Tips for Safe and Smart Holiday Shopping on eBay

    SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Need insight into buying smart on
 eBay during holiday shopping season?  Here are suggestions from SquareTrade,
 the leader in helping buyers shop online smarter, safer and easier.
 SquareTrade, (www.squaretrade.com), has been delivering merchant verification
 and buyer protections on eBay for over 5 years.
 
     -- Know what you're getting:  Read the auction item description carefully.
 Understand item details (is it new, used, refurbished), shipping details
 (cost, method, speed), return policies if any.
     -- Research the seller:  Read a seller's eBay feedback, especially
 comments written by buyers, and consider emailing the seller a question to
 check responsiveness.
     -- Look for sellers verified by a third party, such as SquareTrade.
 Verified sellers display the SquareTrade Seal on their auction listings.
     -- Prevent "buyer's remorse":  Avoid bidding more than you want to pay. If
 you're afraid of getting into a bidding war, look for "buy it now" listings,
 where you can buy the item at a fixed price set by the seller.
     -- Pay safely:  Use your credit card or eBay's payment tool, PayPal (where
 you can "fund" the PayPal payment using your credit card). In addition to
 PayPal Protections, in most cases credit cards allow you to reverse charges on
 fraudulent transactions. NEVER use Western Union to pay someone you don't
 know!
     -- Protect your purchase:  SquareTrade Seal Members offer 100% fraud
 protection and a low-price guarantee on new items, if you register before you
 bid on most items (confirm availability at www.squaretrade.com/protect).
     -- Order Early:  Before you bid, confirm with the seller that the shipping
 method used will deliver your item in time for the holidays. Add a week of
 "cushion" to ensure you aren't disappointed.
     -- Be Patient:  If you have questions or problems, give the seller the
 chance to respond before filing negative eBay feedback.
     -- Beware of fraud:  If an offer is "too good to be true," it probably is.
 Beware of email offers to buy "outside of eBay" or requesting you to "update
 personal information." These are often fraud scams. Protect yourself by
 downloading SquareTrade SideBar ( http://sidebar.squaretrade.com ) to help you
 spot fraudulent and phishing websites.
     -- Have fun:  eBay is a fantastic place to find great deals on gifts!
 There's something for everyone, from blenders to magazine subscriptions, MP3
 players to lawn mowers. You might even find your next car!
 
 

SOURCE  SquareTrade