No matter what you sell, ask yourself the following question:

   "What do my buyers want immediately after they buy this item?"

   The technique I show you here uses the up-sell strategy that is so popular with Direct Maketers (the smart ones) and successful businesses.

Not Just for the Big eBay Sellers

   Suppose you sell an MP3 player that you were given as a gift and you don't use it enough to keep it. Have you got a spare pack of new batteries that will fit the player? When your buyer wins, send an email telling the buyer that you'll toss in a brand new pair of matching batteries for $2.75 extra (or whatever) to save the buyer the trouble of purchasing them. That $2.75 isn't much, but it's just like your MP3 player got an extra $2.75 if you weren't going to use the batteries anyway.

   If you sell a laptop, locate the price of a good laptop carrying case at your local discount store and offer the bag at a slight markup. If your buyer got a good deal on the laptop, the buyer may very well pay you a premium for the carrying case just because it saves the buyer the trouble of finding one.

   Even better, open an eBay store and place your accessory items there. eBay manes after-auction up-selling very easy when you have an eBay store.

Up-Sells Work Even for eBay Motors

   If you sell a car on eBay Motors, strike a deal with a local finance company to give your buyer an interest rate discount (even if it's only a fraction of a point) as well as a finder's fee to you. You can do the same with your car's insurance agent. As long as you truly get your buyer a deal on these extra services, these are unique ways to add money to your sale. You should get paid for your legwork and the finance company or insurance agent didn't have to advertise to get business you sent - your buyer gets a deal, so once again, everybody wins.

   It's all legit and your offering your buyers a service, you've gone to the trouble to obtain this service, and so you should get paid - everybody is happier.