When buying on ebay always try to  follow a simple set of rules, these rules will help to guarentee what you buy is exactly what you want. Here are a set of rules that i believe will help you to buy correctly and safely.

When viewing an item always read the description thoroughly, making sure you understand exactly what the seller is offering.

If you are unsure about a product and want more information always ask the seller no matter how silly the question may seem.

Always make sure you know what kind of postal service the seller uses, some sellers may use 2nd class mail as a way of keeping carriage charges to a bear minimal, this increase the delivery time meaning you have to wait longer to recieve the item.

If you require an item quickly then ask the seller if he or she can use a faster delivery service and how much extra this will cost.

Some sellers may not have the item in stock that they are advertising, some sellers may wait for you to purchase an item from them and then order from their suppliers, this may cause a delay in recieving the item.

A good way to find out if the seller has the item in stock is to ask a question about its size and wieght, the seller will only be able to give an accurate answer if he or she has the item in stock.