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As-Is |
When something is described 'as-is', it means 'in its current
condition' ie if you bid you are accepting the condition it is in and won't
be able to return it, even if it's worse than you expected |
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As Seen |
When something is described 'as seen', (same as 'as-is'![[?]](info.gif)
it means 'in its current condition' ie if you bid you are accepting the
condition it is in and won't be able to return it, even if it's worse than
you expected |
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Automatic Resubmit ion |
Some auction sites will allow you to set a number of times that your item
will re-submitted automatically when the auctions ends |
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| B |
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Backup |
When used in any auction for computer games or software, videos etc a
'backup' copy basically means a copy. It is not usually
illegal to own a 'backup' copy if and only if
you own the original |
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Bid Cancellation |
A seller can cancel the bids of any bidder if they think that they could
be untrustworthy, or at the request of a bidder |
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Bid History |
You can often view the 'bid history' on an auction, which shows you who
has bid and how much |
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Bid Increment |
An increment (or 'bid increment') is the amount by which each bid goes
up. For example, if the bid increment is £0.50 then your bid must
be at least £0.50 above the current price |
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Bid Retraction |
Some auction sites allow bidders to remove their bids, although this may
be noted on your feedback
so don't do it to often |
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Bid Shielding |
Bid Shielding (which can only be done on a site that allows bid
retraction
is where a user bids on an auction then (or another user in collaboration
with the bidder) bids a very high amount so that no-one else bids on the
item. Then, just before the auction is due to close, the bidder removes
the high bid leaving on the low bid so they can win at a low price. This
is a bad practice that won't be tolerated by the auction site |
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Bid Siphoning |
Bid Siphoning is where another user poaches the bidders on another user's
auction by offering the same item at a lower price to the bidders. Many
auction sites have stopped this bad practice by only allowing the seller
and the bidder to know each others email address |
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Blacklist |
A blacklist is a list maintained by a seller that stops bidders from bidding
on their auctions. The list will usually be made up of people who haven't
paid for an item before or got into the bad books of the seller somehow |
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Bold Listing |
A bold listing is simply like a normal listing except that it will in
bold so that it stands out from the others. Offered
by some auction sites, it is unlikely that this service will be free |
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Boolean Searches |
Boolean searches, invented by mathematician Boole, allow you to narrow
your search by linking your keywords using AND or NOT. So, for example,
DVD AND gladiator will return any auctions with
gladiator and DVD
in the title. Alternatively, NOT will exclude a word from your search results |
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Bulk Loading |
Bulk Loading is a service offered by an auction site where a seller can
submit many auctions at once by using a bulk loader. This can make it much
easier for sellers who submit a lot of auctions |
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Buy Now |
Also called Buy It Now, the auction has a price at which the auction will
close (ie you will win and cannot be outbid by someone else). Also called
First Bid Wins
and Buy Price |
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Buy Price |
The auction has a price at which the auction will close (ie you will win
and cannot be outbid by someone else). Also called First
Bid Wins,
Buy Now
and Buy It Now |
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| C |
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C rating |
The C (condition) rating system is often used in auctions (especially
in Star Wars figures!) to determine the condition of the item. The rating
ranges from C1 (very poor) to C10 (excellent) condition. Please be aware
though, one persons idea of an items condition may not be the same as yours,
so make sure you ask the seller first |
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Carded |
Carded just means that the item is attached to its original card (as in
action figures etc) |
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Certificate of Posting |
Certificate provided by the Post Office so you prove you have posted something.
This is a free service provided by the Post Office (the same as Proof
of Posting) |
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Custom |
Custom items usually mean that they have been made by someone other than
the original manufacturer. It is quite common to see Star Wars figures with
'custom card' - which basically means someone has made a copy of the original
card to put with it in the hope you won't notice it isn't the original |
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| D |
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Deadbeat |
Term used to describe a bidder on an auction who never pays for the item |
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Dutch |
Nothing to do with The Netherlands (*grin*) a Dutch auction is one where
there is more than one of the same item. This increases your chance of getting
one, or you can usually bid for more than one. If this is combined with
a Buy Now
price you will automatically win the amount you want if you bid the Buy
Price |
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| E |
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Escrow |
Escrow is a service provided by various companies which provides security
to auction buyers. Both the seller and the buyer have to sign up to the
service. The buyer then sends the payment to the escrow service, who inform
the seller they have the payment. The seller then sends the item to the
escrow service who forward it onto the buyer. If the buyer is happy (or
doesn't inform the service that they are unhappy) they forward the payment
to the seller. There will be a fee, which the buyer usually has to pay |
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EUR |
EURos - abbreviation for European currency. See also USD,
GBP
and FFR |
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| F |
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FBW |
First Bid Wins - often seen in auction titles to tell a potential buyer
that the auction has a price at which the auction will close (ie you will
win and cannot be outbid by someone else). Also calledBuy
Now, Buy
It Now and
Buy Price |
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Featured Auction |
A featured auction is one which has a much more prominent listing. Offered
by some auction sites, it is unlikely that this service will be free |
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Feedback |
Most auction sites has a feedback system where sellers and buyers can
give each other a rating based on the success or failure of the purchase
or sale. It is worth checking a sellers rating before buying anything. The
same as rating |
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FFR |
French FRanks - abbreviation for French currency. See also USD,
GBP
and EUR |
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Final Value Fee |
The charge made when an auction ends with winning bidder(s). This is usually
on a sliding scale depending on the amount (see also Listing
Fees) |
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First Bid Wins |
See FBW |
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| G |
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GBP |
Great Britain Pounds - abbreviation for Pounds Sterling. See also USD,
FFR
and EUR |
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| H |
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| I |
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International Money Order |
Can be purchased from banks and Post Offices in order to pay people in
this or other countries. Available in different currencies (unlike a Money
Order. Their
will be a charge although I think the receiver
will not be charged to pay it in |
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Increment |
An increment (or 'bid increment') is the amount by which each bid goes
up. For example, if the bid increment is £0.50 then your bid must
be at least £0.50 above the current price |
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Insertion Fee |
Same as listing fee |
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| J |
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| K |
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| L |
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Listing |
Putting something up for sale is known as listing |
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Listing Fee |
Listing fees are those fees you are charged for putting an auction on
the site. This is usually a fixed fee or on a sliding scale depending on
the value. Other things like having a bold listing
etc may be charged extra (see also Final Value Fee) |
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Loose |
When something is described 'loose', it usually means that it is not in
its original packaging. However, I have also seen 'loose' used to mean that
the item doesn't come with any of its accessories either |
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Lot |
Lot is a term that came from traditional auctions, meaning 'an item or
group of items'. You will sometimes see, for example 'Lot of Star Wars figures'.
This doesn't necessarily mean there a lot of
figures; there might be a lot, or there might be only one, so read the description
carefully |
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| M |
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MC |
Music Cassette (ie a tape) |
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MIB |
Mint In Box - item is in mint
condition and is in it's original box. Not to be confused with MIMB |
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MIMB |
Mint In Mint Box - item is in mint
condition in it's original box which is also in mint condition |
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MIMP |
Mint In Mint Packet - item is in mint
condition |
in it's original packet which is also in mint condition
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Mint (condition) |
Item is in the same condition as when it was made and therefore in perfect
condition |
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MIP |
Mint In Packet - item is in mint
condition and is in its original packet. Not to be confused with MIMP |
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MISB |
Mint In Sealed Box - Item is in mint
condition and still sealed in its original box |
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MOC |
Mint On Card - item is in mint
condition and is attached to its original box. Not to be confused with MOMC |
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MOMC |
Mint On Mint Card - item is in mint
condition in attached to its original card which is also in mint condition |
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Money Order |
Can be purchased from banks in order to pay people in this or other countries.
Only available in the currency of the country it is purchased in (unlike
an International Money Order).
The bank will make a charge to you and also to the receiver, especially
if its in a currency foreign to their country |
| N |
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Nochex |
A website offering online payments using debit cards. Can be found at
www.nochex.com |
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NRFB |
Never Removed From Box - item has never been used or even removed from
its original box |
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NTSC |
NTSC is a video and DVD standard used in the USA and other countries outside
Europe. A NTSC DVD/Video will not be able to be played in countries not
using NTSC such as the UK (see also PAL) |
| O |
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OOP |
Out Of Print - Item is no longer in production and therefore no new items
will be made by the manufacturer |
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Outbid |
If you have been 'outbid', it means that although you were
the highest bidder, someone else has now bid more than you |
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| P |
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P&P |
Postage and Packing (or Packaging) - the charge made to send your item.
This includes the packaging necessary to send the item, not
just the stamps! Also known as shipping
in other parts of the world |
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PAL |
PAL is a video and DVD standard used in the UK and throughout Europe.
A PAL DVD/Video will not be able to be played in countries not using PAL
(see also NTSC
) |
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PO |
Postal Order - can be purchased from the Post Office for a small fee.
Safer than paying by cash but not as safe as a cheque. It is a good idea
to cross Postal Orders as this means it has to be paid into the receivers
bank account |
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Pre-print |
When used in an auction for an autographed item, a pre-print (the same
as pre-printed
and is basically means that it a copy of an originally
autographed item. You will NOT receive the original autograph, so beware |
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Pre-printed |
When used in an auction for an autographed item, pre-printed basically
means that it a copy of an originally autographed
item. You will NOT receive the original autograph, so beware |
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Proof of Posting |
Certificate provided by the Post Office so you prove you have posted something.
This is a free service provided by the Post Office (the same as Certificate
of Posting) |
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Proxy |
Proxy bidding is where you bid a price higher than the current price in
order to safeguard your bid from other people. This is the maximum
price you are willing to go up to. For example, if an item is on
£1 and you bid £10, the price will remain at £1 but have
the potential to go up to £10 before you lose the bidding. So if someone
else where to bid £3 you would still be the highest bidder, unless
someone else bids more than your maximum |
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| Q |
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| R |
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Rating |
Most auction sites has a rating system where sellers and buyers can give
each other a rating based on the success or failure of the purchase or sale.
It is worth checking a sellers rating before buying anything. The same as
feedback |
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Ratings Building |
Where a seller 'purchases' his own auctions so he can give himself a good
rating
or feedback
in order to increase his rating. Ratings Building is not good practise and
could get you banned from the auction site (see also Shill
Bidding) |
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Recorded Delivery |
Service provided by the Post Office so you know the recipient has received
the delivery. An extra cost applies to this service |
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Repro |
Repro stands for 'reproduction' which means copy.
So those rare Star Wars figures with repro weapons are not as rare as you
might think |
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Reserve |
The auction has a price (usually only known to the seller) which is the
minimum the item can sell for. If the price does not reach the reserve,
the item will not be sold |
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| S |
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S&H |
S&H stands for Shipping & Handling, which is basically the same
as Postage & Packaging |
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Shill Bidding |
Shill Bidding is where someone bids on their own auctions (presumably
using another user ID). This is not good practise and could get you banned
from the auction site (see also Ratings Building) |
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Shilling |
The same as Shill Bidding |
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Shipping |
The charge made to send your item. This includes the packaging necessary
to send the item, not just the stamps! Also known
as P&P
in the UK |
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Sniping |
Sniping (also called 'last second bidding') is where someone leaves it
to the last minute or the last seconds of an auction to outbid
everyone else, and therefore not giving them much, if any, chance to re-bid.
Sniping, despite its evil sounding name, is permitted practice on auctions |
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Special Delivery |
Service provided by the Post Office so you know the recipient has received
the delivery, guaranteed to be there by 12pm next day. An extra cost applies
to this service |
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Starting Price |
The price the auction starts at |
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| T |
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TOS |
Terms Of Service - these are the terms you agree to when you open an account
with an auction site. These should be adhered to, to do otherwise could
get your auctions cancelled or even banned from the site altogether! |
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| U |
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USD |
United States Dollars - abbreviation for American currency. See also FFR,
GBP
and EUR |
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| V |
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| W |
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| X |
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| Y |
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| Z |
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