when i first started on ebay, i bought loads of really cheap tat, like cassetes and comics and stuff for pennies
then posted off a cheque
and waited
it was the easiest way to get some feedback withut having to shell out on lots of items and have lots of emails going back and forth

i've also sold on ebay a few times, but tha's a bit of a tricky thing as i've been screwed over by both ebay and paypal to the tune of £130 which i never saw back agian