Cowboy eBay Basics - How To Buy Cowboy Stuff and More

What Is eBay?

eBay is a marketplace for buyers and sellers to get together. eBay itself does not sell anything, it is just a place where individuals or businesses come together to buy or sell.

eBay is famous for its highly successful feedback system. Each item for sale on eBay shows the seller's feedback rating from previous eBay transactions in the "Meet the seller" area:

This number shows how many transactions the seller has had on eBay. Since a seller on eBay can also be a buyer on eBay, this number includes transactions for both buying and selling.
This is the seller's feedback rating. Feedback is left by other people on eBay who have purchased something from, or sold something to, this seller.
You can read comments left by others who have done business with the seller. Tip: When buying something on eBay it's a good idea to read these comments. Make sure any seller you do business with has a lot of positive comments left for them as a seller, not just as a buyer.
You can use this link to contact the seller of the item. Always ask the seller any questions you may have before you bid or buy.

Screenshot of Meet the seller area

How Do I Buy Something On eBay?

Find an item to buy. You can see our Cowboy eBay page for hundreds of items for cowboys and cowgirls.

Check the seller's feedback rating and/or read comments left about the seller.

Read the item's description thoroughly. If you have any questions, ask the seller before you bid or buy. Look for the "Ask seller a question" link (#4 in the image above).

Place your bid, or use Buy It Now (Buy It Now stops the auction and you buy the item immediately at the Buy It Now price). If you are outbid, you may bid again if you like.

If you use Buy It Now or get the winning bid, pay for your item. Different sellers accept different forms of payment (PayPal, money order, cashier's check, personal check, credit card, etc.). You should always read the item's description for payment methods the seller accepts before you bid or buy.

How Do I Register With eBay?

If you have never bought anything on eBay before, you will need to register with them. Registering is FREE. eBay requires registration in order to attempt to verify your identity to keep eBay a safe place to buy and sell, and to make sure you are over 18 years of age.

Registering is fast, easy, and free. When registering...

If your email address can be used to verify your identity, you will NOT need a debit or credit card to register.

If your email address cannot be used to verify your identity, you will need a debit or credit card to register. Your card is for identification purposes, and will NOT be charged (registering with eBay is free).

Hint: eBay cannot verify your identity through email addresses from Web-based email accounts like the ones provided by Yahoo.com, Hotmail.com, and others. If you don't want to use your debit or credit card for identification, try registering with an email address provided to you by a company or a paid ISP (Internet Service Provider).

What Is PayPal?

PayPal is a common method of sending money across the Web. It is free for buyers, and was developed to keep a buyer's payment information (bank account, credit card, etc.) from being seen by sellers. PayPal has the information, but they do not show it to anyone you are paying.

To pay with PayPal, you sign up with them (it's fast, easy, and free for buyers) and give them payment information (like a bank account or credit card number) you want to use in the future when you buy something. When you make a purchase from an eBay seller or anyone else that accepts PayPal payments, you send the money from your email address to their email address, and they never see your personal payment information.

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Register now!	Register with PayPal	Visit our cowboy, eBay, main page for a huge list of cowboy and cowgirl items on eBay!