2. You're undoubtedly heard about people getting great
deals on items they bought through eBay. If you're a bit
envious and ready to try your hand, here's your chance to
learn more.
4. It's an online auction website, in fact the biggest one in
the world. You know how an auction works -- someone
puts up something they want to sell and then buyers come
along and place bids on it. The highest bid wins the item.
5. Being an online auction makes eBay a bit
different, though. eBay accepts almost any item, no
matter how small, and will then advertise it on their sites
all over the world.
7. Bidding on eBay is a little more complex than a normal
auction. On eBay, you enter the maximum amount you are
willing to pay for an item, and then eBay places the bids
on your behalf. You could enter a maximum bid of $100 for
something, and end up paying only $25, if that was
sufficient to win.
8. The best introduction to eBay is to dive in and give it a try.
First, you need to go to the eBay website for your country.
If you don't know the address, just go to www.ebay.com
and you will find it. Once you have the front page of your
country's website, you should see a big box marked
"esearch." Just type into the box anything that you'd like
to buy.
9. When you enter an item, say an opal ring, the website
gives you a list of opal rings for sale, along with how much
people are currently bidding for them, and the time when
bidding ends for that item. Click on each of the listed
items, and you can read the description. If you find an
item you want, and are willing to pay more than the
current highest bidder, then it's time to enter the fray.
11. On the item's description page, scroll down to the bottom
and type the maximum you are willing to pay into the box.
Then click the "eplace bid" button. At this point you will
need to sign in, or go through a quick registration process
if you are new.
12. eBay will let you know if someone else's maximum bid on
that item is higher than yours, and you'll have an
opportunity to change your bid. Otherwise, you're now
the new highest bidder! You can sit back and wait until the
end of the auction. Meanwhile, if someone else outbids
you, eBay will notify you by email, and you can revise your
bid.
13. Sounds like a fun shopping experience, doesn't it? Well, if
you're ready, it's time to jump into the eBay.