I was just reading a forum post about a guy who bought a 16-channel mixer off of eBay for a hundred bucks and then got zinged for an additional two hundred for the shipping. Now I know ground shipping can be expensive, especially for heavy gear (though I can’t imagine how heavy a 16-channel mixer could be, nowadays). The lesson to be learned, I guess, is to really check out eBay listings before you bid. Here’s some advice from somebody who has bought and sold quite a bit on eBay:

1. If there’s time, email the seller and ask for additional, high-res photos. These may reveal imperfections that aren’t visible on the eBay site, and you might get to see other angles of the gear.

2. Don’t buy from people who have anything less than a 98% positive feedback rating. Just trust me on this one.

3. Find out whether or not the gear comes in its original packaging or casing. This may seem inconsequential, but if the seller still has original packaging material, that’s a fair indicator of how well taken care of the gear is.

4. If buying something that can be obtained new or through another channel than eBay, check the pricing of the gear elsewhere. Just because it’s on eBay doesn’t mean it’s a good deal.

5.  Check the shipping policy three or four times before you bid. The number one way to screw buyers on eBay is through shipping fees.

What would you add to this list?