Now that we’re officially knee deep in the recession, we’ve got two options – 1. curb spending completely (boo!) or 2. spend more wisely. While the first option is periodically more sensible, it’s far less fun. So lets go with the latter!

Now there are many ways to spend less, but we’re not talking about sacrificing quality or style here. Now more than ever is a good time to start using eBay for your shopping needs. No matter what your heart’s desire – brand new pair of Frye boots, ghost in a jar, a signed pair of Britney’s knickers – eBay is almost always the answer.

That being said, eBay can also be frustrating and a little sketchy, so you must know the basics before traveling in this online shopping Mecca. And you must always remember the most important rule of eBay - if it’s too good to be true, IT IS.

Now, let’s walk through the steps of setting up your very own account and weeding out eBavillains (sellers with bad business practices).

Step 1: First, log onto to www.ebay.ca(or .com) and set up your account. It’s easy and hassle free.

Step 2: I STRONGLY suggest setting up a PayPal account at the same time, which is super secure. What PayPal does is insure that merchants you deal with aren’t able to view your banking information, thus, minimizing the chances of fraud, billing misunderstandings, etc. Also, be sure to hook up a credit card account to your PayPal (as opposed to savings or chequing account) as if a transaction goes wrong you have protection from your credit card company in the form of insurance and refund.

Step 3: Now you’re ready to shop! Let’s assume that you’re dying to own a vintage Chanel quilted lambskin purse, because let’s face it, who isn’t?

Seems easy right? Not so much. As I type in keywords like “Chanel, quilted, bag,” I receive just over 160 hits. The first auction is priced at $1,486.06CAN and has 34 bidders vying for the item, so chances are – it’s authentic.

Next we have a similar handbag going for a fraction of the cost for only $250CAN. Pictures of the bag show some signs of wear. To bid or not to bid? It’s a hard one to call.

It’s time to do some homework. You’ve got to learn EVERYTHING there is to know about this particular handbag – where is the serial number, what colour is the dustbag, what colour is the stitching, does the lining have a print, what is the hardware made of?

Essentially, you must become an instant expert. Here’s a little tip: All higher end bags will have their label imprinted on each piece of hardware, so when in doubt, ask the seller to send close up photos of the desired item. Once you know this bag inside out, literally, you can start bidding.

If this all seems like a lot at once – take a deep breath – eBay isn’t always this complicated. If, for example, you’re looking for a TNA duffle bag or a Valentines Day costume for your pet Chihuahua, fakes aren’t an issue. However, once you start yearning for that celebrity “IT” item – there will be fakes, and lots of ‘em!

Other important considerations:

* Always look at sellers feedback scores and thoroughly read detailed customer feedback (located at top right corner of each item listing). Past behaviour is the best indicator of future behaviour. If a seller has ripped off buyers before, lied, sold fakes, took too long to ship items, they will probably do it again.

*If you’re unclear about something, don’t make assumptions. Email the seller and ask them directly. If they don’t answer the email in a timely manner, you probably don’t want to do business with them.

*If your country isn’t indicated as a shipping location in an item listing, it never hurts to ask if the seller will make an exception, most will say yes, even if you have to pay a little more.

*When purchasing a second hand item, always read item description thoroughly before bidding and don’t shy away from asking the seller to send you additional images of the item (especially close-ups of areas that are first to show signs of wear – arm pits, collar, etc).

*Know your size and know it well. Returning online purchases can be a huge hassle, and not all sellers even offer a return policy so try to get it right the first time. And remember, if it doesn’t work out, you can always resell!

So now you’re ready to shop! Happy bidding!

by Olga Barsky