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eBay: Do's and Don'ts for Beginning eBayers, 2008

From Paul Gil,
Your Guide to Internet for Beginners.
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eBay "Do" #2: Play by the Rules and Obey the Law.

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It is to your advantage to know which items are prohibited, questionable, infringing or potentially illegal. Whether you are buying or selling, you need to familiarize yourself with a number of regulations concerning the nature of the item up for bid. The item you could be bidding on might be perfectly legal in seller’s country but prohibited in yours.

Examples: crossbows, DHEA supplements, swords, animal products.

Other times, the item is legal to own anywhere but there might be some restrictions in ways of sending it across the border.

Examples: perfumes in pressurized containers, cigarette lighters.

Once in a while, you might come across an auction of an item prohibited by eBay authorities. Whether or not such item is legal, is irrelevant. The article should not be listed on eBay at all.

Examples: glow sticks, fireworks, human body parts.

For a comprehensive list of what can, or cannot, be listed on eBay click the eBay “Help” link and enter “prohibited items” in the search box.

To avoid having confiscation of the goods by customs, find out beforehand if they can be shipped without breaking the law. Remember, if the item is confiscated, you are not entitled to a refund.

  1. eBay "Do" #1: Ask Questions.
  2. eBay "Do" #2: Play by the Rules and Obey the Law.
  3. eBay "Do" #3: Be Courteous and Polite at All Times.
  4. eBay "Do" #4: Tell the World When You Are Happy.
  5. eBay "Don't" #1: Don't Bid Without First Reading the Ad Carefully.
  6. eBay "Don't" #2: Don't Engage in Bidding Wars.
  7. eBay "Don't" #3: Don't Rush to Negative Feedback.
  8. eBay "Don't" #4: Don't Bid Over Your Head.

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