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Abiding by a few simple and mutually agreed upon rules is the very hallmark of civilization itself. And so it goes, too, in the online auction community. For the greater good and stability of those who buy and sell, auction users follow a set of unwritten guidelines. Manners and etiquette count as well. After all, how you interact with your fellow auction users is an important part of the online auction experience, and you don't want to unwittingly alienate anyone. To help you avoid committing a major mistake, we've outlined some essential dos and don'ts.

The Dos
These common courtesies are sure to make your auction associates happy. Most importantly, they'll encourage repeat patronage!

Serious Business: Be professional with your auction listings and policies. You wouldn't participate in an auction with haphazardly written descriptions and poorly outlined policies; buyers will expect the same level of professionalism from you.

Vital Data: Too many auction descriptions are long and rambling. Include the vital data, such as the item's date, manufacturer, and condition. Avoid vague, superfluous phrases, such as "chance of a lifetime!" Also, don't bury your sales policies or make them unclear and open to misinterpretation. Give an exact deadline for payment, explicit shipping requirements and charges, and more specific information if necessary. Don't force bidders to ask questions that should have been answered in your listing.

Photos: If you are a seller, seriously consider including photos with your auctions, particularly if you sell items that require more elaborate documentation and authentication. Using either a digital camera or scanner, you can attach images and thus help prospective buyers get a better sense of what they'll be purchasing. Fortunately, uploading images is very easy. Many sites now offer image hosting as a service. You might even provide a small close-up of specific markings that will further verify the item's authenticity or condition. Finally, don't use canned marketing shots or photos from other auctions. Take a photo of the actual item so people know exactly what they're bidding on and don't have to waste time asking you for images of the real deal.

Q&A Time: As a seller, answer serious buyers' questions about your items or policies. Also, show that you value potential buyers' questions by updating your listing with missing or newly acquired information. As a buyer, it's important to carefully read and review each seller's item description and sales policy before sending several questions he or she has already answered. High-volume sellers, burdened with listing, packaging, and shipping, will certainly appreciate you taking the time.

Be Prompt and Complete: Contact the buyer or seller immediately after the sale's "end of auction" confirmation arrives. A prompt response to the seller or buyer helps assure them that you are not backing out of the deal. Along the same lines, if you specify in your sales policy that you do not send inventory until a buyer's check clears, also note that you will deliver the day the check is OK'd. This will reassure buyers, who might otherwise avoid your auction.

Identify Yourself: If you are a buyer sending payment to a high-volume seller, print out his or her end-of-auction notice, write your name, address, and auction number on it, and include it with your payment. Provide more correspondence than "Send my item. Thanks." The seller will appreciate being able to easily identify you and what you bought without fishing through his or her files. Remember, you are not the only buyer on an auction site! By the same token, if you are a seller, file your buyers' shipping information so that it is at your disposal when their payment arrives or clears.

Leave Feedback: Although posting feedback isn't mandatory, it's a good idea nonetheless to leave feedback after every transaction. You can leave three types of feedback for your fellow buyers and sellers: positive, negative, and neutral. Think of feedback as the checks-and-balance system of online auctions. It's how users grade and critique each other. Universal participation makes the entire transaction process better for everyone.

Ease the Shipping: If someone is buying multiple items from you, be a sport and let them combine the shipping. That is, ship the items together in one package, not separately, to avoid excessive shipping, handling, and insurance costs. As a result, you might get a repeat customer and will more than likely win some good feedback.

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