It's a heady feeling when you win your first eBay auction: a
mixture of happiness and perhaps just a little fear. After all,
there seems to be so much to do before you can actually get your
item. What do you do next?
The simple answer is: you send payment to the seller, as quickly
as possible. The quicker you pay, the more your seller will like
you, and the sooner your item will arrive. But how you go about
it? That all depends on how you plan to pay.
PayPal.
PayPal is one of the most popular options for paying on eBay, to
the point where eBay decided to buy the company. It allows
instant electronic payment across the Internet. Money goes
instantly from your credit or debit card to the seller's PayPal
account, where they can either use it for Internet purchases or
transfer it out to their bank.
eBay offer incentives for using PayPal, and almost all sellers
now accept it. Its instant nature makes sellers very happy, and
means that they can have your item packed and sent and leave you
some positive feedback within a few hours of the auction ending.
When paying by PayPal, you will be covered by PayPal's own
insurances and guarantees, as well as any that your card might
have.
Cheques and Money Orders.
This is payment the old-fashioned way, and will lead to a long
wait to your item. You need to post the cheque or money order,
then the seller has to take it to the bank and get it cleared,
and only then do they send the item. The only reason to use this
method is if either you or the seller distrusts electronic
payment methods. If you're willing to go to the trouble with
these sellers, though, you might get an item very cheaply, as
most buyers just can't be bothered.
When you pay by cheque or money order, make sure to print the
eBay order confirmation page (it will be emailed to you) and put
it in the envelope with your payment. Underline or circle key
information like your mailing address and the item number.
Finally, remember to be patient: keep in contact with the
seller, as it really can take a month or two before everything
falls into place and your item turns up.
Money Transfers and Bank Deposits.
Some sellers may ask you to pay them using a wire service like
Western Union, or simply give you a bank account number and ask
you to pay money into it. Unless you really trust the seller,
this is generally a bad idea - these methods are hard to trace
and you're unlikely to get any money back if anything goes
wrong. Paying in cash, it hardly needs to be said, is an even
worse idea.
It's all a lot to take in, isn't it? I'm sure by now you've got
a few questions, which is why the next email will be a little
eBay buyer's FAQ. Let's hope we can solve any problems you might
have.
About the author:
Kirsten Hawkins is an Ebay and internet auction enthusiast from
Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.auctionseller411.com/ for more
great tips on how to make the most from Ebay and other online
auctions.
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