Ebay for Couponers FAQ

[mama22qts]

Can I buy and sell coupons on Ebay?
Yes, and no. Technically, coupons aren't to be sold. What you will find on Ebay is folks auctioning their time and effort. Many times you will find sellers offering an envelope up for auction which happens to contain a few coupons. The wording is strange, yes, but technicalities have to be taken into account, hence the selling of 'time and effort.'

Is Ebay a good place to shop for coupons?
Ebay is a fabulous place to shop for coupons. You might go to ebay to look for coupons that aren't found in your area, or hot coupons that you are having a hard time trading for. Be aware though that in the case of hot coupons, Ebay's prices tend to be higher than many couponers are willing to pay.

How do I find the coupons I want on Ebay?
The best way I've found to search for coupons is to be specific. If you just search for 'coupons' you'll come up with everything under the sun. If I'm looking for milk coupons, I'll type in "milk coupons", (barber's, Dairy Fresh, Sealtest) so that milk coupons that include any of those brand names will come up. Check the Ebay search information for specifics on how best to search for what you're looking for. There are tricks you can learn to make your search as narrow or wide as you want.

Then, you can sort the results you get by date ending, date listed, lowest/highest price, whether or not the seller accepts Paypal, or type of auction (stores or auction, or BIN).


What kind of coupons can I find on Ebay?
Cents off, MIR, TMF, b1g1, frees, any kind of non-insert, insert, or online coupons.

How do I know if a coupon is legit?
HotCouponWorld keeps a running list of fraudulent coupons. Please check with us if in doubt. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Here are some helpful guidelines when trying to decide if a coupon is legit.

What about printables? Can I sell those?
It is against Ebay policy to sell printable coupons. And as a buyer, you need to be aware that there are unscrupulous people who will try to sell printables anyway. If you need multiples of a printable, there are plenty of HCW folks who'd be happy to work out a trade with you.

In addition, remember that the HotCouponWorld coupon generator is here to help you! Watch for people trying to sell Target printables -- and print your own here.

Are there whole inserts on Ebay?
Ebay prohibits the sale of whole inserts.

I've placed a bid, but now I don't want those coupons. Can I cancel my bid?
Ebay will allow cancelled bids under very few circumstances. Take the time to make sure you understand all the auction terms, and that you have entered the correct bid amount before clicking enter. If you find that the seller has misrepresented the item before the auction closes, you can cancel your bid. In addition, if you accidentally enter the wrong bid amount (ex. $9.99 instead of .99) you can cancel your bid. Ebay does keep track of cancelled bids and they will flag your account if you abuse this feature, so be careful when bidding.

Doesn't the shipping charge make coupons very expensive on Ebay?
Always check the seller's shipping policy before bidding, and check their other items for more coupons you might be searching for. Most sellers will discount shipping for multiple auctions, but there are those who will not. If the shipping policy is not clearly stated in the auction, ask!

I have lots of multiples. Should I sell on Ebay?
Selling on Ebay has its benefits. There are zillions of people shopping there, so you have a wide audience for your coupon auction. There are fees, though, for both listing and closing an auction. The listing fee is flat and for a single auction with no pictures, would probably be in the range of .25. There is a closing fee that you also pay, based on the final selling price of the item. HotCouponWorld has its own auction area here on the site, and we do not charge any fees. Since most coupons go for a very small amount of money, make sure you consider your listing/closing fees before you list on Ebay. It could be that you'll come out better listing here without the fees.

Is there a maximum number of coupons I can sell on Ebay?
The maximum number of any one coupon is 20 in each auction. An exception to this rule is 'free' coupons -- those that will net you a free item. Ebay only allows 2 free coupons to be auctioned at a time.

How do I pay for coupons on Ebay?
Many sellers will accept RME, money orders, and checks in addition to Paypal, but some ONLY accept Paypal. Be sure to check the seller's description before you bid, and always ask if you aren't sure.

Are lots of 'assorted coupons' a good deal on Ebay?
Opinions vary. Some say these are good if you're wanting to build your coupon inventory to fill potlucks or so you'll have coupons for trading. I have not found these coupons to be worth the money, personally, because the potlucks are usually full of things I don't need. Many times you'll get multiples of the same coupon, or high value coupons on things that you don't buy. There are sellers who will allow you to build your own assortment based on what they have in their inventory. Bear in mind that if the coupons were really hot, they'd probably be sold on their own for a higher price.

Doesn't it take a long time to get the coupons from Ebay, especially if you have to wait for the auction to close?

It can be frustrating to have to wait for the auction to close when you're trying to use those coupons at an ongoing sale. To get around this problem:

a. Get a raincheck. Then you can accumulate coupons and shop at your own convenience at the sale price.
b. Shop Ebay for your coupons ahead of time. Many stores' ads are posted here weeks ahead of time so you can plan ahead.
c. As a last resort, you can email the seller and ask if they would end the auction early with your bid. Many sellers don't have a problem ending one early.

Overall, be sure you check the seller's feedback, as well as the buyer's if you are selling. Past performance is a great predictor of future behavior!