How to Bid & Buy Sellers make an effort to include all the information buyers need in their listings. You can find the details they provide on the View Item page.

What to Look for in a Listing

Before placing a bid or buying an item, look for the following:

• Product details. Review listing details and item photos so you have a clear idea of what you are bidding on or buying.
• Terms and conditions. What are the terms and conditions of the sale? Are the terms agreeable to you? Sellers typically set terms and conditions, but you should make sure you agree with them. If not, find another seller or contact the seller to find out if he or she is open to your suggestions.
• Shipping availability. Verify that a seller is willing to ship to your country before bidding on or buying an item. Refer to the Item Location box to see the town where the item is located, where the seller is willing to ship, and the seller's country of registration.
• Delivery details. Calculate and include delivery costs in your final price. Some sellers list their shipping rates and costs for added insurance, while others provide the eBay Shipping Calculator. To determine shipping costs, you will need to know:
• Weight and dimensions of the package
• Method of shipment such as Ground, Next Day Air, etc.
• Location the seller is shipping from (city, state/province, country)
• Location the seller is shipping to (also called the destination country)

Evaluate Seller Feedback

Feel positive and secure about every transaction. Research the seller and look for:

• Positive feedback rating. The Seller Information box in the top right corner of listings indicates a feedback rating. Feedback is left by other buyers and sellers who have had a transaction with the seller. Look at how many transactions a seller has completed. The majority of responses should be positive. Also, delve a little deeper into the feedback by looking at what buyers had to say about their experiences. Did the seller receive praise?
• Sales history. Find out how long the seller has been a registered eBay user and look at the types of items the seller typically offers.

Seller Feedback rating A seller's member profile helps you learn more about your potential trading partner and his reputation in the eBay Community.

Get Your Questions Answered

Communicating effectively with people is a crucial component of successful trading on eBay. If you have questions after reading an item listing and reviewing photos, contact the seller using the "Ask seller a question" link in the "Meet the seller" area, located in the top right corner of every listing.

If you do not speak the same language as the seller, you may want to use translation software to translate key phrases. Some translation services, such as Babel Fish Translation and Google Language Tools, are available free on the Internet but may not be 100% accurate, and eBay cannot guarantee their services. If you use such a service, here are some general rules to follow when writing emails:

• Do not use slang, abbreviations, or sarcasm.
• Keep all communications short and to the point.
• Use short sentences and simple vocabulary.
• Be patient and do not make assumptions. Some ideas get lost in translation.

Once you initiate communication with the seller, how are they communicating with you? Is the seller courteous and professional? Is the seller responsive? Answering these questions can help you decide whether to do business with a seller or find another.

Place a Bid or Buy an Item

There are several ways you can purchase items on eBay.

• Place a bid. For auction-style listings, click the Place Bid button, specify your maximum bid amount, and click Continue. eBay will incrementally place bids on your behalf, up to your specified limit. You will get an email confirming your bid, and at the end of the listing, you will receive another email indicating whether you have won the item, with an explanation of next steps.
• Buy It Now. Click the Buy It Now button to purchase an item at a fixed price.
• Best Offer. Negotiate the price with sellers accepting Best Offer. You can find the Best Offer button below the Buy It Now button on certain listings. Click "Make Offer" to start the process and make up to three offers per item, making it easier to negotiate an acceptable price. With Best Offer, it is best to start early in the listing so you can allow time for the seller to respond.

Once you bid on or buy an item, you can see your eBay activity in My eBay.

Tips for Successful Bidding

When you place a bid or buy an item on eBay, you enter into a binding contract with a seller. If you win a listing, you are obligated to complete the transaction. Here are a few tips that can help you get what you want, at the price you want.

• Research the item. Learn all you can about an item. Make sure you understand the seller's shipping, insurance, payment, and return policies. If you have any questions or are unsure about something, contact the seller by clicking their User ID or the "Ask seller a question" link on the listing page under "Meet the seller." eBay encourages you to get your questions answered before you bid or buy, but if you have already placed a bid and are having a problem communicating with a seller through email, you can request the seller's complete contact information.
• Learn about the seller. Check the seller's feedback. From the item page, click the number in parentheses after the seller's User ID. From here, you will see what other buyers have had to say about doing business with the seller.
• Figure your maximum bid. eBay's bidding system lets you enter your maximum bid once, and the system automatically increases your bid only as much as is needed for you to stay the highest bidder. When determining your maximum bid, consider how much you are willing to pay for an item, how difficult it will be for you to find another one, and how soon you need it. Shipping costs are not included in your maximum bid, so take them into consideration when figuring out the total cost you are willing to pay. If you are outbid by another buyer, eBay will notify you by email and give you the option to set a new maximum bid amount.
• Know when to bid again. Remember, when you place a bid, you enter into a contract with a seller, so do not bid on identical items in different listings if you just want one. If you win more than one item, you will be obligated to buy all of them. If you are outbid on an item, wait until the listing ends before placing a bid on an equivalent item. If the bidder who outbid you retracts his or her bid, your bid may become the winning bid. Instead, watch identical items in My eBay by clicking the "Watch this item" link in a listing. Bid on an item you are watching when you are sure you have not won the item in another listing.

Retract a Bid

You may retract (cancel) a bid in some cases if the retraction meets the requirements of eBay's Bid Retraction policy:

• You made a typographical error and entered the wrong bid amount. (You must enter the correct bid amount immediately after retracting your bid.)
• The item description changed significantly after you placed your bid.
• You cannot contact the seller. (You must first attempt to call the seller and find the phone number out of service or attempt to email the seller and have the email come back as undeliverable.)

Note: There is no equivalent for bid retraction in Buy It Now or Best Offer listings or for listings where the bidding has ended. Once you have confirmed your purchase, you are obligated to pay the seller.