The Online Auction Forum

An eBay Seller's Checklist

2009-03-12T04:18:00.000-07:00

Being a seller is a lot of responsibility, and sometimes you might feel like you're not doing everything you should be. This simple checklist will help you keep on top of things.

Have you found out everything you possibly could about your items? Try typing their names into a search engine - you might find out something you didn't know. If someone else is selling the same thing as you, then always try to provide more information about it than they do.

Do you monitor the competition? Always keep an eye on how much other items the same as or similar to yours are selling, and what prices they're being offered at. There's usually little point in starting a fixed price auction for $100 when someone else is selling the item for $90.

Have you got pictures of the items? It's worth taking the time to photograph your items, especially if you have a digital camera. If you get serious about eBay but don't have a camera, then you will probably want to invest in one at some point.

Are you emailing your sellers? It's worth sending a brief email when transactions go through: something like a simple "Thank you for buying my item, please let me know when you have sent the payment". Follow this up with "Thanks for your payment, I have posted your [item name] today". You will be surprised how many problems you will avoid just by communicating this way.

Also, are you checking your emails? Remember that potential buyers can send you email about anything at any time, and not answering these emails will just make them go somewhere else instead of buying from you.

Do your item description pages have everything that buyers need to know? If you're planning to offer international delivery, then it's good to make a list of the charges to different counties and display it on each auction. If you have any special terms and conditions (for example, if you will give a refund on any item as long as it hasn't been opened), then you should make sure these are displayed too.

Have you been wrapping your items correctly? Your wrapping should be professional for the best impression: use appropriately sized envelopes or parcels, wrap the item in bubble wrap to stop it from getting damaged, and print labels instead of hand-writing addresses. Oh, and always use first class post - don't be cheap.

Do you follow up? It is worth sending out an email a few days after you post an item, saying "Is everything alright with your purchase? I hope you received it and it was as you expected." This might sound like giving the customer an opportunity to complain, but you should be trying to help your customers, not take their money and run.

Being a really good eBay seller, more than anything else, is about providing genuinely good and honest customer service. That's the only foolproof way to protect your reputation. Of course, you might be wondering by now whether it's really worth all the hassle to get a good reputation on eBay. Won't people buy from you anyway, and couldn't you just open a new account if it really comes down to that? Our next email will set you straight.

Ebay – Does Offering Free Shipping Bring in More Sales?

2009-01-31T04:45:00.000-08:00

Outrageous shipping and handling costs were once rampant in online auctions. Complaints grew to the point that ebay felt compelled to do something. Maximum shipping costs were established for certain categories and ‘FREE SHIPPING’ can now be a bonus feature for sellers. But does offering Free Shipping actually bring in more sales?

I tested the idea on my own auctions. For one week I offered free shipping on everything I listed. Surprisingly to me, sales went down. However, one week does not a trend make so I did an informal poll among my regular buyers to get their opinion. The response was interesting.

A couple of people really liked the free shipping. A few customers had mixed feelings about it. A more typical response was, Allen, we expect to pay for shipping and handling. We just want it to be fair and equitable. When you state shipping costs in your auctions, we know what the cost is and can bid accordingly. When there is no cost indicated, we feel that you are trying to hide a larger cost somewhere. Just be upfront and honest with us.

For my business free shipping is not a real benefit as long as I keep shipping and handling costs realistic!

Obviously you can not apply my experiences to all categories and all sellers so you should test for yourself. But keep one thing in mind. As you watch the countless infomercials on TV, where they spend a ton of money bringing their message to you, how many offer Free Shipping? I think you will find the opposite to be true. Most adverts offer free merchandise if you just pay shipping and handling! Some of these have been running for a long time. Think about it!

Looking for Great Merchandise to sell? Click Here!

eBay Success - How to Price Your Items

2009-01-29T13:02:00.000-08:00

Many new sellers don’t realize how important pricing
is when it comes to eBay auctions. Many don’t even
realize that ‘pricing’ needs to be done. eBay is an
auction site after all! But eBay auctions are not quite
the same as the auctions you attend in the offline
world. In fact, quite a bit of work goes into
determining and setting prices.

Essentially, there are only three prices that can be
set for an eBay auction: the ‘buy it now’ price, the
reserve price, and the starting bid price. Of these
three, the starting bid price is the only one that is
required for an eBay auction. The reserve price and
the ‘buy it now’ price are optional. The starting bid
price is fairly simple – never set it higher than $50 or
so – no matter what your item is really worth. This
low opening price will get bidders to your auction.

Setting low starting bid prices creates the need for a
reserve price. A reserve price is the absolute lowest
price that you want to get for your item. You may sell
the item below the reserve price, but you will not be
required to. In other words, if you set your reserve
price at $100, and your highest bid is only $50, you
do not have to sell the item to the highest bidder.
You can close the auction without any negative
feedback or repercussions. Set your reserve price
at the absolute lowest price you are willing to sell
your item for. Keep what the item is worth, as well
as what it cost you in mind.

The ‘buy it now’ option will allow you to set a price,
and buyers can buy the item immediately, without
bidding, for that set price. This option can be used
for any type of item, and it should be set to match
your reserve, give or take a few dollars. This option
is great if you have multiple identical items to sell.

Shipping has a price, and potential buyers take this
into consideration when they are looking at an
auction. If you can see your way clear to offer free
shipping, you will find that people are placing more
bids. Make sure that your potential buyers realize
that you are offering free shipping!

Before setting any prices, you need to determine
what the item is really worth. The value of the item in
different markets might be quite high. However, you
are selling on eBay, and it is a different world
altogether! Find out the price that similar items sold
for on eBay before setting any prices. If it is a
collectable, or a high ticket item, have the item
evaluated to ensure that you aren’t going to lose
money!

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How the Foreclosure Crisis is Creating a Massive Ebay Opportunity!

2009-01-29T06:04:00.001-08:00

The old saying goes that every cloud has a silver lining. And so it is with the current foreclosure crisis gripping the United States. As sad as it is that huge numbers of people are losing their homes, there is good news for savvy ebay marketers.

A large part of the ebay opportunity involves buying merchandise at garage and estate sales and then selling that merchandise on ebay. Normally this is time consuming with results being somewhat questionable. Often time the items for sale are second hand and of questionable quality. It all depends on whether you are the first one to find the deals at the sales. Also, during the winter, these sales can be few and far between.

But today times have changed dramatically. People losing their homes to foreclosure are creating unprecedented opportunities for the traditional garage and estate sale shopper. These unfortunate families are faced with liquidating a large portion of their belongings because they have no place for them. Some people are even selling everything they have just to generate some cash. And what makes this situation even more dramatic is the time deadline they face. They MUST move or have their belongings set out on the curb by the sheriff’s office!

Strike while the iron is hot. The merchandise being offered has never been better and the need to sell is absolute. Take lots of cash and your best bargaining skills. As usual the first day of a sale affords you the best merchandise but the last day of the sale, when everything must go, always gets you the best deals.
This situation won’t last forever so get out there and shop now!

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Revealed - 4 Expert Tips to Help You Start a Passive eBay Money-Making Business

2009-01-24T10:17:00.000-08:00

Ever thought to start an eBay business? Well if you didn't, then you should - there's money in it. So how do you do it? Do you need to quit your day job? Is the requirement hours in front of the computer with very little initial reward? Let's take a look.

Starting a business from your home selling items on eBay isn't that difficult at all. In fact, you needn't even quit your day job - it's something you can do a couple of minutes a day or, if you have the time, a few hours a day. And all you initially need is a couple of things to sell and good titles.

1. Items

Looking at the various things you can sell on eBay, most experts will recommend selling things that are not easy to find. Now naturally doing this is the ultimate target, but not always possible. As such, when starting out, it will suffice if you sell whatever you have at hand. Think in terms of cups, saucers, your unused TV, etc.

2. Trust

The internet is a big place where anyone can do what they need to - including the more unsavory personalities out there. As such, you need to establish credibility with your fellow eBay users. This is done by paying on time and by ensuring that whatever is bought from you gets where it should in the condition it should be in and on time.

3. Profit

Profit is the name of the game and the reason you join eBay. Learn how to scout for good deals at good prices which you can sell for a higher price tag later on. This is known as "buying low, selling high" and works best with useful items that aren't easy to find.

4. Words

Last but not least on our list of things to do to start an eBay business is paying attention to how you list your items. Quite simply, the more detail or information you have in the title of your listing, the greater the exposure you will receive and the better the chance of you selling the item in question when you start an eBay business.

Fabian Tan is a well-known Internet Marketing expert and the author of the popular 59-page Report:

"Murder Your Job: How To Build Cash Sucking Autopilot Businesses In 30 Days Or Less!"

Head over to http://www.MurderYourJob.com to get your FREE copy now!

Also, quickly download his FREE "Explosive Traffic System" report that shows you how to generate 10,000+ unique visitors per month at no cost! => http://www.ExplosiveTrafficSystem.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fabian_Tan
http://EzineArticles.com/?Revealed---4-Expert-Tips-to-Help-You-Start-a-Passive-eBay-Money-Making-Business&id=1914762

Looking for Great Products to sell? Click Here for additional information

eBay Power Secrets - Finding Those 'Hot' Niche Products to Promote

2009-01-24T10:10:00.000-08:00

With the recent flood of television and radio commercials claiming to help people make thousands of dollars in their spare time with online auctions, lots of people are coming out of the woodwork trying to figure out what to sell on eBay to make their share of the Internet money pie. For those people I have to say that there is some good news and some bad news.

First, the bad news: unless you are just incredibly lucky or an amazingly hard worker, you are not going to retire from your job by selling things on eBay. Now for some good news: with a little work you can make a nice supplemental income once you learn what to sell on eBay to make the most money.

Making Money from your Hobby

The best way to figure out what sells well on eBay is to think long and hard about your own life and how you might turn a hobby into a money-making venture online. Perhaps you love model trains, vintage cola bottles or even doll making. There are thousands of other people who share your passion who might be looking for specialty items that you have easy access to. Reselling those items could be just what you need to get you established as a seller on eBay.

Ultimately though, what you want to sell on eBay is largely an individual decision and should be based on what you know. Knowledge is a large part of what is needed to become a recognized expert on eBay and other online auction sites, after all.

Fabian Tan is a well-known Internet Marketing expert and the author of the popular 59-page Report:

"Murder Your Job: How To Build Cash Sucking Autopilot Businesses In 30 Days Or Less!"

Head over to http://www.MurderYourJob.com to get your FREE copy now!

Also, quickly download his FREE "Explosive Traffic System" report that shows you how to generate 10,000+ unique visitors per month at no cost! => http://www.ExplosiveTrafficSystem.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fabian_Tan
http://EzineArticles.com/?eBay-Power-Secrets---Finding-Those-Hot-Niche-Products-to-Promote&id=1914790

Looking for Great Products to sell? Click Here for additional information

Increasing Your eBay Sales

2009-01-24T05:45:00.000-08:00

Need ways to increase your ebay sales? Try these simple but effective tips.

PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES:

It remains true that a picture is worth a thousand words so make sure you have lots of good quality pictures or scans showing your item from all angles of interest to bidders. In many of my auctions I include up 50 or 60 pictures, but don’t use more than necessary and don’t show the same picture more than once. It will confuse the bidders! And remember pictures with bad lighting or odd backgrounds should be avoided as they detract from your product.

Your ABOUT ME Page:

People want to know who they are buying from. Does the person selling the item have the experience and credentials to make them know their products well? Create your About Me page and tell potential bidders about yourself. Offer some specials and let people subscribe to your mailing list. I all helps build the bidders confidence in you.

Use SquareTrade:

Sign up with SquareTrade and display their logo on your auctions. This shows you are committed to resolve any disputes that may arise. It makes you look more professional.

Display Your Terms and Conditions Prominently:

Give details of shipping times and prices, your refund policy, and any other business practices you have, but KEEP IT POSITIVE. Never threaten bidders with comments like ‘If you do not pay within 3 days we will report you to ebay’ or ‘If you have less than 100 positive feedback s don’t waste your time bidding here’. This shows arrogance and most people will chose not to bid with you for fear of having a difficult seller to deal with.

Don’t Hide your Feedback:

Not showing your feedback almost guarantees you will have very few bidders. 100% positive feedback, is preferred and you should do everything possible to obtain and remain at this level.

Benefits not Features:

Write your description to focus on the benefits of your item rather than its features. This is a proven technique to increase sales. If you have trouble just remember 'cheap' is a feature, 'save money' is a benefit.
Try these simple yet effective tips and watch your sales skyrocket!

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The Key to Positive Ebay Feedback that Many Sellers Refuse to Accept

2009-01-24T05:03:00.000-08:00

Feedback on ebay is one of the most effective tools that both buyers and sellers have. Yet, surprisingly (or stubbornly) many sellers, even at the Powerseller Level, refuse to accept one of the key requirements for obtaining consistent positive feedback.

Consider what the requirements are for both the seller and the buyer to deserve the award of positive feedback.

The seller is obligated to provide the item being advertised in the condition advertised within a reasonable timeframe after the buyer has made payment. If the product delivered is as advertised, they deserve positive feedback. If the product is not delivered as advertised, FOR ANY REASON, the seller does not deserve positive feedback. It is that simple.

The Buyer is obligated to pay for the item within a reasonable time period. If the buyer makes timely payment he deserves positive feedback. This is the buyers’ ONLY obligation.

Many sellers refuse to provide feedback for buyers until the buyer has left feedback for the seller. This is a huge mistake and probably a big part of the reason for ebay changing the feedback system. For some reason, many sellers seem to think that the buyer is obligated to accept whatever is sent to them. And once received are obligated to like it and leave positive feedback. Theses sellers will tell you that the buyer does not deserve positive feedback until they leave positive feedback. If you think about it logically, that entire concept is deeply flawed.

If you are a seller and you refuse to leave feedback for a buyer once payment has been received it is like screaming from your auction “Beware buyer, I am not a dependable seller and you will probably not be happy with my product!”

Treat your customers with respect and provide a good product. The positive feedback will flow.

Looking for Great Products to sell? Click Here for additional information

The Customer is Always Right – Even on ebay!

2009-01-24T04:49:00.000-08:00

Is the eBay Customer Always Right?

Of course!

This is something you can never forget if you want to be a successful eBay seller. It is your job to make certain that every single one of your customers is 100% satisfied even if it means taking money out of your own pocket.

One negative feedback will always cost you more than it costs to make an existing customer happy regardless of what you sell. A positive feedback percentage under 100% costs you new customers and therefore costs you money.

There is no situation where you should get into a dispute with a buyer.

Consider the following situations and suggestions on how to deal with them.

Your customer tells you that item never arrived:

Politely ask the buyer to wait a few more days to see if it turns up, and to email you if it does not arrive. Everything I send goes by the US Mail and I always ask the customer to wait 30 days for delivery. Most customers are OK with this. The key point is Constant, Positive Communication. I tell in my response to their fist message that, if the item has not arrived within 30 days they will be sent an immediate refund, including shipping. If you are serious about being a success on ebay you must follow this principal!

Your Customer tells you that the item has been damaged in transit:

You must offer to replace it or take it back for a refund without question. On low cost items I immediately refund their purchase price and tell them there is no need to return the item.

Your Customer states that the item doesn't match the description:

Take the item back for a refund. Examine your auction description. Remember, what you think your description says clearly may not make sense to someone else reading it. Change your description to avoid future confusion.

I'm sure you're spotting a pattern by now. Offering an immediate, no questions asked, refund will solve most problems.

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT!

Still not convinced? Think this would only work with cheap items?
Remember, the higher the price of the items you sell, the more your feedback will be examined by potential buyers. Suppose you are selling $10,000 worth of items each week and making a $1,500 profit. Is refunding one customer's $1,500 purchase a tragedy since you lose your profit for the week?

Not if the negative feedback received for not refunding the money results in only $5,000 in sales the next week with only $750 profit and it takes a couple months to regain your $10,000 in weekly sales!

If you don't want to kill your business before it's even started never forget –

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT!

Looking for Great Products to sell? Click Here for additional information