C.L.U.E. Computer Literacy Unlocks Everything

eBay Basics

Brought to you by Fresno County Public Librarywritten by Lisa Lindsay, MLIS

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Class Goals

• Today you will:• Learn what eBay is and why it’s

popular• Create your own eBay account and

learn about PayPal• Learn how to search for an item on

eBay• Learn the basic terms common on

eBay

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What is eBay

• www.eBay.com is the URL for eBay, the largest auction in the world.

• Many consider it to be the alternative to spending time at the mall or at a garage sale. You can find new and used items from any computer that’s online.

• You don’t need an account to view items for sale, but you do need an account to make a purchase and to sale.

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Creating an eBay Account

• You must have a valid email address to use eBay.

• If you’d like an account, go to www.ebay.com and select “register.”

• Complete the information form.• Just like with your email address, make sure

you remember your user ID and password.

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Email Confirmation • Check your email when prompted and follow

the given link. This validates your account.

.”

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Congratulations!• When you are all done the screen should show

the following message: “Congratulations! You can now bid and buy.” At this point

you are signed in and ready to shop.

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Using Your Account• If you want to buy anything you must sign in to

your account. • When signed in, your User ID will include the

number of transactions you have completed on eBay next to it in parentheses. Note: a seller with a high number of transactions has done more business at eBay.

• Make sure you always read the full details on what you are buying. Some sellers have specific requirements. If they say PayPal only, this means you can’t buy it without creating a PayPal account.

• Always be sure to sign-out once you are done.

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PayPal• Listed on 88% of eBay listings.• Increasingly the norm on other websites

doing eCommerce. • You need an email address and banking

account to set up your account with PayPal. • It’s a simple process but they also validate

information so it’s not instant. • Much more on PayPal is on your hand-out

titled “Tip Sheet for Using PayPal”.

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What can I buy on eBay? • Enter ANY item in the search box.

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Can you find:

• A car• A necklace• Concert tickets for a popular band

• A piece of folk art

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Narrowing your results

• Follow the prompts that eBay gives.

• If you want a specific brand or model add that to your search.

• Include “new” in your search term to filter out all the used stuff.

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Narrowing with the Directory• The directory along the left will

help you see all of the options for limiting your results.

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What if I’m not finding what I’m looking for?

• Consider browsing instead of searching• Check your spelling• Try different search words• Search under both titles and descriptions

If you are looking for something extremely unique, it’s possible that it is in fact not listed at all, but more often the tips above will lead to surprising results.

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Common Terms• NIB – New in Box• No reserve – the buyer has not set a

minimum amount to sell the item for.• Buy it Now – instead of bidding you can

buy instantly. • Watch this Item – receive email alerts if

the item status changes (bid upon, sold etc.).

• My eBay – customized content for you, based on what you are watching, selling, etc. (Must be signed in to use.)

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More Common Terms• Feedback – comments others have left (buyers

or sells).

When you make a purchase you get to leave feedback about the seller and they do likewise. In order to keep your feedback “+” always pay for what you promise to buy in a timely manner.

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Words of Caution• A bid or Buy It Now purchase on eBay is considered a

contract -- you are obligated to purchase the item.• Always pay attention to the sellers payment

details. If they require Paypal then you should get a Paypal account BEFORE bidding.

• Pay attention to the description! Make sure you are fully aware of the condition of what you are buying.

• Pay attention to shipping charges. The seller might have the best deal but charge more for shipping than other options. Factor this in when you are weighing the different costs.

• Use eBay’s “help section” to answer questions on anything you aren’t sure on. If you have a question about an item, select “email seller” and ask your questions directly.

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General Online Safety Tips to Avoid Identity Theft

• Monitor your accounts. • Never reply to emails that ask for personal

information. • Use strong and unique passwords. • Know what to do in the event of identity theft. • The government offers a lot of information (on avoiding identity theft and what to do if it occurs) at the following website: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

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Creative Commons License • Written March, 2007 and updated June, 2007 by Lisa

Lindsay, MLIS of Fresno County Public Library.• Template from a workshop created by N. Riesgraf for the

Hibbing Public Library and revised by Kate Holmes of Jacksonville Public Library.

• This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike Licensed. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/