Harbouring a host of designer and vintage pieces that you cannot always find elsewhere and with great prices to boot, there are not many sites like auction giant eBay. I’ve been receiving many questions about what to look out for when trying to find that once-in-a-lifetime deal, so I thought I’d compile a small list of things one should pay attention to when journeying through the eBay world.

Check the seller’s feedback: The seller’s feedback is as important as the item itself. If the seller is listed as having zero feedback, then nine times out of 10 it means that his items have probably fallen off the back of a lorry. If a seller has a lot of feedback but much of it is negative, then do yourself a favour and stay away too. It’s not always easy to get your money back if something goes wrong.

Serious sellers take their item description seriously

Read the item description properly: Serious sellers take their item descriptions seriously. If you come across an item with little to no description and you’re about to put down a lot of money, just don’t. Descriptions should include things like the dimensions of the item, its serial number if the item in question is meant to have one, what condition it is in, etc. Don’t buy blindly. Be realistic about pricing: If a price sounds too good to be true then chances are it is. Nowadays, you’ll be able to find very few people who have absolutely no idea about what their item is worth. Of course, there are a number of people who literally want to get rid of something at all costs and will do anything to be able to do so but they are few and far between. If something doesn’t feel right, ask the seller a few choice questions. If he or she makes a lot of excuses, chances are they are lying.

Ask for real photos of the item and then compare them to photos you find online: The internet is a vast and magical place where you can verify just about anything. If your seller hasn’t provided you with photos of the actual item he’s selling, ask for them. If you already have them, compare them to photos of the real thing online. Don’t allow yourself to be rushed into a decision you might regret.

Happy shopping!

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