Check descriptions, sellers, charges

• 1). Don't buy on impulse. What seems like a terrific price at first glance may not be. Read all the way through the auction listing. Look specifically for karat mark descriptions in the listing or in photos of the scrap gold offered. The larger the number, the greater the purity. Twenty-four karats is pure gold, while anything less than 10 karats cannot legally be sold as gold jewelry in the United States. (See References 2)
  
  
• 2). Do your "due diligence" on sellers. Start by checking their feedback profiles. EBay's feedback system allows buyers and sellers to share ratings and brief notes about their experiences with each other. Buyers can also submit "detailed seller ratings" to evaluate whether the item was accurately described, whether there was good communication with the seller, and reasonable shipping time and shipping charges. Feedback is subjective, but sellers whose "positive" rating is below 95 percent probably deserve extra scrutiny. (See References 3)
  
  
• 3). Look for hidden charges. Some sellers avoid paying eBay fees by inflating the price of shipping and handling, so make sure to check that. This trick is against eBay's terms of use, but eBay only takes action if users report infractions.
  
  

Be vigilant before, during, after a sale

• 1). Know how to search correctly for your items. Most scrap gold appears in eBay's "Jewelry & Watches" or "Coins & Paper Money" categories. Limit yourself to those and you can miss some real bargains. Use eBay's vigorous search engine to go through all categories at once. Click on "include title and description" to conduct a more thorough search.
  
  
• 2). Pay with a credit card. Most eBay transactions take place through PayPal, and many PayPal payments are transfers of cash from a buyer's PayPal or bank account. Credit card companies offer extra protection to buyers, which can be invaluable in getting your money back if you don't get the item you paid the seller to send you.
  
  
• 3). Check out your merchandise soon after it arrives. Examine the scrap gold you have purchased to make sure it is worth what you paid. Weigh it, verify karat marks and shoot photos of any problems with the purchase. If there is a problem, contact the seller immediately and begin the process of seeking a refund.
  
  
• 4). Know your post-sale options. Sellers operate through eBay, but they are not eBay employees and their reactions to complaints can be unpredictable. If they misrepresent items, either through ignorance or malice, and refuse refunds, buyers can file complaints through eBay, PayPal and their credit card companies to get their money back. Begin the complaint process immediately if the seller refuses to cooperate or simply does not respond to messages.