Hermès Bag for $200?

Rules for protecting yourself on eBay

Corina Zappia

When it comes to bidding on eBay, we've always held ourselves to a strict $20 limit. Granted, this means we're largely restricted to throwaway costume jewelry, discarded Smurf memorabilia, the first five episodes of 21 Jumpstreet on VHS (complete with bad '80s Fruit Roll Up commercials).

But overall, we've been fine with this—or maybe we've just been too scared to shell out a half-month's paycheck for the Chloe Paddington bag that never arrives, the Dixie cup that Morrissey might've touched lips to (but probably not). Hearing from others about how little recourse there is against eBay scammers has always been a deterrent for us, and a call into eBay headquarters in San Diego confirms this: According to eBay spokesperson Catherine England, the company's main courses of action involve restricting or shutting down accounts, and what she refers to as "rehabilitation and reeducation." Assuming the perpetrator is not "malicious" but just "new to eBay," explains England, "there's a variety of tutorials, training and education materials we'll ask people to complete."

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