Eight Red Flags that Should Tell You NOT to Bid When deciding whether or not to make a purchase on eBay it is important to consider a sellers feedback, but that may not be the only factor to consider when deciding whether or not t bid. Experts have identified eight red flags that should be a sign that you should not place a bid. First, you should be aware of an abnormally low buy it now prices. If the item is priced well below fair market price there is probably a good reason for it. While shopping on eBay can lead you to some great deal if it seems a little too good to be true it probably is. Also, avoid bidding on auctions that don’t exist in the traditional market. This includes software items that were never released or movies that are still in the theatre. If the item does not exist in the regular market, the seller probably does not possess it. If they do it’s most likely a fraud or illegal, either way you should not bid on the item. If the seller is requesting unusual or unorthodox payment methods that should be a red flag that this auction is not for you. Steer clear of eBay traders who require payment methods that are untraceable, such as wire transfers or ask for your bank account information. PayPal has become the standard method of making payments on eBay. Buyers should look for auctions that utilize PayPal or money orders as preferred methods of payments. And under no circumstance should a buyer give out personal account information. Also, be on the look out for auctions that have outrageous shipping prices. Some unscrupulous sellers will list their item at a low starting price to entice buyers and then slam them with an astronomical shipping rate. Sellers often due this to avoid paying hefty eBay fees that are calculated as a percentage of the selling price, but do not take into account shipping prices. Potential buyers should be cautious of auctions that contain the phrase “contact me before bidding”. These sellers try to convince buyers to purchase the item directly from them to avoid eBay fees. However, bypassing eBay means there will be no record of your transaction. Meaning the seller has nothing stopping them from taking your money and then disappearing. Another red flag that should warn you not to bid on an item is contradictory information in the listing. Avoid auctions that describe on item one way and then when you click on the listing the detail describe something else. Pay special attentions to size dimensions, model types, and years. Also, avoid bidding on auctions that describe the sale item as “almost the real thing”. Sellers often try to pawn off fakes or knock offs by using terms such as “compatible” or “like” in their descriptions. Also, be on the look out for sellers inserting the word “not” in the title. This is a sneaky way to sell low quality imitations to unsuspecting eBay traders.
You should also stay away from auctions that are selling untested items. Untested implies that the owner does not know whether or not the product is in working condition, but more often than not this means the item is not functional. Make sure you only place bids on items that the seller knows works. After buying and selling on eBay for some time you will learn to identify these tell tale red flags and avoid those auctions all together. While eBay can be a safe and secure way to trade items be aware of signs that indicate the seller or item is not as it seems.