To search for items for sale, go to the eBay homepage and enter some keywords into the search bar before clicking Search. eBay presents you with a list of items matching your keywords. Narrow your search if you get too many results. Select an entry to view its full advert. This should include current price, end date and time and details about delivery arrangements and cost. Before deciding to bid, check the advert wording carefully. Also examine the seller’s feedback rating to see how many successful transactions they have made before. Remember that you might find the same item for less elsewhere online, so check out some price comparison sites like Kelkoo (www.kelkoo.co.uk) to ensure that you’re getting a good deal. If you’re happy to proceed, click Bid, sign in and provide the highest price that you’re prepared to pay.
When you place a bid, eBay uses a system called proxy bidding, whereby you place the highest bid you can and eBay bids on your behalf, just above the current top bid and carries on bidding until your bid is the winning one or your limit has been reached. If you win the auction, you’re contractually obliged to cough up the money you’ve pledged. The eBay feedback system ensures that sellers can warn others if you don’t pay.
Search results
1
Find Field
Enter the name of the item you're looking for in this box and click Search to see auctions with matching items.
2
Categories
Make your search more effective by narrowing it down to a specific category. Choose one from this drop down list. Click Advanced search to include more search criteria.
3
Search Refinements
Depending on what you’re looking for, eBay may provide suggestions to help narrow down the search further. Here it offers flash drive capacities to slim down the results returned.
4
Feature Requirements
Again, dependant on the area searched, you may have a list of features that are available in items matching your search. Tick a feature to exclude matches without this feature being returned.
5
Auction Types
Use these tabs to narrow down the type of advert that you see. You can choose to view Buy it Now adverts only, auctions only or a mixture of the two.
6
Featured Items
These listings appear first because the vendors have paid more to give them a higher profile. They may not be the best match for your search. Scroll down to see the full listings below these.
Tip
If you have a particular search that you run regularly, save yourself some time by saving it in My eBay. Just search for the item and then click Save this search next to the title of your search results. Give it a name and click Save.
The Bidding Process
1
Be sure before you bid
Once you’ve searched for an item and viewed its listing, read the advert carefully to ensure that you understand what you’re buying. Some adverts include surprises in the small print. When you’re happy that you want to buy, enter an amount and click Place Bid.
2
Confirm the bid
Your bid isn’t placed until you click Confirm Bid. Once you’ve done so, you have effectively committed to buy the item at that price, plus any postage charges levied by the vendor. These should be clear in the advert, which you’ve just read thoroughly, right?
3
Bid Confirmation
Your bid will now be confirmed. If someone else has already bid more than your maximum amount, you may be told that you’ve been outbid already. If your bid is the highest, you’ll be told that you’re the high bidder. In either case, you’re also informed by email.
4
Winning the auction
When the auction ends, if you’re still the highest bidder, you’ll be informed by email that you’ve won the item. Click Pay Now in the email or go directly to eBay to arrange payment as soon as possible. If you’ve been outbid, you’ll be told via email too.
