by Ashley Harness

Created on: April 10, 2008

Think Before You Bid

Some of the most important things you want to ask yourself before deciding to pick up that cute little collectible, often go unheeded because it does most often look like a great bargain. Consider, whether or not it really is a bargain, first, or whether or not it might be a reproduction, made to look like what you're after, by a company that produces about a hundred of those same things per day. Consider whether or not the condition of the item is actually worth what you might end up paying for it, if your bid wins. Use the tips below to make consciously good decisions, before entering a bid on EBay.

What Does The Item Usually Go For?

If you are wondering how much you have to bid, to be in the lead, once you have found your perfect collection piece on EBay, a great way to find out how much it's going to take to win, is looking through that seller's past auctions. This is call a 'completed item search,' which is easy, and a good way to decide how much something is really worth, and how much others before you were willing to pay. In order to do this, you'll need to first click on the Advanced Search link, which is in the top right corner of any of the pages on EBay.com. Enter the keywords you're searching for in the right fields, and make sure you check the box that says "completed listings only." Search, and if you are prompted to, enter your user ID and your password; usually, when you're prompted to, it just means that you're not entirely logged in yet.

Is It Really A Bargain?

One of the things to consider before you bid, is whether or not the item is actually a bargain, or if you can find the same thing, elsewhere, for a cheaper price; assuming of course, that it actually is the -same- thing, and not just a similar reproduction. Check to see whether or not you can find the same item in other venues online, because it's a good idea to have that information before you actually bid on the item you found on EBay. Look for similar pieces in other online malls, such as TIAS.com, or rubylane.com, as a point to start. You can also use Yahoo and Google searches to your advantage as well, when searching; at time they yield other online stores that may carry the same item for a better price; once again, assuming of course that it is the same thing. Research what you intend to buy beforehand, in order to be sure.

What Kind Of Condition Is The Item In?

Once you have thoroughly read over the description of the item, inspect the photographs of it as well,

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