Ten Tips for eBay Sellers
1. Get some experience as a buyer. This will help build your feedback which makes potential bidders more confident doing business with you. It also lets you see the transaction from your customer's point of view. Also, if you are very new to eBay, get ID Verified to build buyer's confidence that you are who you say you are.
2. Sell your cheaper items first. Don't jump in with your X-Box 360 if you donŐt already have at least 10 feedback comments from buyers. Buyers are more likely to take a chance on a new seller if the item cost is under $50.
3. Install the eBay Toolbar. You will get emails that look like they came from eBay/PayPal which are "Phishing" for your account information. They may tell you your account will be suspended, others look like the email eBay sends you when you have a new message from a buyer. The best way to protect yourself is to install the free eBay Toolbar and make use of the Account Guard feature. You need to let it recognize your eBay and PayPal usernames and passwords (which should always be different by the way). If you click on a link in one of these fake emails and try to sign in on a non-eBay/PayPal verified site, it will alert you before you hit submit. This is a big security feature and it's free so you absolutely should utilize it. There are other great features on the eBay Toolbar which you can customize, but the Account Guard feature is the most important.
4. Be Honest. If your item has a flaw, photograph it close up. Describing the flaw is as important as describing the positive aspects of your item. The last thing you want is a buyer leaving a negative feedback saying the item was not as described. It is also a good idea to offer a money back guarantee just in case.
5. Take your time getting a really good photograph. In Chapter 6 of 20 Questions to Ask Before Selling on eBay I show you how to make a professional studio using items from your home. I also show you how to get much better photographs by just changing two settings on your camera. Make sure you read that chapter in detail and follow the tips. An auction with a really good photograph will get much higher bids than one that has an okay one.
6. ALWAYS put your picture into the Gallery. It costs 35˘ extra in listing fees, but it is well worth it. When a buyer searches on eBay, the results show the auction titles and a thumbnail of the picture in the auction if you paid for the gallery. If you didn't, instead of a thumbnail, you will see a green picture of a camera. Many buyers think that symbol means there is no picture in the auction and by-pass your listing. Other buyers scan the thumbnail pictures rather than the auction titles first. If yours is not there, you are losing bids.
7. Offer PayPal. 80% of buyers prefer PayPal (according to eBay). Until a buyer pays using a credit card, or you hit $500 in one month, you do not have to upgrade your account to Premier and pay transaction fees. Once this does happen, you will pay 2.9% of the total transaction amount plus 30˘. There are no monthly fees and it is well worth it. (Note: You cannot pass on this cost to your buyers directly, but make sure you allow for it when you determine your expected profit.)
8. Use a fast shipping service. I like USPS Priority Mail because it is usually cheaper than UPS and FedEx and will get to the buyer within 2-3 days. You can also order eBay branded shipping boxes for free which look very professional. Depending on the size and weight of your item, you might consider the flat-rate boxes which cost $8.10 but the destination and weight are irrelevant.
9. Check email at least twice a day. If a potential buyer asks you a question, you need to respond as quickly as possible so they don't lose interest or bid on someone else's item instead. Always be very courteous in your emails and never say "It's in the item description." Sometimes they just need a little elaboration, or repetition. Sometimes, they just want to see how you respond to see what kind of a person you are.
10. Have Fun! eBay is a wonderful trading environment. I have made lots of friends through eBay groups and my many attendances to the eBay Live conventions. It is a business, but it is also a lot of fun. Much more so than a yard sale!
©2005 Lissa McGrath. All Rights Reserved. Sample chapter from 20 Questions to ask Before Selling on eBay is reproduced here with permission of CareerPress. You may download it for personal use. Do not redistribute, repackage or resell any material on this website.
