Five items to always buy on eBay – and three to avoid

eBay FANS know that there are countless bargains to be had, but are some bargains worth your money more than others?

Secondhand sites are a great tool for shoppers looking to find bargains on unwanted items.

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Since its launch in the UK in 1999, many people have used it to earn a little extra cash.

But what should you always look for on eBay and what should you keep on the shelf? We reveal all.

Coins

One great thing about eBay is buying and selling old and unique coins – and there are thousands to choose from.

Sellers often place rare coins online and then people can bid on them.

Earlier this year, a seller revealed he was selling a 50p Brexit coin for £15,000.

The mint list reads: “50 very rare Brexit cents, peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations.”

Sellers are floating “50p Queen Elizabeth II: UK Withdrawal from European Union” on eBay’s buy now option for £14,999.

And after Queen Elizabeth’s death, there were many Royal coins for sale on eBay.

Prices range from literally 50p to thousands of pounds, depending on what type you’re after.

If you’re also a keen collector, there are plenty of other coins to choose from, including the Kew Gardens and Peter Rabbit coins.

Clothes

There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of clothing items to buy on eBay.

If you’re after something specific, you can search for what you’re looking for and usually someone will sell it.

And more often than not, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for for a fraction of the price.

Many people are turning to second-hand shopping to try and save some cash during the cost of living crisis.

eBay even has its own store selling items from a selection of retailers like Argos, Boden, Boohoo, Debenhams, Sports Direct, etc.

These are used or refurbished items.

Most items are sold in a “buy now” format, so you won’t need to worry about starting a bidding war.

For example, at the time of this writing, we’ve seen a River Island coral summer shirt £7 off its original price of £30.

A pair of shoes

Another great way to shop on eBay is if you’re looking for shoes.

Often people will sell a pair after they bought the wrong size or because they have worn it once and cannot be returned.

For example, we previously found a brand new pair of New Balance 530 trainers for just £40 off their original price of £99.

They are in mint condition that has been used literally once.

Of course, shoes that have been used many times will be sold, so make sure you know their condition before you buy – though it’s usually easy to tell from photos.

technology

According to Synder, some of the best-selling products on eBay are tech items like headphones and speakers, which help businesses manage their finances.

Following closely the top two are laptops and accessories.

Many people buy used or refurbished products on eBay.

For example, someone is selling a Dell Latitude laptop for £89.99 but a brand new one could go for up to £724.79 – that’s a huge savings for those trying to make a budget book.

Shoppers have recently flocked to buy refurbished iPhones for £300 less than their original price.

It’s also been a big hit with eBay shoppers, at the time of its trending on the site, with 978 units already sold – so grab yours while you still can.

garden equipment

As we are now entering the transitional phase of summer, many of them may be thinking about how to beautify their gardens.

Buying brand new equipment, whether it’s a lawn mower or a new set of furniture, can be an expensive undertaking, but eBay is a great option.

Look out for smaller things like rakes and seeds – you can find these for as little as 50 cents.

But eBy is also selling a popular hanging egg chair, a popular choice for those looking to add some sparkle to their outdoor space.

Things to Avoid on eBay

This is probably obvious, but never buy concert tickets or tickets for other events on eBay.

They are most likely fake and you should only buy them through the official event websites.

During the summer, ticket sales spike, including tickets to festivals.

While some may actually sell secondhand to people who want a bit of memorabilia, others will be scammers looking to make a dollar or two.

Also, maybe another obvious thing, but we don’t recommend buying food from eBay.

You don’t know what condition it will be in.

When an item is also shipped, there is a risk of damage or contamination.

eBay also has rules about exactly what food items you can buy and sell.

Perfume is probably another item to really think about because you could be tricked into buying what you think is a full bottle.

Merchants are also discouraged from having liquid items on their accounts.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk