To find the shipping information for any listing, page down so that you are looking underneath the product information and pictures. All auctions, no matter what the product, are structured the same way so confusion is minimized. Most auctions feature a small drop down menu that will show the buyer what countries are shipped to. For instance, if you live in Canada and you are bidding on a United States based auction, it is extremely important that you check to see if the auction ships to your home country before you bid, otherwise, you may be out of luck, even if you win the auction.

Underneath the drop down menu, you will notice that the types of shipping available are listed. Often times, if you are dealing with another individual who is looking to liquidate his or her personal collection of gold coins, there will only be one type of shipping available, but if you are dealing with a professional or with someone who makes their living off of eBay, you will have several options to choose from.

If you have the choice, always go with a type of shipping that provides a tracking number. You may have to pay a few extra dollars, but when it comes to buying gold coins for sale, it is important that you have that extra security. If a shipping method that provides a tracking number isn’t offered, you can always email the seller and ask if other options are available for an extra fee. Most sellers are flexible and aren’t willing to throw away an otherwise positive sale to accommodate a shipping request.

One other aspect of shipping that many people have questions about is using shipping insurance. This step is completely up to you and is often used by folks who are having an auction shipped that cost over a certain amount of money. Using shipping insurance can sometimes be required as part of winning an auction, and if it is, the stipulation will be clearly spelled out in the listing itself.

As you can see, shipping, the cost of shipping and shipping insurance are all huge parts of winning auctions and having a safe and successful time online. Make sure you understand all of the moving parts here before you become an avid online auction user.

Go ahead and click on any auction for gold coins on eBay, and you will see that the listing in question has a seller responsible for it. There will be a number next to the seller’s name and then a feedback rating underneath that. If you click on the name of the seller, you can see their personal page that reveals all of the information you need to know about that particular user. Of course, long time users will usually have hundreds or even thousands of comments for you to read while newer users may have none at all, but even if the user in question only has a few comments, you can use the information listed there to decide if that person is worth doing business with or not.

Sellers’ ratings are broken down into several categories, such as “item as described,” “communication,” “shipping time,” and “shipping and handling charges.” Every time a seller completes a transaction, the buyer can rate that seller on these categories and then other potential buyers can read the ratings. If a negative rating is left, it can not be removed but the seller can respond with a short line stating their side of the story. This system has worked magnificently since its inception and it has been refined and improved to accurately reflect the changes the site has experienced over the years. There is a reason why this site is considered the biggest and most open marketplace on the Internet: the insight provided by user ratings gives everyone a fair idea of who they can trust and who they should avoid.

When looking for gold coins for sale, it is important to take all aspects of the seller’s rating into account before you place your bid or before you choose to Buy it Now. It is important to remember, however, even if a transaction does go south, you are protected as long as you deal in good faith and use the site’s built in payment system PayPal to complete your transaction. Buying gold coins online doesn’t have to be difficult, confusing or even dangerous as long as you take the information contained within the seller’s ratings to heart. That information is there to help protect you, so make sure you take advantage of it.

Demand a Certificate of Authenticity – Every smart purchase of gold coins should come with a certificate of authenticity from the mint that created the coins. Consider the certificate of authenticity to be like a receipt you get from a store when you purchase a new television or an expensive suit. You have to have that receipt to prove that what you purchased was really worth what you think it is, either for your taxes or so you can return it if need be. Buying precious metals without a certificate means that you really have no proof that your purchase is worth anything at all.

Use PayPal – PayPal is a new and extremely secure way of paying for goods and services over the Internet. When you use PayPal, which is actually a division of eBay, there is a complete and accurate record of your transaction, so if there is a problem, you can easily invoke the customer protection policy that automatically protects every transaction. If you choose to use another payment method, such as a check, money order or Western Union, you forfeit a part of that security. Since PayPal is an integrated part of the whole buying process, it is the safest and most secure way to pay for any online transaction.

Experienced Sellers are Preferred – When shopping for gold coins for sale, it helps to go with sellers that have lots of positive feedback ratings. When a seller has multiple positive feedback ratings, it means that individual buyers have completed transactions with that seller that turned out positively. Feedback ratings are a great way to tell if a seller is honest and forthright and if they sell a product that is on par with the standards the buyer expected.

A Well Written Description & Clear Photographs – When you consider the fact that everything from very affordable digital cameras, film cameras, cell phones and Blackberries can all take pictures these days, there is no reason that any listing on eBay be without photographs. Buying precious metals online is serious business and you don’t want to deal with someone who isn’t taking this process seriously. Demand that every listing you consider bidding on have clear, color photographs of the product in question. Also, don’t be afraid to email a seller and ask for additional information if need be.

Buying, selling and trading precious metals online is a safe and money saving way to pad your retirement portfolio, but make sure you meet the requirements stated above for a secure shopping experience you’ll be anxious to repeat.

Without a doubt, the single best way to find deals on online auction sites is to use the Going, Going, Gone feature. Going, Going, Gone is a list of every auction from every category that is about to expire. You can even break down the list to show only items that fall under a certain category, such as precious metals or coins. This way, you have a clear insight into items are about to expire with no bids or ones that are extremely undervalued, and you don’t have to worry about getting outbid at the last second since you will be the person bidding at the last second yourself.

Another great feature you can count on is the “other auctions” feature. Most Power Sellers, or professional sellers, have dozens of auctions going at once. Even if you happen to get outbid at the last second on an auction you wanted, you can still end up a winner by taking a look at the other auctions that person has up for bid. Sometimes, a seller will have several auctions featuring the exact same items or items that are significantly similar. You can even make a list of sellers who regularly have items that you enjoy and then you can check back on their complete list a few times a week so you don’t miss out.

Items such as gold coins can also be found by category. The front page of eBay features all of the different categories that auctions fall under and there is a section dedicated specifically to coins and other valuable collectables. You can browse through these categories in a number of ways. You can list all auctions by value, by seller, by the amount of time until they expire and several other ways, as well. This feature offers a great way to casually browse all of the auctions available.

Finally, if you are looking to buy gold coins for sale on eBay, you can use the search feature at the top of the home page. The search feature here works remarkably well to find just about any listing you can imagine. Not only does the search feature scan the headings for all the auctions but also the individual item descriptions so that you receive as complete a response as possible.

As you can see, there are many easy and direct ways you can find the items you are looking for on online auction sites. Investing using these sites is fun, easy and incredibly profitable for someone with a discerning eye.

The mega auction site eBay is actually one of the best places anywhere in which to buy, sell and trade precious metals. Transactions can be completed in a matter of days and thanks to the comprehensive buyer protection policy and the incredibly detailed user ratings system, the chances of you getting ripped off are all but zero as long as you follow the rules. Here are a few easy coin hunting tips you can use the next time you head online to help diversify your portfolio.

Amazingly enough, you can regularly find items online up to 20 percent below market value, which explains why this site has become such a go-to source for investors. One of the best places to look for these sales is in the Going, Going Gone listings that show you auctions that are on the verge of expiring. You may come across an auction for gold coins that has fallen though the cracks and needs only one low bid to win it. Since there are hundreds of thousands of auctions every day on this site, the chances of one or two a day falling through without a bid, or with only one or two bids, is actually quite common. Check this space two or three times a day, and chances are, you will stumble upon the deal of a lifetime.

Another good place to look is at one prolific seller’s other auctions. No matter how dedicated a bidder you are on eBay, chances are, you will lose out on an auction now and then, but not all hope is lost. You can click on the seller’s name and discover all of the other auctions that that seller currently has on. If you are dealing with a professional or with someone who makes their living off of the site, chances are, they will have several or even dozens of other auctions to choose from. They may even have other auctions for the exact same items that are set to expire in a few days. You can choose to keep an eye on those other auctions until they are ready to expire and then bid on them or you can bid right away and then keep an eye on your email to see if your bid holds up. Either way, shopping for gold coins for sale online using eBay is a great way to diversify your portfolio and find some much needed stability in your financial life.

Currently, there are a whole slew of automated sniping services online that you can use. Some require you to pay for each snipe you order, while other require you to buy a monthly membership that gives you either unlimited snipes or a set number before you have to pay more, while other services claim to be completely free. The question is, if you are looking for gold coins for sale, do you need to employ one of these services to ensure a winning experience?

Many people who use online auction services consider sniping to be bad form and disrespectful to other bidders. We all want to win the listings we bid on, but dealing with our fellow bidders with respect is just as important. From a moral stand point, sniping services are bad news and they send the wrong message to our kids that it is okay to act in an underhanded way. However, with that said, it can be incredibly frustrating to continually lose out on auctions you thought you were going to win in the very last second. These services are used by quite a few people, but they are not recommended or endorsed in any way by eBay.

There are some bidding tips you can keep in mind if you keep losing out on auctions for gold coins. The site does a great job of notifying you as soon as you have been outbid, so if you are almost ready to win an auction, try being logged into your email to receive any correspondence from the site so you can react quickly. You can also try placing a bid higher than you planned so there is less of a chance of someone swooping in and outbidding you. If you want to watch your auction directly, you can always click refresh during the final minutes of your auction to see if you are still the high bidder.

Sniping services are an extremely tempting way to always finish first on online auction sites, however, they are unethical and can be expensive, as well, which negates the whole point of using online auction sites to invest in precious metals in the first place.

Finding Rare Items – People from all over the world use online auction sites to shop for rare, antique items that you can’t find anywhere else, or at least anywhere in your hemisphere. Online auction sites have proven to be a safe and respected way to sell very expensive items, such as gold bullion, coins and other items. If you are searching high and low for a particular item to complete your collection, your first and likely your last stop will be eBay.

Safety – Online auction sites such as this feature an entire safety net of protection to ensure that no one rips off anyone else, and when you are talking about the kind of money needed to buy and sell gold coins, that kind of reassurance is important. It is important to note, however, that there are rules you have to follow. Try to always pay with PayPal so there is an official record of the transaction, with your auction number, the information of the seller and the details of your auction. If you need to file for a refund, all of your information will be readily available and indisputable.

Seller Ratings – Probably the most useful tool for having safe and secure purchases from online auction sites is the seller rating feature. When a seller completes a transaction successfully, the buyer is asked to leave positive feedback and a positive feedback rating. If the transaction was less than perfect, buyers can leave feedback that says so. If you are unsure how or if to proceed with an auction, you can base a lot of your judgement on the rating of that seller. Some sellers, know as Power Sellers, have amassed so many positive feedback ratings that they have earned a special significance on the site. While there is still the possibility that an auction may not go as planned if you choose to shop with a Power Seller, it is less likely than if you choose a new seller with very few feedback ratings.

Value – Since there are so many incredible deals available on online auction sites, you can browse as much or as little as you want to find the deals you are looking for. Chances are, if you are looking to buy gold coins for sale online, you are looking for something specific and within a certain price range. Often times, there are several auctions going on at the same time for the same basic items, so you can bide your time, wait for the best deal and then bid. It is a win-win situation for everyone.

First off, as a general rule, you should always bid on auctions made by sellers that have more than ten individual feedback items. Otherwise, the sample size isn’t large enough for you to know if the person you are dealing with is on the up and up or if they are someone to avoid. However, if they are selling gold coins that you really want to bid on, you can always email the seller and ask them a few questions, and if you win the auction, make sure you pay with PayPal so that there is an official record of it. Once the allotted time goes by, if you haven’t received your package, getting a full refund from the site will be a snap.

Another payment method you can use other than PayPal is a credit card. Some credit cards are now offering an instant and complete refund on online transactions that don’t go the way they should. This somewhat bypasses the polices in place by the auction site and by PayPal, so it isn’t as highly recommended a choice, but as long as you get your money back, that is the most important thing.

If you do need to file a claim with the auction site because someone didn’t come through on their end of the bargain, don’t worry, the process is extremely straight forward and simple to navigate. Each auction for gold coins, or for any other item, has a certain built in number of days for you to receive your shipment through the mail. If you are an international customer, that wait time might be longer than if it is a domestic shipment. Once your wait time has expired, however, you can log into the eBay site, click on the completed auction in question and click the button for File a Claim. You’ll have to fill out a small questionnaire and then write a short note on how the transaction worked. The site will already have a copy of your PayPal payment since the two sites are linked. It will take some processing time, but once your refund is approved, the seller will most likely have their account deleted.

When shopping for gold coins for sale online, some deals do occasionally turn out to be too good to be true. When that happens, you won’t be left fending for yourself. Use common sense, follow the tips above and you and your money will be reunited soon.

When looking to purchase gold coins for sale on any online auction site, protecting yourself should always be a chief concern. There are polices in place to help protect you should a buyer or seller turn out to be a crook, but you can increase your chances of staying safe by checking the seller rating, the comments and by always using PayPal to complete your transaction.

Every buyer and seller on eBay comes with a feedback rating. The feedback rating is determined by people that seller (or buyer) has completed transactions with previously. If that seller lived up to their obligations and treated the person on the other end with the proper respect, than they would likely get a positive rating from that person. Both the buyer and the seller can leave a rating for the other person. While a solid rating alone isn’t enough to make or break your purchase of gold coins, they can give you a good insight into the honest of the person you are about to do business with.

Along with their rating, the comments section that every user has is also a good indicator of how honest and trustworthy that person is. You will notice a number next to the name of every user that signifies how many comments that user has received. Many buyers and sellers are wary of dealing with users that only have a handful of comments, but it is important to remember that every Power Seller (a user with a certain number of comments) started out somewhere. The important thing to look for isn’t the number of comments but the quality of them. There are actually very stringent regulations in place governing how many negative comments a seller can have before their account is deleted.

Finally, by using PayPal to pay for all of your auctions, are you supplying eBay with an official record of the transaction in question. PayPal was originally started to help people who didn’t have credit cards pay for auctions and to help people who couldn’t accept credit cards do so. If you should ever have to petition the site for a refund because an auction went awry, using PayPal is the best choice because then an official record of payment exists. Avoid using Western Union or simply sending a check or money order to pay for auctions because then it is simply a matter of your word versus theirs.

Read the Rules – It is a chronic problem that affects just about everyone: we see the promise of a positive result and we want to jump over all of the preparation to get to that golden ring at the end of the tunnel. Sitting down and reading the basic instructions on how auction sites work and how PayPal works is boring, but it is also completely necessary if you plan on using these sites for massive investing and trading. Don’t worry, these amazing values aren’t going anywhere. By taking a few hours to read all of the fine print, you will be an educated and prepared online auction user.

Know thy Seller – Thanks to the way that the major auction sites are set up, you have the ability to learn about a seller before you place a bid on one of their auctions or before you choose to Buy it Now. Every seller has a rating that is given by previous buyers and that rating and provide a lot of insight into how honest, how up front and how dedicated that seller is to this whole process. If a seller has gold coins for sale but has a poor rating, you might be wise to continue looking, even if the price is tempting.

Know thy Product – The world of precious metals is quite varied and wide ranging, but there are only so many reputable mints out there producing bullion or gold coins that are worth buying. It is incredibly important that you know who these mints are, where they produce their products and when, so if a product description contradicts the information you know to be true, you can email the seller or just avoid that auction completely. This is one of those cases where a little knowledge is an incredibly vital part of protecting yourself and having a successful transaction.

Know they Market – One of the things that makes investing in precious metals so attractive is the unbeatable stability of the precious metals market. With that said, changes do occur and it is always a good idea to have at least a vague idea of the price of the metal you are investing in. What may look like the deal of the century may turn out to be something completely different if prices change in a hurry. A simple check of your favourite financial newspaper or website will make this process simple and easy. Being informed isn’t difficult in the information age, so take a little time now to avoid getting caught later on.