There are a few things as a new purchaser that I have found to be really important. Things such as learning how to read feedback and item descriptions. I would love to share them with you so you can learn through my mistakes and not your own.

1. Always read the feedback of the seller you are purchasing from.

This one is really important. When you buy or sell an item on Ebay you can leave feedback regarding the transaction. This will give you a really good idea on how the seller performs and what their product is like through the opinions of other buyers and sellers. The feedback we leave as buyers is a very important information tool for others.

2. Always read the item description.

The item has a lot of information to read below it. This would include the item description. This information is precise and informative. Sometimes items are not accompanied by a picture so the description is the only way you can really visualise the product. Other items have photo's that don't do them justice so by reading the description you can use both picture and words to come to your decision (CD's can look like DVD's when only using a photo). It can also contain great information like the condition of the product. A lot of what is sold on Ebay is Pre-loved (secondhand) so the condition of the items may vary (as new, well used, box torn on right side etc..). It can be very disappointing if you are expecting a brand new product and receive one that is secondhand.

3. Compare the item with another one the same.

Always shop around. With the easy to use search and save tools at your fingertips this is a really simple one. There are often more than one sale of many items (particularly DVD's, CD's, Games). Use the search option to enter the exact name of the item you have already found. EXAMPLE: I found a Wiggles Big Red Car for sale. It's was brand new and it cost $300.00. I used the search engine to find all of the other Big Red Cars for sale on Ebay. There were 4 others, all ranging from $30.00 to $220.00. There were some used and one other brand new. The brand new one was exactly the same as the one I had already found except it's box was torn. The $80.00 saving was worth my having a torn box. My child was going to rip it straight out of the box anyway. You see how doing a multiple search can save you money.

4. Remember to include the total cost in your final sums.

The cost of the item and the cost of postage should be taken into consideration when looking at making a purchase. It may be a great price for the item but the postage might be double it's cost. Also take into account the method of payment. If your paying via Money Order add on the cost of the money order, envelope and stamp to your total. This can become quite costly if you don't keep track of your postage costs. Also watch what currency the price is in (Australian dollars, US dollars or the British pound etc..).

5. Setting up your Paypal Account:

I recommend using Paypal. This is an instant payment transaction and doesn't cost buyers anything. It also covers your purchase up to $1500.00 via insurance. Paypal accounts do take some time to set up so I recommend starting the process as soon as you join Ebay. All you need is an active bank account or credit card and a postal address. It can take a little more than a week to activate your paypal account so remember this when purchasing with paypal only sellers.

6. When bidding or buying.

If you have found the perfect item and want to buy it or bid on it remember to always enter the highest amount you want to pay for it. Ebay will bid on your behalf and you only pay as much as you have to. This is very handy. The first time I bid I kept entering bids of .50 cents at a time. This can be very time consuming. If you make your bid as high as your willing to go then you can watch it's progress on your "My Ebay" page.

So I hope these few hints help you on your way to the ultimate purchase. Goodluck with your bidding and remember to have fun!!!