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Buying used on eBay safely

A quick checklist we use ourselves before buying anything pre-owned.

Before you buy

  1. Check the seller. Look for 98%+ positive feedback and a history of sales — ideally in the same category. A brand-new account selling expensive items is a warning sign.
  2. Read the whole description. Sellers must disclose flaws there. Words like “as is”, “untested” or “read description” usually mean a problem.
  3. Look at real photos. Stock photos tell you nothing about condition. Zoom in on screens, corners, soles, serial numbers.
  4. Compare the total price. Add shipping and any core charge. Prelovu always shows totals including shipping.
  5. Check returns. “Returns accepted” gives you a simple way out if the item isn't right.
  6. For phones and tablets, make sure the listing says the device is unlocked or on your carrier and not iCloud/Google locked or blacklisted.
  7. If it looks too cheap, it probably is. Prices far below similar listings are a common scam pattern. Paste the link into our Checker to see where it sits.

Red flags

  • The seller asks you to pay or talk outside eBay (email, text, wire transfer, gift cards, crypto).
  • The price is dramatically lower than every other listing.
  • Brand-new seller, high-value item, and the location doesn't match where it ships from.
  • “Box only”, “photo of”, “read description” buried in the title.
  • For vehicles: no title, salvage or rebuilt title, “bill of sale only”, or pressure to send a deposit before seeing the car.

You're protected

The eBay Money Back Guarantee covers most purchases paid through eBay checkout: if an item doesn't arrive, is faulty or damaged, or doesn't match the listing, you can get your money back. It only applies when you pay on eBay, so never pay a seller off-platform. Vehicle purchases are covered by eBay's separate Vehicle Purchase Protection program — read its terms before you buy.

After it arrives

  • Inspect and test it straight away, while you're within the return window.
  • For electronics: check the battery health, factory-reset it and confirm it activates.
  • If something's wrong, open a request through eBay rather than arranging something privately.