Make sure that your ad sells your cell phone. Unless you have an iPhone it won't sell itself. This guide will list what you need to include to reduce uncertainty so people will want to bid early and bid often on your surplus handset.

Make, Model and Color -

• Tell what you have to sell.
• Don't have your potential bidders guessing about what is on offer. Each cell phone manufacturer has more than one model and many come in several colors.
• Be specific about the model. That information is almost always inside the battery compartment on the data label.
• What firmware version is installed
• The build date if available Month and year if not the exact day.
• Country of origin
• What carrier's firmware is installed, or if it is the manufacturer's generic firmware

Technology-

• Cell phones in the US work on different technologies. WCDMA, GSM, CDMA, TDMA, iDEN are among them.
• Be specific about which technology the phone uses.
• List the frequency bands the phone receives. This can make or break if the phone will function in some areas and carriers.

Service Provider Lock -

• If the phone is locked to a Service Provider such as AT&T or Sprint, make mention of this in the description.
• Do not assume that the phone can easily be unlocked. Many Nokia phones, for example, can only be unlocked if the service provider coughs up the unlock code. Yes, it's easy to input the code but getting it can be tough.

Features of the Phone -

• Don't assume that your bidder knows what your phone will do.
• If it has WiFi say so. If it has WiFi do not assume it has UMA capability.
• If it has a VGA camera, tell them.
• Mention if the phone is a slider, flip phone, candy bar or whatever form factor.

Function -

• If a key sticks, mention it.
• If there is anything out of the ordinary in how it functions be sure to mention it. Yes, you want to unload your handset but you also do not want an irate buyer blasting you in feedback.
• If there is anything the phone does that is not the way it should be tell your buyer.
• Be factual.

Damage -

• Be sure to mention all the little nicks and scratches.
• If you have skill with a digital camera show the problems with a photo.
• If the dot in the battery compartment is pink or red, mention it.

Usage -

If the phone stores this sort of information be sure to include:

• Total hours of use
• Total number of text messages sent
• Total hours of data use
• Build date

What's Included in the Auction -

• List the accessories, if any that will show up with the phone.
• Show photos of what you are selling if possible.
• If it comes with the original box, mention it.
• If it comes with the owner's guides, mention it.

Shipping-

• Everyone knows that with insurance, signature confirmation and Priority Mail it doesn't cost more than $15.00 to mail a phone from anywhere in the US to anywhere else in the US. Be realistic about shipping. It shouldn't be a profit center, it should be a customer satisfaction point.
• Offer several ways to ship the phone. If the wrapped phone weighs 13 ounces or less you can send it first class mail at a cost of $4.00. If it is over 13 ounces and less than a pound parcel post and Priority Mail are under $5.00.
• Offer insurance to the customer to protect their purchase while in transit. Charge whatever the post office charges for it and you'll look like an honest seller.

Warranty-

• Unless the phone has a major known defect you've described in the ad offer at least a "Dead on Arrival" warranty. Yes, warranty returns are a bummer but would you want to shell out money to have a phone that won't turn on when you get it? Be sure to record the IMEI of the phone you ship so the buyer doesn't try to pull a switch on you. List the IMEI right in the auction to make it plain that you know which unit you are selling. This will cut out some of the problems.
• Skilled at fixing cell phones? Have several of the same model kicking around? Offer a seven day exchange or in-house repair. This will ensure the bidder that they won't be left without a phone if the one you sold them goes belly up in the first week.

Getting people to bid on your phone is a matter of reducing uncertainty. The more certain they are of what is on offer and it's condition the more likely they are to feel comfortable bidding. If your phone is a beater and that is what they want, they will bid on it and be happy when they get it.  Put yourself in the position of the bidder and be their eyes and hands when you sell your cell.

I've been selling and buying mobile phones on eBay for over two years. I've seen excellent listings and terrible listings. From my experience what I list above is the minimum you need to have a good listing that will not generate endless questions on a high dollar device. Yes, it is a bit of work. In the end you'll end up with happier customers, better feedback and higher bids.

Thank You

Thank you for reading this. If you think of something I've missed, think of something that should be removed or just want to discuss this drop me a message through the eBay message system. If you believe this has been of some use feel free to leave a positive vote. If you feel you want to leave a negative, drop me a message with your concern and I'll try to address it in my next edit. RC

©2007 - 2009 Robert Chambers ALL RIGHTS RESERVED