When you participate in an online auction, buyer’s remorse can strike at any time. Regretting a bid – or, worse, a won item – can cause a lot of problems. If you cancel the bid, you look like a wishy-washy user: other users won’t want to deal with you if they can’t rely on you to follow through with your bid. If you keep your commitment, you end up with an item that you either don’t want or really can’t afford.
The best way to deal with buyer’s remorse is to do everything that you can to avoid the situation in the first place. Before you place a bid, ask yourself these questions: they’ll help you make sure that you’re ready and willing to commit yourself (and your money) to the item that you’re trying to win.
Can I afford this item?
Make sure that you can pay for the item. If you aren’t confident that you can afford this item, it’s better to pass it up. It’s easier – and less frustrating – to be unhappy about not bidding on a coveted item than to be unhappy because you can’t really afford it.
Do I want to deal with this seller?
Check the seller’s feedback before you bid. You can regret dealing with a scam artist just as much as you can regret bidding on an item that you can’t afford or don’t really want.
Can I meet the terms of this sale?
The buyer’s terms are rarely negotiable. If the buyer accepts only PayPal payments, make sure that you have a PayPal account that’s in good standing. Read the seller’s conditions and terms before you place a bid so that you know if you can keep them or not.
Am I sure that I want this item?
Impulse shopping is not limited to brick-and-mortar stores. Plenty of Internet users have contracted buyer’s remorse after spending too much money on frivolous purchases. A good way to avoid impulse buying is to make yourself wait a few days before you place a bid. That way, you have time to think about what you really want and make a better buying decision.
Am I settling for something that’s not in the best condition?
Sometimes people are tempted to bid on an item that is not in particularly good condition. It’s easy to be sucked in when that particular item is cheaper than others like it, or when there aren’t enough things to go around (rare books or CDs, for example). Be patient: in many cases, another, better item will come along at some point in the future.
There are times when it is best to be patient and just not bid on a certain item. It’s difficult to sit back and watch a really great thing go to somebody else, but you’ll reap the rewards soon enough. You’ll be better able to afford things that will truly satisfy you. You won’t have to deal with as many scam artists. And your reputation as a buyer won’t plummet because of canceled bids and other problems.
