I have for years.

Sometimes they're very useful. Sometimes they state the obvious. There was a little of both in an article they did in August 2007: "Winning at ebay".

First, let me say I've never sold on ebay, I am not a member of ebay, and I do not have a PayPal account. I have no connections to ebay. This is by choice.

A few statistics from ebay/Consumer Reports:

- Nearly HALF of ebay buyers surveyed "said they'd encountered deceptions".

- Last year, the Federal Internet Crime Complaint Center received c. 39,000 consumer complaints about internet auctions.

- Buyers can unintentionally end up with unsafe products through this venue, since it is an international source and not under U.S. safety and ban laws.

- No one can expect ebay to catch all the cons. It's a huge monster that cannot be fully controlled. We both know that.

- 30% of the buyers were not satisfied with their purchases. That's a huge percentage. Would you go to a grocery store where, upon arriving home, you found three of every ten items rotten in your bags?

- 10% did not arrive "on time". I am not sure what this means.

- 10% of the items were not accurately described. I'm surprised it's not higher, frankly. This makes me think buyers are not discerning enough to spot the inaccuracy.

- c. 50% said ebay was not a good source for hard-to-find items.

- 40% said ebay was rated fair-to-poor in customer support. THAT sounds like General Motors and Chrysler!

- Only 62% of those scammed failed to ever get their problems resolved.

- 89% of buyers used PayPal. Avoid any of the unsafe, difficult to prove, difficul- to-recover-your-losses methods of payment.

- 34% of unhappy buyers complained to PayPal and said it did not help.

Consumer Reports gives advice on trying to deal with this phenomenon:

- Check feedback. Look for at least a 99% approval rating.

- Avoid shady sellers. Well, DUH! They suggest read the TERMS of sale. DOUBLE DUH! Also, check whether the seller has changed identities. Only 13% of buyers surveyed did that.

- Confirm the sellers information by email. Get an address and phone number. If they don't want to give it to you... well, reconsider.

- Review the sellers products. If they sell computers one month, and hard candy the next, well... reconsider.

- Comparison shop. Another DUH! However, auctions reap benefits from those who do NO such thing. IMPULSE BUYERS are the Sitting Ducks at the Auction Shoot.

- Watch the "language" used. "In the style of", "inspired by", etc. mean the items are NOT what the seller would rather you THINK they ARE. They're doing standard C.Y.A. chatter.

- Be alert for "oddball" auctions. In this world, I have no idea what "oddball" is anymore.

- Sniping should be expected. That's only a concern to you if you're NOT set in your bid. And, if you're NOT set in your bid...YOU are called, what?... You're called a Sitting Duck.

- Don't blow your buyer reputation by being a flake, liar, con, etc. yourself! It's not just sellers who are unreliable and dirty, remember. They have to watch out for, ahem, "you" too!!

- NEVER open or follow email links claiming to be from ebay. You're being Phished, and that's trouble.

IF you've been scammed, notify:

The Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov), or,

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov).

Supply the ebay link(s).

What's always been true, is still true: When you find someone reliable and honest, stick with them. If you're out looking for Mr. Goodbar every night, you gonna git stabbed. Don't expect a lot of weeping at your funeral.