If you've been using eBay for a while, chances are you've outgrown books that cover the basics of buying and selling on the site. One such book is "eBay for Dummies," a fine, friendly read that shows you the ropes of using the site, and is no doubt useful for Newbies. (I don't take the titles of the Dummies books personally, and I hope you don't either - unless they start naming the books things like "eBay for Cretinous Morons.")

Now one of the authors of eBay for Dummies, Marsha Collier, has written a book that gets more into the nitty-gritty of eBay from the buying side: eBay Bargain Shopping for Dummies (Wiley Publishing, 2003).

I found the book a lot more useful than the first eBay Dummies book, as it delves into the fun (and sometimes a bit sneaky, but nonetheless loveable) strategies for getting good deals on eBay.

Collier shares her favorite bidding strategies, including one of my own favorites: searching for errors in listing titles, such as misspellings. She snagged a hard-to-find computer animated cat (brand name "FurReal"; she searched for variations like "fur real") on eBay last Christmas with this method.

The book also covers various sniping techniques, including both manual sniping and automated sniping services like eSnipe. This is good, because it seems to me it's become difficult to win an item on eBay for which there is any kind of active competition without the use of such a service.

I found Collier's other bargain tips and anecdotes the most valuable part of the book. I could have done without the sections on Getting Started and payment services, although they do contain good information that some folks may appreciate.

For me, the good stuff comes in the second half of the book, which shares the real meat of getting good deals. Collier unearths many inexpensive solutions for the time-strapped modern shopper, such as buying baby-shower gifts and having them shipped directly to the recipient; and saving on school supplies (she purchased a $34.95 JanSport backpack for $14.99). She got a Yamaha electric violin for 40% off, and a lot of 10 wedding gowns from one of eBay's charity auctions - one of which fit her soon-to-be-married stepdaughter.

One bargain idea I got from the book that never occurred to me before is to look for restaurant gift certificates. Collier was traveling to Miami Beach and bought six $25 gift certificates to restaurants in the area, each for $4-$8. It was "like being paid to eat out," she writes. (You go, girl!)

Other yummies that Marsha dug up that make great gift items (and you know you have to start that holiday shopping): New York style cheese pizza from auctionsflyingpizzas that arrived within a day (but Marsha, how much were they, we wonder?). And delicious chocolate truffle bars for $9.95. I may have to investigate those myself.

Other advantages to getting items on eBay, Collier points out: you can read the seller's feedback - for food items, these are like mini restaurant reviews - and you can try out that wacky as-seen-on-tv gizmo.

Other chapters cover digital and industrial bargains (including PDAs, computers, etc.); specialty stores like eBay Stores, eBay Motors, and real estate; and clothing/fashion on eBay. The last section, "The Part of Tens," remind us of all the reasons we prefer shopping on eBay to traditional offline shopping (the mall never closes, you don't have to deal with salespeople,...), and also gives cautionary advice.

Collier's voice throughout the book is warm and enthusiastic, like listening to a trusted friend, and you really get the sense she practices what she preaches.

Overall, with its many money-saving tips, eBay Bargain Shopping for Dummies is a good value for the $14.99 U.S. retail price ($10.49 on Amazon). Of course, if you really take Collier's advice to heart, you'll try to pick up a copy cheap on eBay.