Q. I'm considering using eBay to buy out-of-print CDs. How do I know who's honest? Is it regulated at all?

A. For unusual items or good bargains, eBay is a great place to shop. Its high traffic also makes it a great place to sell. But wherever there is money there are crooks, and eBay is no exception. eBay is not regulated. I wouldn't advise you to avoid it; I think eBay is wonderful. But protect yourself.

eBay probably wouldn't last long without rules. You can find them on eBay's centralized policy page. It's got the user agreement and rules for both buyers and sellers. It even has a discussion of intellectual property.

But policies and procedures can't guarantee protection from swindlers. Here are my tips to protect yourself on eBay.

• Avoid cash-only sellers. Credible sellers will offer other options for payment. Cash is what crooks want. It's nearly impossible to dispute and leaves no paper trail.
• Check the seller's profile. Click on an item to see its details. The seller's information is listed to the right of the details. Click on the seller's name for the profile. You can see how well the seller is rated by buyers. You can also read the buyers' individual comments about the seller. You can learn about seller ratings at the eBay site.
• Be sure the seller hasn't inflated his rating with a series of tiny auctions. Check whether the seller's feedback concerns items similar to what you're buying. Find the buyer feedback in the seller's profile. Listed with each comment is an item number. Click on an item number to see what was sold.
• Pay with a credit card. A credit card will allow you to dispute the charge, if necessary. Unfortunately, not all sellers accept cards.
• If you're a seller, don't ship your goods until you get your money. That goes especially for checks. Even a cashier's check can bounce.
• When you sell, consider accepting payment through PayPal. PayPal offers protection against buyers who renege on payment. You can read more about PayPal at the eBay site.

Sometimes your high-bidding buyer won't complete the sale. eBay provides help for these disputes. The Unpaid Item Process may get the buyer to complete the sale. If not, then you can get a Final Value Fee credit. The fee is what eBay charges sellers for a successful auction.