HOW TO AVOID GETTING SCAMMED IN AN INTERNET AUCTION

It is awfully tempting to decide to go online to try and find a great bargain at a cheap price. Online auctions utilize a massive global marketplace and attract all kinds of sellers and buyers. It can also attract the unscrupulous. So how do you protect yourself when you're dealing online with others?

For starters, know who you're dealing with: Don't just settle for the seller's e-mail address. Be certain that you get the seller's full name and address as well as their phone number just in case you need to contact the person or the company offline. If you're dealing with a business and the dollar values are high, be certain to check out their reputation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or some of the other consumer agencies. Another good way to do a little research on your seller is to refer to the feedback section of the website (for those websites with seller feedback) where other buyers have left feedback on your seller. If the feedback has all been positive ? that's a good start. You should also be particularly cautious when dealing with sellers from other countries. If problems arise, you will find it much more difficult to resolve the problems if the seller is in another country. Whether it is the distance or the fact that the laws are different you are much more inclined to have problems if you are dealing with a vendor in another country.

Experts say that 75% of the problems that occur in the online auction marketplace revolve around misunderstandings rather than out-and-out fraud. Be smart and read the fine print so that you have a pretty good understanding of what it is that you are getting into. Be certain to pay special attention to the terms and conditions listed on the site and be sure that you understand what methods are available to deal with potential problems. It is especially important in the online marketplace to clarify all costs so you know exactly what you are paying for. Make sure that you settle on the price including any fees associated with shipping and handling charges before turning over your credit card details to a vendor. Although, in many cases, you may be eligible for a refund from either the vendor or the site itself, be sure that you know what fees are associated with refunds as the site or the vendor may retain some of the purchase price to cover their costs.

You should be aware that if you buy online or whether you shop by mail or by phone, you are protected by the same laws. When dealing online, you should exhibit the same care you would in shopping for items in a store and you should be certain that you understand your payment options. Many sites will offer fraud protection that guarantees reimbursement (usually up to several hundred dollars) if the product fails to arrive or arrives in poor condition. In some cases there are conditions to qualify for this fraud protection, such as receiving a certain number of positive comments in your feedback in order to qualify for this feature. Be sure you know what your options are.

Lastly, be certain if you do have a bad experience with an online auction to report your problem to the site. Many online auction sites will respond to complaints of fraud by throwing the offender off the site and not allowing him/her to return. This will give you some satisfaction while at the same time protecting others from this predator.