Reading Time: 8 minutes 12 Top Tips to Save Money Buying on eBay (Some Are Sneaky)
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Saving money on eBay doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the right tips and tricks, you can save big on your next purchase. Here are some secret tips to help you save money buying on eBay.
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eBay App Or eBay Extension
Shopping on eBay can be a great way to save money, but it can be hard to keep track of the best deals and prices. That’s why using an eBay app or extension is such a great idea!
With an eBay app or extension, you can easily search for items, compare prices, and access powerful search tools to find the best deals. You can also use the app or extension to buy and sell items quickly and easily.
Create An Ebay Account
Setting up an eBay account is easy and can give you exclusive coupons and discounts you won’t find anywhere else.
First, head over to eBay’s website. Once there, click on the “Sign In” button in the upper right-hand corner of the page. You’ll then be prompted to either sign in with an existing account or create a new one.
If creating a new account, enter your information and click “Create Account.”
Once your account is set up, sign up for eBay emails so that you can receive exclusive coupons and discounts not available anywhere else.
You can do this by clicking on the “My Account” tab at the top of the page and selecting “Email Preferences.” From there, select which emails you’d like to receive from eBay and click “Save Preferences.”
You can also shop for eBay Daily Deals
eBay is one of the most popular online shopping sites, and its daily deals section is a great way to save money on items you need. You can find discounts on electronics, home goods, apparel, and more with eBay Daily Deals.
The best part about eBay Daily Deals is that they offer free shipping on all orders. This means that you don’t have to worry about paying extra for shipping costs when you shop with them. Plus, they update their deals daily so there’s always something new to check out.
Do you want to make money online simply by searching, shopping, surveys, or playing games?
- Account creation is free
- Big bonus on sign up
- Many ways to earn free money
- Mobile-friendly rewards site and apps
- Simple to complete tasks
- $10 to sign up
- Not exactly passive income
- Redeeming SB points sometimes takes awhile
- It isn't easy to qualify for all surveys
- Customer service isn't the greatest (or fastest)
If you’re looking for even more savings, check out the clearance section on eBay too. Here you’ll find items marked down up to 96% off their original price!
You can also get special discounts when you sign up for an account with them.
No matter what kind of item you’re looking for, make sure to check out the daily deals section on eBay first. With their unbeatable prices and free shipping offers, it’s easy to save money while shopping online.
Blue Star Sellers
The eBay star rating system is a great way for buyers to identify reliable sellers. Blue Star Sellers have received 50 or more positive feedback ratings, indicating they have provided excellent customer service and quality products.
With the star rating system, buyers can easily find trustworthy sellers who are likely to provide a good buying experience.
Blue Star Sellers are held to higher standards than other sellers on eBay. They must maintain high customer service and product quality to keep their star rating.
This means that buyers can trust that they will receive a good product from these sellers and be taken care of if any issues arise.
Overall, eBay Blue Star Sellers is a better deal for buyers because they have proven themselves reliable and trustworthy sellers with a history of providing excellent customer service and quality products.
Buyers can rest assured that they will receive what they paid for when shopping with an eBay Blue Star Seller.
Use Sniping Software To Monitor When The Penny Drops
If you want the best deal possible, it pays to be patient and wait until the “penny drops.” This phrase is used to describe when someone suddenly understands or realizes something.
In this case, waiting until the penny drops means waiting for the perfect moment to buy a product at its lowest price.
To help make sure you don’t miss out on any great deals, you can use sniping software. This software allows you to set up alerts for when certain products reach a certain price point.
That way, you can always get the best deal possible.
Related: My Secrets: How To Get Amazon Coupons, Discount Codes, Promo Codes, Free Stuff, and Deals
Use the Best Offer feature
If you find an item that is slightly over your budget, try using the Best Offer feature to negotiate a lower price with the seller. If I am not buying something on Amazon, I almost always use this feature on Ebay.
I use the filter to only search for “Best Offer”. Then I look at the results. I look at a few that interest me, and then I look at the sellers’ feedback to find the ones who most often accept Best Offer. That tells me they are willing to negotiate.
Then I make a low offer with a sentence or two that says why. Remember, it’s always important to ask for a discount.
Save On Ebay With A Watch List
It’s also important to create your own watch list and price-check items before making a purchase. This will help you find hidden bargains that other shoppers may have missed.
Follow the seller’s feedback score when shopping online as this will give you an idea of their reliability and customer service quality.
Monitor Sellers Other Items
Check out the “Sellers Other Items” section on eBay when browsing a product page. This can sometimes reveal cheaper alternatives from the same seller that may be worth considering instead of buying the original item you were looking at first.
You can often find deals that are not available elsewhere by keeping an eye on what other items they have for sale. For example, if a seller has a large selection of computer monitors, they may be willing to offer discounts on larger orders or bundle deals with other items.
Some sellers may offer free shipping or discounts when buying multiple items from them.
By monitoring sellers’ listings on eBay, you can also stay informed about any new products they may have for sale. This can help you stay ahead of the competition and get the best deal possible.
It is also important to keep an eye out for any changes in prices or promotions that could benefit you.
Buy Several Items From The Same Seller
If you’re buying multiple items from one seller, ask if they offer a discount for bulk orders, as this could help you save even more money in the long run. I do this often.
Take Advantage Of Typos To Save On Ebay
If you want to save money on eBay, and get items at lower costs, think typos. Items with typos end up getting a lower amount of bids because they do not come up in typical searches.
For example, you could be looking for a jogging stroller. I typed in jogging stroller and it returned an ebay item listed as “jogging stroler”.
Oops, their mistake, my gain. Try it out and share what you find (if you don’t grab it yourself). You can try searching for items with misspelled words here.
Sometimes, it’s not so easy to think of what a common typo mistake would be. If you are having difficulty thinking of common misspellings, check out Typozay – a free tool that helps you find common eBay misspellings.
How To Save Money On Shipping Ebay
Buyers are always looking for ways to reduce their total purchase cost, and shipping is a significant part of that. Here are strategies and lesser-known hacks for buyers to save on shipping costs when shopping on eBay:
- Look for Free Shipping Offers: Many sellers offer free shipping on their items. Filter your search results to show only listings that offer free shipping.
- Bundle Purchases: If you’re buying multiple items from the same seller, ask if they can combine shipping. This can significantly reduce the overall shipping cost compared to paying for each item separately.
- Use ‘Add to Cart’ for Discounts: Some sellers offer discounts when you add multiple items to your cart. This can sometimes include a reduction in shipping costs.
- Compare Item Locations: Items shipped from closer locations often have lower shipping costs. Consider the item’s location relative to yours to save on shipping.
- Watch for Promotions: eBay sometimes runs promotions that include discounted or free shipping. Keep an eye on banners and promotional emails.
- Negotiate Shipping with Sellers: Don’t hesitate to message sellers to ask if they can offer a lower shipping cost, especially if you feel it’s high compared to the item’s price.
- Opt for Economy Shipping Options: If you’re not in a hurry to receive the item, choose economy or standard shipping options, which are usually cheaper than expedited shipping.
- Use eBay’s Global Shipping Program: For international buyers, purchasing from sellers who use eBay’s Global Shipping Program can sometimes be cheaper than direct international shipping.
- Pick Up Locally: For larger or bulkier items, see if the seller offers local pickup to save on shipping entirely.
- Check for eBay Shipping Coupons: Occasionally, eBay offers shipping discounts or coupons to buyers. These can be found in your eBay account or promotional emails.
- Participate in eBay’s Loyalty Programs: eBay’s loyalty programs, like eBay Bucks, can offer discounts or rebates that may indirectly affect shipping costs.
- Monitor for Price Changes: Sometimes sellers adjust their prices and shipping costs. A higher-priced item with free shipping might become cheaper than a lower-priced item with a shipping fee.
- Utilize eBay’s Shopping Cart Feature: eBay’s shopping cart allows you to combine items from different sellers and sometimes offers a shipping discount.
- Follow Your Favorite Sellers: Some sellers send exclusive offers, including shipping discounts, to their followers.
- Be Cautious of Overpriced Shipping: Be aware of sellers who significantly overcharge for shipping. Compare the shipping cost with the item’s price to ensure it’s reasonable.
By employing these strategies, eBay buyers can significantly reduce their shipping costs, making their online shopping experience more economical and enjoyable.
Save Money Buying On eBay
These are just some of the many secret tips that can help you save money buying on eBay! With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to find great deals without breaking the bank.