how do i find a seller on ebay

Download Article

eBay is a corking website to detect deals on everything from TVs to vintage collectibles. Notwithstanding, since anyone can make an account, there are some unreliable sellers who try to scam people on the site. While eBay has a coin-back guarantee to protect its buyers, getting involved in a scam is still a hassle you lot don't want to bargain with. If you're considering buying an item, first look at the seller'due south feedback ratings to decide their reliability. Also go on an eye out for some common cerise flags that could signal a scam seller. By staying vigilant, you tin can go on your shopping experience on eBay scam-free.

1
Look at the seller'southward score on the product page. Whenever you view an eBay product, there is box on the right side of the screen with the seller's overall score. At that place are two pieces of information in this box. The first is a star with a number next to it. That number is the amount of feedback ratings the seller has. The second is a percentage of seller ratings that are positive. Together, these give you a quick glance of the overall forcefulness of a seller.^[ane]
- A seller with at least 10 positive feedback ratings gets a yellow star from eBay, which appears next to their name on the product page. This indicates that the seller is established on the platform. Stars change color as the seller gets more than positive feedback ratings. A seller with at least a yellow star is on the right rails and you can exist confident in their service.
- More often than not, look for sellers that take a higher number of feedback ratings. If you're looking at a production and the seller has 300 feedback ratings and a positive feedback score of 98%, it indicates a very reputable seller. Y'all don't have to investigate this seller further.
- If, withal, the seller has few or no feedback ratings, you should exercise more investigating before ownership the item. This isn't necessarily a bad affair, because a seller might just be new. But scam accounts also have few ratings, and then look for more information.
two

Click on the seller'southward profile name for their full feedback history. If yous want more data after seeing the seller's quick rating, click on their username on the production page. This brings you to their seller profile where you can read all of their by feedback and wait at all the items they take on sale. Click effectually their seller profile for a fuller movie of their reputation.^[2]

Advertizement
3
Assess the seller's iv feedback categories under their contour picture. eBay sellers are graded in 4 categories: Detail every bit Described, Communication, Aircraft Fourth dimension, and Shipping Charges. Each of these categories is ranked from 0 to 50. Check how this seller measures up in each category.^[three]
- Most good sellers on eBay rank higher up twoscore in each of these categories. Someone below that could be an unreliable seller or be weak in that category.
- Some categories might mean less to you lot than others. For example, you lot might not heed paying a higher shipping fee but care a lot most the item being exactly every bit the seller described it. Consider what your values are when you assess the seller'south ranking.
4
Click "Come across all feedback" to view all the seller's past reviews. This page gives detail on all the seller's feedback ratings. Nether the "Recent Feedback Ratings" tab, you'll see the breakup of positive, neutral, and negative reviews that the seller received over the past yr. For a reliable seller, the majority of these reviews would be positive. If a seller has a higher amount of negative reviews than positive, avoid the seller.^[four]
- For more information, read some of the reviews the seller has received. This gives you a comprehensive idea of the blazon of seller they are.
5
Read some of the seller's negative reviews if they have whatever. Even good sellers get some negative feedback, particularly if they've been selling for several years. If a seller has a few negative reviews and y'all'd like to know more than, click "Negative" under "Recent Feedback Ratings" to read all their negative reviews. Apply these reviews to sympathise the circumstances that led to the seller receiving bad feedback. For a reputable seller, negative reviews are rare and due to uncharacteristic failures.^[5]
- There are some red flags to wait for in a negative review. If a buyer complains that the seller described an item as new and it arrived opened and damaged, and so the seller is potentially untrustworthy. A reputable seller would accurately draw the item.
- Some buyers may have unreasonable criticisms, and then be sure to take that into account. For example, "Didn't transport inside an 60 minutes of me buying the item" is an unreasonable criticism. If yous run across reviews like this, the seller is still probably reputable.
Advertisement

1
Investigate farther if a seller is offering a high-value item for a depression price. Prices are ordinarily cheaper online, and eBay is known for good deals, but there are some deals that should raise a scarlet flag. Some scam sellers make new accounts to list very valuable items for enormous discounts. These items could exist counterfeit, cleaved, or stolen, and the seller will describe them as new. Do more investigating if y'all see deals that seem too adept to be true.^{[half dozen]}
- For example, you lot might meet a seller offering a new iPhone for significantly cheaper than all the other iPhones on eBay. This is a cherry-red flag, and you should question why a seller could offering a new iPhone so far below the normal market toll. Information technology is an even bigger red flag if the account has few or no reviews.
- Very cheap items are not necessarily a negative thing. Someone may be moving soon and simply has to get rid of items fast. But it is a reason to do more investigating.
2
Use circumspection if the item picture is a stock photo. eBay allows sellers to upload their own photos of the item they're selling. If they upload a stock photo from a website or the production manufacturer, this is a carmine flag considering they may be trying to hide the bodily condition of their item. If you run across an item using a generic stock photograph, look into the seller'south feedback to ensure that they are reputable.^[7]
- This is specially important for used and collectible items when the condition is very of import. If y'all can't see the actual item for sale, there is a take chances information technology'south damaged or not in the condition that the user is describing.
three
Check if the seller has listed like items on their contour. In a seller'due south feedback profile, curlicue down to find the "Items for Auction" department. Click "Encounter all" to get a list of all other items that this seller is listing. If a seller has a lot of items in the aforementioned category, information technology indicates that this seller has a specialty. This is a good sign. Sellers that specialize in one category are usually professionals and accept selling very seriously. They will work hard to deliver your items and handle any issues that arise.^[8]
- Having a lot of unlike items is, again, not necessarily a negative thing. People often use eBay to clean out their garages and homes, and naturally have many diverse items for sale. But this normally means they aren't professional person sellers and might be less skilled or willing to deliver the best service possible.
- Having one high-value item for auction and nothing else is a bigger red flag. This could be a faux seller profile that someone is using to unload damaged products.
4
Ask the seller a question about the particular if you're suspicious. If you accept whatsoever uncertainties about a production or a seller, contact them through eBay. Click the "Ask a Question" option on the production folio to contact the seller. Asking more data about the product or its cost if yous have any doubts. If the seller delays or dodges your question, avoid this detail.^[9]
- See how fast and completely the seller answers your question. A good guideline is that reputable sellers respond inside 24 hours, or 48 hours if yous contacted them on a weekend or vacation. A seller with slow communication may be less reliable.
5
Avoid completing transactions exterior of eBay. If a seller asks yous to get out eBay and buy their item from another site, or contact them directly off of eBay'south communication aqueduct, do not buy the detail. Once you get out eBay, you're no longer covered by their money-back guarantee. Scam sellers endeavour to go people away from the main site and then buyers won't be able to get their money back. Never listen to a seller who tells you to practise this.^[10]
- Asking buyers to consummate transactions off of eBay is a violation of the site'southward policy. If a seller asks you to do this, written report them to eBay.
Advert

Add together New Question

Question

How tin I be sure that I will receive an item that I purchase?

You can't, but you practice have recourse (in the form of negative buyer feedback) if the item never arrives. Nigh sellers desire to avoid negative feedback at all costs.
Question

Why would a seller have lower prices on eBay?

eBay is highly competitive for depression prices. For a seller to brand money and be competitive on eBay, they will need to sell at lower prices.
Question

Is it condom to buy suits off of eBay?

If you lot're talking about men's wearable, eBay can be an awesome identify to get cracking deals on wearable. It tin too be a terrible place to become ripped off on clothing. If you follow the basics outlined in this commodity, you're likely to have a good experience. Only buy from sellers who have meaning feel as a seller. (An eBay user tin have 100% positive feedback, simply all of that could be as a buyer, in which case you take no idea if he or she is a good seller). Read the particular description thoroughly. Compare the flat measurements to your own wearable that fits you well; never rely on a label size. Buy brands you lot're familiar with and know their quality and fit.
Question

How can I tell if a seller is legit on eBay?

Contact the seller and test them out, too, check the reviews nearly what other people call up. If they have a lot of negative reviews then that is a red bill of fare.
Question

Practice I buy eBay gift cards to buy things on eBay?

You lot can buy souvenir cards if you want to gift them to other people, but if you lot want to purchase things for yourself, so no, you can use a credit card or PayPal for your purchases.
Question

What recourse is there if I purchase a luxury item on eBay and it'southward a imitation list?

If y'all pay via Paypal you have recourse to gild for refund if the item is not as described. Contact eBay directly and explain what has happened and they'll provide you with details on what to do to get the transaction reversed.
Question

How likely is information technology that someone is a scammer on Ebay if they take positive reviews?

This depends on the number of reviews, the college amount of reviews the higher rail record accurateness of the account's true nature. Remember the importance separating the buyer from seller reviews, as buyers reviews are almost always 100% easy while sellers are graded at much higher standards. Bank check how many prior sales the seller has sold, how long the account has been active, check what they sold, read the reviews, check levels of action using eBay, and ask a question and evaluate the response time, grammatically correct, and best to take limits on buys or sales. For example, a Elevation Rated Ability Seller with 213 reviews, of which simply 8 are every bit a heir-apparent, scoring 99.five%, that's a legitimate track record.
Question

If a seller on eBay says she a member of the heir-apparent's protection plan, how do I verify her membership?

Every seller is a "member", and every buyer is protected. This is an eBay policy and covers almost all transactions on the site.
Question

What do I practice if I purchase something on eBay that doesn't piece of work when it arrives?

Double check the list and make certain that the status was not listed as "not working. for parts/repair". If it was sold as damaged, then there is little y'all can do except ask the seller to have a return, which you volition mayhap have to pay return aircraft. If the particular was listed as new or used and was listed as working, and then you can open up an item not as described return. The seller will be responsible for providing you with a return shipping characterization. Once detail is back in sellers possession, they will accept 2 days to requite yous a refund. If they fail to give you a refund, call eBay and they will step in and give you your coin back.
Question

What do I do if a seller on eBay gets mean during communications?

It depends. If yous really want the production and you are certain that it is real or legitimate, then purchase the detail. If not, then don't. It besides depends on what the person is getting mad about. If the person is getting mad about you thinking the production is fake or request if it's fake, then it'southward probably fake. If they are getting mad because you want to change the toll, then stop trying to change the toll and movement on.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advert

Remember that eBay has a coin-dorsum guarantee, as long as you lot buy items through eBay itself. So if there are problems with an society and the seller won't piece of work with you, eBay will reimburse you fifty-fifty if the seller is uncooperative.

Advertising