eBay is one of the best places to find bargains, but only if you know how to look. With millions of listings, great deals can easily get buried under overpriced items, misleading titles, or aggressive bidding wars. The good news? A few smart strategies can dramatically improve your chances of snagging genuine bargains.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for everyday buyers, collectors, and resellers who want to pay less without taking unnecessary risks.
The guide walks you through proven techniques to help you buy smarter and pay less on eBay.
1. How to Search Smarter on eBay to Find Cheap Deals
Most buyers type a product name and stop there. Bargain hunters go further.
Search Broad, Then Narrow Your Search
Start with a broad search using just the product name, e.g. “iPhone 17”. Avoid adding too many specifics initially.
Then use additional parameters to narrow down the search, such as brand, model, colour, year, size and features. These item-specific parameters usually appear as checkboxes in the left-hand panel on eBay.
Use Filters to Refine Results by Price, Condition and Location
Use additional filters to refine the search further:
- Condition (Used, New, Refurbished)
- Minimum price (set a minimum to avoid related accessories/parts, e.g. iPhone cables when searching for an iPhone)
- Maximum price (set this to the highest amount you are willing to pay)
- Location (limit to your own country)
- Distance (for local collection deals)
- Listing format (Auction vs Buy It Now)
Limit Results to Reputable eBay Sellers
Take care when buying from sellers who have little or no feedback, or with a high proportion of negative reviews. One option is to focus on sellers with feedback from at least 10 people and more than 95% positive feedback overall. While the eBay app and website do not support this type of filtering, tools such as Search for eBay do.
Looking for top-rated, authorised sellers or brand outlets is another way to ensure you are buying from a reputable seller, although in these cases you may expect to pay more.
Look for Sellers Clearing Stock Quickly
Sellers who are moving house, closing businesses, or downsizing often prioritise speed over profit. Look for phrases like:
- “Must sell”
- “Clearance”
- “Quick sale”
- “No reserve”
These listings are more likely to accept low offers or end cheaply.
Avoid Risky Listings Marked as “Untested”
If an item description uses words such as “untested”, assume the item may be broken. Ask the seller questions and only proceed if you are prepared to repair the item yourself.
You can add negative terms in a search to exclude such items, e.g. tick the “include description” option and enter a search “iPhone 17 -untested”.
Find Hidden Bargains Using Misspellings and Variations
Many sellers accidentally misspell item names, which means fewer people see those listings. For example:
- “Playstation” instead of “PlayStation”
- “Headphones” vs “head phones”
- Model numbers with missing or incorrect letters
This technique helps you spot underpriced items that other buyers may miss. For example, searching for “Playstasion 5” instead of “PlayStation 5” can surface listings with far less competition.
2. How to Check What Items Really Sell for on eBay
When refining your search, it is best to set a maximum price based on what the item typically sells for. Before placing a bid or making an offer, always check what similar items have actually sold for.
Use Sold Listings to Find the True Market Price
- Search for the item
- Filter by Sold Items
- Look at the average sold price
Spot Genuine Bargains Using Average Sold Prices
This prevents overpaying and helps you recognise a genuine bargain when you see one.
The Search for eBay app includes charts and displays the average sell price. Use this to help refine your search.
3. Why eBay Auctions Often Sell for Less Than Buy It Now
While Buy It Now listings are convenient, auctions are where the real bargains often live.
Why Auctions Can Deliver Better Bargains
- Sellers may start auctions at low prices
- Some listings get little attention
- Final prices depend on demand, not seller expectations
4. How to Find Cheap Buy It Now Listings Before Anyone Else
Sometimes sellers want a quick sale and don’t realise the value of an item. They may list an item for a rock-bottom “Buy It Now” price. These are often snapped up quickly. The trick is to search for newly listed Buy It Now items at below a set price.
5. Find eBay Auctions with Zero Bidders
It is worth looking for auctions with zero bidders or a low watch count that are ending soon. Having no competition means you may be able to secure the item with a low bid.
6. How to Negotiate Prices Using eBay’s Best Offer Feature
Many Buy It Now listings as well as auctions accept offers – and sellers often expect negotiation.
How to Make Offers Sellers Are Likely to Accept
- Start 15–30% below asking price (unless it’s already cheap)
- Be polite and realistic
- Don’t be afraid to walk away
You can also enable the filter “Accepts Offers” to instantly find negotiable listings. This is especially useful when combined with a filter to only show auction items that also accept Buy It Now offers and currently have zero bids. The seller is much more likely to accept a low offer.
7. Why Auctions Ending Overnight Are Cheaper
Most bids are placed towards the end of an auction. If an auction ends overnight, there will be fewer people available to place bids. Looking for such auctions is useful, as competition will be lower.
Best Times to Bid on eBay Auctions
The best auction deals often end:
- Late at night
- Early morning
- During weekdays
Fewer active bidders at these times can result in lower final prices.
Should You Use eBay Sniping Tools?
There are sniping tools available that allow bids on auctions to be placed within the last minutes or seconds of an auction. While you can “snipe” manually, it is often simpler and much safer to use eBay’s own automatic bidding. Place a bid in advance with the highest realistic price you are willing to pay.
Tip: when entering a highest price you are willing to pay, don’t enter a round number, e.g. enter $20.01 rather than $20. If someone else bids a maximum of $20, you will win the bid.
Warning: Be very careful when using sniping tools. While eBay does not ban the use of such tools, they do warn against using them and instead recommend using eBay’s own automatic bidding approach. Sniping tools typically require you to provide your own eBay login credentials, which is a major security concern. Think twice before doing this and if you do use them, make absolutely sure they are trustworthy before giving away your eBay password to a third party. Also be aware that sniping tools are rarely free.
8. Find Bargains in Poorly Written or Low-Quality Listings
Professional photos and perfect descriptions attract attention. Bargains often hide behind the opposite.
Signs a Listing Is Being Overlooked by Other Buyers
- Dark or blurry photos
- Minimal descriptions
- Missing or incorrect information, e.g. a photo shows a specific model but the description says something else
- Poor formatting or grammar
- No keywords like “mint” or “rare”
As long as the item condition is clear and the seller has good feedback and clarifies any uncertainty, these listings can be gold.
9. Save Money by Buying Job Lots and Bundles on eBay
Sellers clearing space often list multiple items together as a “job lot” or bundle.
When Buying Bundles Offers the Best Value
- Lower price per item
- Sellers prioritise speed over profit
- Opportunity to resell unwanted extras
This works especially well for:
- Electronics accessories
- Tools
- Collectibles
- Clothing
10. How Local Collection Listings Can Save You Money
Listings marked “Local Collection Only” attract fewer buyers – but often come with lower prices. Some items are also listed with the option for “Local Collection” in addition to being available to post. You can save on postage fees if you can collect locally.
How to Use Local Collection to Find Cheaper Items
- Check for listings that include “Local Collection”
- Search within driving distance
- Look for bulky items others avoid
This is especially effective for furniture, bikes and large electronics.
11. Use Watchlists and Patience to Get Better Prices
If you’re not in a rush, add items to your Watchlist. If you are using the Search for eBay app, you can also save the search and enable the “Watch for new?” option.
Avoid bidding on an auction item that still has a lot of time left. Look for auctions ending soon, i.e. within 24 hours. Bidding on an auction that has a lot of time left is likely to start a bidding war and drive up the price.
Why Waiting Often Leads to Discounts
- Sellers may send discounted offers to watchers
- Prices often drop if items don’t sell
- You gain leverage without committing
Patience frequently pays off.
12. Always Check the Total Price Including Shipping
A cheap item with expensive shipping isn’t a bargain.
Before buying:
- Sort results by Price + Postage
- Compare total cost, not headline price
- Check combined shipping options
13. How to Avoid Costly Mistakes Before Bidding on eBay
Read descriptions carefully. For example, some listings are for empty packaging rather than the actual item.
Review photos in detail. Any enlarged photos may highlight scratches and damage not explicitly mentioned in the description. Be cautious if photos appear to be stock images rather than photos of the actual item. Also be aware of fake products, e.g. buying a fake Rolex watch. Do your research first to be sure an item is genuine.
If in doubt, ask questions and/or request additional photos.
Always check seller feedback and use eBay Buyer Protection for added peace of mind.
Final Thoughts on Finding Genuine Bargains on eBay
Finding bargains on eBay isn’t about luck – it’s about strategy. By searching smarter, timing your bids, negotiating confidently and looking where others don’t, you can consistently find great deals that most buyers miss.
Whether you’re buying for personal use or resale, these techniques can save you significant money over time. The more you practise them, the better your instincts become.
Happy bargain hunting!