How to Buy an Item for the Cheapest Price on eBay

eBay lets buyers and sellers meet at the intersection of supply and demand. This means you should usually find items at the best price, but only if you know how to use the site. Follow these steps to find the cheapest prices on eBay.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• eBay account

1. Search other listings for the item you want. Find multiple options so you can compare prices and leverage one against the other.
2. Use eBay stores, the Product Finder tool and the general search toolbar to find all the items that match what you’re looking for.
3. Consider used or "slightly damaged" items.
4. Calculate the price with shipping and handling. Neither auction nor fixed-price item prices include shipping and handling or sales taxes. Look for sellers with low S&H fees.
5. Choose the auction-style format. "Buy It Now" price items can be cheap, but you can bid low for auctioned items and pay nothing if you don’t get it.

Tips & Warnings

• If you make a typo and bid the wrong amount, eBay will let you retract your bid (most of the time) and reenter the correct amount.
• Check the seller’s ratings and weigh them against the price of their items. Some low prices may not be worth the risk.
• An item might be cheap because it is part of a scam. Be cautious.