Ebay is a great place. In fact it is a wonderful place. Thats why every time I see a negative news item on eBay I get a bit annoyed. There is no doubt that there are a few bad eggs out there but are there not those people everywhere in life?

There are a number of simple steps you can take to protect yourself from eBay fraudsters, but also to make sure you are getting what you expected.

Read the eBay community boards so you know of any problems or any problem sellers.

Read the feedback comments and dont just look at the feedback score. The comments can sometimes tell you more as often people will not leave negative feedback for fear of suffering it themselves. Avoid sellers with private feedback.

If you have any doubts ask questions or ask for extra photos. If you bid on an item with one poor photo and a truthful description then it is YOUR fault if the item does not meet expectations. So ask for more information.

Make sure the seller has a returns policy. Enquire about postal insurance and tracking.

Never, ever pay by Money Transfer. Absolutely avoid any sellers that demand payment by money transfer only. For payment on eBay by far the easiest method is to use PayPal but other services like NoChex are also good.

Remember 99% of sellers on Ebay are just looking to make a bit of honest money and most are selling items in their spare time, so have a bit of patience with sellers. If you follow these simple steps then you will have no problems on eBay.