So you want to be a little bit like Walmart, and sell some of everything.  That strategy might not play out the way you think on ebay. 

Let me tell you why.

Suppose one day you list a whole bunch of cd's.  Another day you list a bike, and on the third day you list an Isabel Bloom $1500 statue.  What do you think is going to happen.  You will probably get bids on the cd's, maybe on the bike (if the price and quality are good enough to overcome the high cost of shipping it), but the Isabel Bloom piece may not draw a single bid.  Or if you start it low enough, it may draw several low end bids.  The reason is:  The real Isabel Bloom collectors want to buy from somene experienced in selling and grading them, not someone who sells whatever comes along.

Ebay today is about niche marketing.  You can't be everything to everyone, but for the 500 or 5000 people who have an interest in your niche -You can become the expert, carrying what they want, at a price they can afford, and sharing product information with them.

Let's take a look at how it works.  I sell historical paper - Books, Magazines, prints, and magazine articles.  They deal directly with historical events, biographies of famous (and not so famous people), scientific discoveries, and such.  None of my items are ever going to make Ebay POP, or any of the top 100 seller lists.  But for the people interested in historical collectibles - I am one of their first choices.  How did I get there?  By selling a consistent line of products.  By building a store that supports my regular auctions.  And, by deciding not to sell everything but the kitchen sink. 

When people come to history-bytes they know they are going to find unique paper collectibles.  Period.  No DVD's.  No bikes.  No video games.  Just the normal items focused on their areas of interest.

Look around ebay, and you will see plenty of examples. Some people sell shoes - a smart seller sells mainly running shoes, or cowboy boots, or custom made sandals, or extended size men's shoes.  Why?  Because these are under served areas that you can market to, and if you do it right - these people will come back to you over and over, and send their friends.

Think about it.  Everyone is selling DVD's, but what if you were to sell only horror dvd's, or Spanish speaking DVD's.  That may be a market that will set you apart and make you special.

To get an idea - look at ebay's top sellers, and focus on what they aren't doing.  Ask yourself what market are they consistently not serving, and then hone in on that niche, and watch your business grow.

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