Do familiarize yourself with eBay before bidding.
- Check out eBay's help section.
- Read over eBay's User Agreement
- Play with the search function.
- Get to know your "My eBay"
- Spend some time over at the Bidding Discussion Board

Do some research before Bidding
- Look at the sellers Feedback, make sure you can trust them.
- Make contact with the seller
- Read over the auction description very carefully. Make sure you are getting what you want.
- Read the sellers full terms of service
- Ask the seller about shipping and handling charges. Once you bid you are obligated to buy.
- Look for similar auction listings, you might be able to find a better deal a few listings down.
- Determine how much you are willing to spend on the item.

Do bid when you are ready.
- Enter your maximum bid.
- Place your bid towards the end of the auction.
- Use a sniping service if you don't want to lose..

Do contact the seller after you have won.
- Let them know how you will pay.
- Let the seller know when you intend to send payment.
- Send the seller your shipping address

Do send payment as soon as possible
- A paid seller is a happy seller.
- Let the seller know that payment has been sent.

Do let your seller know when you received the item.
- Let them know if you have any concerns regarding the item.
- Let them work with you if you have any problems.

Do Leave Feedback after the transaction has been completed.
- Feedback protects others from shady sellers.
- Feedback let's people know a seller is trustworthy.
- Feedback is usually reciprocated.

Don't trust every seller
- If it's to good to be true then don't bid.
- If the seller has a 52" Plasma TV with free shipping then it's fraud.
- If the seller only accepts wire transfer or cash for big ticket items then it's fraud.
- If the seller is from NY but wants you to send your payment to Zimbabwe, then it's fraud.
- If you have any doubt then don't bid. eBay is huge, your item will come up again in the future.

Don't bid prematurely.
- Check out the seller, if they can't be trusted you might get burned.
- Shipping might be $100 for a $5 item. If you don't ask before you bid it's your fault.
- If you bid then find the same item cheaper you can't retract your bid.
- If the seller doesn't communicate you don't want to deal with them.

Don't bid on multiple auctions for the same item.
- Every time you bid you are agreeing to buy. If you bid on 10 auctions that have the same pair of shoes hopping to score a good deal and end up wining them all 10 then you are going to have a lot of the same shoe. Every auction is treated separately, once you bid you are agreeing to pay if you win.

Don't be a Deadbeat Buyer.
- If you win, then you pay.
- No one wants to hear excuses why you can't pay.
- If payment is going to be late then be up front with the seller.
- Lying makes the situation worse.

Don't threaten the seller if the item is late.
- Once the seller has shipped the item it's out of their control.
- Contact the shipping company.

Don't leave Frivolous Feedback.
- If you were in the wrong then fess up, whining about it will just make you look worse.
- If you are trying to ruin the reputation of a power seller, people can see right through that.