Whatever you want, ebay's got it! (ebay.co.uk)

Member Name: bungle82

Product:	ebay.co.uk
Date:	15/02/09 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of choice at great prices

Disadvantages: You may buy something you really don't need!

ebay often gets a bad press in the media with stories of people being ripped off, counterfeit goods and illegal items being sold but don't let that put you off if you haven't been converted yet!

I've been using ebay for the best part of ten years and i've yet to have a real problem using the site. On the rare occasion where something has gone missing in the post or has arrived damaged, i've been sent a refund or replacement and i've done the same as a seller when selling items.

Over the years i've bought books, CDs, DVDs, games, craft items, gifts, food, clothes and accessories on ebay and they've all been good quality items at a great price.

The auction-style listings still make up the majority of the site but the "buy it now" auctions are also worth a look, especially when buying new items as sellers often sell a large quantity of a particular item at a certain price within their ebay shop.

I have learnt not to assume anything on ebay; if you see an item and aren't sure whether or not it is new - ask the seller. They will normally respond within a short time with the answer and it saves you time and money in the long run. Similarly, if you see something that looks too good to be true it probably is so don't expect a designer bag for £3.99 plus P&P! (You will regret it!)

There are so many items available on ebay that you can get almost anything you could ever possibly want, and of course the plus point of it being online is that you can browse at 2am if you feel the need (This isn't advised though, esp. if you've been drinking - you'll get in a bidding frenzy for a gnome or something that you really don't need)

If you want to earn some money (rather than spend it) ebay is also brill. Whether it's books you've read, films you've watched, clothes that no longer fit or unwanted gifts, someone will probably be looking out for what you have to sell. As long as you're realistic about p&p prices and organised enough to arrange trips to the post office you can easily make some extra cash from your old stuff - esp. handy in the current economic climate.

So, don't be scared by ebay's press - get online and give it a go. You'll be amazed at what you find on there!

Summary: The world would be a much more boring place without ebay