At any one time there are a couple hundred auctions for glass electric and telegraph insulators listed on eBay.  The experience of the sellers ranges from that of very knowledgeable to knowing nothing at all about the item they are selling.  Generally speaking, if a seller has no information about a particular item it makes it very difficult to properly describe their item.  Furthermore, some sellers, due to a lack of information, will inaccurately describe a glass insulator and thereby create unfortunate transactions for both seller and their customer.

The purpose of this brief guide is to offer a few tips on how to create a good eBay auction.  Many of these tips can apply to virtually any item.  However, I have chosen glass telegraph insulators to serve as an example for this guide.

First, before listing an insulator on eBay, do a little research.  Many sellers simply title their auction "Glass Insulator" and state in their description that they know nothing about the item....this does very little to establish confidence in the seller and does not serve to interest the buyer either. By performing an internet search for the words "glass insulator" a seller can discover numerous references where detailed information can be obtained.  This will help the seller to not only accurately identify their item but also will help them to include specific information about their item.  Speaking from a buyer's standpoint, I would much rather purchase a glass insulator from someone who knows something about their product than from someone who mis-identifies and insulator from the start.

Another item of importance is providing clear and accurate photographs. Glass items such as insulators can be difficult to photograph. Usually the problem is getting the correct color.  A picture of a glass insulator that looks to be emerald green when it is actually aqua can mislead a buyer and result in negative feedback.  There exists information on the internet that can help you to get good quality and accurate photoghraphs of glass insulators.  Performing an internet search for "glass insulators" can lead you to resources to show you tips on lighting, back-drops, camera use, etc.

Another problem for eBay sellers is being able to start an auction or list an item at the correct PRICE.  Sellers who know little about their item will sometimes OVER-price their item and thereby waste their time and money on an unsuccesful listing.  Searching the internet for "glass insulators" can educate a seller as to what his/her insulator is valued at. A "fair" value for a particular insulator could result in more hits to an auction or visits to a store.

Finally, a seller should be able to provide explanations to buyers as to where they obtained the information in their descriptions.  As a buyer, I sometimes will ask a seller if they had first-hand knowledge of their insulator or if they obtained the information from another source.  Keeping good notes when researching an item is important. 

eBay is a wonderful tool for both buyers and sellers of glass insulators.  But sellers have a duty to insure the accuracy of their information and buyers have a duty to completely evaluate an item and ask specific questions as necessary.