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One of the first things you should check when shopping on eBay is the shipping options. Some items may even be available for local pick-up only. A great price does you no good if you can't actually collect the item! If your item is being delivered, check how the seller is applying their shipping and handling charges. There is a shipping calculator within eBay (provided by UPS) that can automatically calculate worldwide shipping rates. Sellers may choose to use this feature, or apply a standard shipping and handling charge to their auction item. You should be aware that some sellers will try to avoid fees paid to eBay by inflating the shipping costs and setting the opening bid low. eBay charges sellers based upon the item's winning bid price. If a seller makes only a small profit on the item itself, but makes up for that in inflated shipping fees, their seller's fee will be reduced. Buyers also sometimes benefit from this by avoiding a sales or import tax. Pitfalls to this practice? When trying to return an item to the seller, or claiming it as having been lost in the post, you will only be awarded for the purchase price, and not shipping and handling charges. Note to online auction sellers, eBay prohibits this practice (per their Excessive Shipping Charges Policy, and will take actions up to and including the suspension of accounts or removal of "power seller" status if you are found to be in violation of the policy.
Yes, you should get that AND you should get it when it said you would get it. If your shipment has not arrived within a reasonable amount of time, contact the seller first. If you have no joy with that, you can take advantage of eBay's "Fraud Protection Program" You can also be sure that you'll be bidding on an authentic product. eBay does not allow fakes, knock-offs or replicas (even if they are blatantly listed as a "replica") to be auctioned on their site. It is considered a trademark-infrigement to even make a comparison to a brand name in the title or description.
eBay recommends that you contact the seller with your problems. Most issues are the result of a lack of communication. They place this period of time as within 10 days of your winning the auction. If you're not receiving any response from the seller, check your account settings and make sure your email address is up-to-date. Also be sure that your spam-filter is not blocking communications. If these efforts don't work, its time to go to the Security and Resolution Center.
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