New to Ebay. Tips and advice for beginner buyer please.

[floatyflo]

Anything I need to know? Anything that is good to know? Anything to watch out for?

And if I am the winning bidder, how do I then go about making a payment through paypal? (I have created a paypal account, and have linked it to my ebay account.)

Many thanks!

Do you read emails?
If you win you will get an email with instructions (including a big hyper-linked button that says PAY NOW). Follow instructions from there.

If you have problems with the item you buy, come back here & ask what to do next :).

Don't read any old guides on how to use Ebay; a lot has changed. Stick to advice less than 1 year old.

I find I usually win auctions by bidding as much as I'm willing to pay, and putting that bid in about 10 seconds before the auction closes. You will lose if someone else has put in an auto-bid of more than you're willing to pay, but you can console yourself that it really was not worth that much to you! So just make sure to bid the amount you were honestly happy to pay, no more or less.

Thanks for your very helpful replies.
I won my third bid ever!
I've just bought a silvercross surf pram for £150. Absolute bargain, really chuffed and very lucky!

I am all new to all this though and keep thinking it must be too good to be true?!

Well, you don't have it & like it just yet, do you, so wait & see.
Pay quickly if you can, unless it's cash on collection.

Do you mean wait & see in a good way as in I'll be pleasantly surprised? Or in a wait & see as you've probably just been conned kinda way? Ifyswim!

Already paid for as its 24 hour delivery, and should be here by xmas eve :)

Not conned, just you know, wait until you've got it before you know you're happy. Now should be a good time to get a bargain, so should be happy.

Ok sounds sensible. Thank you!

Pram arrived today. Nice and efficient delivery and it is in fab condition. Everything I was hoping for and more! Ebay you have me hooked!