How to Buy a Used Nintendo DS on eBay

When you buy a used Nintendo DS on eBay, the secret is to pay careful attention to details. Make sure you follow these steps to make the right investment and find a used system that performs well.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access
• Computer

1. Visit eBay and bookmark the URL.
2. Click on “Advanced Search” to the right of the “Search” button. In the space “Enter keyword or item number,” type, "used Nintendo DS console." Under “Categories,” scroll down and select “Video Games.”
3. Make sure there is a check mark in the box next to “Search Title and Description.” Also select the option marked “All of these words.”
4. In the box under “Exclude all these words,” type in: Lite, Wii, Playstation and XBox. Scroll to the end of the page and under “Sort by,” click “Price: highest first.” Now click the “Search” button.
5. Read through your results, which should contain mostly Nintendo DS consoles both with and without games. Click on several to compare price and features. The description will include whether it's a used item. (Most are since it is the older version of the Nintendo DS.)
6. Make your purchase. Once you select your item, you can choose “Buy It Now” to purchase the item at the current selling price. (For some products, that is the only option.) Or you you can try bidding which usually offers a better deal. To bid on a product, you'll need to be a registered user of eBay.
7. You'll need to place your bid at or above the minimum bid price, listed to the right of the bid text box. Once you type in your bid, click “Place Bid.” The next screen will list the current bid, your bid and the cost of shipping and handling, should you win the auction. Here’s where you confirm the bid you've typed in.

Tips & Warnings

• Email the seller with any questions. They should respond quickly. If not, take the lack of information and response as a warning that this is probably not someone you want to purchase from.
• You’ll need to check the eBay site frequently to watch your item, and be sure sure you're not outbid on the item you want. If someone places a higher bid and you're willing to pay more than their offered price, repeat step 8. It's wise to set yourself a bidding limit ahead of time. This will help prevent getting swept up in the excitement and spending more than you'd initially intended.
• Make sure the used Nintendo DS you choose is not a Nintendo DS Lite. Some ways to tell the difference: the Nintendo DS is the older version, and will be less expensive. The Nintendo DS is also slightly larger, and measures 148.7 mm by 84.7 mm by 28.9 mm when folded. Look for these measurements in the description and be sure the word “lite” is not used in the title.
• When you place a bid, it is a legally binding contract! Make sure you are prepared to pay the price you've bid and that you understand the payment options. Some sellers accept checks or money orders while others only accept an online payment option called PayPal.