David: Everyone I know who uses eBay has at least one "got ripped off" story. Is eBay really safe enough to use?

Michael: I've been ripped off twice. One of the first auctions I won was for a book that I really wanted. The seller disappeared after I sent him the money (ten bucks). His email bounced and he stopped selling on eBay. The second ripoff was an item that wasn't what it was described to be.

I've also had buyers try to pull scams on me. One guy wanted to "bargain" with me, saying that he don't really want to pay what he bid, and asking me to take twenty bucks less so he could leave Positive Feedback in "good faith." I said "No," and he paid the full amount. Other people have asked me to send an item they've won so they can make sure they want it. I tell 'em what most sellers would: Send me the money. Then I'll send the item to you, and if you don't like it you can have your money back after you return it, minus shipping both ways.

In every case, the buyer paid, I sent the item, and that was the end of it. I have no way of knowing whether any of those buyers intended to keep their item and not pay, but I avoided the issue by insisting the buyers pay first.

David: How can an eBay buyer protect himself or herself from getting ripped off?

Michael: First, make certain the item is what you think it is. Unfortunately, there are sellers who use deceptive language, misdirection, tiny print, doctored photos, and other tricks in their descriptions to mislead buyers into thinking a used item is new, that a reproduction or reprint is an original, and so on. If you have any doubts about the item, write the seller and ask -- and don't bid until your questions are answered. If it will help, ask for additional photos of the item in question.

Have a look at the seller's Feedback before you bid, too, or at least before you pay for an auction. Don't just glance at the Positive Feedback percentage next to the Seller's name. See what buyers have had to say about him, and how recently buyers have left Negative Feedback. 98.7% Positive Feedback looks good, but what if the seller's last 12 Feedback scores are Negative? Something's wrong. Maybe the seller has pulled a Jekyll-Hyde and started ripping off buyers. Or maybe she's been in the hospital and is slow getting things out.

Even if all recent Feedback is Positive, read the comments buyers have left. Sometimes sellers extort positive Feedback from dissatisfied buyers by threatening to leave Negative Feedback. When this happens, you may see a lot of terse comments like "Item decent," "It arrived," "OK," and so forth. It's worth emailing one or more of buyers leaving such comments to see whether they were really satisfied, or simply left Positive Feedback so they wouldn't be slammed.

If the amount of money involved in an auction is significant to you, dig a little deeper into the seller's background. email several buyers and ask about the seller's communications, her packing and shipping, and whether the item was as described. email or telephone the seller and explain any reservations you may have about the item or doing business with her.