Doing Well On eBay In Spite Of Yourself
To say that eBay has transformed the world of private commerce is akin to saying the sky is blue. eBay has become a worldwide presence, easily the most successful of all online auction sites, generating between $10 - $12 billion in revenue each year. Maybe you have caught the eBay fever……if you're one of me, you're a buyer, searching the site for those hidden treasures you just can't find in your local retail outlet or strip mall. Or maybe you are a seller, looking to unload some of that junk cluttering up your attic, maybe making a little extra cash in the process, or if you're really devoted, making a living selling whatever items you can scoop up, photograph, and list.
If you are a buyer, like me, there are certain methods to being successful on eBay, without having to sell your children to pay for all the stuff you bought in fit of bargain induced hysteria. Here are some suggestions for successful eBay shopping:
Know exactly what item you are looking for. Browsing on eBay is like browsing in any other store, except that unlike those stores, eBay really does have everything. If you're not careful, you'll be getting more "You Won!" e-mails than you can count, and the bills really start to add up. Knowing specifically what you are looking for and seeking it out will prevent you from getting in over your financial head.
Check out the seller. I place a lot of value on a seller's feedback (comments and ratings left by other buyers). It is safe to assume that if a seller has a Feedback Score that is lower than his normal body temperature, you're probably better served to do business elsewhere.
Ask a lot of questions. If something about the item doesn't look quite right, or if information you need is not found in the ad, take advantage of the opportunity to "Ask Seller A Question". If they respond quickly, that is a promising sign of a good seller. If they take several days to respond or if they don't respond at all, you might want to reconsider working with them.
Don't dismiss the "Buy It Now" option…..it's not always an inflated price. Sometimes, this option is infinitely preferable to going head to head with other bidders and losing the item at the last moment, especially if it is something that you simply have to have.
Become a "sniping" expert. Sniping is the process of jumping in the last few seconds of an auction to place a bid and hopefully outbid the previous highest bidder. Personally I enjoy the excitement and tension of doing this manually and securing the deal, but others have utilized automated sniping programs, with which you can input the maximum amount you are prepared to bid on the item, and let it snipe for you up until the bidding closes.
Check out the shipping charges. It is quite common for sellers to make a good amount of money on the shipping alone. I saw a model kit that sold for about $20, but the shipping was over half of the selling price! Make sure you know how much shipping will cost you before bidding. If it is grossly disproportionate, then pass on the item (again, unless you just have to have it and the shipping doesn't matter….I've been there a few times….there's no shame in admitting it!)
Keep tabs on your favorite sellers. If you have a good experience with a seller, obviously that is a measure of trust that has been rightfully earned. Keep up with them, especially if they regularly put up items that you are interested in.
If you are a seller of any sort of item, an eBay account almost becomes a must have for you. Even many brick and mortar retail stores have eBay listings for their items. I haven't participated as a seller often, but I have acquired a few tips along the way:
Take good pictures. Nothing is more unappealing and unexciting than an ad for an item without a photograph of that item. Provide a minimum of three high res photographs. If there are flaws in the item, take pictures of those as well; it will go a long way towards establishing yourself as trustworthy.
Do some research. If you are going to list a hair dryer, check out other sellers offering similar items and see what they are going for on the average. This will keep you from pricing yourself out of the market, or not getting what the item is worth. As a buyer, I will testify that nothing delights us more than finding something for what we know is far less than it is worth.
Determine the best method for shipping. Not all shipping methods are the same, and offering reasonably priced shipping will be an attractive prospect for buyers.
Determine how far you are willing to ship. This is important, and comes from my own eBay experience. I had listed a model kit that was purchased by a man in Florence, Italy. It turned out that the cost of shipping the item to him absorbed every bit of my profit (and then some). Today's lesson: I now will only ship within the continental US.
Write good ad copy. You need a solid, well written listing for your item, one that combines search engine friendly wording with user friendly details to attract your buyer.
Offer a full complement of available payment options. PayPal has almost become a requirement for sellers (I personally will not buy from anybody who does not accept PayPal….it's the 21st century, people, keep up). If you do not have credit card options, get them now, as in yesterday. The more options you have to accept payment, the more people will be bidding.
Think about your feedback. The Feedback Forum is everything; it is what keeps sellers honest and the ripoff artists away. It is the single best tool you can have. It is your online reputation. So do all you can to be sure you get good feedback from your buyers. If they have questions, answer them promptly. Get items shipped within a day or so of receiving payment (ideally on the day you receive payment), and let your buyer know that their item has shipped. Provide a tracking number if possible. Basically, just be the kind of seller that YOU would want to buy from, and you will end up being somebody that everyone will want to do business with.
Okay, there you have it. There is no reason that you cannot be successful on eBay. Now go therefore and do business….
Questions and Answers
Article Tags:
private commerce
,ebay seller
,ebay buyer
,feedback forum
,feedback score
,shipping costs
,sniping
,ebay account
,ebay listing
,ebay ad
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