E-BAY SAFETY TIPS
- KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. Do the research before you bid. Learn about the features of various models of flutes and what features are "standard" with any purchase. In general, if a seller uses too many exclamation marks or silly eye-catching phrases, beware. :-) They might be trying to get you excited about something that isn't a good buy. If you are a parent of a young student and are not sure what you're looking at, contact an experienced flutist who can look at the auction and tell you if it sounds legit or not.
- READ THE DETAILS. Before placing a bid, read the auction details VERY carefully and several times to be certain you understand what the auction is for and what all it includes. An honest seller who knows what they're talking about will almost always list the details out very clearly. Ask about warranties, both from the seller and from the manufacturer. Don't hesitate to call the manufacturer and ask if they honor warranties on new instruments purchased through a reseller on e-Bay.
- VIEW SELLER'S FEEDBACK. If the seller has negative feedback, take the time to read it. This could be all the info you need in order to make your decision. Also, decide whether you want to bid on an item from a new "e-bayer" who has no feedback rating yet. Having no feedback does not necessarily mean they're a bad person! But particularly if this is your first e-Bay experience, look for someone who has a good seller reputation.
- LOOK AT PICTURES. Look at the picture(s) provided, and if there are no pictures, consider asking the seller if he/she can provide you with one or more. If you can't see what you're buying, don't buy it.
- ASK THE SELLER A QUESTION. Use the "Ask Seller a Question" link which appears under "Seller Info" to the right top of the auction page. E-mail a question (ANY question) to the seller. You can tell a lot about a seller by his/her response; often that's all you need in order to tell if the person is honest and knows what they're talking about. Also, how long did it take the seller to reply? If it took a long time, perhaps you should look elsewhere. Good sellers will be anxious to help you in any way possible.
- LOOK FOR A GUARANTEE. Many sellers are actually businesses who have a physical place of business as well as "E-bay Stores" to sell their instruments. Most E-bay Store owners include a warranty and a money-back guarantee with their auctions. Look for this, and if you have any questions, ask the seller.
- CALL THE SELLER. Some sellers provide a phone number either in the auction details or on their "About Me" page which is indicated by this image -->
. Just because e-Bay is new technology, don't completely ignore the old technology. Get the 'ol phone out and call if you have any hesitations or questions about something. Look for the symbol under "Seller Info" and click on it for more seller information.
- SHIPPING AN INSTRUMENT. Make sure you find out HOW the instrument is going to be shipped. Many times a seller will ship it according to your preference. ALWAYS request delivery confirmation and a tracking number. This way you can track your purchase all the way from them to you, and the delivery confirmation lets them know exactly when you received it. This can prevent a LOT of problems. If the box looks damaged when it arrives, take a picture of it before you open it. This can come in handy if a claim becomes necessary.
- SEARCH THE BBB. If the seller is a business (it will usually say so in the details, or the seller's ID may be the name of the business), do a search for them on the website of the Better Business Bureau: http://search.bbb.org/search.html. Find out if they are registered with the BBB and if they have any feedback listed there.
- E-MAILS FROM E-BAY/PAYPAL. Don't fall for the e-Bay and PayPal e-mail scams. Neither one (they are owned by the same company now) will EVER ask you for any personal information directly in an e-mail. Don't click on any links given in questionable e-mails. Simply go to the appropriate website and log in to your account to view any announcements or make updates to your personal information from within your account.
- MISCELLANEOUS. Many people are absolutely opposed to buying instruments on e-Bay; however, if you follow the basic rules of common sense, you have little to worry about. Read carefully and ask questions. Do the research about the instrument before you bid, or have someone help you. If you don't feel confident in purchasing an instrument on e-Bay, then don't! Do what feels right to you. Never agree to purchase anything from a seller outside of the auction site. E-bay's protection policy only applies if the transaction occurs through an actual auction.