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eBay – Friend or Foe?
Added: (Thu Oct 27 2005)
Norma Foster chief executive of The North East Regional Portal (TNERP), examines the World’s biggest online marketplace eBay, and weighs up the pros and cons of the American phenomenon in the UK.
Launched in 1995, eBay brings together buyers and sellers across the world to buy the things they want and sell the things they don't.
What started as a place to trade collectibles and hard-to-find items has developed into a marketplace where you can find practically anything.
In theory, trading on eBay is fun and easy but, like any transaction, when it comes to dealing with money and sensitive personal information, you need to be cautious.
Buyers are advised to follow this checklist, to ensure their time spent on eBay is as safe and secure as possible.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and check the price - often postage and packaging is not included which can bump up the final cost.
Check the seller’s feedback. The success of eBay is based on trust, and you can see whether the person you’re buying from appears to be someone you’re happy passing money to. If you’re not one hundred per cent certain, don’t bid.
Where possible trade using PayPal, the preferred supplier of eBay. When you buy your bid through PayPal, you are automatically covered up to £500, so in the event that you do not receive the item or it is significantly different than described, it is a good security net.
Never make assumptions about a product. It may have a picture with it that is taken from the Internet that may not actually be in the same condition as the item you are bidding for. Ask the seller to email you a JPEG of the actual product and ensure you know all the facts before bidding.
Be careful not to pay over the odds. Research the item’s value and compare it to other similar listings, ask friends what they think and find out whether the product is brand new or second or third hand.
Don’t bid unless you’re serious and don’t bid on a series of listings of the same thing. Use the watching device to monitor the products and then you can decide which of them are within your reach and you would like the most.
Make sure the item is not prohibited and will not land you in a difficult situation. Check eBay’s policy online to see which products are prohibited, questionable and infringing.
Don’t bid when all of your money has gone. eBay can become extremely addictive, so ensure that you keep to your budget and don’t blow it in the heat of the moment,. You’ll probably end up paying a lot more for it than it’s worth.
And lastly, enjoy yourself. Auctioning has always been a particularly popular and thriving industry, and by following these instructions and using your own common sense, you should be fine.
A not-for-profit organisation and a fully owned subsidiary of the Regional Development Agency One NorthEast, TNERP represents the North East England online via its n-e-life.com website. It can also provide e-commerce advice, funding, e-tendering services and online shopping.
For further information telephone 0191 487 2002 or visit www.n-e-life.com