Do price out items before you bid.
Do your pricing homework first, or you may spend more for a brand item that actually costs less in the store. "Always price things at retailers' websites first," says Marsha Collier, author of eBay for Dummies. Before bidding, check matching items listed on eBay and use the "Completed listings only" box in "Advanced Search" to see what comparable items were sold for. Above all, decide how much something is worth to you, then set a budget and stick to it.Don't waste money on worthless goods.
Sadly, fakes and other inflated items are rampant on eBay. Never bid on something — especially an antique, collectible or pricey brand-name item — until you've taken steps to verify its authenticity. Forget this advice and you'll waste money on items that, despite their seemingly can't-beat prices, wind up being no bargain at all.
• If you're bidding on an antique or other valuables, see if the seller has included a certificate of authenticity or a professional appraisal in the listing.
• If he or she says the goods were produced by a certain manufacturer or sold by a particular retailer, look for a picture of the label or maker's stamp.
• If something is "rare," but has several identical items listed, you can bet it's a knock-off.
• If you want an original, be on the lookout for tip-off words such as "-like" "-esque" "-style," "modeled after" and so on.
• Finally, remember that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Don't be frightened of freight shipping.
"If you're shopping for furniture or other large items, check local listings first," suggests Matthew Patrick Smyth, a New York City interior designer who frequently uses eBay to source items for clients and for his own home. The site's "Advanced Search" tool lets you hone your hunt to items within a certain distance of your zip code so you can pick them up in person or have the seller drop them at your door.
But if you root out a treasure that's cross country, don't let the distance stop you from bidding if it's a piece you'd regret passing by. Even sellers who specify "local pick-up only" can often be persuaded to sell to a distant buyer who's willing to dispatch a freight company to retrieve the item. Freight companies to investigate include FedEx, Greyhound, Craters & Freighters, UShip and FreightCenter.
Do scrutinize shipping charges.
"Whether you're shopping eBay or Pottery Barn, shipping is a fact of life," Smyth says, "and if the price is right, you can still get a deal." But not if it turns out that $5 tablecloth has a $30 "shipping and handling" charge. Some unscrupulous sellers try to pad their profits by charging exorbitant shipping, so whether you're after a set of napkins or a 300-pound armoire, "be sure to nail down the shipping price before you bid," says eBay Home & Garden senior category manager Jeannie Reeth. If the listing doesn't specify those charges, e-mail the seller to ask.
Don't bid right away.
It's a common mistake: You see something you have to have, bid on it right away and keep upping the ante whenever someone outbids you. You may win the auction, but chances are you'll pay more than you want to and could still be outbid at the last minute.
"Don't let the whole world know how desperate you are," says Marian McEvoy, author and design-industry veteran. "The key word when bidding is 'wait.'" Think of it as a game of strategy: Keep your poker face on as long as possible, biding your time to make a move, then put in your best bid at the last moment so your competitors don't have time to knock you out of the winner's seat.
If you'd rather not be chained to your computer or have to set your alarm to catch the end of a 4 a.m. auction, you can either set a higher maximum bid amount or use a "sniping" service to do the dirty work for you. Some services charge a flat fee, while others tack on a small commission to winning bids. A few to try are Bid Robot, Auction Sniper and eSnipe.
Do set an odd maximum bid amount.
"Most eBayers bid in even increments, say $15 or $27.50," says Collier. By setting your maximum bid at an odd amount — $15.01 or $27.67 — you can gain the edge. "I see people win auctions by just a few pennies all the time," she says.
