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If you find this guide helpful please click the button below, I know this guide is long but try to read it all theres some very useful information in it. Thanks!
Ebay is actual hard work depending on your goal, hobby or striving to become a powerseller
Just like with anything else, what you put into your Ebay business is what you'll get out of it
The million dollar question when sellers first get started on Ebay is what to sell? a good way to get started is to sell what you already have, clothing that is too small etc., but other good places are departments store (in store or online) end of the season clearances, garage sales, ebay (wholesale lots etc), flea markets, liquidators, thrift stores (especially on their half off days) and most off all tell people your selling on Ebay now, they may have valuable items they've been wanted to sell but didn't know how to go about it. You can even place an ad in your local newspaper for merchandise wanted.
Use you auction title to draw people to your auction. State the facts like size, color, fabric, new, womens, mens or childrens, what it is such as shirt, dress etc. and always include the name brand, name brands are everything on Ebay. To make it plain only put things in you title that someone would actually search for. No one searches for wow, or gorgeous.
If your goal is to be a serious seller always keep your eyes open for bargains & deals
Set financial goals as well, first start off slowly, but eventually set a quota for yourself every month depending on the amount of time you've put in
Obey Ebay's laws, I can't stress this enough, Ebay is offering a unique opportunity for individuals to be able to sell merchandise online to a worldwide market, and Ebay has millions of customers worldwide who search here first for merchandise before they search anywhere else. I know you hear lots of people complain about Ebay, but honestly the other online marketplaces don't have the kind of clientele that Ebay does.
If your goal is to become a powerseller, research other powersellers and see how they do it. Watch the pros work! To do this do an advanced search, click the items by seller link, enter the sellers name that you want to research, check the box that says include sellers completed listings (last 30 days) and everything they've listed and sold for the last 30 days will come up. Check out these listing, how their title is worded, their description, pricing etc. Get ideas from the best!
Always remember all you have on ebay is your name & reputation which leads me to the importance of feedback. Whereas, some people use feedback as a "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" feeback is actually a very important part of Ebay and should not be used a leverage by the buyer or seller. I leave feedback for my buyers as soon as they pay for their items, Why? because they've done their part, they've honored their part of the deal. I stand by all of my products so I'm not sitting back shaking & quaking wondering if they'll leave me positive feedback, I already know they will Why? because the exact item I have up for auction and pictured is what you will receive and I never overexaggerate my listings. Honesty is truly always the best policy!
Set your policies up front and have them listed in every listing. Make sure not to be threating when listing your policies, such as "IF YOU CAN'T PAY DON'T BID!!!!!" or "IF YOU DON'T PAY I'LL REPORT YOU TO EBAY OR FILE NON PAYING BIDDER CHARGES AGAINST YOU" yeah, this is really not the tone were trying to set. Be firm, but not threating, were trying to get sales not run them off.
What do I do about Non Paying Bidders? I recently dealt with this issue, the buyer emailed me saying they would pay me one week from when the auction ended, now mind you my policy clearly states all payments are due within 24 hours, but I didn't jump the gun. I exercised patience and waited until that day came and still no payment. I sent an email reminder to the buyer and then waited, but their was still no response, by this time I'm getting a little ticked, but I still held off from reporting to Ebay to make a long story short I was paid 2 weeks later and the customer explained that they had been out of town with no internet access. Always remember even though Ebay is a very important part of our life as sellers, to some it isn't, now I'm not saying its right, but understand that sometimes this is just the way it is. Every time I get online the first thing I check is My Ebay , but thats because I'm a seller many buyers are not so committed about it. So try to be as patient as you can before reporting them, they'll appreciate your patience and most likely pay you.
If you boast to have great customer service, then stand by that. Email your customers when their items have been shipped and follow up with them after you think they've received their item, if you say you take returns, honor that, if you boast of fast shipping, show and prove always try your best to back up what you say.
Get involved in Ebay's community, meet other Ebayers like yourself, ask questions or answer questions. Just like someone helped you when you first got started always be willing to help others.
Try to sell items that you know about, items your more knowledgeable about are more likely to sell, Why? because interested customers will ask questions and your knowledge of your product will make a customer feel more comfortable with bidding on your item
Research all items your selling on Ebay. Ebay is a world unto itself. Ebay buyers are very smart and love getting the most for their dollar.
Should I start every auction at .99 cents? I wouldn't, as I just mentioned above Ebay is not the real world, you can have a brand new dress with tags that retails in a department store for $298 that might sell for $20 on Ebay, now if you paid $5 for the dress way to go, but if you paid $50 you've just suffered a major lost. So my rule is, first do your Ebay research, if your item is consistently drawing the price you want or is a hot item on Ebay, then yes start it at .99 cents (make sure to start an end this item at appropriate times when you target audience will be home to bid, always try to get a bidding war started), this is what Ebay is all about and people love to bid and are quite competitive, if your item is not a super hot item ask for the price you want, always get the price you want, remember your in business to make money!
What is the best time to list? Traditionally Sunday evenings have been the ideal day to end listing, but I've found that in the summer time the best time to end a listing is in the middle of the week. Why? because most people spend time outdoors in the summer on the weekends and take vacations in the summer. Another important rule is to never have an auction ending on a Holiday or Holiday weekend
When listing an item, list the item a few dollars over the actual price you want. For instance, if you purchased something for $ 5 don't sell if for $10 at least try to get $12.99 for it. Why? Consider all cost such as packaging supplies, Ebay fees, fees if you have to relist the item several times, remember its always about the bottom line, your selling on Ebay to make money, never to lose!
If you start to get a lot of inventory that isn't selling, after several times of relisting it consider getting an Ebay store, to list an item in your Ebay store is super cheap and always accept offers. Why? because Ebayers love to wheel & deal. Once again set the price in your store a little above the price you want for instance, if you want $5 for an item price it at about $15 in your store. You'll should definitely get an offer of $5 or more or you may luck up and have someone buy it at your buy it now price, in the world of Ebay you never know
Give your listing personality, try a free Ebay auction service, which offers free additional pictures, supersize pictures, templates etc.
Use turbo lister (which is a free ebay product) if you have multiple items you want to upload at once, its much quicker. Use clear and concise pictures, list any imperfections (and take pictures of them also), be completely honest in your listing this will save you from possibly having a disgruntal customer later.
Sign up for paypal, most Ebay buyers won't even bid on an item that doesn't accept paypal. Why? because paypal offers buyers & sellers protection. Also, offer other forms of payments such as money orders or cashiers checks to increase your chance of sales. I do not recommend taking personal checks.
Remember when you first get started not to spend every dime you make. Just like with any other job set forth a budget, how much you will spend, save and invest back into the business.
After you've made a few sales certainly invest in a scale (they sell them cheap on Ebay), packaging supplies (order free priority mail boxes from Ebay shipping center in all different sizes), a printer if you don't already have one, so you can print postage from the comfort of your home and not have to wait in those long post office lines, a good digital camera and a mannequin (if you sell clothing) all which can be purchased on Ebay.
Something else that I have found very helpful is shipping lightweight items in Poly shipping bags (they sell them on Ebay also), they drastically reduce the cost of shipping, remember to always try keep you shipping cost as reasonable as possible.
Most important rule of all is to have fun! Remember that Ebay affords you freedom of an extra income and always keep your goal and the reasons why your selling on Ebay as your focus
If you found this guide useful please click the button below, I know it was long but I was trying to squeeze everything I could think of that would be helpful into it. Thanks!
Guide created: 05/28/07 (updated 09/25/08)
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