How to Buy a Boat on eBay

eBay is a big auction bazaar where you can buy almost any item imaginable simply by being the highest bidder. Some items are one-of-a-kind and many are bargains. Being well informed about how the site works and about the items you want to buy is a big help in making sure you get a good deal.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• eBay account
• PayPal account

1. Log on to the eBay Web site.

2. Enter your search terms in the search window and press "Enter" on your keyboard.

3. Scroll through the available listings or refine your search to be more specific. On the right hand side of your search results you'll see a list of suggested categories, which can help speed up your search.

4. Sort the eBay listing by pictures, by price or by time left for bidding.

5. Restrict listings to items near your zip code, items listed with PayPal, items with free shipping, Buy It Now Items (see explanation below), or items within a desired price range.

6. Click on a boat you are interested in bidding on. This will bring up a full description with important information that you can peruse at your leisure, including the Current Bid. (Buy It Now means just that. If you are willing to pay the listed price, you can be sure you are going to buy the listed item, but at the Buy It Now price.)

7. Log into eBay with your user name and password to make a bid. If you do not have an eBay account, register by clicking on the "Register" link on any eBay page and follow the on-screen instructions.

8. Click on the "Place Bid" button when you've found a boat that you want to bid on. Alternatively, click the "Buy Now" button if you're willing to pay the listed price.

9. Enter the amount you are bidding. You will receive an email confirming your bid within a couple of minutes.

10. Highest bid at the time the auction closes is the winner. It pays to check before the bidding deadline expires to see where you stand compared to other bids.

11. If you win the bid, you will receive a confirmation email shortly after the auction closes.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you find out as much information as possible about the item you're buying before you place a bid. Once you've won the auction there's no going back.
• PayPal is the safest way to pay for items on eBay.
• If a seller lives close by, it's a good idea to check out an item you want to bid on in person. In fact, with purchases of this size it's often good to only buy from local sellers so that you can "try before you buy."
• Check on a seller's eBay history and feedback by clicking on the "Meet the Seller" link.
• Remember to include taxes and shipping when you're deciding how much you can afford to bid.
• eBay offers Reviews & Guides if you want to do research before buying. You will find a link in the upper right corner on the Home page.