Saving 101, Store Secrets
11 eBay Shopping Tips to Help You Save More
Whether you’re buying new or secondhand, the massive online shopping portal eBay offers a variety of products on which to bid. It might be intimidating to shop eBay if you’re just starting out, but our shopping secrets and eBay coupons are sure to make it easy and enjoyable.
1. Add the eBay browser plugin
The eBay Chrome extension helps you keep track of items you’re bidding on or selling, plus alerts you of eBay’s daily deals.
2. Download the eBay app
When you’re bidding on items, it’s important to have the eBay app handy. Available for iPhone and Android, the app will update you with everything that happens with the product you want, such as when you are outbid. The app is also useful when you’re out and about and see something you want. Snap a photo of the product using the eBay app’s search bar, and the app will scour eBay for similar items for sale.
3. Shop Daily Deals
New deals are featured every day on eBay’s Daily Deals page. Check back daily for limited-time savings on tech, fashion, home and garden, sporting goods, automotive and more. These deals are so great, you won’t even need to use an eBay coupon.
4. Watch for blue stars next to seller ratings
Sellers earn stars with ratings. The more stars a seller has, the better — a seller with 10 to 49 ratings has a yellow star, whereas a seller with 50 or more ratings has a blue star.
Additionally, when buying designer goods from secondhand sellers, look for scores of authenticity. With millions of buyers and sellers, genuinely positive feedback (and a good amount of it) and/or the authenticity-verified mark is indicative of trustworthiness. Look for quality photos and detailed descriptions too.
5. Set up an eBay alert
If you like shopping for great deals, don’t spend time staring at your computer until the deal is yours or waiting for an eBay coupon code. To set up an alert, type a product into the eBay search bar, click “search” and then click “save this search.” If you want a specific product, be more specific with your search. You’ll receive an email from eBay whenever a seller lists your item, hopefully at a price you’ll love.
6. Save your favorite products
Shop smarter, not harder, by saving your favorite items by clicking on the small heart next to the product in the app or on eBay.com. All of these favorited items will automatically be added to a Saved list that you can refer to later.
7. Check the shipping costs
In addition to checking the price, look at the shipping cost. Some sellers offer items with free shipping that may be a better deal than an item with a lower cost plus a shipping charge.
8. Check eBay Local
Looking for a large item that can’t be shipped, such as a couch? Pickup-only listings from local eBay sellers might be able to help. You can enter the product name followed by “pickup only” in the search bar, or scroll down the results page to the Item Location section, check the box for “within” and enter your ZIP code and the number of miles you’re willing to travel to collect your goods.
9. Bring up concerns within 30 days
If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, you have 30 days from the delivery date to open a case with the seller. If your issue is not resolved within three days, eBay’s Money Back Guarantee says, you can contact eBay to see how they can help.
10. Pay with PayPal
When you’re buying from individuals, protect yourself and your money by paying with PayPal when you can. Checks and money orders make it easier for scammers, and PayPal is backed by eBay’s Money Back Guarantee.
11. Shop eBay with Rakuten
Make winning bids or Buy It Now transactions and get Cash Back at eBay when you shop with Rakuten. We’ll even find all the best eBay promo codes and automatically apply them to qualified orders.
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