How do I know if item on Ebay or Amazon is brand new & unused ?

How can I know if goods offered on Ebay or Amazon are brand new - unused, not opened and not refurbished etc. ?

Whether is product brand new and unopened is better described on Ebay than on Amazon.

On Ebay there is the product condition category New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged in its original packing. By choosing this product condition, a seller declares that item is new, unopened and unused. If you find out that item you brought has been used, so it is not brand new, it is the reason to return it.

On Amazon, there is only the product condition category New. I think it could be not so easy to return an item that is not brand new. But as well as in case of Ebay, there is a return policy and return period available.

Both Ebay and Amazon want to protect a buyer, but you can be never 100% sure that offered item is brand new.

You can do the following to minimize the possibility of buying an item that is not brand new and unopened:

- Read the product description. Sometimes there is mentioned thet item is new, but for some reason it was unboxed.

- Read seller's reviews. Check if someone does complain that recieved item was not brand new.

- Contact seller and ask about an item condition. If contact information are available, you can contact a seller before you make a purchase.