Before you buy a treasure online, there are a few basics that you need to know. From Ebay to uBid.com to Yahoo! Auctions, their numbers are growing, and are becoming a more common venue for buyers of everything from vinyl collectibles to dining rooms. The good news is that prices on online auctions can often be quite reasonable. But, there are a few things youll want to consider before buying.

Accuracy

Keep in mind that many online auctions simply post merchandise as described by the seller. They do not verify the accuracy of the item, that the merchandise actually exists or even guarantee that the seller will follow through with the sale.

Good Buys Online

Online auctions are a gold mine for collectible buyers. You can search for the manufacturer, colour and/or style number. Before online auctions, antique hunters would have to scour high and low for their favourite item and often end up paying a high price because the item was rare. Now with online auctions, the scarcity of collectibles is reduced when you can search, for example, a Royal Doulton, Sara figurine and see that there are currently 23 available for auction. It brings the price down of these items - great news for buyers.

Check Seller Feedback

Feedback sections are common feature on online auction. This is the place on the auction website where buyers can check the reputation of the seller. Moreover, previous buyers can post their comments on their experience with a seller. Its a good indicator as to whether the seller is an individual you would feel comfortable doing business with but, even a spotless record for a seller doesnt mean that your experience will go as smoothly.

Get Contact Info

Make sure you have the name, address and phone number for the seller so that you can follow-up by phone or mail if email isnt working as a communication vehicle. You can also use the old-fashioned phone call to help you. Give the seller a call if you have a more complex question; it may also help with your comfort level in completing a transaction once you and the seller have spoken.

Additional Charges

There are no actual fees charged to buyers at online auctions. All fees associated with an online auction are the responsibility of the seller. However, you will incur additional charges: shipping, handling, insurance, customs (if the seller is in another country), and sometimes PST and GST from Canadian sellers.

Know the Return Policy

Before you complete a transaction, read and understand the return policy. If you dont like the return policy, dont bid on it.

Payment methods

Avoid cash payments because if there is a dispute, there is no paper trail to document how much you paid. Credit card payments through PayPal, a secure third party company, are a very common payment method. Credit card payments protect both the buyer and seller if there is a dispute.

Insurance & Escrow

Dont skimp on buying insurance. It protects you up to a preset amount but there are limitations with any insurance. Escrow services are widespread and a good idea for higher ticket purchases.

Unhappy with your Purchase

There are a few avenues of recourse if you are unhappy. First, contact the seller immediately by email and/or phone to clarify the problem. If this doesnt happen or is unsuccessful, you can leave negative feedback, contact the online auction house as they will likely have a dispute resolution process or contact the police if you feel fraud is involved.

Martin Swinton

A lifelong lover of all things old, Martin was born in Toronto, Canada and spent time in Malaysia as a child.

Martin learned to restore furniture when he was a teenager and has worked at an auction house. He owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, an antique shop located at 1927 Avenue Road, Toronto, Canada.

His television appearances include Canadian Living Television, Breakfast Television, Daytime and Toronto Living.

Martin teaches courses on antiques and he writes a regular column "Let's Talk Antiques" for the Town Crier newspaper and "Antiques 101" for the Home Advisor. He also does appraisals for estates and community events.

When Martin is not appearing on television or teaching, he can be found in his shop restoring well-worn furniture, gluing vintage tables or re-caning and rushing chairs. On warm summer days, he has been seen multi-tasking out front of the shop when he chats up the locals and works on his tan.

Martin recalls that he has always been interested in things from the past, so it is not surprising that he graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Archaeology. He holds a high school equivalency diploma from the Ontario Ministry of Education. Martin completed his grade 2 course of studies at Cedarvale Public School before being home school through to high school. At the age of 7 Martin was diagnosed with a bad case of dyslexia, which explains a lot of the problems that he had in Mrs. Mansica's grade 2 reading circle.

His personal areas of interest are Asian art, European furniture and the Arts & Crafts movement. Martin is a member of the Monarchist League of Canada. He lives in Toronto with his wife Andrea and Kurt, his basketball mad 14-year old son.