Need Ebayers' help...please take a look at this auction)

[SteveMcQ]

I've never bought anything off of Ebay. I was looking to get something for someone and wanted to minimize errors/possibility of being ripped off, so if any CAG out there would be willing to help me out with questions/concerns I have, please send me a PM. It's not a big purchase, but I didn't want someone seeing a relative new Ebay shopper and find ways to sucker me. I greatly appreciate it.

I just didn't want to populate this forum with questions that may be deemed useless, so please PM me if you can help me out. Thanks again.

Info on items I need below.

Thanks so much for your help.

Edit: Here's an auction I'm watching (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5200387076&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBI%3AIT&rd=1).
I just wanted to see if I'm missing anything as far as the seller's legitimacy and the contents of his product description. It seems to all work out and quite inclusive right? I'm not missing a line or two that might get be in trouble?

Thanks.

[Quackzilla]

Post a link to the auction(s), we should be able to tell you whether or not you can trust it.

[wubb]

Pmed, or if you want to post a link to what you're looking at here I'm sure plenty of people will chime in.

[scdoanintendo]

Pmed, or if you want to post a link to what you're looking at here I'm sure plenty of people will chime in.

Same as Wubb, I think you can trust anyone that's been here for a while.

[SteveMcQ]

Thanks. http://search.ebay.com/slifer_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8

My girlfriend's little brother has been wanting this and is apparently expecting me to have it for him. I really don't know where to start. I'm sure I could just start bidding on any of them, but like I said, I don't know anything at all about Ebay or the Yu-Gi-Oh cards at all.

These are all legit right? I was expecting them to be $50 or so since if I do a search these cards sell for that much. Why so cheap? I've never purchased with PayPal before either so I don't know what that involves. I'd rather pay Money Order since it's so cheap, but which is cheaper? I'll likely post this up on the thread as well so everyone can chime in.

Which is the safest option as far as payments? And which one looks to be a good one to bid on? I wouldn't mind going for the 3-pack of cards for under $25 if I can, too. I'm looking for the Slifer card if that link didn't work. Just type in "slifer" in the search engine.

Thanks.

[supadupacheap]

Dont know about the product but DO pay with Paypal CCard. That way if you get jipped you have some recourse.

[SteveMcQ]

Alright...gonna sign up for an Ebay account. Looking at this one in particular: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31395&item=5201377870&rd=1

Looks decent to me, but then again, I know nothing about the cards. I'll try to ask the seller some questions.

What's the best bidding advice you guys have? I'm getting confused with all of them some saying authentic or whatnot. I don't know who to believe.

[wubb]

PayPal is absolutley free for you as a buyer. Assuming you have a credit card it's pretty easy to set up and make a payment as well. Plus you do have a lot more recourse vs. paying with a MO. I'd never pay with a MO unless I really trusted the seller.

Unfortunately I know nothing about those cards so I can't give you any advice on what to look for.

As I said in the PM be sure to check the seller's FB. Less than 98% is a red flag (though not an automatic no-go) Less than 95% is pretty bad IMO. Remember a lot of people don't leave deserved neg feedback for fear of retaliation so there is feedback warp. For someone to get as low as 95% probably 1 out of 10 or even more buyers have had a problem.

Of course the content of the neg feedback is also very important. Stuff like "Doesn't answer e-mails" is not as bad as something like "Didn't receive item, would not refund money. THIEF!"

The seller from the particular auction you linked had this (that listing is over now though)

"you represented these cards as genuine. my son was heartbroken! lesson learned.."
Follow-up by elia123: Thank you for resolving this issue with a full refund. Sorry for the neg-feed.

the other ones aren't quite as bad (2 of his negs are for not paying other sellers), but this guy also has low FB. I'd be wary.

As far as bidding strategy, you're probably going to get outsniped by last second bidders A LOT. It's pretty frustrating and drives a lot of people to do BINs I'd imagine.

[SteveMcQ]

Thanks wubb. That's what I'm most worried about is getting a genuine one. I'll have to look through for one with a good return policy and I'll probably just do the BIN price. As long as he gets it. Bump for those who know about these cards.