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Ground rules of buying on online auction sites

By Bobby Buys

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 23May2009
Word count: 570
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Thousands of people transact on online consumer-to-consumer auction sites and marketplaces every week and keep coming back for more. However, you as a buyer have to keep in mind that there are dishonest people out there. You have to protect yourself. If you follow the guidelines outlined here, you should have no problems. Consumer-to-consumer marketplaces are great for bargains and hard to find items; if you want the rewards, you have to do a bit of homework.

Buyers especially should be extra cautious when finalising a transaction, as it is usually buyers who will be requested to deposit or send monies to the seller. Remember, if the deal looks too good to be true, it is highly likely that it is just that - not true! Here are a few tips that should improve the chances that your online auction experience will be a good one:

1. Never give your password to anyone.

2. Study the listing. Read the item description carefully to check the condition, age and size of the item. Read the conditions stated for payment and delivery.

3. Ask questions. If the seller does not answer your questions, regards this as a warning flag.

4. Check the price of the buy-now items. Is it a bargain - or is it unrealistically low? The latter may point to an intention to defraud buyers.

5. Beware of deals that look too good to be true.

6. Check the seller's rating score. Are there many negatives? Read the feedback from other buyers.

7. How long has the seller been a member of the site? Is this a new seller selling a high priced item from day one? If yes, be extra cautious.

8. Is the seller trying to get you to conclude the deal off the site? Be wary of sellers who attempt to bypass the processes established on the site by providing contact details in their listings.

9. Does the seller offer warranties and guarantees? They basically ensure peace of mind while shopping.

10. What are the shipping costs? Always check that the shipping costs are reasonable before making your bid.

11. Use a credit card. When a consumer uses a credit card, the bank that issued the card acts as an intermediary if there is a problem with the transaction, and allows the consumer to charge back an unauthorized or erroneous charge.

12. Get the name and contact information of the seller after the deal. If you have won a bid, contact the seller to ensure that they are legitimate. The name, physical street address, email address, and phone number are helpful to have for checking the seller out and following up later if there is a problem. Do not do business with anyone who refuses to provide that information.

13. Always keep the proof of payments and any correspondence relevant to the purchases you make.

14. Try mediation to resolve disputes. Not all problems are due to fraud. Sometimes people simply fail to hold up their side of the bargain in a timely manner. At other times, there may be simply a misunderstanding about something.

15. Inform the site management immediately about suspected fraud.

Although a great majority of transactions on consumer-to-consumer sites ends successfully, a smart shopper will always be careful. Make sure that you are comfortable that the seller is legitimate, that the seller's ratings are good, that the shipping charges are reasonable and that the item's description is a true reflection of what you are buying before making payment.

bidorbuy.co.za is South Africa's largest online marketplace. Buyers and sellers come to bidorbuy to buy and sell virtually anything in auction format or at fixed prices. Contact details: bidorbuy Marketing Department; email promotion@bidorbuy.co.za, web site www.bidorbuy.co.za

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