Think ahead when listing your auctions. Remember that your auction will end at exactly the same time you start your auction 3 days later, 5 days later, 7 days later, or 10 days later depending on how long you've given for your auction to run.

   Try to list them when you can be close by after the auction ends to send an after-auction email or handle buyer questions. If you can't be around when your auctions end, it's okay. eBayers understand that you're not at your computer 24/7. We had one buyer tell us he was surprised to get out email right after the auction ended because he rarely gets such emails. I think end-of-auction emails are more common now than then. We believe they are always a good practice.

   Sometimes we put all the shipping and payment information in our auctions and yet, buyers still ask questions that we answered in our listing. That is fine, people are busy and don't have time for a lot of details. Be patient and answer their problems. It's fine to begin your answer with, 'Yes, as the auction states, we will reduce shipping if you buy multiple items.' This gently teaches the buyer to check all an auction's listing for answers before taking the time to ask something that may not need asking.

You Can Reduce Buyers Remorse

   Buyer's remorse is a common phenomenon that occurs right after someone buys something.

   They immediately begin to second-guess their purchase decision.

   Being close by when your auctions end and by contacting your buyers quickly, you help reduce or eliminate buyer's remorse. By thanking them for their winning bid and repeating all your generous payment options, as well as ensuring them that you'll ship quickly and wrap their item carefully, buyers will feel much better about doing business with you.

   You'll be less of a stranger to them. People like to do business with helpful and friendly people.

   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 time to list an item for sale. One of the best answers lies in whether or not you'll be around at the end of the auction.