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You almost have to be from another planet these days to not be familiar with the term 'eBay". The growth of online auction houses and eBay in particular has been phenomenal. At last count eBay has almost 150,000 registered users, 50,000 categories and over 400 million listings.

If you are considering redecorating or just starting to decorate your home, it could be almost impossible not to find whatever it is you are looking for. In fact, you may find many new ideas and items of interest you never even thought about. This may send you off in an entirely new direction you hadn't ever considered.

Shopping for home decorating items on eBay should be an experience you should have at least once. It is as if a world wide bazaar was spread out at your feet. If you had access to Aladdin's lamp, you would not get a wider array of goods available to you. If you are new to eBay, start with small, inexpensive and easily shipped items.

There are two keys to an enjoyable eBay shopping experience:

Question, question, question
Research the vendor

Question until you are satisfied

The descriptions and pictures are often very detailed and accurate. However, you still may have unanswered questions. Don't hesitate to contact the vendor and ask questions until you feel you have all the information you need to make a bid or purchase.

As you look at other various similar items, notice the information given in the description. This will give you an idea what type of information should be included in the description. If there is some information in a similar description that is not included in the description of the item you are considering, don't hesitate to ask for that information.

Believe me, the vendors only want to satisfy buyers. They do not want the hassle of returned merchandise. You may be surprised to learn you can get more product information from an eBay vendor than you can obtain in a nearby retail store.

Research the Vendor

The second most important key is to research the vendor. To find a member, click on the "Advanced Search" button. From there click on "Find a Member" button in the left column and enter the seller's eBay user ID/name. You will be brought to the seller's "About Me" page. From here there are all types of information available for your research.

You can also click on the item you are interested in.

This will bring you to the description page. In the right hand column is the info about the seller. The name, number of comments (listed next to the star), and feedback info is there. The most important information you will be looking for is customer feedback. A feedback rating in the high 90's will assure you will have excellent customer service and be satisfied that your purchase is exactly as it was pictured and described.

When you make a decision to jump in and get your feet wet at eBay, these are the two most important points to remember in order to enjoy the experience and have maximum satisfaction with your purchase.

Once you receive your purchase, look it over carefully to be sure it was presented accurately and you are satisfied with your purchase. Most vendors will bend over backward to keep their buyers happy and returning with more business. The high rating they have worked hard to achieve is important to them. They certainly don't want any negative feedback bringing that rating down.

Follow these guidelines and you can confidently purchase any item you could possibly want for your home decorating project. So go ahead, take the plunge into the world of online auction bidding and buying. Redecorate with style and amaze your family and friends with your one of a kind decorating items and rare finds.

You may find you are having such a great time that you may never shop for your home decorating items in a retail store ever again!