How to get a good deal...

This guide really is about getting a bargain. I mainly stick to certain areas like COINS, but the same applies to other areas of eBay. What causes an item to sell for a high amount ? what about a low amount ? There are some other guides so please check them too. I've listed some of the more important things to consider, and ones that have saved me money on valuable items like gold coins and banknotes.

Surely it's not that hard on eBay, well here are a few simple tried-and-tested rules.

1) Aim for 50% or less of the value of the item.

Paying more should only come for hard to obtain items. Gather information about the item, ensure you are bidding on an item you know the true value of. Search for the item, then tick "completed items" and see what they sell for if sold recently ! Set yourself a hard limit of how much to pay, and write it down. If you go over this limit, you should stop bidding !

2) Avoid low start items unless abundant.

Quite simple. The reasoning is that unless there are a lot of this item available, bids will quickly mount up. 20+ people may be hovering to bid at the last minute, driving the price often over the real value of an item. The reason here is the heart, humans are quick to overrule their mind with their heart, WANTING something is enough to do this. We find ways to justify paying a certain amount, and then we do it !

3) Avoid bidding too early.

This is the tough one. It can be very tempting to knock in a bid early, however some items should be left well alone. The more you want something, the LESS inclined you should be to put in a bid. Put the item on watch, it's not going anywhere. Wait until the very last minute, unless you CANNOT be there. If not, wait until your last opportunity to bid (such as the night before) and put a reasonable bid.

BUYNOW items are an exception, you need to decide if the price is affordable based on its real value.

4) Search search search !

The search allows you to search within descriptions, so take some time to do a broad search. I get online and search for Sovereign, and get a huge list. The time spent is often well worth it, as items can show up buynow and are there for the taking. Rather than doing specific searches, try a broad search first. You can easily change it and try again, and you'll probably find something you didn't know you were looking for !

5) Patience.

In general there will always be another day to buy the same item. If you see a bidding war starting, its best to sit back and laugh - you'll be watching that item starting "high" yet at a great price for its value ! Buy at the last minute and enjoy :)