How to Control Your eBay Spending

eBay is great, but sometimes our eBay spending can get out of control. This will help you limit your eBay overspending while still enjoying the shopping experience.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. When bidding on an item, limit yourself, and do not let yourself bid higher than your original top bid. It's tempting to bid higher, but if the price is higher than you want to pay, it isn't meant to be.

2. It may be tempting to bid on multiple items, but if you can only afford one, bid on one at a time. You don't want to end up winning two items, only to realize that you can't afford to pay for both.

3. Don't keep checking eBay. If you do, you risk increasing your maximum bid. Just leave it alone, and if you win, great. If not, there will be plenty of other items to bid on in the future.

4. Only bid on items that you really want. Resist impulse bids. You could end up winning and not winning an item if you place impulse bids.

5. Only bid on items that seem to be legitimate. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure sellers are reputable and items are authentic.

6. Ask sellers questions. If you are unsure about an item, get an answer to your questions before bidding. You may find out that the item is exactly what you want...or not what you want at all.

[Kathymcbain]

on 12/20/2008 I used to have a major ebay addiction. Thanks for this article, it's great.