Buying on Ebay / Amazon / Online Auction

[babynick34 at yahoo.com]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C1567
From: babynick34
Subject: Buying on Ebay / Amazon / Online Auction
Date: 5/31/00 7:03 pm  (ET)

Hi all

Just in case some of you want to venture in to buying items on the Online
Auctions... thought I would let you know of my experiences.

As some of you will know (and others will no doubt not be surprised
to hear), I have in my posession signed books, some of which are First
Edition. These I have brought on-line through Amazon auctions, where a
specialist bookseller has setup shop.

My experence to date is very good... as I use the same supplier all the
time, there is not a problem. I have yet to venture to using untrusted
suppliers.

Tips:

Look for items which have pictures. Then you can see what you are buying.

Purchase using Credit Card. NEVER SEND CASH.

Check with the seller the delivery costs BEFORE bidding.

Look at the sellers other items... are they similar? Does the seller just
sell Signed First Edition books for example. If so, email the seller and
ask about their 'business'. An honest seller will tell you that they are
in fact a 'business' and use Amazon/Ebay to accept Credit Card payments.

Think before you click... is the price reflective of the value of the
goods? If the offer is 'too good to be true' then it probably is.

Just my thoughts about buying from the online auctions. I've always
got the goods I have paid for, and they have always arrived (even
transatlatic) in mint condition.

Auctions are fun... and you can get things that you would not normally
get from a regular bookstore or shop.

If in doubt about anything that appears on the auctions, email the seller.

Nick.