As a buyer, you should follow these steps to help ensure a successful and safe trading experience.
Before buying or bidding
Before you bid or buy, make sure you’ve fully reviewed all information on the listing and the seller. Once you bid on or buy an item, you’re committed to purchasing it.
Evaluate the listing
Review the shipping terms, refund and return policy, and other terms and conditions. Make sure you’re eligible to bid on or buy the item. For example, only verified members can bid on items over the value of $5,000. Make sure the seller accepts your preferred payment method.
Know the item
Confirm the authenticity of the item. If you have questions, use the Ask the seller about this item area in the listing. Use common sense. If something seems too good to be true, it often is.
Know the seller
Check the seller’s feedback by clicking on their username, then the number next to it. Review the seller’s current items to get an idea of the person’s areas of expertise. For example, if the seller has only sold shoes, and then lists a plasma television, you might want to ask them a few questions about the item to see why they are selling. Always make sure that you’re comfortable with the transaction before you bid. If you’re unable to contact the seller, don’t bid on the item. Feel free to get in touch with us through our helpdesk page.
Make sure the seller can contact you
Update your contact information, including your email address, whenever it changes. Make sure you don’t have any spam blocking software installed that blocks a seller from communicating with you. If you have computer or connection problems, you can access your account through any computer with Internet access, such as those at a library or a friend’s house.
Tip: if the seller offers to sell the item directly to you, without you bidding on and winning the item through handshake, don’t respond. Instead, report it to us immediately.
Before sending payment
Learn what you can do to protect yourself before sending a payment. Contact the seller to arrange payment. If you have a problem communicating with the seller through email once you’ve won the item, request the seller’s contact information. Exercise caution with high-priced and popular items. Don’t pay with cash or with instant money transfer services, such as Western Union or MoneyGram. Keep records of all purchases.
Resolving transaction problems
If you have a transaction problem, try communicating with your trading partner. If you’re not able to work things out with the seller, then please contact us through our helpdesk page.
About the buyer’s commitment to purchase
If you’re the winning bidder or if you use the Buy Now feature, you’re obligated to purchase and pay for the item. All bids are active until the listing ends.
If a seller doesn’t receive payment for an item, they can file an unpaid item case using our Resolution Centre. A case may be resolved when the buyer pays or both the buyer and the seller agree to cancel the transaction. If the case isn’t resolved, an unpaid item may be recorded on the buyer’s account. Unpaid items can lead us to take actions such as account restriction or suspension. If you feel an unpaid item was recorded unfairly and want it removed from your account, you can appeal it.