we allow a refund period of 5 days.  The ENSURES you get the best bidders for your item and we have a strict refund policy which states that the money will only be refunded if the item is not as described.

We will have payment available to you as soon as we have recieved positive feedback (generally when the Buyer recieves the item), or after the refund period expires.

What if my item doesn’t sell?

If, in the unlikely circumstance your item doesn’t sell the first time, we offer a free re-lisitng.  Often larger ticket items may require a section auction to draw in the bidders.  If you item doesn’t sell, the deposit is not refunded, but we won’t charge you any extra.

What if the high bidder doesn’t pay for my item?

We request payment from the buyer within 3 days from auction end.  If high auction bidder does not pay within this time frame (plus a short grace period), and unpaid item dispute will be opened with eBay.  Should there still be no resolution your item will be relisted at no charge to you.

Still have questions?

I want you to be comfortable before having your items listed on Ebay auction and am available to talk to you by phone or email - if you have any questions at all please don’t hesitate to let me know!

M. D. Robinson asked:


There are many eBay scams out there to keep an eye out for when you are selling on eBay. This article will cover a few of the known and not so known scams to be aware of. Whether your a causal seller, or a professional seller on eBay, you need to know about these scams so that you can take measures to prevent or recognize if its happening to you.

Bid Shielding

This scam is something you need to watch out for as a seller on eBay. Basically the scam is run using two separate eBay accounts. The scam works like this. You put your item up for auction. Lets say your item is worth $100 and you have no reserve. The first bidder (scammer) comes along and bids $5 on your item. Right after that, another bidder working with the first bidder comes along and bids $200 on your item. Since your item is only worth $100, you receive no more bids for the duration of your auction. Right before your auction ends, the first bidder backs out and cancels their bid, leaving the $5 bidder the winner, effectively shielding all other potential bidders because of the $200 bid.

Because of the potential for this scam it is always good to have a reserve on your auction. Also, I would put some sort of disclaimer on your auction stating that if you suspect bid shielding on your auction, you reserve the right to back out of the sale. Its always a good idea to keep an eye on your auctions and watch for this type of behavior. If you suspect this is happening to you, be sure to report the parties involved to eBay right away.

Wholesale List Scam

This scam takes advantage of the fact that many people dont pay close attention or read the fine print on an auction. This scam is targeted at buyers who are looking for deals on electronics and technological items on eBay. The wholesale list scam is basically an auction that looks like the seller is offering a great deal on a product like an iPod for example. They may have a buy now price of $40 for an iPod that is worth $150. However, if you actually read the fine print on the auction, you will find that you are not really buying the iPod. In fact you are purchasing a wholesale list.

To avoid this scam, just be sure that you read the entire details of the auction before making a bid or a purchase. Basically, just use common sense. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is, so read the auction carefully.

Bad Check Scam

This eBay scam is exactly what it sounds like. The bad check scam is simple. Someone purchases your item and sends you a check as payment. You receive the check, and send out the item. However, 2 weeks later you find out the check bounces and now you are out your item and the money.

To avoid this, simply do not send out any products until the check has cleared.

Spoof eBay Emails

This eBay scam is an attempt to get your personal information and/or eBay account information. Basically the scammer sends you an email that looks like its from eBay. The email may direct you to a website (that also looks like eBay) where it asks to you verify your information. In reality, the website is created by the scammer to collect your personal information and use it for identity theft. The scammers can be very tricky and make everything look very official.

To avoid this scam, you need to be wary of any emails that you get. The first thing you need to check is the email header. Emails from eBay, will have ebay.com as the last part of the senders email. Also any links that are in the email may be directing you somewhere other than where they say they are. Also copy and paste the links into your browser, and only visit official links that start with eBay. If anything seems suspicious to you, forward the email to eBay and wait for their response. They will let you know if its legitimate or not.

In conclusion, most people you run into on eBay are good honest people and not out to scam you. You may do business on eBay for years and never run into any of this. However, occasionally these things do happen so its important to use common sense and use your best judgment when it comes to this stuff. Just be aware that it can happen, and take the necessary precautions and you will be fine. There is a lot of money to be made on eBay, so dont let anything scare you off. Keep yourself armed with knowledge and information and you will be successful out there in the auction world!