There are now a lot of different auction sites on the web to choose from when looking for cheap paintball gear.  eBay put auction sites on the ‘map’, so-to-speak, but other options have popped over the years including uBid, Yardsellr, and Happy BidDay.  All of these options offer a great marketplace to track down and buy used paintball equipment.  Before buying your paintball gear at an auction site I would recommend a couple important things.

The first thing I recommend before bidding on any item is to educate yourself on the marker, mask, hopper, or barrel you’re looking for.  The auction sites can be a great place to acquire paintball equipment but if you you’re not smart about what you’re buying you could end up with something you really didn’t’ want.  The chances are you’re interested in buying cheap paintball gear because you’ve rented and played once or twice at a field or your buddies are playing and you want to get involved.  Ask your trusted friends what paintball guns they are using and what’s on their wish list.  Doing this should narrow your search criteria to the brands you truly want to bid on and buy.  Check out the manufacturer’s website for in depth info on particular pieces of equipment.  Don’t dismiss the candid review comments found on some of the bigger forum sites, too.  The paintballers that frequent the forums are often very willing to share great information about the paintball gear you’ve had your eye on.

Once you know what paintball equipment you want to bid on, I encourage you to be patient and watch several auctions before you buy.  Most auction sites have some form of ‘watch’ feature which allows you to flag a listing and watch it through the life-cycle of the auction.  By doing this you can come to a very good estimate of what you’re going to end up paying for the listing.  If the price trends a little higher then you want to pay, trying bidding on desired items at odd times like the early morning or late evening.

Auction sites can be the perfect marketplace to buy used, cheap paintball gear.  Most new guys and advanced ballers alike need to save money, especially for paintballs.  Buying your gun, mask, and paintball gear through an auction is a cheap alternative to buying new.