Hi. My ebay user name is Kuali. Thanks for stopping by.

I've been buying and selling on ebay since 2001. It has been a great learning experience and I would like to share with you the things that I have learned from trial and error.

RESEARCH

Ebay has extreme learning curves and to stay on top of the game, you must be open to new suggestions, and be willing to change with the market. What sells at fantastic prices one month, may not sell at all the next, so continually researching the completed auctions is one key to success. I can't emphasize enough how important research is. It enables you to see what items have sold for the most money. You learn the brands to look for... and the ones to pass by.

TITLES

Your title is one of the most important steps to being a success! It is the doorway into your auction. You have limited space, so use it to your advantage! You want the most bidders to walk through that door that you can possibly have, and the way to get them through it is with keywords. Research successful sellers...study their titles...see what works for them.

Titles are not complete sentences. They are any word that describes your item. Think about your item...if you were trying to find it in the midst of millions of other items what would you search for?

I bet it wouldn't be WOW, LOOK, Stunning, Gorgeous, or a slew of other worthless words. It would be something that makes the buyer pick your door to walk through.

Again, research what works for others and be careful not to use keywords that are not appropriate for your item. That's keyword spamming...and ebay frowns on it.

DESCRIPTIONS

When writing your descriptions don't be lazy. Include all of the information that your buyer needs to make an informed decision. When selling clothing it is imperative that you include:

• Lots of clear photos..rotated if needed.
• Photos on top so it's the first thing the bidder sees.
• Content and Care information
• An accurate description
• Any and all flaws
• Measurements and size
• Shipping and handling charges
• Use your spell checker!

Don't expect your bidders to contact you for the information. Most will just hit the back button...and you've lost a sale.

PRICING YOUR ITEMS

The days of putting any ol' thing on ebay and having multiple bids are long gone. Price your item at what you will be happy with if you only get one bidder. Hopefully, you'll have lots of bidders, but if not, you will still make money. Ebay is fickle and it's better to be safe than sorry.

TERMS OF SALE

Your buyers must feel comfortable with you. They need to have confidence that you are an honest and friendly seller. Keep your terms friendly. Don't make selling hard for you, or buying hard for the bidder. Simplicity is the key. Stay away from:

• Threatening remarks.
• Terms that take up more space than your description.
• All caps....it's rude.
• Any mention of feedback...especially threatening...also rude.
• Music or flashing graphics....it's distracting....your buyers are interested in your item, not your template expertise.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

Ebay selling is a lot of work. If it's your desire to be a successful seller, getting the highest bids for your item is your goal.  International selling is easy. About 25 to 30% of my buyers are international. That's 25 to 30% that I would take a loss on if I didn't sell International.

The USPS has free boxes for Domestic and International.You can use flat-rate envelopes for small items. Priority International for larger items, or you can use your own box with First-class International. The information and rates are on the USPS web-site. You can also order boxes on-line for free.

LISTING OPTIONS

Ebay gives us lots of options and upgrades. Choose them carefully. Fees add up quickly and eat into our bottom line. Be aware of the fee structures.

Remember ebay is a business and getting us to buy their upgrades is their goal. Ebay makes money on our listing fees even if our item doesn't sell! They make them sound really great, but we must ask ourselves...are they really worth it? Here's some money making tips:

• Host your photos so you can use as many as you want for free.
• Gallery pics are priceless. Most buyers won't look at auctions without them.
• Buy or use a free host that has easy to use templates.

ASK SELLER A QUESTION

When you receive a question answer it as soon as you can. Some buyers ask a question just to see if they'll get a response. I have asked questions and  never had a reply.....I didn't bid on their item...but I might have if they had answered.

Have you ever asked a question and received a two word reply? I have. If they ask you how much shipping is to Canada, answer with a complete sentence like; "Hi. Shipping to Canada will be 7.00. Thank you for your interest." Otherwise, it makes the buyer feel insignificant and just may lose you a buyer.

AFTER THE SALE

When I shop at a B&M store, I expect the clerk to tell me thank you. All buyers like to be told that they're appreciated. When I receive payment from my buyers, I immediately send them a "Thank You" e-mail with the shipping information. It takes very little time, and they very much appreciate it.

PACKAGING

Presentation is everthing!

 I don't know how many times I have received an item just thrown into an envelope or box...and a used box at that! That tells me that my seller was lazy, indifferent, and didn't know what the word professional even meant.

To be a success, you have to fake it till you make it! You have to spend money to make money, and wrapping supplies are a part of your business expense.

• Tissue paper is not expensive.
• Colored plastic bags are available at U-line.
• Free business cards and other matching products are at Vista Print. Just pay the shipping.
• If an item easily wrinkles, fold it in tissue so it won't crease, then wrap it in tissue..
• Ship the item ASAP...they bought it...they want it!

Here are some don'ts:

• Don't send candy as a free gift. I wouldn't eat it, would you?
• Don't pack a dryer sheet with your item. Some people are allergic.
• Don't spray it with perfume. I once received a package and could smell it before I opened the mail box.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

In the unfortunate event that something goes wrong after the sale...Remember the customer may not always be right...but let them think they are. Communicate with them, and let them know that you are there to help resolve the problem. Don't jump to conclusions. Give the buyer the benefit of the doubt. We all make mistakes and we need to pick our battles wisely.

• Never contact the buyer after you've shipped the item to ask if everything is OK. If it's not...believe me... they will let you know.

FEEDBACK

This is a controversial subject. Feedback is optional. You can't make a buyer leave feedback... and begging is not attractive. As a seller, you will have buyers that just don't leave feedback for whatever reason. Don't sweat the small stuff!

Ebay has made it much more difficult to get a true reading on a buyers feedback. Since sellers can only leave positive feedback, it really doesn't matter if you leave it at all. I still leave feedback, but only after I have received it. No need to leave a glowing positive for a cranky buyer, instead since we are forced to leave a positive, just state the true facts and move on.

In my opinion feedback is still important. It weeds out the scam sellers and makes it a safer place for the buyers. As a seller, it puts greater emphasis on doing your best, which we should all be doing anyway.

There is no way to cover your back against wacko buyers which have an itchy trigger finger on the neg button, but again, don't sweat the small stuff. Don't take it personal. Shake off the bad vibes! Just keep doing your best and it all comes out in the wash!

I hope that this has helped and I wish you lots of buyers and much success. Together, we can make ebay a fun and profitable place for buyers and sellers alike.