eBay® for Dummies®, 6th Edition

Chapter 8. After You Win the Item

In This Chapter

• Getting yourself organized

• Straight talk with the seller

• Ironing out the details and sending your payment

• Dealing with an item that arrives "not as expected"

• Finishing the transaction with feedback

The thrill of the chase is over, and you've won your first eBay item. Congratulations — now what do you do? You have to follow up on your victory and keep a sharp eye on what you're doing. The post-sale process can be loaded with pitfalls and potential headaches if you don't watch out. Remember, sometimes money, like a full moon, does strange things to people.

In this chapter, you can get a handle on what's in store for you after you win your item. I clue you in on what the seller is supposed to do to make the transaction go smoothly and show you how to grab hold of your responsibilities as a buyer. I give you info here about following proper post-auction etiquette, including the best way to get organized, communicate with the seller professionally, and send your payment without hazards. I also brief you on how to handle an imperfect transaction.

eBay Calling: You're a Winner

The All Buying section of your My eBay page highlights the titles of auctions you've won and indicates the amount of your winning bid. If you think you may have won the auction and don't want to wait around for eBay to contact you, check out the All Buying section for yourself and find out whether you're a winner.

Tip

Throughout the bidding process, dollar amounts of items ...