Shopping on eBay for wedding supplies can be a fun and economical way to purchase items you will need for your big day. We have compiled some tips to ensure that you have a great eBay experience.

When shopping on eBay and other auction sites, read the item's description carefully. Note what it does not say. E-mail the seller to clarify the description if necessary. If postage and handling costs are not clearly stated by the seller, clarify this before bidding on the item. The vague statement, "buyer adds postage and handling to winning bid" could easily mean a $10.00 charge to mail a $2.00 pew bow.

See what other bidders have had to say about the seller by carefully reading the seller's feedback. Do you want to get involved with this seller? If your auction site has this function, search the seller's completed auctions.

Has the seller sold multiples of this item? Don't get into an expensive bidding war if the seller will list an identical item next week.

Include a copy of the seller's E-mail with your payment. This will simplify the task for high-volume sellers (who may receive several payments daily) allowing them to quickly process your order. Write your auction number(s) and item description(s) on the check. Again, this reduces the potential for confusion on the seller's part.

Promptly respond to the seller's E-mail. By merely sending off the payment you run the risk of the seller thinking you are a "deadbeat bidder" and reposting the item.

Clarify the condition of the item you are interested in if it is not listed. Caveat Emptor. (Let the buyer beware.)

When eBay shopping, evaluating a seller before you place a bid. Look at the sellers other auctions. Is this item you are considering a specialty? Is it something which may be unfamiliar to the seller? After you've won the auction, print out a copy of the auction page and keep it until the item arrives. Save a copy of the picture on your hard drive (right click on the image and select "Save As") to compare with your purchase when it arrives.

Search and compare prices at several of the most popular online auctions with one click at Auction Insights' Multi-Auction Search Summer is the slow time for Internet auctions. This is a great time for bargain eBay shopping.

Pay for your auctions with a credit card. Most credit card companies limit your liability against fraud to $50.00. C

When you're eBay shopping, try searching for the item you desire with a few misspellings. A mistake on the seller's part could "spell" * sorry! ;-) * significant savings for you.

For the lowest price, look for auctions that are closing off-peak. Peak closing hours are weekend evenings around 5-6 PM pacific. Most auction bidding occurs in the last 48 hours.

Source: Auction Insights