Get to know your seller before you buy an item. Here are some simple precautions to help your purchase go smoothly.

You can learn about sellers by:

• Reviewing the seller’s feedback and member profile

• Asking the seller questions

• Reviewing the seller's policies on postage, payments and returns

• Viewing the seller’s other items

Review feedback and user information in the member profile.

Check a seller's feedback before you make a bid. If a seller has no feedback or negative feedback, contact the seller before bidding. You can view other listings offered by the seller by clicking the View Seller’s Other Items link.

The following are icons that you will see associated with a particular seller:

Ask the seller questions

• Email the seller with questions by clicking the “Ask seller a question” link.

• If you have won an item, you can request the seller’s contact information.

Review the seller’s policies

Postage and packing – Review postage and handling charges before you bid, and ask to have your item posted and insured in a traceable manner. See more information on postage and packing.

Payment – Be wary of sellers who, in breach of eBay’s policies, ask you to pay by instant cash wire transfers (such as Western Union or MoneyGram) or cash through the mail. Never pay with cash through the mail or cash equivalents such as wire transfers. See more information on paying confidently.

Returns – Examine the seller's return policy carefully before you bid. Contact the seller before you bid with any questions about the return policy. Some questions you might want to ask include:

• Does the seller accept returns, or is the item sold "as is"?

• Under what circumstances can you return the item?

• Do you have to return the item to the seller within a certain time period?

• What kind of refund does the seller provide?

• Who pays for return postage and packing?

• Does the seller charge a restocking fee?

You should also be aware of your legal rights to obtain a refund. When consumer goods are purchased from sellers carrying on a business, the buyer has a legal right to return the goods to the seller and obtain a refund if the goods are either faulty, not fit for their purpose (don't do what they are supposed to do), or do not match the seller's description or sample. To obtain a refund the buyer should return the goods within a reasonable time and not dispose of, lose, destroy or damage the goods. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website contains more information on rights to refunds, under the section headed “Publications”.

View the seller’s other items

You can learn about sellers by viewing their other active listings. Does the seller offer a wide variety of items, or specialise in one specific type of collectable? To find other items the seller offers, click the view seller's other items link on any item listing page. If the seller has an eBay Store, you can go to that store by clicking the Visit this seller's eBay Store link located on any of the seller’s item pages.