Sellers often specify that bulky, heavy items must be picked up in person. Many people are loath to travel far, so lack of competition keeps prices low.

Our Local eBay Deals Mapper exploits this. Simply tell it your postcode and how far you�re prepared to schlep, and it trawls eBay* for hidden gems nearby. Use our top 10 tips to keep it safe and cheap.

1. ALWAYS double-check locations

Locations are auto-generated using eBay�s data. Always contact the seller to double-check the location�s correct, unless they specifically mention the place in the item�s description.

Occasionally items will be at a different spot miles away. This could be because the seller has moved and left an old address on eBay�s system, or they are storing the item at an office or someone else�s home. To protect sellers' privacy, we give a rough location based on the first part of their postcode.

2. Don't assume a local deal's always a bargain

Just because it�s local and on eBay doesn�t automatically mean it�s a bargain. Always benchmark the price before buying. Use shopbots (shopping robots), which whizz to scores of internet retailers to find the cheapest price. Our MegaShopBot.com tool auto-searches the best of these for each category.

3. Use Martin's Money Mantras

Don't start grabbing stag's heads, saxophones or sets of skis, just because they're nearby. Before bidding, use Martin's Money Mantras to ensure you'll use and can afford them.

4. Stay safe when collecting

While incidents are rare, there are simple precautions you can take to make sure the transaction is a safe one. First, if someone�s listing or email sounds dodgy, trust your gut and walk away.

Go with a friend, or failing that, tell someone exactly where you are going and arrange to contact them afterwards. Take a mobile phone, and stay on the doorstep if possible.

5. Check the eBay going rate

Collection-only items often attract fewer bids. But they're not guaranteed to be cheaper than eBay's average price, especially if the seller has a high starting price.

There�s a quick way to glean a product�s market rate. Fill in the search box and check 'completed items' on the left hand grey bar. It�ll come up with a list of prices similar listings have already fetched. Try not to pay more than this.

6. Take feedback with dose of scepticism

eBay sellers have a feedback rating that acts as a useful guide to whether they've dealt fairly in the past - especially important if you're meeting someone in person. As a guideline, look for a seller with over 98% positive feedback, and a feedback score of at least 30.

Think twice before purchasing expensive items from a seller with zero feedback. Remember that feedback is useful but not infallible. One thing to watch for is traders flogging a few tiny things for 10p each to build up their feedback.

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7. Know your eBay consumer rights

Buy from a 'trader' who makes some or all of their living selling on eBay and you've full consumer rights (see the Consumer Rights guide). If someone lists themselves as a business seller, it�s reasonable to assume they count as a trader.

However, buy from an occasional private seller and as long as the goods are 'as described', the only rule's "let the buyer beware". There's little legal comeback, though eBay�s Buyer Protection scheme may help.

8. Check Gumtree for more local bargains

The power-puncher of local classified sites is Gumtree*, which covers 50 big UK cities. It sells anything from bikes to beds. Unlike eBay, Gumtree doesn't charge fees, so sellers may be willing to part with items for slightly less.

Popular classified site Preloved lets you prioritise local adverts when you search.

9. Harness Facebook�s power

Facebook's Marketplace now gives eBay and Gumtree a run for their money. Just log onto Facebook and search for "Marketplace" to see what's on offer. It's also worth searching for bustling local Facebook selling groups in your area.

It works like a classified site - it's free to post ads and you can choose to browse goods posted by friends or the public. You might be able to pick up cheap or sometimes free items locally, and sellers are usually open to haggling.

10. Get it for FREE near you

Top-quality goodies are available daily across the country for FREE. It�s all about local web communities, and the big names are Freecycle and Freegle.

Instead of binning goods or trying to eBay them, people offer them to their local community. In return, they often hope they can grab back something when they want.

Occasionally, there can be grotty, moth-bitten junk, but there�s also top-quality unused stuff people just don�t want anymore. For a full guide, see Freecycle & Giveaway websites.

For more help tracking down hidden bargains, see the
40 eBay Buying Tricks guide

What the * means above

Links that have a * help MoneySavingExpert.com stay free to use, as they're 'affiliated links' which invisibly take you usually via affiliate linkage or commercial money sites, which then pay this site.

We usually give you duplicate links of the * links above, which don�t help MoneySavingExpert.com, for the sake of transparency. However it�s not possible with this tool. To find your item, go to www.ebay.co.uk and search for the item�s title.