The Ebay Experience for Consumers

Ebay is the epitome of the on-line shopping experience. The smorgasbord of consumerism, Ebay provides a wide array of eclectic merchandise. Although the general categories of merchandise remain stable throughout the years, the specific items themselves fluctuate in everything from style to color to quality to price.

Shoppers of Ebay merchandise are like the proverbial child in a candy store. While window shopping is possible, it is unlikely to remain window shopping. The more a shopper sees, the larger the eyes become. As a shopper enters and browses each of the categories, nostalgia begins to play a part in the decision making process.

The Ebay experience has so much to choose from and so many choices to make, creating an exciting cyber adventure. If a phrase to define the Ebay experience could be coined, it would be “Ebaylicious.”

Since it is not difficult to part with your money on Ebay, due to the availability of things to buy, setting a limit for yourself is a prudent idea. Occasionally, an item will create a hectic bidding frenzy that is easy to get caught up in. Know how much you can afford to spend and learn to keep to your set limit.

In fact, several rules of thumb are equally important to follow. Look at this brief checklist and incorporate it into your Ebay mantra.

Tips For the Ebay Shopper:
> Be patient. If an item is too expensive, wait until someone else posts one for sale at a lower price.
> Do not bid on the first thing you see, until you have looked at similar items.
> Wait until the last day of bidding to avoid an inflated bidding price.
> Read and understand what forms of payment are acceptable to the seller.
> Read and understand how the item will be shipped.
> Do not buy expensive items if the seller will not allow you to opt to buy insurance on the item’s delivery.
> Do not bid on items that are out of the country unless you can afford to wait additional time for it to arrive.
> Ask questions to ensure that the item is exactly what you think it is.
> Look at the items ending soonest when you are ready to place a bid.
> Do not bid on items that you know are out of your price range.
> Post feedback once you have received your merchandise.
> Check into the availability of combined shipping if you are making multiple purchases from the same seller.
> Consider setting up a Paypal account for the ease that it provides.
> Once you have won a bid, be prompt with your payment. This will ensure a positive feedback post for you from the seller.

Although shopping on Ebay is initially an anonymous experience, the buyers and sellers are a cyber community. Power sellers, those who sell frequently, and power buyers, those who buy frequently, will easily become recognizable names. Therefore, it is important to maintain a friendly profile when placing feedback or comments about your experience with a particular seller or buyer.

Ebay allows consumers to shop from the comfort of their home with relative ease. The shopping experience that it offers is complete with all of the details needed to make a buying decision- pictures, prices, and informative details. Best of all is the simple fact that if you do not like what you see, then don’t buy it.