Some ebay tips for campers

Several times in this blog I have suggested using ebay as a source for RV or OHV accessories and camping equipment.   I have personally even purchased two motorhomes through ebay.  As I mentioned in another post, keep in mind in order to "win" an auction on ebay, you have to be willing to pay more for your item than anyone else in the world will pay.  That's not entirely true.  If your maximum bid turns out to be the most anyone else will pay, you will win the auction if your maximum bid was recorded before anyone else bid that amount.  However, if anyone is willing to pay more than your maximum bid, you could lose the auction at the last second.  There are even computer programs that do last second bidding so it can be difficult to guard against it.

Buyers don't pay any fees to ebay.   It is free to register and there is no fee for bidding or winning.  All buyers pay is their bid amount plus designated shipping and handling.  Sellers, on the other hand, do pay a fee.  Payment methods depend on the seller's preferences.  Most sellers accept Paypal, on line payment service.  Some sellers accept ONLY Paypal.  Once you have registered with Paypal you can make payments without having to share your bank account numbers with sellers.  Paypal payments are almost instanteous so sellers can ship right away.  If you pay by check or money order the seller will most likely wait until your payment has been received and has cleared the bank before shipping your merchandise.  It is unwise to send cash through the mail system.

Check the auctions regularly.   There are some ebay sellers who operate virtual online stores that maintain stock but many auctions are one-of-a-kind items by people getting rid of stuff they no longer need.  You never now what you'll find on ebay.  It has been described as "the world's largest garage sale" and it is a well-earned reputation.  You can save your searches to make it easy to re-check things you're interested in.  You can even choose an option to have ebay send you an email when a new item is added that matches a given search.

Searching versus browsing are the two main ways of finding things on ebay.  Searching allows you to enter specific terms to locate a particular item you are interested in.  Browsing lets you discover unique items you might never have even thought about.  I have found both methods to be useful.  When I need a particular part or piece of gear I use a search to see what's available but sometimes I've found interesting and useful items I'd never even known existed just by browsing a category of interest (like vintage tools, camping or motorcycles).

Know the value of what you're buying.  Do a little price comparison before placing a bid.  I've seen ebay bids on some simple items go way beyond what the items could be purchased for at a local Walmart.  Of course, if you don't have a local Walmart, it may be worth paying more, but usually you can buy from Walmart.com.  Sometimes you will find truly unique items on ebay and it will be difficult if not impossible to find any comparative prices.  In that case, think about how much the item is worth to you before placing your bid.  It is really easy to get into a "bidding war" and over bid.  People sometimes get emotional about their potential purchase, lose sight of the real value, and get caught up in the competition.  On the other hand, I have lost auctions I could have won by simply making one more bid (an extra $.50 or $1.00) and that too can be frustrating.

Bid early or bid late. There are ebayers who swear by each method and insist it is the ONLY way to go.  I have tried both methods and honestly can't say I have found a distinct advantage of one over the other.  It does seem to me that bidding early on small, inexpensive items works pretty well.   If nothing else, it forces other bidders to bid more but often an early bid will prevail if the item is not in hot demand or if the minimum bid is already near the market value of the item.  Bidding near the end of an auction can minimize the time and opportunity other bidders have to out bid you.  There are even software programs that can monitor your bids and programmatically place your bid just seconds before the auction closes.   It is nearly impossible to guard against these programs to protect your manual bid without entering a ridiculously high maximum bid.   Early bidding on popular items will probably not be successful.  Expect to get out bid. Late bidding, especially if you use one of the automated bidding services is a good way to prevail -- if you are willing to outbid everyone else who has placed their bids ahead of you.  Depends on how badly you want an item and how much you are willing and able to pay.

Reserve Price is a device used by sellers to protect themselves against selling their merchandise for less than they need to get for it.   Sellers are not obligated to sell anything that doesn't reach the Reserve Price, but on auctions without Reserve Price they have to accept the highest bid, no matter how low it may be.  Reserve Prices are most commonly associated with more expensive items like vehicles, but a seller can set a Reserve Price on any auction.  Items with a "No Reserve" notation ensure there is no hidden minimum you have to meet.

The "Buy It Now" option allows you to bypass the bidding process and buy your item immediately.   The "Buy It Now" price is usually higher than the minimum bid so you might have chance of getting for less if you go through the bid process.  Of course that will take longer (until the expiration of bidding) and you run the risk of being outbid.  You avoid having to compete with other bidders and the seller will usually ship your purchase right away, especially if you pay using Paypal.  If you pay by check or money order most sellers will, understandably,  hold your merchandise until your payment clears before shipping it.  "But It Now" is an especially good choice if you need something right away because you don't have to wait for the end of the auction.

Choose a realistic Maximum Bid.  Your Maximum Bid is only used if other bidders enter amounts higher than your current bid.  When you enter a bid, the amount you enter is your Maximum Bid.   The ebay web site will create an initial bid that is the minimum needed up to your Maximum that is enough to beat the any existing maximum bids.  If someone enters another bid that is less than your Maximum Bid, ebay will automatically increase your bid until you reach your Maximum Bid.  If you are outbid, ebay will send you an email so you can increase your Maximum Bid if you are interested in doing so.  It is important to research the value of items you are bidding on and set a Maximum Bid that you are comfortable with.  You want to enter a Maximum Bid that represents the most you are willing to pay for the item and then stick to it -- unless you have good reason to pay more.

Beware of shipping costs.   Most ebay sellers strive to maintain reasonable shipping and handling charges but there are a few who sell for ridiculously low prices and make it up by charging ridiculously high shipping and handling charges.  I generally avoid patronizing sellers who do that.  What they are doing is not illegal or even necessarily unethical, but it can be misleading if you're not paying attention.  So always look for the shipping charges before you bid.  Even reasonable shipping might affect how much you're willing to pay for an item.  I try to make it a rule to never bid on an item if I can buy the item somewhere else for an amount less than or equal to the sum of the price plus shipping.

Read the ads closely.  Make sure you understand what you are bidding on and what condition it is in. Verify sizes.   You can't try things on over the Internet and sometimes returns may not be allowed.  Of course you can always re-sell unwanted items on ebay but remember, you already paid more for it than anyone else was willing to pay so don't expect to make all your money back.  I saw a coupon listed in such a way as it appeared you were bidding on the actual item unless you read the listing very closely. Again, such listings are not illegal but they can be deceptive, so "read the fine print" before bidding.  Once you have placed a bid you are committed to buy the item if you are the winning bidder.  Ebay only allows bid retractions under certain, very limited conditions.

Problem resolution.  I have had very few problems with ebay purchases, but resolving problems is usually pretty easy.  Ebay provides you a way to contact the seller if there is a problem with your purchase.  Ebay offers The Ebay buyer protection plan that covers the cost of an item plus original shipping.   Most times a missing or damaged item will be quickly replaced or refunded by the seller. In the many years I've been using Ebay I've only had one unsatisfactory experience.  I ordered a pickup bed liner kit and never got it.  The seller never returned my emails but finally through a phone call I found out his supplier had stiffed him.   Unfortunately this was before Ebay offered their buyer protection plan, so I was just out of luck.   I never got my product nor received a refund.   In another recent case I received a torn and empty package very quickly after the close of the auction; with just a couple of emails the seller quickly shipped me another one at no additional cost.   If you have a problem, first contact the seller and give him/her a chance to resolve it.   Businesses or sellers making a business of selling on Ebay will be anxious to maintain their reputation.   Unique items listed by private sellers may be impossible to replace if they are lost or damaged.   In that case you may have to rely the seller's personal integrity or on EBay's buyer protection plan for a refund.  For relatively costly items it is probably a good idea to purchase shipping insurance if it is offered.

How to find what you want on ebay.  There are two basic ways to find things on ebay: browse or search.  When you browse you will select the ebay category that is relevant to what you're looking for.  Then page through all the listings. Sometimes you will find things you wouldn't have even thought about.  I sometimes browse the CAMPING category but mostly I like to use specific searches and once you have developed a search that gives you satisfactory results you can save it for future use.  In building a search you can search all of ebay or restrict the search to certain categories.  Then you use keywords to find the items you're looking for.   There are excellent guidelines and help right on ebay to point you in the right direction for building your search terms.  You can even have ebay send you an email when new items are posted that match your search criteria.  I have often used searches with email notification to find good deals on dirt bike parts and riding gear.

Items on ebay may be new or used.   You may see things tagged "NOS", which stands for New Old Stock.   These are brand new items that have been on someone's shelf long enough to become obsolete.  You will want to exercise some caution buying used items.  Sellers will usually provide a pretty good description of the condition of the item, including any defects.  Expect normal wear and tear on any used stuff you buy.  Sometimes buying used is your only option, if, for example,the item you are interested in is no longer in production.

How to pay for purchases on ebay.   Some sellers may accept personal checks, but they will probably not ship your items until your check clears.   Some may require a certified check or money order.  Most will not ship the item until your payment has cleared.  The easiest, fastest, and safest way I've found is to use Paypal.  You sign up with Paypal once and give them permission to withdrawn funds from your checking account or a credit card.  Then you can pay for ebay purchases without having to share your personal banking information with anyone else.  Most sellers will ship immediately upon receipt of a Paypal payment.  Ebay even offers a search option to select only sellers who accept Paypal, an option I almost always employ.   Paypal payments are easy and secure and ensure fastest possible delivery of my items.   Its also a lot easier and faster than mailing checks.  Sellers pay a modest fee to Paypal but it is free for buyers.  The seller receives an email telling him your payment has been deposited into his Paypal account almost immediately so he can ship your product right away.  Then he transfers money from his Paypal account to his own bank account when he is ready.

Tracking ebay purchases.  Your ebay account will keep track of your activity, including bids, items won and items lost.   You can also "watch" items without bidding on them.  Then you receive emails about activity on that particular auction and you have an easy reference back to items you may have seen but weren't quite ready to bid on yet.   I also keep a spreadsheet of all my online purchases, including ebay.  I record a description of the item, the ebay item number, the date of purchase, the price, shipping, and tax amounts.  When it arrives I record the date it was received.   I also like to enter an estimated value, often the normal retail price, so I can track how well I'm doing at getting bargains.  The spreadsheet lets me tell at a glance if there are any items that are missing or late arriving so I can take appropriate action with the seller or with ebay to make sure I get what I've paid for.  So far I estimate that over the years I've been using ebay I've saved an average of about 50% over retail, even when I add in the shipping costs.

What can you find on ebay?  There are literally thousands of camping related items on ebay at any given time.  Tents (both new and used), sleeping bags, lanterns, camp stoves and hundreds of different tools and gadgets.   I've bought camp stoves and lanterns, plus parts and accessories for them.  It is also a good source for RV and OHV parts and accessories.  I've also found it convenient to stock up on small parts -- like cord locks for your sleeping bags.   As always, do your homework before you bid. Know what you can get the items for locally so you don't over pay.  Most items sold on ebay are sold "as is" and many sellers do not accept returns.  Careful shopping can yield some great bargains.   For example, I recently had to replace a broken cord lock on one of our sleeping bags. I paid about $1.50 for 2 of them at a sporting goods store. Then I found 50 of them on ebay for $3.45 -- and free shipping! Next time I need a cord lock, I'll have one on hand!  I use ebay to stock up on other camping supplies like tent repair kits and parts for my lanterns and camp stoves.

Ebay can be a convenient way to search for out-of-production items you can't find in stores.  I tried unsuccessfully to get a new "safe" for my Coleman lanterns in stores.  These are shallow pans that clamp to the bottom of the lantern and hold a wrench, spare generator and spare mantles.  I then began checking ebay and found several steel and plastic safes for sale, some with all the spare parts, some by themselves.  Ebay can be a good source for obsolete items.  I prefer the older steel Coleman lantern cases over the newer plastic clamshell cases that have replaced them and you can sometimes find them on ebay, with or without lanterns.  It seems to me the metal cases can accommodate more different lantern models than their plastic counterparts and the square shape and flat top fits in my RV cabinets better.

Be sure you know the value of what you're bidding on -- at least to you.  I saw bidding on a marine 12-volt socket (like a cigarette lighter) soar over $17 when the exact same item could be purchased at my local Walmart for about $8.00.  Of course, if you don't have a reasonable local source paying more for a unique item may be worthwhile.

Avoid bidding wars.  Bidding wars occur when two or more people are adamant about winning an auction.  On one hand, you might only be outbid by $.50 or $1.00 so upping your bid might win you the item.  But if you and one or more other bidders keep playing that game, the price can quickly climb $10 or more!  The only time I recall getting into a bidding war was for a really heavy duty 12-volt air compressor I wanted for my motorcycle trailer.  It wasn't one of the those little toys that plug into the cigarette lighter.  The motor on it was he size of an automotive starter!  Because it was such a unique item, I kept bidding on it until I won it, going at least $40 over my original maximum bid, but I've never been sorry I bought it.  I've never seen another one like it anywhere.  I have lost auctions where I was only outbid by $.50 or $1.00 and wished I had at least tried one more time.  But be careful not to get so focused on winning that you lose sight of the value of the item and are drawn into over bidding!  When you get outbid, check to see if there are other listings for similar items that might not have gone so high before upping your bid. Its all too easy to get sucked into the "I'm gonna win this!" trap, and when you do, you will almost always overpay.  Sometimes you may find other auctions right on ebay for the same item with lower current bids.  On the other hand, on occasion I have given up when a bid of only fifty cents more could have won the auction.  In many cases you will find identical items listed multiple times, sometimes by the same seller and you may be able to switch your bidding to one that hasn't gotten too high yet.  Always look for other listings before over-bidding.  I saw folks over bid a tent stove when they could have purchased an identical stove for less on a separate Buy It Now auction with free shipping!

Shipping.  Be sure to check the shipping costs before you bid.  Shipping and handling costs can sometimes be excessive.   A few unscrupulous sellers offer products at very low starting bids, then tack on huge shipping and handling charges.   Large, heavy items are going to be costly to ship, especially if they have to travel long distances.  Many small camping articles are offered with free shipping so you know exactly what you're going to pay.   Most others will either give you the fixed shipping and handling costs or let you put in your zip code to calculate the cost.   You can sort your search results from lowest to highest price plus shipping to make it easier to check potential total cost.  Expect to be charged slightly more than actual shipping costs.  The seller has to box up your purchase and take it to the pick up point.  Just be sure to check the shipping costs and consider them in your valuation.  I've seen tricky sellers offer little items than can be sent in a letter size envelope for regular first class postage charge shipping of $15 or $16.  Since it costs them less then $.50 to send the letter, they're making most of their profit on shipping. 

Be sure to look for other listings for an item before you bid on it.   I recently saw bidding for a tent stove go up to $91.00 plus shipping while the same item was offered at a Buy It Now price of $59.95 with free shipping!  By the time the buyer with the $91.00 bid pays shipping he/she will be paying about twice as much for their stove as they would have if they'd exercised the Buy It Now option on the other listing.  Always scan all the listings before placing a bid, then chose the one that will give you the best results:  best chance of winning or lowest price.  You should also check other online sources before you bid.  You might find the same items offered at lower prices on Amazon.com or through other online retailers, especially if you find coupons or things on sale.  And, if you subscribe to Amazon Prime, shipping is often free -- and very fast!

Many items on ebay are unique.  Sometimes it won't be easy or even possible to compare prices so you'll have to decide what things are worth to you.  I once got into a bidding war over a unique 12-volt air compressor.  It was powered by a motor the size of an automotive starter.  I've never seen one like it before or since so it was simply a matter of how much was it worth to me.  I decided the advantage of having such a powerful compressor for use in my dirt bike trailer in camp was worth paying at least two or three times what the little compressors that plug into your cigarette lighter go for.  Unfortunately, someone else shared my interest and we kept out bidding each other.  Foruntately, for me, I eventually won the auction and I've never regretted it even though the final price was much higher than I originally anticipated.

Of course you can also sell stuff on ebay.  If you happen to be an expert in any small collectibles (lunch boxes, cereal boxes, VHS tapes, books, toys, etc.) you can use your travels to locate potential merchandise.  You might find items at garage sales, flea markets, and second hand stores where you visit.  If you travel to remote locations and small towns chances are pretty good you may come across some really good finds.  With a digital camera (even the one on your cell phone) and a laptop computer you can list the items on ebay even while you're traveling.  Once posted, your listing works for you 24 hours a day.  Ebay charges modest fees to sellers so be sure to consider that when you set your minimum bid or reserve price.  By the way, having a low minimum bid can help get auctions started but unless you also set a reserve price you might be forced to let something go for much less than you would like.

Finding what you're looking for on ebay.  The key to finding something is entering good search criteria.   Doing a generic search such as camping may result in thousands and thousands of hits. While just searching "camping" returns more than 50,000 results, vintage camping tools brings up just a hundred or so possibilities. Much easier to review --IF you're interested in vintage items.  Use the "advanced search" and help options to learn the syntax for narrowing and improving your searches. Placing a '"-" sign in front of term usually means 'NOT'.  Hence a search for "pickup truck -Ford" means show all pick up trucks except Fords.  A list enclosed in parenthesis means search for any of the terms in the list) For example, "motocross pants (red, Honda)" returns any listings for motocross pants listings that contain the words "red" or "Honda".  You may also find it useful to browse related categories.  As a starting place I like to search "camping" and see what comes up, usually thousands of items.  I've found some interesting things that way that I didn't even know existed.  Ebay will usually give you a preview sidebar showing the number of items in various sub-categories to help you zero in on what you're looking for.

A word of caution: shopping on ebay can be addictive!  Finding those bargains and having the packages arrive every day or two and trying out your finds can be very rewarding.   Kind of like Christmas every day.  I snagged a bunch of camping stuff and some vintage hand tools and had stuff being delivered just about every day for a while. Most were fairly inexpensive so the financial impact wasn't immediately great.  However, it does add  up over time and it is too easy to get caught up in the instant gratification of winning auctions and acquiring fun stuff.  In can be downright addicting!   In fact, my oldest daughter finally told me I needed to get into a Twelve Step program for ebay!

Bid on!