Ebay addicts, please stand up. Please state your name, the length of your affliction and the severity. If this were really to happen then chances are there would be a great many people standing up all at once. It would be an interesting sight. There are probably very few people who are not familiar with an Ebay service of some sort. It may be cars, collectibles, food or clothing. The reality is though, that Ebay has probably touched most of us in one way or another.

Ebay seems to tie the world together in some way or another. It may be the common idea of buying items we need or want or selling items that we no longer need or want. The sport of the auction draws us in. Are we Ebay addicts? Should the "E" word be banned from some conversations and with certain people? One thing is for sure though, chances are you know someone who shops there often.

Ebay shoppers love bargains. There is little doubt about that. The thrill of the auction and bidding against unseen competitors for that weird pepper grinder in the shape of a toilet seems to release endorphins throughout the body. As connected as we are today, it should come as no shock to learn that virtually everyone knows something about ebay auctions.

Ebay auctions are not just about whimsical items that would collect dust upon our shelves. There are many valuable and unique items found on it's many websites. Take for example a wedding dress. A new or slightly used wedding dress, currently in style, might range anywhere from $500 to $25,000.

On Ebay the same item might be a fraction of the price. Imagine saving a thousand dollars on a wedding dress. That would be a very nice addition to the honeymoon fund. Veils, flowers, rings, shoes and even undergarments can all be found in ebay auctions or within the Ebay stores.

The Ebay community is enormous and growing each day. A tremendous asset to sellers is the welcome addition of "stores" featured on the site. If you have a favorite seller, then they often have an Ebay store set up to allow you to purchase "Buy it now" items without having to search through the pages of listings.

The larger the Ebay community becomes, the more items become available. Ebay stores can now be found within the website that allow items to be purchased immediately with a "Buy it now" link. If you have a favorite seller, be sure to check with them to find out if they have a store set up. It can save you time and money.

"Buy it now" is a great way to ensure you receive the item that you want. Many of your favorite sellers have an Ebay store that allows you the option of either bidding on their merchandise or simply purchasing it immediately. Just click, pay and the item will be shipped to you.

As with any purchase on the internet, there are pitfalls to be aware of. Ebay is no exception. Online auction sites rely on their customers to be totally honest. If a user wins an auction, he or she is expected to pay for the item in a timely manner. There are some Ebay members that are known as "non-paying bidders" due to their lack of respect for Ebay's rules and regulations. A repeated non-paying bidder can soon find their accounts suspended or terminated along with negative feedback.

The flip side to people not paying for their auction "wins", is the shady seller who grossly misrepresents the item being auctioned. It could be a cell phone described as new when in reality it is used and not working. There is also the seller who does not ship the item and claims that he or she did.

The best advice to follow is to read the seller or buyer's ebay feedback. That is a fairly accurate representation of how responsible the person is. If a person has zero feedback or is a new register, then you need to proceed with caution.

One of life's lessons we learn early on is that "you get what you pay for". If you come across a new cell phone that would retail for hundreds of dollars and you win the auction for $25, it might be a scam. Pay attention to the little details of the ebay listings and it can save you in the long run.

Even though Ebay has policies in place to protect buyers and sellers, it ultimately falls on you, the consumer, to have some common sense regarding the use of an online auction site. If it seems too good to be true...it probably is. Shop around and see what the other auctions are offering. It could make the difference between a burlap dress and a wedding dress to swoon over.

As long as people are buying and selling, there will always be unscrupulous people that are out to make a quick dollar. Ebay is no exception and as the number of users climb, so too does the amount of scam artists. Hopefully common sense will kick in and tell you that you cannot get an iPhone for $20. But there will be auctions that claim just that. Don't be fooled. In the end you are responsible for what you buy and sell. You would not buy ocean front property in Arizona would you? Then use good judgment and in the end it will save you money and a huge headache.

* Copyright 2007, Charlie Goldie. You may republish this article in its entirety, provided you leave the byline, author’s note and website hyperlink intact.

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