It’s quite a nice feeling when you win your first eBay auction, it can only be described as a mixture of both fear and happiness. After all, there are numerous other things that must be fulfilled before you receive your item. So what do you do next?

The simple answer is: you send payment to the seller, as quickly as possible. The quicker you pay, the more your seller will like you, and the sooner your item will arrive. But how you go about it? That all depends on how you plan to pay.

PayPal

PayPal is certainly the most popular method of payment on eBay, so much so that eBay decided to purchase the company. It allows for instant electronic payment across the net. The money travels from your debit or credit card instantly into the sellers PayPal account, where they have the option to either use it for another internet purchase or put the money into their bank account.

eBay offer incentives for using PayPal, and almost all sellers now accept it. Its instant nature makes sellers very happy, and means that they can have your item packed and sent and leave you some positive feedback within a few hours of the auction ending. When paying by PayPal, you will be covered by PayPal’s own insurances and guarantees, as well as any that your card might have.

Cheques and Money Orders

This is the old fashioned method of payment, and will ultimately lead to you waiting a great deal of time before you receive your product. You will be required to post the money order or cheque to the seller and he/she will have to take it to the bank to have it cleared, only after it has been cleared will they send out the item. The only reason why you should choose to use this payment method is if either you or the seller feels uncomfortable using the electronic payment methods. If your willing to go through all that additional trouble with the seller, it could result in you getting the item for much cheaper than its worth.

When you pay by cheque or money order, make sure to print the eBay order confirmation page (it will be emailed to you) and put it in the envelope with your payment. Underline or circle key information like your mailing address and the item number. Finally, remember to be patient: keep in contact with the seller, as it really can take a month or two before everything falls into place and your item turns up.

Money Transfers and Bank Deposits

Some of the sellers might ask for payment through the Western Union, or they might give you a bank account number and ask you to deposit the funds into it. Unless you trusting of the seller this can prove to be a bad idea, these methods are proven to be very hard to trace and you’re unlikely to get your money back if something goes wrong with the sale. Paying directly in cash is an even worse idea.