Simple Safety Tips for Buying on Ebay

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Steps for safely shopping & paying for your items

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Safety Guidelines

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Knowing What You’re Buying

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Checking the Seller’s Profile

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Paying for Your Items

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Dealing with Seller Issues

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Using Ebay’s Resolution Center

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Expert Q&A

Fraudulent activity is something that eBay has been combating since its inception, and 1 of the ways in which it does this is by creating awareness about how to buy on eBay safely. There are some safety concerns such as making secure transactions that are common for online purchasing in general, whereas other issues such as validating a seller's identification are more specific to online auction websites such as eBay. Ebay's goal is to gain the buyer's trust and it does this by monitoring for fraud on a regular basis and offering a buyer protection plan on purchases of $25 or more.

Method 1

Method 1 of 6:

Safety Guidelines for Shopping Online

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1
Follow these general rules when you buy online not only through eBay but also any other website.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Check the website address (URL) to make sure you are on the correct website.
- Connect to the Internet safely. Try to use a wired connection to connect to the Internet directly instead of using a wireless connection at public places such as a Starbucks that can be hacked more easily.
- Install an anti-virus program. It is best to use a software with live monitoring so it will protect you from viruses in real-time while you are browsing the Internet.
- Never allow websites such as eBay to save your payment details. Not allowing your computer system or websites to store your payment details helps keep your payment information confidential.
- Log out after you have completed your transaction. Otherwise, someone could use the same computer that you were using to buy products and have them billed to your account. This rule is especially important when using a public computer that is accessed by multiple users.

Method 2

Method 2 of 6:

Knowing What You’re Buying on Ebay

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Look at photos of the item if they are available. Develop a clear understanding of what is being sold so you don't end up buying something you don't want.^{[2]XResearch source}
Make sure it is not damaged (unless you wish to purchase a damaged item for parts).
3
Review the bid policies. Here are some policies that you should check for on the item's page.
- Refund Policy: It is better to buy a product that offers full refund including return shipment.
- Shipping: Find a product with low shipping cost otherwise you will end up paying much more than what you anticipated.

Method 3

Method 3 of 6:

Checking the Ebay Seller’s Profile

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The seller should have a high positive feedback rating (preferably at least 90 percent). It is safest to purchase from top-rated sellers (with a "Top-rated seller" badge next to their name).^{[3]XResearch source}
This will take you to the seller's feedback profile where you can see detailed feedback ratings and comments made about the seller.^{[4]XResearch source}
Don't buy from the seller if you see suspicious activity, such as valuable items being sold at very low prices.

Method 4

Method 4 of 6:

Paying for Your Items on Ebay

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PayPal is the recommended method to buy on eBay safely because it offers more protection for buyers. If you use a credit card, check your credit card balance to make sure you have been billed the correct amount and have not paid for any items that you don't recognize later on.^{[5]XResearch source}

Method 5

Method 5 of 6:

Dealing with Seller Issues on Ebay

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Ask him or her why you haven't received the item or why it is not as you had expected. At times, there may be a delay or mix-up during shipping and sellers are usually very cooperative because they want to keep their customers happy and avoid negative feedback on eBay.^{[6]XResearch source}
There is a customer support link at the top-right corner of the website. Report the issue clearly and politely.^{[7]XResearch source}
Some credit card companies will reverse transactions on your account balance if you report them as fraudulent transactions. You can use the "Security and Protection" link on the PayPal homepage to try to get a PayPal transaction reversed and report fraudulent transactions.

Method 6

Method 6 of 6:

Using Ebay’s Resolution Center

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1
Open a case through the eBay Resolution Center. Here is what you need to do.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Go to the eBay homepage.
- Move your mouse cursor over "Customer Support" in the top-right corner of the page and click on "Resolution Center" from the drop-down menu.
- Answer the on-screen questions step-by-step to file your case with eBay. The buyer protection plan is part of eBay's refund policy that gives you full money back on purchases of $25 or more if you have been a victim of fraudulent activity and have reported the matter through the eBay Resolution Center.

Expert Q&A

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Question
Do you recommend buying a used phone on eBay?
Brehima Traore
Electronic Repair Expert
Brehima Traore is an Electronic Repair Expert specializing in sharing information about smartphones. Brehima has a follower base of over 59,000 YouTube subscribers and over 150,000 followers on Instagram. His most popular videos highlight phone camera and screen replacement tips.
Brehima Traore
Electronic Repair Expert
Expert Answer
If it will be used as a phone, the best place to get a used phone is eBay. The price is going to be lower than what you will pay generally and, also, it is going to be less than what you're going to pay if you were to buy the same phone used from any of the manufacturers. You will have to talk with the seller by message and ask him any questions that you have and he will have to give you a satisfactory response for you to proceed in buying that phone. Also, the best thing that you can do is to ask for additional pictures of the areas where the phone is generally going to have damage.
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Question
Is it possible to order from eBay and pay cash on delivery?
Community Answer
No. You have to pay right after you purchase it online.
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Question
How would I know if the item is just like the same one on the pictures? Some say "the images are for reference only, please take the item you get as standard."
Vieno
Community Answer
I would never buy from a seller who disclaims the pictures. However, if you're willing to buy from a seemingly clueless seller, you can always open a SNAD (significantly not as described) claim and are likely (though never guaranteed) to get your money back if the item looks significantly different from the pictures.
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