Are there any taxes to pay, import duties may apply for International buyers. Various payment methods cost and should also be added to your hidden costs equation. Always print out the items description, you may need a hard copy later if a dispute arrises. Images are most important for many items, they should be clear well lit, of a size that is easy to view, not a professional stock picture and without any signs of tampering such as retouching, always print them out you may need it if a dispute arrises. Do some research, you may have plenty of time to research the item before bidding.
Online auctions can run for weeks.
Search the online auction site for similar items before bidding. Scams Check out these scams before you bid. Shilling The most frequent scam. Basically you end up selling the item for a lower than expected price and no one else has bid because of the high bids that have been withdrawn. Faked Photos Its so easy to make something look good or even replace it entirely and take a picture.