Buying on eBay is easy - and fun! You can find almost anything for sale - from new computers to antiques and collectibles. Here are a few eBay basics to get you started:

1. Find an Item - Search by typing in a keyword for an item you are interested in, or browse through the eBay categories.
2. Learn about the item you found - Read the item description carefully, and look at the pictures the seller has included. If you have any questions about the item that aren’t answered in the item’s description, you can ask the seller about the item by clicking on the ‘Ask Seller a Question’ link. Carefully reading all the information and asking informed questions will help you determine if this is the item you want!
3. Review the seller’s feedback - You can see the seller’s feedback score and percentage of positive feedback right on the item page. Also, be sure and read the comments left by the seller’s previous buyers to be sure that this is a seller you feel you can trust.
4. Bid or Buy It Now - Once you’ve found the item you want, you can place a bid or purchase the item instantly using Buy It Now. Some items are sold only in auction-style listings that require you to place a bid, while others include the Buy It Now option. This allows you to buy the item instantly. Check the item page to see what purchase options are available to you.
5. Pay for the item - After you’ve won or purchased the item, send your payment to the seller. If the seller offers PayPal, clicking on the Pay Now button will allow you to pay quickly and easily with PayPal, eBay’s preferred way to pay. Just check the seller’s listing or email invoice to find out what the preferred payment method is and where you should send your payment.
6. Leave feedback - Here’s your chance to tell the eBay community about your experience with this seller. You can leave feedback for any eBay member you’ve bought from or sold to.

eBay Basics 3 - Finding the Item You want

There’s a world of great things to buy at eBay—from antiques to electronics to collectibles of all types. And there are two easy ways to find them: browsing and searching.

Browsing - Browsing is clicking through categories and lists of items until you find what you’re interested in.

Searching - If you know exactly what you’re looking for, just type a few words into the search box on the Home page and you’ll get a list of relevant items.

The eBay Smart search offers sophisticated options and commands that let you narrow your search in a variety of ways. Once you find an item you’re interested in, it’s easy to place a bid. Here’s how:

• To bid on an item, you’ll need to register first. Then carefully look over the item listing.
• Enter your maximum bid in the box at the bottom of the page. Then, click the Review Bid button.
• Enter your User ID and password and then click the Place Bid button.

That’s it! eBay will now bid on your behalf up to your maximum. You’ll get an email confirming your bid. And at the end of the listing, you’ll receive another email indicating whether you’ve won the item, with an explanation of next steps.

eBay Basics 4 - What Steps Can I Take to Trade Safely on eBay?

Trading on eBay is generally very safe. There are also a few steps that you can take to help ensure that your eBay purchase is a positive one. The first, and most important, ebay basics rule of thumb is to learn about the seller before you make a purchase. The best way to do this is to check their feedback. Look for how high their feedback score is and what percentage of their score is positive. You should also read the comments left by the seller’s previous trading partners to see what they had to say about their transaction.
 
Secondly, another ebay basic rule of thumb, if you have questions about a particular item, click on the “Ask Seller a Question” link to send an email to the seller with your question. Remember, most sellers want you to be comfortable with your purchase decision, and are happy to answer your questions. You should not bid on the item until you are satisfied with the answer you have received from the seller.
 
After you have won the item, make sure that you are paying with confidence. On eBay, PayPal is the safest, fastest, and easiest way to pay. PayPal allows you to pay securely with a credit card, and offers significant payment protection.
 
Use caution when considering escrow. To avoid being deceived by fraudulent escrow services, use www.escrow.com, eBay’s approved escrow service. Escrow is available for any purchase, but typically is used for purchases of $500 or more.
 
As another basic rule of thumb, we strongly discourage our members from using instant cash transfer services such as MoneyGram or Western Union. Bidders should be especially cautious if one or both of these are the only payment methods accepted by the seller. Never bid on listings where the seller only accepts cash.