Receiving the Goods

In most transactions, fortunately, the item you purchase arrives promptly. Now you should unpack the item and inspect it for any damage. If the item is something that can be tried out, you should make sure that it actually works. If all is fine, email the seller to say that you received the merchandise and that you're happy. If all isn't fine, email the seller and let him or her know that you have a problem.

Tip

When your item arrives, check it out immediately. Don't wait a month before determining that there's something wrong; find out now whether the item is in good shape and delivers what was promised.

If you have a problemor if you didn't receive the merchandise at all after a reasonable amount of timeyou should first try to work out a compromise with the seller. Most sellers will bend over backward to make you happy; some won't.

If you can't work out anything with the seller, turn to eBay for assistance. See Chapter 11 for instructions on what to do when a deal goes bad.