| Ever shopped at an online auction site? If not, you | | | | - Never go beyond the top price you're willing to pay. |
| don't know what you're missing. | | | | Determine your price before going to the online |
| Are you a bargain hunter? Are you always looking | | | | auction site and placing a bid. |
| for that great deal? | | | | - Check the payment options and choose the credit |
| Imagine being able to buy a car dirt cheap or furnish | | | | card which will give you added protection. If the |
| your house for pennies on the dollar. Imagine finding | | | | goods aren't delivered or are not as you expected, |
| excellent deals on almost anything, including furniture, | | | | you can work with your credit card company to |
| used autos, ponies and horses, stables, toys, clothing, | | | | settle your disputes with the seller. |
| houses and properties, and much more. | | | | - Email the seller any questions you have about the |
| Or maybe you're into recreational vehicles, like RVs | | | | product and the policy before you bid. |
| and boats. You can even get a yacht at an amazing | | | | - Don't forget to check any warranties available for |
| discount... if you know where to shop. | | | | the product. Of course, one of the first things you'll |
| And that's the key... knowing where to shop safely. | | | | want to do is make sure the online auction site itself |
| There are frauds and scams all over the internet and | | | | is legitimate. A few ways you can do this is to check |
| online auction site complaints are one of the most | | | | the site's history. Run the URL through which will give |
| common received by the U.S. Federal Trade | | | | you information about how the long the online |
| Commission. | | | | auction site has been around. |
| Consumers complain of goods not delivered as | | | | If it's been around for awhile, chances are it's |
| advertised at the online auction site, the product | | | | trustworthy, otherwise it wouldn't still be in business. |
| delivered is of lesser value than they thought they | | | | It will also give you the name and contact of the |
| were purchasing, and perhaps worse of all, the seller | | | | actual site owner. |
| fails to disclose all the relevant information about the | | | | Another way to protect yourself is to use an alert |
| product or the terms of sale. | | | | system provided on some browsers. Internet |
| What can you do to protect yourself? First off, ask | | | | Explorer 7 includes such a feature. If a site is a |
| questions. | | | | known phishing or scam site, the address bar in your |
| - Find out who the actual seller is and check their | | | | browser will show orange to alert you. |
| background. You can do this through feedback | | | | You also want to check the rules of that particular |
| ratings available on some online auction sites. Get | | | | online auction site. Don't assume that the rules used |
| physical addresses and phone numbers as well as | | | | by one Internet auction site apply to all of them. |
| email addresses. This will help ensure you're not | | | | Look around the online auction site for any tutorials |
| dealing with a fly-by-night scammer. | | | | that can help make your experience easy and |
| - Make sure you understand the relative value of the | | | | enjoyable. Take time to go through the tutorials to |
| product you're bidding on, as well as the terms of | | | | avoid any disappointment and frustration trying to |
| sale including return policies and shipping arrangements | | | | figure things out on your own. |
| such as who pays for shipping on returns. | | | | Finally, see if there are any special protections in |
| - Do your own preliminary research on the products | | | | place such as insurance and guarantees that will |
| you're interested in. For example, check the Blue | | | | cover you should the item not arrive as you expect. |
| Book for the going rate for cars and other vehicles. | | | | |