Zero Feedbacks? Stop! Don't Sell Anything... Yet

   The eBay feedback system is a great way for buyers and sellers to develop and earn trust among one another. Do not discount the importance of positive feedback.

   Every buyer and seller of every auction has the opportunity to post positive or negative feedback for the other party. A seller with lots of bad feedback is not as trustworthy as one who has pleased buyers. A seller with no feedback is extremely risky; buyers have no way to know if the seller will be honest.

   Before selling, you should buy a few things. Everybody needs something on eBay! When you purchase something and then pay promptly, your sellers will post positive feedback for you. After 10 or 15 auctions, you'll have a good feedback record. Although you were the buyer and not the seller (the feedback system shows which side of every transaction you were on), buyers will be more trusting and thus they will be more willing to bid. You've shown a track record that demonstrates you'll probably follow through.

Don't Know What to Buy?

   Perhaps you have lots to sell but don't know what to buy. Whatever you need at the store, except for most perishable food items, is certainly available on eBay. Tape, printer cartridges, movies, shampoo, mailing boxes, packing peanuts, books, movies... You know there are millions of items for sale and you'd be surprised how much you buy at retail that you could have easily gotten on eBay for a lot less money.

   Your feedback as a buyer will help endear trust among buyers when you become a seller. The more feedbacks you get before you sell something, the more bids you'll probably get.

   With eBay's feedback system, trust is something that is demonstrated. That's a good thing.

   As a syndicated newspaper columnist about eBay, as well as a trainer on using Direct Marketing techniques to boost eBay sales, I run into lots of eBayers who want to know the best way to begin selling even though they have no feedbacks. The problem is real and one we've all faced once before...