LocalBuy Buying Guide

Browsing and Bidding:
You can browse and view the auctions at any time without registering on the site, but to bid or post an auction, you must be a registered member of LocalBuy. This is a quick, easy and free process. To register just click the 'Register to Buy+Sell' link on the left of any page and follow the prompts.

Carefully read the item description and answers to questions:
Before you bid you need to know exactly what it is that's being sold - including any free accessories, the age and the condition of item . If you are un-sure about anything then ask the seller a question. Also ask your own questions and ensure the seller answers them. Be reasonable, sometimes sellers are un-able to reply instantly - however within 24hrs is reasonable.

Check the shipping details and costs:
Make sure you understand the postage costs before bidding. If it is not stated then please ask the seller BEFORE you bid, as this is an online auction site you need to be aware of potential costs, postal times and possible customs requirements.

Review the member's feedback:
Click their feedback rating, (the number to the right of their username). This shows other items they've bought & sold recently and comments from previous buyers.

Be very careful of sellers who bypass the auction process:
Transactions conducted outside of LocalBuy have a much lower chance of being resolved if they go wrong. If someone contacts you and suggests you trade without listing an item then beware! You have no way of ensuring you are protected - LocalBuy cannot assist in such cases. Please also be aware that using our facilities to conduct business outside of LocalBuy is a breach of our terms of use. Please report any members who suggest conducting a trade outside of LocalBuy.

Get a phone number:
Ask the seller for a phone number in case you need to call them. Give the number a call BEFORE you need to, to ensure it's a correct phone number. If you are trading with someone interstate or overseas then be sure to ask for a country and area code.

Completing the Transaction:
Once an auction closes an email will be sent to the winning bidder containing contact information for the seller. If you are the winning bidder you should immediately contact the seller to arrange for payment and delivery of the item.  The seller may also contact you via the contact information you provided upon registration.

Sending and Receiving Emails:
LocalBuy has its own messaging system so members don't need to use their real email addresses unless they choose to. Be aware that buyers and sellers may not be receiving one another's emails due to spam filters or email filtering. Check your junk folders & spam filters. If you have a hotmail address ensure you know what your junk mail folder is set to - some are 'emptied' every day.

Pay wisely:
Do not give out your credit card details to seller's if you are unsure about their honesty, we suggest paying by bank deposit or Paypal if possible. We reccommend Paypal as it does not give out your card details ever and there is some insurance available for purchases. For more information please go to www.paypal.com.au

Keep all payment details and emails exchanged with the seller:
We suggest keeping these details until you have recieved the goods and are happy that the seller has represented the goods fairly.

If something does go wrong:
Most online problems are the result of either poor communication or differing expectations between the buyer and the seller. This is why it's very important to have a firm understanding of exactly what is being sold and the costs involved. Stay in contact with the seller and ensure you understand when to expect delivery. Sellers will typically wait for payment to clear before shipping goods, good communication will ensure that both parties have the same expectations.

If you have paid and the seller isn't responding to your emails, place a neutral or negative feedback on the seller saying so. This should prompt them into action and serves to warn other buyers. If you still can't contact the seller after 5 days, or think you are the victim of fraud, please contact us immediately.

Provide feedback:
You should always leave feedback on the seller after completing a transaction. This lets other users know what to expect from the seller, whether that be good or bad. Please refrain from using obscene language, as other users may be offended. Inappropriate feedback will be deleted.

If you require anymore information then please feel free to contact us.