Safe shopping on Ebay

If someone invites you to deal away from the internet auction site by offering to sell the same item for the same or a lower price, beware. Many sole traders set up their own web shop and most are bona fide. But if you buy off-site you lose any protection that Ebay may provide and increase your risk of being conned.

Which brings us to Second Chance Offers. These can be sent by a seller to any one of the losing bidders if the winning bidder does not complete a purchase, or if a seller has more than one item available. However, if you receive an email claiming to be a Second Chance Offer with the subject line ‘Message from eBay Member’, it’s fake. Ebay recommends you do not respond to the sender and forward the email to spoof@ebay.co.uk.

Legal protection
Ebay has helped many people earn extra cash but there comes a point when users are considered sole traders and not private individuals. Sole traders normally have a thriving Ebay presence. Liberal use of the Buy it Now feature and Powerseller status are also good indicators that the seller is a sole trader. Private individuals usually sell personal items only occasionally.

If the seller is a private individual, the goods must be as described but that is the extent of their legal liability. However, sole traders have to abide by consumer laws including the Sale of Goods Acts and Distance Selling Regulations ­ if they apply to a sale. For example, if you are bidding on an item during an auction, you may not have the right to cancel and return goods unless the seller has indicated that he/she is agreeable to this in the auction listing details or in the sale contract.

However, if using the Buy it Now feature to buy from a sole trader, this is considered a normal sale and you have the same rights as if you were shopping with any online retailer.

Also, people who use Paypal to buy items on Ebay will also get a full refund, including postage costs.

Our Verdict
Ebay has its share of fraudsters, but the majority of its 20 million-plus users are honest. It continues to be used by all and sundry as a way to buy and sell perfectly good but surplus items. If you are unfortunate enough to have a dispute with a seller that he or she won’t resolve, report them to Ebay. It should investigate your complaint. Ebay will need to see evidence in your favour if you have a dispute so keep all your documents and emails safe.