Hi there,

Experience on ebay has taught me a few valuable lessons and things to look out for when purchasing toys on ebay. My first toy purchase on ebay was a Fisher Price work bench, I won it for $5.50 !! Great I thought but unfortunately I did a silly thing a didn't ask what the cost was to send the item....not so great. So, here are a few tips I have learnt along the way:

1) If the seller hasn't added the postage cost in the listing, it's always a good idea to ask. Some items, although light in weight, can not fit into a prepaid satchel and therefore would have to sent as a package which depending on the weight, can be costly. If the seller isn't sure of the postage cost, then ask for the measurements of the toy/box, the weight and the seller's postcode. Then go to the Australia Post website to work it out.

2) When buying toys at a department store, you are able to see if the toy has any small pieces which is an obvious danger for young children and babies. Unfortunately when buying on ebay it's not always easy to see from a picture or a description. If the seller has not provided a suitable age group, then it's always better to be safe than sorry and ask the seller.

3) Toys can easily be damaged in transit, so consider asking the seller how they plan to pack the item. Will they be using any special packaging items to protect the purchase such as bubble wrap or packing chips ? Also, is this cost already factored into the postage costs or is it considered an additional cost.

4) If appropriate, a toy can be taken out of it's packaging to fit into a satchel. Some seller's are happy to do this so it's another question to consider asking the seller.

5) If the toy is second hand, does it have any damage ? Obviously a broken toy would end in tears and we don't want that happening !!! Also, broken toys can be dangerous so it's best to steer clear.

6) If the toy is second hand, is it clean/has it been cleaned with disenfectant ? Does it have many surface scratches ? These things can not be seen in a photo and what the seller may consider as being in a good used condition, you may not. If possible, ask the seller if they can provide close up photos of the item.

7) What's the actual size of the toy ? Sometimes toys can appear to be quite large in a photo but in actual fact they may be quite small. For example, here is a Cars toy close up:

It looks quite large in the photo, but in actual fact it has a scale of 1:64 which means it's the size of a Matchbox car. If the seller has not included any measurements, it always a good idea to ask.

A good seller will welcome any questions, so don't be afraid to ask as many as you can so that you can make an informed decision whether to bid or not. After all, it's your money and you don't want it wasted.

Take care.

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