How to safely shop new and used tech items on eBay, according to experts
We’re sharing tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your eBay shopping experience.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones
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$160.00
Shopping on eBay may seem complicated to first-timers, so we spoke with experts and outlined their guidance on what to keep in mind as you shop, below:
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Each product category on eBay has its own set of item conditions. However, when it comes to tech eBay offers products in conditions including refurbished, pre-owned or used (you can find their conditions for other product categories here). Here’s the difference between those, according to research and our experts:
Since pre-owned items are hard to vet, we’ve only rounded up the best-refurbished tech you can shop below. Each of these products has a four-star or higher average rating and are considered ‘certified refurbished.’
These over-ear headphones won our Giftable Tech Award for best headphones because of their high sound quality, comfort and noise-cancellation features. They fold down, making them easy to bring along when traveling, and get up to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge, according to the brand. NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz says they’re easy to use and comfortable for both long work days and even longer flights.
This camera is solar-powered, so it’s always on and ready to go, according to the brand. It has a 360-degree rotation, so there are no blind spots, and it has 3K resolution and an 8x zoom. According to reviews, it’s also very easy to install.
You can use this projector for your next at-home movie night — it has a high contrast ratio and 1080p full HD resolution, making for a clearer image, according to the brand. It also has a 10W built-in speaker and a “Game Mode”, which is specially enhanced with better clarity and precision for playing video games. You can connect this to your computer, tablet, or gaming console via HDMI ports.
EBay has a plethora of refurbished tech on sale including gaming consoles, smartphones and even appliances. “These items are usually restored to working condition and come with a limited warranty,” says Russell.
To get started, head to the search bar to look up the product name you’re in the market for. Then, click on the refurbished setting you’re looking for under ‘condition.’ From there, you can simply purchase your desired product like you would on Amazon or Best Buy. There is also a certified-refurbished specific landing page to help you shop.
The benefit of buying refurbished? EBay vets all its refurbished sellers for you, so there is less of a chance you will get a counterfeit or inadequate product — something that may happen in an auction if you’re not careful. Each refurbished product will also have some sort of deal on it, typically offering anywhere up to 75 percent off.
Auctions are a great way to shop on eBay, and if you play your cards right, it’s also the best way to snag a deal, especially on collectibles, according to Flurry. “EBay essentially takes the ‘auction’ system and makes it global, allowing its users to access products they otherwise couldn’t in the ‘real world’,” she says.
While you can simply buy products on eBay through their refurbished section, an auction might be the only way to get a limited-edition product or rare collectible.
First, you’ll want to look up the product name you’re shopping for in the navigation bar. For example, if I were in the market for a new, limited-edition console, I’d look up ‘Xbox Halo Edition console.’ From there, click on the ‘auction’ tab to see which ones are currently live. I always suggest picking a seller with a high rating so you know you’re getting a quality product. You can see the seller’s ratings below the product being sold, plus reviews from other eBay buyers.
Once you’re on the item page, you can see the current bid and choose to submit one of your own. You submit your offer and then the auction continues for a predetermined amount of time. Keep in mind that you’ll need an eBay account to place a bid, according to Flurry.
Based on your maximum bid, eBay uses ‘proxy bidding’ to manage the process automatically. “When you place your maximum bid, eBay will automatically place bids on your behalf, in the smallest possible increments, up to your maximum amount,” says Russell. “This ensures that you remain the highest bidder until someone else places a higher maximum bid or the auction ends.”
If someone outbids you, eBay will send you a notification via email. You can then choose to place a new maximum bid if you still want the product.
Once the bidding process is over, and you win the item, you must purchase it. EBay will send you a link to your email to complete the purchase, according to our experts.
If you want a better chance of winning the bid, make sure you place your bid a few minutes before the auction ends; that way, you’ll have a more competitive offer.
Yes, you can check out as a guest on eBay. According to the website’s policy, eBay’s Money Back Guarantee also protects eligible guest purchases.
As the buyer, you will pay the quoted shipping fee you’re given upon checkout. The seller will then use those fees to buy the item’s shipping label (it’s the seller’s responsibility to pack and ship all items to buyers).
At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Nishka Dhawan is a former associate commerce editor at NBC Select who covered tech and electronics. For this piece she interviewed eBay refurbished sellers and tech educators on how to navigate, bid and buy on eBay. Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select, covering product reviews, skin care, gardening and more.
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