Know the Seller:

Review Feedback and user information in the Feedback Profile.

Check a seller's Feedback before you make a bid. If a seller has no Feedback or negative Feedback, contact the seller before bidding. You can view other listings offered by the seller by clicking the “View Seller’s Other Items” link.

The following are icons that you will see associated with a particular seller.

Ask the seller questions

• Email the seller with questions by clicking the “Ask seller a question” link.  

• If you have won an item, you can request the seller’s contact information.

Review the seller’s policies

• Shipping and handling – Review shipping and handling charges before you bid, and ask to have your item shipped and insured in a traceable manner. See more information on shipping and handling.  

• Payment – Consider paying with PayPal or with a credit card, as most offer 100% consumer protection. Be wary of sellers who only accept one form of payment, especially when the seller exclusively requests cashier's checks, wire transfers, instant cash wire transfers (through Western Union or MoneyGram), or cash. Never pay with cash, and use caution when paying with cash equivalents such as wire transfers. See more information on paying confidently.  

• Returns – Examine the seller's return policy carefully before you bid. Contact the seller before you bid with any questions about the return policy. Some questions you might want to ask include:
  
  Does the seller accept returns, or is the item sold "as is"?
  Under what circumstances can you return the item?
  Do you have to return the item to the seller within a certain time period?
  What kind of refund does the seller provide?
  Who pays for return shipping and handling?
  Does the seller charge a restocking fee?

View the seller’s other items

You can learn about sellers by viewing their other active listings. Does the seller offer a wide variety of items, or specialize in one specific type of collectable? To find other items the seller offers, click the "view seller's other items" link on any item listing page. If the seller has an eBay Store, you can go to that store by clicking the Visit this seller's eBay Store link located on any of the seller’s item pages.

Before you Buy:

Before you purchase your item

Shipping Costs

As a buyer, to avoid possible problems or misunderstandings, you should consider the shipping costs and shipping services before you bid on or buy an item. Be sure to review the item description carefully for any additional information. If you have any questions about shipping, please contact the seller before you bid on or buy the item.

Important factors to consider include:

• How much does shipping and handling cost?

• Does the seller ship to my area?

• Can I get the item fast?

• Can I track my package?

• Is insurance offered?

• Can I get a shipping discount for buying more than one item?

When you view an item, you can see if the seller ships to your area, the shipping services available, the cost of shipping, and if shipping insurance can be added.

The seller can use flat cost shipping, which is the same price to all buyers. Or the seller can use calculated cost shipping, which is based on your location. Sellers will sometimes list two or more shipping services. Expedited shipping usually costs more, but can be useful if you need the item right away; however, you may not need the item right away and may prefer a less expensive shipping service.

Simple eBay Rules for Buyers:

Buyers automatically enter into a legally binding contract to purchase the item from the seller if they win the online auction or use the Buy It Now feature. eBay's Unpaid Item policy requires buyers to pay the seller for the items that they commit to purchase.

Sellers can file an Unpaid Item dispute with eBay for each of their items that are purchased but not paid for. eBay will issue a strike on the account of the buyer who does not honor their obligation to pay (unless the buyer and seller mutually agree not to complete the transaction).

Note: If a buyer gets too many strikes in too short a time period, their account will be suspended indefinitely. In some cases, limits may be placed on the buyer’s account in advance of suspension.

Some disputes can be reported immediately after the item closes, but most require a 7 day waiting period.

Sellers may charge reasonable shipping and handling fees to cover the costs for mailing, packaging, and handling the items they are selling. While eBay will not prescribe exactly what a seller may or may not charge, eBay will rely on member reports and its own discretion to determine whether or not a seller’s shipping, handling, packaging, and/or insurance charges are excessive. Shipping and handling fees may not be listed as a percentage of the final sale price.

Sellers who want to be sure they are in compliance with this policy may charge actual shipping costs plus actual packaging materials cost (or less).

In addition to the final listing price, sellers are permitted to charge:

Actual Shipping cost: This is the actual cost (i.e. postage) for shipping the item.

Handling Fee: Actual packaging materials costs may be charged. A handling fee in addition to actual shipping cost may be charged if it is not excessive.

Insurance: Sellers offering insurance may only charge the actual fee for insurance. No additional amount may be added, such as “self-insurance”. Sellers who do not use a licensed 3rd party insurance company may not require buyers to purchase insurance. This is a violation of state law.

Tax: Only actual applicable federal, state, country, city, VAT, and equivalent taxes may be charged.

For cross border transactions, sellers may not collect tariffs and duties. However, buyers may be responsible for actual, applicable tariffs, and duties as requested by respective country laws.

Feedback:

Leaving Feedback is voluntary; however, eBay encourages all members to leave Feedback after each transaction is complete. There are different philosophies on whether the buyer or seller should leave Feedback first. Each member may choose the best approach to leaving Feedback.

Important: Feedback can only be left for 60 days after the transaction has ended.

Note: Remember that any Feedback you leave is public and permanent, so think carefully before leaving Feedback. Make sure that comments are fair and factual. If there is a dispute, try to resolve the differences before leaving Feedback.

Feedback Extortion to Sellers:

Buyers are not allowed to threaten sellers with negative Feedback, neutral Feedback or low Detailed Seller Ratings in order to obtain goods or services not included in the original listing. 

Sellers may not require buyers to leave specific Feedback or Detailed Seller Ratings.  Sellers also may not demand that buyers withdraw existing Feedback or Detailed Seller Ratings.  These prohibitions apply to all Feedback activity, whether prior to, during, or after delivery of goods or services described in the original listing.

Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:

• Listing cancellation

• Limits on account privileges

• Account suspension

• Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings

• Loss of PowerSeller status

• Feedback rating and/or comment removal

USPS Services Information:

U.S. Postal Service (USPS)

• Some countries have larger size limits. Consult your local Post Office facility for the size limits that apply to the country to which you are shipping.

First-Class Mail
You can send letters, large envelopes, and packages with First-Class Mail. First-Class Mail is a USPS trademark.

• The minimum size for First-Class Mail is 5" long, 31/2" high, and 0.007" thick.

• The maximum weight is 13 ounces. You can send pieces over 13 ounces as Priority Mail.

For more information, please see the US Postal Service First-Class Mail Rate Tables.

Express Mail
You can send letters, large envelopes, Express Mail Flat Rate envelopes, packages/thick envelopes, and large packages with Express Mail.

Express Mail offers next day service to most domestic destinations. Express Mail is a USPS trademark.

• Automatically insured to $100 against loss or damage.

• The maximum weight is 70 pounds.

• The maximum size is 108" or less in combined length and distance around the thickest part.

Priority Mail
You can send letters, large envelopes, Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes, Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, packages/thick envelopes, and large packages with Priority Mail.

Priority Mail offers 1-3 day service to most domestic destinations. Priority Mail is a USPS trademark.

• The maximum weight is 70 pounds.

• The maximum size is 108" or less in combined length and distance around the thickest part.

• For packages larger than 1 cubic foot, dimensions are required.

• For items sent in a Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope provided by the Postal Service, the domestic shipping rate is the same regardless of weight or destination.

• For items sent in a Priority Mail Flat Rate box provided by the Postal Service, the domestic shipping rate is the same regardless of weight or destination.

Please mark each package "Priority Mail" in the postage area or use a USPS-provided Priority Mail envelope or box.

For more information, please see the US Postal Service Priority Mail Rate Tables.

Parcel Post
You can send large envelopes, packages / thick envelopes, large packages, and oversize packages with Parcel Post.

Parcel Post is generally less expensive than Priority Mail, but service is generally slower.

• The maximum weight is 70 pounds.

• The maximum size is 130" in combined length and distance around the thickest part.

Please mark each package "Parcel Post" in the postage area. For more information about Parcel Post shipping rates, see the US Postal Service Parcel Post Rate Tables.

Media Mail
You can use Media Mail to send books, film, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, videotapes, and computer recorded media such as CD-ROMs and diskettes.

Media Mail cannot contain advertising. It is sometimes called "Book Rate." It is less expensive than Parcel Post.

• The maximum weight is 70 pounds.

• The maximum size is 108" in combined length and distance around the thickest part.

Please mark each package "Media Mail" in the postage area.

Express Mail International
You can send letters, large envelopes, and large flat rate envelopes with Express Mail International.

Express Mail International offers 3-5 day service to most international destinations. Express Mail International is a USPS trademark.

• Automatically insured to $100 against loss or damage.

• The maximum weight is 70 pounds for most ship-to countries.

Priority Mail International 
You can send letters, large envelopes, flat rate envelopes and boxes with Priority Mail International.

Priority Mail International offers 6-10 day service to most international destinations. Priority Mail International is a USPS trademark.

• The maximum weight for Priority Mail International flat rate envelopes is 4 pounds.

• The maximum weight for Priority Mail International flat rate boxes is 20 pounds for most countries.

• The maximum size for rectangular-shaped parcels is 42" in length and 79" in combined length and girth for most countries. The maximum combined length and girth for Canada, Hong Kong, and many European countries is 108".

First-Class Mail International
You can send letters, large envelopes, and packages which weigh 4 pounds or less with First-Class Mail International.

First-Class Mail International offers 4-7 day service to most international destinations. First-Class Mail International is a USPS trademark.

USPS Insurance Rates:

US Postal Service Insurance Fees Domestic
Coverage Desired	Fee in Addition to Postage
$0.01 to $50.00	$1.70
50.01 to 100.00	$2.15
100.01 to 200.00	$2.60
200.01 to 300.00	$4.60
300.01 to 400.00	$5.55
400.01 to 500.00	$6.50
500.01 to 600.00	$7.45
600.01 to 5000.00	$7.45 plus $0.95 per $100 or fraction thereof over $600 in declared value

Handling Charges:

Permitted:

A seller can add a surcharge to the final price of the item in three instances:

• Shipping and Handling - Sellers may charge a reasonable shipping and handling fee to the final price of their item. A shipping and handling fee can cover the seller's reasonable costs for mailing, packaging and handling the item. Shipping and handling fees cannot be listed as a percentage of the final sale price.