Learn to Sell on Ebay by Buying on Ebay

Want to learn to sell on eBay?

The absolute best way to become a successful eBay seller is to become a successful eBay BUYER first!

Think about it. By experiencing the auction process as a buyer, you'll...

• Learn a lot about how to make YOUR buyers happy when you start selling



• Start building a positive feedback rating and your credibility as an eBayer by buying small items on eBay -- ideally from potential future competitors



• Scope see how your top competitors create and manage their auctions... so you can improve on their sales process to get more sales for YOU!

Of course, learning how to make money selling on eBay by buying on eBay is a bit different than shopping for a new camera. So here's how to buy on eBay with the goal of learning to sell on eBay...

Step 1: Set up an eBay seller's account, if you haven't already.

Use this account to buy your items. Go to www.eBay.com/sell to sign up.

Step 2: Pay attention to the details of your shopping experience.

To start learning the ropes, pick an item you'd like to purchase (it doesn't have to be expensive).

While you're shopping, ask yourself the following questions:

• What do you find appealing about certain auctions?



• What draws your eye to a listing?



• What elements of an auction persuade you to make a bid?



• What information are sellers NOT including that you want to know as a buyer?



• Record your impressions in a journal or computer document. Then when you're ready to start selling in earnest, you can refer back to them -- and steal all the goodies!

Step 3: Pay attention to the checkout process

Once you've spent some time browsing around eBay, and have found some items that you wouldn't mind purchasing, it's time to make a few bids. Pay attention to how the seller completes the transaction after you win the first auction. What steps does the seller take to complete the transaction?

Step 4: Leave feedback

Once you receive your item, you can leave sellers an overall positive, neutral, or negative rating, as well as anonymous Detailed Seller Ratings (or DSRs) in four areas related to a transaction.

DSRs will be crucially important for you when you start selling on eBay because they help determine how high your items get listed in the search results. They also determine whether you achieve or maintain PowerSeller status.

Consider these four DSR areas when you analyze your eBay buying experience:

• Did the item meet your expectations and was it as described in the auction listing?



• Did the seller email you after the auction, or did you have to contact them? What was their general communication with you like?



• How long did it take for your item to arrive?



• Were the shipping and handling charges fair? How did you react to the way the item was packed for shipping?



• Were you pleased with the overall level of customer service?

Again, record these impressions in your notes or journal. If you were really pleased with the buying process you experienced with one particular seller, write down what they did and try to do it yourself when you start running your own auctions.

That's it. As you can see, buying on eBay to learn to sell on eBay is a bit different than browsing as a shopper. So pay attention and use what you learned as a springboard to your selling success!

Remember, maintaining a good Detailed Seller Rating will be crucial to how well you make money selling on ebay... so it pays to learn to sell on eBay from the best.

As a buyer, you expect prompt, polite, and honest communication from any seller -- so as a seller, you'll need to develop the habits and skills that let you provide those benefits to your buyers.