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One
of the questions I am asked frequently is how to find teacher items
on eBay. I hope you will find this "eBay Teacher
Tutorial" useful.
Happy Bidding!
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What's so great about eBay?
Every teacher loves a bargain and
eBay is the world's largest garage sale! If you can't find
it on eBay then it doesn't exist! You can find everything
under the sun on eBay and then some. Here are only a few of
my lucky eBay finds:
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Lakeshore
Listening Center |
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Judy
Instructo Nursery Rhyme puzzles |
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Lakeshore
ABC Sponges |
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Lakeshore
Holiday Sponges |
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Blocks
(cardboard bricks and Lakeshore foam blocks) |
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Potato
Heads |
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Flannel
Boards |
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Manipulatives |
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I've also found lots of
non-educational bargains, everything from shoes and clothes to
electronics, books, and more! |
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Getting
Started: |
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Go to www.ebay.com,
on the left hand side of the screen you
will see the categories listed vertically. |
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Scroll down the list of categories
on the left and click on
Everything Else. |
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Once you are in the Everything Else category
look under Education & Preschool and click on
Preschool-Kindergarten |
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Once you are in Preschool-Kindergarten look on the left side of
your screen to select the section you would like to search. Your
choices are: Alphabet, arts & crafts, daycare supplies, foreign
languages, music, numbers, phonics, shapes & colors, or other. |
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The information above is
just for getting you started. Never bid on an item until
you have taken advantage of the many tutorials and information services eBay
offers to first time users. There is a new users
section right on the homepage for your convenience.
REMEMBER: Your bid is a binding
contract! |
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Caveat Emptor: |
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Caveat Emptor is
Latin for "Let the buyer beware" |
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On
eBay Caveat Emptor is the rule of thumb. If you find
something you think to be a good deal it is up to YOU,
the buyer, to research and find out if it really is a good
deal or not. REMEMBER: Your bid is a
binding contract. There are rules about bid retraction
on eBay and it is not looked upon favorably. So before
you bid make sure you do your homework.
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Tips: |
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You can search in each specific education category or just under
PreSchool-Kindergarten in general. |
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Use
key words to search for specific items; like "pocket
chart". |
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Don't
limit yourself to the education section only, I found my Lakeshore
listening center in the consumer electronics section! Remember,
sellers that are not teachers often list their items in a wide
variety of categories. For example, if you are looking for
school quality ABC sponges or stamps they may be listed in
Toys & Hobbies. |
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Remember
to check the shipping costs before you bid. What seems like
a really good deal might not be after you add in shipping charges. |
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Is
It Safe?
Ebay
has taken many precautions to make sure that both the buyer and seller
are protected against fraud. Here are a few tips to protect
yourself:
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Remember to always check
a sellers feedback rating before bidding. The feedback rating is
designed to allow the buyer to see how reliable the seller is.
Each buyer is strongly encouraged to leave feedback for the seller.
The link to a sellers feedback rating is listed directly below the
sellers name on every auction.
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If you are worried about
an item getting lost in the mail it's best to purchase insurance.
Insurance will be added to your total cost by the seller.
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How
do I pay for an auction if I win? |
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Many
people prefer to pay with an on-line payment system like
PayPal. You can check out the PayPal website at
www.paypal.com
to sign up for an account. I prefer to use only paypal
payments because of the speed and convenience. Shipping is
also much faster when you pay with paypal. |
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Some
sellers accept money orders through snail mail, credit cards,
paypal, or other on-line payment services. However, most
sellers do not accept personal checks. |
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One important tip is to always read
the auction payment terms before bidding. Some sellers will
only accept paypal and if you do not have an account you may not
bid. REMEMBER: Your bid is a binding contract.
Sellers must pay a fee on each item they sell so if you win an
auction and cannot pay the seller loses money and it's a long,
lengthy process for them to get it back, which in turn reflects
poorly on you, the auction winner. |
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Another important tip is don't give
excuses. If you win an item it is best to pay for it
immediately. If you can't afford to pay for the item, you
have a bill that is due, or a sick family member to care for do
not bid or write the seller and ask for a pity party. The
seller should not have to suffer for your irresponsibility.
If you went to WalMart and asked for a pity party in the check-out
line would they let you leave without paying?
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