Why we recommend ebay as a tool to save money on your wedding When I was planning my wedding in 2003, I was having multiple issues with the traditional places to purchase bridal items. From poor customer service & over-priced accessories, to plain and uninspiring styles, I was very frustrated. Then I started browsing the internet.....and eBay. I found most of my accessories on eBay. There are sellers specializing in creative accessories, recent brides wanting to sell-off their once-used accessories, and even brides who had a new-found creative talent that they can share with others. I was able to find amazing silk pew bows, a unique unity candle, and the toasting flutes I had fallen in love with, but couldn't afford. eBay has a wide variety of options and is an amazing resource for brides of the 21st century! Be sure to be a smart Internet & eBay Shopper. Keep these tips in mind: Always check the seller's feedback. View the ratings and the buyer's comments. When available, click on the auction to see what the buyer purchased to see if the feedback is similar to your purchase. Only purchase from Seller's who accept PayPal. Only make your payments via PayPal OR your Credit Card. NEVER pay with a personal check, money order, or wire transfer. If the seller is dishonest, you will not be able to recuperate your money. While PayPal & most Credit Card companies have protection for buyers. Check to see if the seller offers a return policy. If it seems to good to be true.....ask questions! An honest seller should be happy to answer your questions. Only purchase from sellers in the same country as you. Otherwise you could end up paying expensive customs fees. Be sure to check the shipping fees before buying. Some sellers will list items for extremely low prices, but charge exorbitant shipping/handling fees. Be a reputable buyer: Remember, once you bid on an item, you cannot re-tract the bid. So be sure to do any research before bidding! Plan to pay for your auction within 3 days. And if you think you will be purchasing more than one item and wish to combine shipping, ask the seller before bidding to make sure they can accommodate your request. Finally, be sure to leave appropriate feedback for your seller so that they will do the same for you. If you do have a problem, contact the seller first....do not just leave them negative feedback. Most sellers want happy customers, so give them a chance to correct the problem. For more tips, please see: http://pages.ebay.com/help/index.html?_trksid=m37