My aproach to online auctions is to know what the real world value is of the item I'm looking at. I can always buy it locally for full price if I really have to have it so I'm looking for a deal when online. If I can't get it for 50 to 70% of what I can get it locally I pass or stop bidding, it's just not worth bidding up the price to the point where the price including shipping is close to what I can already buy it for locally. I also only bid at the last moment so I don't have to place a bid if it exceeds my predetermined max and I don't risk someone else out bidding me at the end. I just put in my max bid in the last few seconds and if I get out bid then so what, theres always another one out there for sale, I can wait till the right deal comes along. I do check things like how long the seller has been a member of the site and I check their feedback. I also check out the bidders to see if anything looks questionable. I also prefer items that have actual pictures instead of stock pictures. Just remember, if it looks suspicious be very careful.