Want to get started buying on eBay but not sure how?
eBay.com is a great place to buy virtually anything - but if you've never purchased anything online, how do you get started? This short article will walk you through getting started on eBay and making your first purchase.
Step one: Have a look around eBay
First, get yourself familiar with eBay and what it has to offer. Look at the live ebay auction links below - click on one to see what eBay auctions look like and to get familiar with the eBay auction pages - it will open in a new window so you wont leave our site:
Step two: Sign up for an eBay account
The next step is registering which is quick, easy and free. To register all you need to do is fill-out an online eBay form with your information. You will be asked for your name, email address, real address, & phone number. You will also be asked to choose a member-name and password. Don't worry about your privacy - eBay is one of the largest and most trusted companies on the internet. They will not sell your personal information or abuse it in any way. To register go to the eBay sign up page by clicking here. or go directly to ebay.com. After filling-in the registration form eBay will send an email message to the email address you provided. Check your inbox and follow the instructions to activate your account. If you have questions about registering, see the eBay help page.
Step three: Find something to buy!
Now that you have an eBay account, you need to find something to buy. For beginners, the easiest way to find something is to use the eBay search page. Once on the eBay search page just type in what you are looking for and a list of auctions will be displayed.
When buying or bidding on something for the first time, look for something cheap and inexpensive. This will let you get a feel for how the auctions work without the stress or pressure of worrying about something going wrong and loosing a large sum of money. Once you've found something cheap, place your bid by clicking the "Place Bid" button and entering the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the item. eBay will automatically increase your bid amount in small increments up to the maximum amount you enter.
What is Buy It Now?
Many eBay sellers offer a Buy It Now (BIN) option. Using Buy It Now will bypass the auction process and lets you "Buy it now".
Pay for your items:
Once you win your auction or use the Buy it Now option it is time to pay. You can pay via Pay Pal or with credit card. I recommend using a credit card because of the protection it offers, but many sellers only accept PayPal payments. PayPal also offers fraud protection if you follow their guidelines, and is generally very safe to use.
Congratulations, that's all there is too it!
Ok, there is a lot more to learn, but I've covered the basics. If you have questions, post them below and we will answer them as best as we can.
Comments
Lol. I'm soo late on reply to this thread but I use a auction sniper also and I love it. Everyone should get one!
Tip for bidding: use an auction sniper. They place a bid for you in the last minute before the auction ends. That way other bidders won't get alerted to the fact that you're interested in the item and get encouraged to bid higher.
I've used Hammersnipe for years and it's never missed a bid. Their free service allows three bids per week. I'm sure there are other good ones but this one has always done the job.