Absolute Beginners Guide to eBay (4th Edition)

The first thing that happens after an auction ends is that eBay sends you an email notifying you that you've won the aforementioned auction. Depending on what kinds of payments the seller specified, you may be able to pay directly from this email message.

In some instances, you might also receive an email message or invoice directly from the seller. The seller's email should tell you how much you need to pay (your high bid amount plus shipping and handling) and where to send the payment.

If you don't hear from the seller within 24 hours, you might want to take the initiative and send your own email. (This is especially important if the shipping/handling charges were not specified ahead of time, and you need to know the total charges so you can send the proper payment.) Click the seller's name on the listing page to generate an email message, introduce yourself, and gently inquire about shipping and handling costs and where you should send your payment.