May 22, 2006
How to Become an eBay “Sniper”
If you bid for a few things on eBay, the chances are that sooner or later you’ll end up getting your bid beaten at the very last second by a ‘sniper’. This can be a frustrating experience, and while in theory sniping is against the rules and you can report it to eBay, in practice they never do anything about it.
The bad news is that there’s only one way to beat the sniper – and that’s to become the sniper. The good news, though, is that once you understand sniping you can use it to win auctions at a far lower price than you would otherwise.
Manual Sniping.
Manual sniping isn’t that hard, if you have a lot of time to spare and a reasonably fast Internet connection. Write down when each auction that are bidding on ends, and then make sure that you’re sitting there in front of the page for that vital last minute. You can then outbid the current winning bidder, or defend your own winning bid.
The only tip you really need to remember for manual sniping is to make sure that you set your maximum bid quite high – otherwise you might be automatically outbid, and the auction will have ended before you can bid again.
Also, it’s not worth your time to compete against someone who is using an automated sniping service – if it’s any good, then they will always manage to outbid you. In the sniping arms race, you need to find a sniper of your own.
Automatic Sniping.
If you type ‘ebay sniping’ into your favourite search engine, you’ll come up with plenty of online services that will snipe on your behalf for a small fee. They usually let you have a free trial, so give it a go.
If you don’t want to pay each time for an online service, then you might be better off getting a piece of software like iSnipeIt (www.isnipeit.com) or SnipeRight (www.sniperight.com). You can pay for these once and use them for as long as you want. Once you’ve installed the software on your computer, you tell it which auctions you want sniped and the maximum amount you’re willing to pay. The software will then place the bid with only a few seconds left. The only disadvantage is that you need to be able to leave your computer on nearly all the time, or you might miss the end of some auctions.
A Sniping Alternative.
If this all sounds a bit too much like playing dirty for you, there is another, more low-tech way to get around sniping. You can just email the seller and say that you were sniped at the last minute but would really like the item. If they have another to sell, the chances are they’ll agree to sell it to you for the price the auction closed at.
Of course, there’s more to eBay than just bidding – the site offers a whole set of tools to help you manage your auctions.
Posted by auction at 03:08 PM | Comments (0)
February 26, 2006
eBay Coupons
There’s a novel idea afoot nowadays: Using electronic discount coupons to pay for items people are interested in purchasing.
This only goes to show that most good marketing ideas can be adopted for the internet. Instead of cutting coupons out from newspapers or carton boxes, eBay gives out electronic copies of coupons to purchase merchandise. The coupons are fast and easy to use.
Coupons are routinely sent by eBay to members who then use them to pay for items through PayPal. The coupons signify specific discounts that can be applied to the purchase of items.
Using Coupons
To use an eBay Coupon one must buy an item where the seller accepts PayPal as a payment method. Upon payment of the item using PayPal, an opportunity will be given to the buyer to enter a coupon redemption code and receive the discount.
Sharing Coupons
Some coupons from eBay can be shared with other people while some can only be used by the owner. If the coupon indicates that only a specific email address may use the coupon, it may not be shared.
Coupons and Your eBay and PayPal Accounts
To use the coupons the owner must have a PayPay and an eBay account. If the owner does not have these accounts, he or she must sign up for them to avail of the discounts. PayPal lets you pay securely over the Internet using a credit card, checking account, or a PayPal account balance.
Important Restrictions
Upon winning an eBay auction, the bidder is required to purchase the item even if the coupons they are holding turn out to be invalid for the auction.
Also, coupons can only be used one-at-a-time. This means that Gift Certificates, single coupons, or eBay Anything Points are valid for only one auction and only one type can be used each time.
One more restriction is that the coupons cannot be used for Half.com purchases.
Items must also meet all coupon requirements and must be paid for in ten days from the closing of the auction on eBay.
Coupons have expiry dates. Coupon holders should take note of the expiry dates noted on the coupons.
Sellers may also configure their listings to accept coupons. To accomplish this, the seller must accept PayPal as a payment mode. If a coupon is used in the purchase of one of the seller’s items, the value of the coupon is forwarded to the seller as it's equivalent in regular currency.
Posted by auction at 02:30 PM | Comments (0)
February 20, 2006
How to Value Your Collectable Items
The first thing you will need to do is check out the condition of your item, be it a train, doll, Disney collectable, or some other collectable item. Is it scratched, torn, clean, dirty, new, in a box, without a box? You get the idea...
Use a good light source and check the item out very carefully, noting the name, identification marks, and any copyright marks. Also, check for any imperfections, tears, scratches, color imperfections, mars, stains, etc.
Many dolls are collected with the box intact. An intact box can raise the value of an item a great deal. Some are worthless if the box is damaged badly or missing.
NOTE: Some dolls are meant to be played with and taken out of the box to dress. Examples are the Tonner Doll Company dolls: Tyler Wentworth, Sydney Chase, Gene, etc.
Remove the doll from the box for inspection. Look for forums, discussion boards, or news groups where similar collectors gather online. You can also check on eBay (or other online auctions) to see what similar items are selling for and what their condition was at the time of sale. Compare the prices with, and without a box to see the difference.
To find your item on eBay:
1. Find the category on eBay where your item would most likely be listed. (Dolls, bears, trains, Disney collectable would be likely categories.
2. If using Dolls, use the [check only in Dolls box] in the search.
3. Use your keyword to search, such as "Barbie doll". This will bring up the current auctions window.
4. Now, check the completed auctions box, to check out the prices and descriptions on the sold items.
5. When you click on the individual auctions, you can see the price the item sold for, the condition of the item and whether it had a box. Look for terms such as NRFB (Never Removed From Box) or MIB (Mint In Box).
Note that the price on eBay is not the best price for your item. Usually, the price could be more if sold locally because the online auction buyer cannot actually handle the item and examine it in person.
Other places to find information about your item (doll) would be websites selling your item (doll), antique or boutique shops, toy or hobby shops, and resell shops. Also, check out the resource books at the public library.
Popular collectibles might have a price book that is printed for collectors. You can also use a collection of hobby magazines to price items or to locate the year the item was made.
If you have done all of the above and still cannot find the information that you need about your item, check out some local hobby clubs in your area. Most hobby enthusiasts will be willing to help you find the information you need and are eager to talk about their hobby. You might even find an expert on your items, or a buyer!!
Posted by auction at 02:32 PM | Comments (0)
February 13, 2006
The Very Basics of Ebay - Getting Started
So you want to sell stuff on eBay, but you have two minor problems: you don't know how and you don't have stuff. Not a problem. Keep reading for some tips to get you pointed in the right direction.
Before you begin you’ll need some basic equipment: Computer, Internet access, digital camera, and some space to put your stuff. That’s really all you’ll need to get started. You’ll also need shipping and packing supplies but that is addressed later.
Next you’ll need to learn how to list auctions. Go to the eBay sellers overview: http://pages.ebay.com/education/sellingtips/index.html. This will be your lifeline. There is a plethora of information there on everything you always wanted to know and more. Don’t be overwhelmed; just take it one step at a time. You’ll see there is information on listings, on bidding, on photos, on feedback – it’s all there.
Next you’ll need to figure out what to sell. Before you zero in on a particular niche you need some experience and some feedback. Buyers are generally leery of buying from someone who is brand new and has a feedback rating of less than 10 evaluations. While you are getting your feet wet, look around your own house first. You’d be amazed at what people buy. You could list outgrown clothing, magazines, candle holders, CD, books, flannel sheets, recipes, the ugly old lamp that was Aunt Mildred’s, all those goofy Christmas gifts sitting in your basement, that old baby gate with a stain on it. Get the idea? You never know what someone will want.
Although you need experience, you don’t want to list something that isn’t likely to sell. Do your research first before you invest the time in putting together a listing. An easy method to use is do a “search” on eBay, then look up COMPLETED ITEMS, then sort by HIGHEST price. Then you’ll see if your Tommy Bahama shirt is really worth anything. Or you’ll see that your old baseball cards had 23 listings and not one of them sold.
Pricing is another challenge. Again, you’ll need to do your research. See what they’re going for. Don’t have overly high expectations. You know how you feel when you go to a garage sale and you see a pair of jeans for $15 or books for $4 each. Many people come to eBay to look for a bargain. Consider how much you have into the item. If you have an item from around the house, you may consider that something is better than nothing, so you may be inclined to start the bidding quite low. If you bought it with the specific intention to resell, you will, at the very minimum, want to break even, so take the price you paid for it and consider other costs, i.e. listing fees, final value fees (all explained in your lifeline – eBay seller overview above). People are much more apt to bid if the bidding starts LOW. Sometimes though, you will have collectibles that are worth a chunk of money. Don’t give away that vintage postcard that is worth $56! Do your homework.
The next big question is how do you get paid? You determine what you would accept. Online payments such as PayPal (paypal.com) are very convenient. You can also decide that you’ll accept money orders or personal checks. The more options you leave your buyers, the more likelihood you’ll get more bids.
You also need to decide how you want to ship your items to the winners. Many sellers use USPS, others prefer UPS. If you use USPS and ship via Priority Mail, you can get your envelopes and boxes free from USPS. If you ship First Class or Parcel Post or UPS, you’ll have to shop around for deals on boxes or envelopes and bubble wrap or packing peanuts.
Overwhelmed yet? Yes there is a lot to learn, but it’s not nuclear science. Just take it one step at a time. It’s a learning process. Some yahoo groups (or MSN or AOL, or whatever your preference) are great sources for support and camaraderie with others who are doing the same.
So in summary, if you want to just “start pushing buttons” and learn on your own, YOU CAN DO IT. If you do better chatting with others, those resources are available too. Use what is available.
Posted by auction at 02:35 PM | Comments (0)
February 08, 2006
Keeping records of your Ebay business: Part 2
In part one of this ebay article series we introduced you to the importance of keeping a proper paperwork trail of everything pertaining to your ebay home business profits. We discussed how keeping detailed records of every area of your ebay home business was not only beneficial for tax purposes but at the same time it is the only way to seriously track and tweak your ebay home business for long term success.
Also in part one, we then closed the end of the ebay home business article by explaining the definitions of gross profit and gross profit margin. These two categories of incoming profits are important to help you understand what you are earning and which direction you want those earnings to go in.
Before you get bored again, let me remind you that I know you would rather be talking about selling and spending all of the millions you will make with your ebay home business! But trust me, these dry topics on paperwork, records, and taxes are exactly what you need to become an expert at in order to create long term stability with your ebay home business.
Ok, back to business. In today's article we are going to help you understand your tax responsibilities. If you were like me at the beginning of my ebay home business, then you probably can find any reason possible NOT to go through the trouble of keeping formal bookkeeping records of your ebay business. Unfortunately for us small business people, the IRS tax law overrules whatever reason we have to justify not keeping the books up do date for our ebay home business. The law states that you must keep very detailed records of your ebay income, your ebay expenses, your assets, and even your liabilities.
By keeping these ebay home business records accurately recorded, you will be enabled to properly report on your tax return every bit of income that comes in from that ebay home business. You will also then be able to claim any and all write-offs that are connected to your business.
What are "Write-offs"? They are deductions that you can subtract when having the tax paperwork completed for your ebay home business. Let me give you an example:
Let's say that you sell Antique products as your main source of income for your ebay home business. Each day you get in your car and drive around town and visit flee markets, swap meets, and yard sales to find hot deals on Antiques. You will then turn around and resell these same Antiques on Ebay for big time profits. Your tax responsibility here is to keep track of the exact mileage you used up in your vehicle. This information can be used as a tax write-off. And of course don't forget to save your gas receipts for extra tax benefits!
Next I'm going to bring up an ugly word that give many ebay home business owners the chills. The "audit". If you are unfamiliar with the term audit or have never experienced getting audited then allow me to explain it to you.
As much as you may not like their reach of power, the IRS has the legal right to view all of your ebay home business records if they should ask. This is not an assumption, it is the truth. Should this happen, then you will be what is called "audited". And if you are one of those unlucky ones that are audited then you had better be prepared with detailed, complete, and truthful business records. You do not want to have missed important tax claims or filed inaccurate reports in the past because if an audit should happen then those negative actions could jeopardize your ebay home business.
Last but not least, we are going to leave you with understanding what financial type records that you will need to show to a bank if you are applying for a loan to help expand and grow your ebay home business. The first one is called a balance sheet. The second is called an income statement.
Income Statement: An income statement consists of a list of your assets, liabilities and what you have invested into your business. And by the way, any amount of funding that you "invested" into your ebay home business is called equity.
Income Statement: This statement is simply a list showing all of the income and all of the expenses of your ebay home business within a specified period of time. This "specified period of time" is usually quarterly or yearly, depending on how often you attend to your taxes.
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Jason James is a 10 year Internet marketing veteran and an eBay Power Seller of 4 years. His website "The Auction Resource Network" reveals his inside secrets, tips, and sources that help him pocket over $10,000 per month on eBay. His proven step-by-step system shows even users with little or no business experience how they too can make huge profits selling products at online auctions.
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Posted by auction at 02:57 PM | Comments (0)
December 29, 2005
Estimating an Item’s Value for Sale on eBay
Proper pricing of items to be listed for sale on eBay is one of the most important aspects of generating interest in one’s on-line auction listing.
If the price is too high, interest will be low, and the possibility of a sale decreases.
If the price is too low, the seller generates enormous traffic, yet the final bid might be too low to satisfy the seller’s need for a profit.
The following steps will aid in the process of pricing an item for sale on eBay.
Step 1: Determine How Much the Original Item was Worth
First of all, one must find out how much the item cost when it was new. This helps the seller set realistic goals as to how much they can expect to profit when the item is sold.
The seller must remember that the going price for the item in today’s market will be different from its original price. And depending on the demand for that item, he may get a price that is better, or worse than the original price.
The seller must also acceptance the fact that the buying power of today’s dollar is different from that of ten years ago.
Step 2: Do a Little Research
Sellers should research the current price of similar items. This gives the seller a good standard as to how much they should price their item. Searching eBay for successful auctions of similar items is one of the best ways to do this.
Step 2: How Much Has the Item Depreciated?
The seller must check the item for damages and other irregularities from a mint condition item of the same kind. They must then deduct a reasonable amount from the asking price based on their evaluation. Wear and tear on an item will definitely bring down the price of an item considerably. It is wise to make sure that items are repaired, or spruced-up before being auctioned.
Step 3: Start a Little Lower than Usual When Setting the Selling Price
It is wise to start an auction a step or two (or even three) lower than a sellers intended price. This generates interest in the item. It may be hard to believe, but auctions that start lower than the intended price actually have a better chance of overshooting the intended price.
Professional opinions are always available if the seller of an item is in doubt of the value of his or her item. Third party appraisal companies help in this regard. A list of such companies is available at the Authentication & Grading link under Protection and Authentication on eBay.
Bill Enross can help YOU start your own profitable business on the Internet within the next 24 hours! Learn more...
Posted by auction at 08:06 PM | Comments (0)
December 26, 2005
Spotting Fakes and Frauds on eBay
Fake items abound on eBay, and it takes much effort not to be duped by scammers who peddle these wares. There have been many painful stories relating how a seemingly legitimate item turned out to be either fake or defective.
It is possible, however, to avoid these scams if one is careful and vigilant. Buyers should be wary of any purchase over eBay, and should take steps to ensure the authenticity of the item and to make sure the item is in reasonable condition.
Be Vigilant
Buyers should take the initiative by doing plenty of background research. They must learn as much as possible about the products before bidding on them. If the seller provides pictures of an item, they should not be taken at face value. Comparison of these pictures with the real item helps in this regard.
Many sellers will use pictures from manufacturers that do not represent the item they are actually selling; buyers should ask the seller for actual pictures of the item. If the seller balks, buyers should refrain from bidding. Collector’s items, autographed memorabilia, and historical artifacts are common items that are misrepresented on eBay.
Authenticate
Familiarize yourself with the various bodies that certify respective items. For example, reputable merchants of autographed sports memorabilia should include a COA (certificate of authenticity) from a trusted third party. Counterfeit or misrepresented items should be reported to eBay. When buying on eBay Motors, one may have an inspection service double-check if the seller is accurately representing his automobile.
Look at the Feedback
One should analyze the feedback rating of a seller. Analyzing feedback is another helpful exercise to prevent scams. Sellers who have an established history of credible sales are usually helpful and professional to deal with. Negative feedback should be a red flag as to whether one should pursue a trade with the person. The same thing applies for those who do not have feedback ratings at all.
Buyers must be careful however, since it is possible that a scammer has hijacked an account that has positive feedback.
Buyers should make sure they have read the entire product description on its eBay listing. Things to look out for are disclaimers, damages, current item condition, years of use, and others. If this information is not specified, it would do well for the buyer to contact the seller regarding such.
The Price Theory
If the price for an item is too good to be true, it probably is. Auctions that carry outrageously low prices should be taken skeptically.
Bill Enross can help YOU start your own profitable business on the Internet within the next 24 hours! Learn more...
Posted by auction at 12:01 AM | Comments (0)
December 23, 2005
Selling Children's Items on Ebay
Selling for a profit on eBay is easy when you have kids. People are earning hundreds of dollars a month by selling kid related items. Here are some general ideas to help you get started.
Kids Items You Can Sell
Clothes, toys and videos are good money makers on eBay.
Go to eBay and look up a "lot" of size six girl's cloths. You will find they are expensive! The average price for a lot of 20 good conditioned clothes is about $35.00.
When your kids grow out of their seasonal clothes do not throw them out. Bundle them into different lots by category. For example bundle girls dresses separate from girls play clothes, but only do that if you have at least six of each different type.
Lots of any item sell better than single items unless the item is unique or high priced. For example, a hand embroidered dress that you paid a lot for would sell better by itself instead of bundled with other basic dresses.
The next item to lookup on eBay is toys. Most toys in good condition will sell for a lot of money. One idea that works well is to buy hot items in October at Wal-Mart or Toys-R-Us and sell them on eBay. Busy people are willing to pay extra for the convenience of getting the items delivered to their home. For example, last year a Mega Power Ranger came out in stores around October and sold at Wal-Mart for about $45.00. The same item sold on eBay for up to $65.00 plus shipping. The Yellow Power Ranger is yet another example where the store price was about $6.00, while the same item was selling on eBay for about $20.00.
Have your children ever received duplicate birthday or Christmas presents? You can sell those on eBay also. Look at the eBay listings for items of interest to see if selling on eBay is worth more than returning the item to the store.
Kid's videos and DVDs are also good money-makers. Bundle about three of these together, and you can usually make about $7.00-$12.00 per bundle. Bundle more and the money goes up. Disney movies in hard cases can go for a higher amount. This also works for other types of movies as well.
Save those McDonalds toys. Some Kids Meals toys sell high. Take the new Star Wars toys from Burger King...very collectible. You will find them selling on eBay from $1.00 to $5.00, not including shipping.
Ebay has a whole section devoted to dolls and bears. If your daughter doesn't want her collectible dolls anymore sell them on eBay.
Kids Crafts You Can Sell
Around the holidays, especially, have your children place their hand in paint and make a print on some quality paper. Add a holiday related poem and you have a great craft to sell on eBay.
Have your kids make gift jars with ready made mixes. For example, hot chocolate mixes in a jar with a plastic spoon tied to it with a ribbon. Dip the end of the spoon with white chocolate.
Baby Items You Can Sell
Used baby items are very profitable. Baby items cost a lot of money, especially in their first year. Any "gently" used items are generally good sellers on eBay.
If you have baby coupons that you will never use, sell them on eBay! Left over diapers and formula sell well also. A lot of 35 used cloth diapers usually sells for around $38.00 plus shipping. Four Fuzzi Bunz diapers (cloth diapers with hemp inserts) can sell for as much as $40.00.
There you have it. Plenty of ideas for selling those leftover kids items on eBay...and you can even make a nice profit while you are at it!
Bill Enross can help YOU start your own profitable business on the Internet within the next 24 hours! Learn more...
Posted by auction at 07:59 PM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2005
The eBay Blacklist
The eBay business can be most likened to an online flea market. But, as with most flea markets, there is always the possibility that questionable hawkers lurk around the corners. Therefore, there must be rules in place to insure that the auctions and transactions formed through eBay are safe and legal. Only then can a market – online or not – flourish.
Certain types of items are prohibited or regulated on eBay. eBay reserves the right to terminate auctions that violate its specifications for allowed items on listings. In the case of a violation, eBay emails the bidder and the seller to notify them of the violation and to explain the need to terminate the auction.
There are many eBay guidelines in-place that describe items that may not be posted for auction. They fall under three main categories: Prohibited, Questionable and Potentially Infringing.
Prohibited
This describes items that are not permitted on eBay. This list includes alcohol, tobacco, drugs, animals, human parts or remains, government properties, lottery tickets, and others. eBay contains a complete list of such in their policy statement.
Questionable
Items listed as questionable can be posted provided they follow certain conditions. For example, some adult material may be listed for auctioning only if they are posted in the Mature Audiences section of eBay. Event tickets may be sold provided that the auction closes before the actual event itself. The list also includes batteries, artifacts, food, used items, event tickets, weapons and knives, police related equipment, Freon, hazardous chemicals, offensive material, mature audiences material, international selling, and international buying among others.
Potentially Infringing
Items listed under this heading may be legal. However, they almost always violate copyright, trademark, and other rights. Some examples of Potentially Infringing items are: academic software, beta software, bootleg recordings, contracts and tickets, downloadable media, movie prints, OEM software, Replica and counterfeit items, and unauthorized copies.
The eBay list of problem items is updated periodically and is incorporated into the User Agreement of eBay. These guidelines do not represent legal advice. It would do well to check with law enforcement agencies, a lawyer, or other legal outlets to verify the legality of a questionable item to be posted.
This policy applies even if you offer to give your item away for free. As long as it is posted on eBay, it is subject to the above policy.
As a final note, it is stressed that a eBay buyer is subject to liability if he or she purchases an illegal item. It is still the responsibility of the buyers and sellers to monitor the legality of their transactions since eBay is merely a facilitator in the market process.
Bill Enross can help YOU start your own profitable business on the Internet within the next 24 hours! Learn more...
Posted by auction at 09:52 PM | Comments (0)
December 06, 2005
Selling Real Estate on eBay
Selling real estate over the internet may sound like an awkward idea. However, the exposure the real estate receives over such a widespread media like the internet is every realtor’s dream.
Can eBay be used to market real estate? The answer is a resounding ‘yes!’
eBay provides functionality that is clearly adaptable to the needs of most realtors. It provides a widespread medium of advertisement for the real estate. It is also a relatively inexpensive method of advertising.
One of the best things about selling real estate on eBay is that it "markets" to many areas around the world, not just a local area. Advertising on eBay makes the property available to more than 100 million potential buyers, including those from other countries. Visitors can browse through the property details 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – all without the realtor having to explain the details about the property to every single prospect wanting information.
Advertising Your Real Estate on eBay
When one has a house or other real estate to sell, he or she may list it for auction on the eBay Real Estate site. This is found at http://www.pages.ebay.com/realestate.
There are many different ways to present the property for sale on eBay. If the realtor seeks to sell the estate at a fixed price instead of having the property go through an auction, he may request eBay to display a real estate listing in a format much like a local paper.
eBay’s Real Estate page has three selling formats. These are the auction, fixed price selling, and the traditional real estate listing.
For each of these selling formats, the "user" furnishes additional information regarding his or her property. Details may include lot size, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, type of property, year built, and other information. The auction listing period must also be specified, where the choices range from 1-, 3-, 5-, 7-, 10-, or 30-days, or a 30- or 90-day non-auction listing.
The eBay Real Estate website charges two types of fees for listing a property. There is a simple fee for listing the property and also a fee is based on the final amount of the property sale. The charge for a 1-, 3-, 5-, 7-, or 10-day auction listing is typically around $100. A 30-day auction listings cost about $150. A non-auction listing costs $150 for 30-day listing, and about $300 for a 90-day listing.
Fees for Timeshare property and land are usually slightly lower. The final fee amount for Timeshares and land is generally about $35.
Selling real estate on eBay is growing in popularity as the internet stretches it's outreach to more countries. Although nothing beats direct and personal inspection of property, the convenience of having eBay connect seller and potential buyer is definitely appreciated.
Bill Enross can help YOU start your own profitable business
on the Internet within the next 24 hours! Learn more...
Posted by auction at 04:44 PM | Comments (0)
December 01, 2005
Avoiding eBay Buying Pitfalls
As with any market, trading on eBay is not without its hassles and snags.
First of all, it should be duly noted that eBay is an online market/transaction facilitator. It merely becomes a means for the buyer and the seller to meet.
Because of its online nature, eBay’s auction listing provides the buyers with a wide selection of goods. The buyers are also enabled to review the seller through the seller’s feedback rating. This helps the buyer decide whether or not to pursue the trade.
The sellers on the other hand, benefit from a wider audience due to the popularity of the Internet and eBay. eBay enables them to post easily, quickly, and extensively.
When eBay connects buyer and seller, the transactions truly begin…as well as the headaches.
Even with the automated nature of most of today’s transactions, eBay is still built on the basic foundation of trading: trust.
A good deal of trust is involved in eBay trading. The buyer has to trust that the seller is listing a legitimate item, and that he or she will deliver that item when paid. The seller, on the other hand, has to trust the buyer to pay fully and without any hidden catches.
Here are a few of the problems one may encounter when using eBay.
- Seller does not deliver product
This is a buyer’s biggest fear. However, it is also one of the most common snags buyers encounter. Usually, when closing a deal, the seller will email purchase instructions to the buyer. This will usually include instructions for payment. The seller will then promise to have the item delivered upon receipt of payment.
If the buyer, after fulfilling his or her part, does not receive the item within the agreed upon date, he or she should immediately try contacting the seller. If this proves to be fruitless, he or she should file a complaint with eBay for assistance regarding the transaction.
- Seller delivers a different/defective product
Sometimes the trading is smooth. Everything goes according to schedule. However, upon receipt of the item, the buyer finds out that the item is significantly different from its description on eBay.
What should the buyer do about this?
Good communication between the buyer and seller usually brings about a speedy and satisfying end to any trading dispute. This should always be the first step when handling a dispute.
- Seller cannot be contacted for questions when closing deal
Most disputes come about due to miscommunication between seller and buyer. But if the seller can not be contacted, that presents a bigger problem for the buyer – especially if that person has already fulfilled payment of the item. Contacting eBay may help to resolve this problem and they are sometimes willing to supply further information about the seller.
Bill Enross can help YOU start your own profitable business
on the Internet within the next 24 hours! Learn more...
Posted by auction at 07:35 PM | Comments (0)
October 31, 2005
eBay Bid Withdrawal
When and How to Withdraw Your eBay Bid (and Why You Might Not Want To).
eBay are a little strict about letting you withdraw your bid. They call it a ‘bid retraction’, and have a stringent set of conditions that you must meet before you are allowed to do it. Here are eBay’s three acceptable reasons for withdrawing a bid.
You made a typographical error: This means that you accidentally typed the wrong amount into the bid box, bidding a far higher price than you meant to. This can be scary: imagine bidding $100 and accidentally adding an extra ‘0’! You are entirely allowed to withdraw your bid in this situation, and bid again if you want to.
The item’s description changed: If you bid on something and then the seller updates the description, you have the right to withdraw your bid. It wouldn’t be fair, after all, to force you to take something that you now realise you don’t want.
The seller is uncontactable: If emails to the seller bounce and they don’t answer their phone, then the auction obviously can’t continue, and you can cancel it.
So How Do I Retract My Bid?
eBay hide away the bid retraction form a bit, because they don’t like people using it. You can find it by going here: http://cgi1.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?RetractBidShow.
Now all you need is the item number from your auction: this can be found on the item description page’s top right corner. If you can’t see it on the page, look in your browser’s title bar, and in any emails eBay have sent you about your bid on the item. Choose one of the three allowed reasons, click ‘retract bid’, and you’re done.
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Are There Any Consequences?
Well yes, there are. The more unethical among you might have considered that you could just cancel bids anytime you feel like it by saying that you accidentally entered the wrong amount. eBay are one step ahead of you. Each time you retract a bid, it is counted on your feedback page for all to see – and anyone with a lot of retracted bids looks more than a little dodgy. eBay also say that abusing the bid retraction feature could get you banned.
So is there a way to retract your bid without facing a penalty? There is if your seller is nice, and most are. Sellers can cancel bids on their auctions at any time, and if you email them with a half-decent excuse then most will be more than happy to do this for you. After all, it’s not in their interest for their item to go to someone who won’t like it, as you might leave negative feedback.
Of course, retracting your bid should still be a rare thing: you won’t win auctions that way! If you’ve followed us this far, the chances are you’ve won an auction by now, or you’re close – but you might be a little puzzled about what to do next. Our next email will give you a few pointers.
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Jason James is a 10 year Internet marketing veteran and an eBay Power Seller of 4 years. His website "The Auction Resource Network" reveals his inside secrets, tips, and sources that help him pocket over $10,000 per month on eBay. His proven step-by-step system shows even users with little or no business experience how they too can make huge profits selling products at online auctions.
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Posted by auction at 10:37 PM | Comments (0)
October 27, 2005
Top Ebay Business Secrets Revealed
Ten million-let me say that number again-over ten million people visited the Ebay website last month. With everything from online auctions to drop shipping opportunities, the Ebay business website has something for everyone. If you are thinking about joining in on the hysteria and trying to make your fortune with an Ebay business of your own, here are some of the best things you can do to maximize your chances for success.
Do Your Homework
To begin with, you want to know as much as possible about the items you plan on offering on the Ebay auctions. This not only helps you create more interesting descriptions, but it also helps when trying to answer the barrage of questions that inevitably fly at you from potential buyers. The more knowledgeable you appear, the more likely you are to make a sale!
You also need to know if there is actually a market out there for what you are planning to sell. While you might occasionally hear about some off-the-wall item commanding big money at auction, these are the exceptions and not something to base your Ebay business upon. Run a search on the item and see how many items for that keyword come up to get an idea about your potential market. Chances of success are poor if no one else is selling a similar item.
Keywords and Descriptions Will Make or Break You
People find their way to Ebay auctions by using keywords to find the items they want. Your listing will use keywords to draw people in to bid on your item. If you try employing a keyword that no one uses, then who will come to bid on your item?
There are websites out there that will allow you to type in a keyword and see how many people used that keyword in the past month. These sites are free and a great way to test the keyword you intend to use. Just go to any search engine and type in "free keyword selector tool" and a number of sites will come up offering help finding the perfect keyword to attract people to bid on your item.
Once you have the people coming in to look at your item you are going to need a great description in order to get them to actually bid. If you are not the best writer but are serious about succeeding with your Ebay business, you may want to consider hiring a freelance writer to compose stunning descriptions that will awe people into bidding on your item. But, by doing your homework, it is usually possible to write a great description simply by being knowledgeable about the item and simply conveying some of that knowledge in your description.
Post Items During "Hot Periods"
Anyone serious about succeeding with their Ebay business needs to know when to post items and when to hold onto them. Online auctions offering leather jackets in July may solicit a few bids but they will obviously be lower than they would be had the item been posted in late fall or early winter. If you have an odd item and are not sure what the best time would be to post it on Ebay auctions, try searching for the item on the Internet. Find out what the current buzz is or whether there is any for your item. Also, try finding other sellers on the Ebay business site offering the same item. If you find a lot of people selling the same item now, then clearly it is a good time to post. Timing can really make a difference in the final price you receive for your item.
Now there are of course other things you need to do if you want your Ebay business to succeed such as: post the item in the right category, make buying easy by offering a number of payment options, and keeping your shipping costs to a minimum. All of these are essentials to a successful Ebay business but are not likely to have the same effect upon your chances of success like the other ideas mentioned earlier.
There is no doubt that Ebay auctions are a great way to make some serious money. By doing your homework, using the right keywords and descriptions, and by posting during the hot periods for your items, you significantly increase the odds of your Ebay business succeeding and making all of your financial dreams a reality. So what are you waiting for?
Start doing your homework now!
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Jason James is a 10 year Internet marketing veteran and an eBay Power Seller of 4 years. His website "The Auction Resource Network"reveals his inside secrets, tips, and sources that help him pocket over $10,000 per month on eBay. His proven step-by-step system shows even users with little or no business experience how they too can make huge profits selling products at online auctions.
Posted by auction at 12:19 AM | Comments (0)
October 25, 2005
10 Tips for Being a Better Seller on eBay
If you’ve got this far, you’ve got the basics of eBay. There are a few things left, though, that you might not have thought of trying. Quite a few of these tips go against the advice many give for eBay selling – some are a little risky and some are just odd. They’re all worth a try, though, and I’m sure you’ll find at least some you want to keep using.
1. Keep more records. It might sound time consuming, but you’ll actually find it easier in the long run – less time spent trying to figure out which item that cheque you got this morning is for.
2. Post without payment. Don’t even wait for payment to clear! That might sound risky, but it’ll mean that the buyers get their items more quickly – for small items, you might find it worth the occasional loss to give such quick service.
3. Post every day. Once you start shifting a high volume of items, go and post them every day – again, they’ll get there more quickly, making your customers very happy. The best way to do this is if you have items small enough to drop in a postbox.
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Sidebar - Why not grab your free copy of the eBay Sellers
Guide available on the right side of this web page right now!
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4. Encourage an auction mentality. Don’t have a Buy it Now price, and make it very clear when it’s the last or only stock you’ll be getting in. Always refer to winning bidders as ‘winners’.
5. Mention every defect your item has. Now why would you do that, you might ask? The answer is that it builds credibility: the small hit you take from the slight flaws is nothing compared to the big boost in trust you get for admitting it. People bid more when they trust the seller.
6. Say how you got the item. Don’t be afraid to go off on a tangent and give all sorts of fun details of how you got hold of what you’re selling – it gives your auction character and, again, builds trust.
7. Accept odd payment methods. Sooner or later you’re going to get a buyer who wants to pay by sending cash in an envelope, or something equally unusual. Why not let them? Be flexible.
8. Don’t be afraid to sell low. Let the occasional item go for a really low price to a good buyer. You might only just break even on the item, but the person who got that bargain will be back again and again.
9. Give free shipping for a certain number of orders, or orders over a certain amount. People might buy something else they don’t want as much, just to get the free shipping. (Amazon use this strategy to great effect).
10. Ship worldwide. Take the time to investigate the prices, and be nice to international customers – imagine how much you’re expanding your market. That’s not to mention the effect of people bidding highly for items that are rare in their country.
Another way to make it easier is to be a better seller is to use some of the many third party eBay tools that are available. The next email will take a look at a selection of tools you might find useful.
Speaking of tools, check out this eBay resource I use daily.
Posted by auction at 01:23 PM | Comments (0)
October 17, 2005
10 Sure-fire Ways to Kill Your eBay Business
It’s surprisingly easy to kill your eBay business, if you’re not careful – sure, you can start over from scratch without it costing you anything, but do you really want to? Still, if you want your business to end up dead in the water, here are some simple ways to do it.
1. Lie about an item: Say it works fine when it sometimes doesn’t work. Say it’s in perfect condition when it has a scratch. Your customers will hate you!
2. Post whenever you feel like it: Make sure to leave your customers hanging around, wondering when their item is going to turn up. This makes sure they buy from someone else next time.
3. Let items end anytime: Few people will be around to care about your auction if it ends in the middle of the night. Why go to the trouble of working out whether auctions will end at a good time?
4. Don’t bother with email: Customers are just timewasters anyway. eBay businesses are supposed to run themselves! Never give informed responses to questions about your item.
4. Sell rubbish: Really, it’s just eBay. You can just sell any old tat from the market for a 200% profit. Let quality be someone else’s concern – I mean, really, what do they expect for that price?
5. Refuse to give discounts: You know what your items cost, you know what your profit margin is going to be, and you’re not going to negotiate. Remember that giving customers special deals might make them feel good and come back to you again.
6. Make your listings ugly: As many colours, flashing lights and animations as possible will really give those customers a headache. Write as much in CAPITALS!!!! as you can. Preferably big, red capitals. Be sure to use the fonts Impact and Comic Sans. For an extra special touch, see if you can figure out a way to add some music.
7. Don’t take photos: It’s such trouble, after all. If buyers are picky enough to actually want to see items before they bid on them, then screw ‘em, that’s what I say.
8. Write short descriptions: Be as brief as possible, and use lots of mysterious abbreviations. This obviously makes you look very cool. You can even just write the title again in the description box. Think of the effort you’ll save!
9. Use reserve auctions: Now, this is a fairly controversial final choice, but it really is one of the best ways to scare away your customers. They’ll see ‘reserve not yet met’, and click that ‘back’ button before you know it. Luckily, they can always bid in a normal auction for the item somewhere else.
10. Now that you know the ten ways to kill your eBay business, how about we explore what to do if you want to do the opposite, and make a success of it? The next email will give you ten steps to successful selling on eBay.
Posted by auction at 07:07 AM | Comments (0)
August 31, 2005
The Rich Jerk
Have you heard about the Rich Jerk?
I'll give you a warning about him later, I wasn't even sure I should mention him.
He's an internet marketing millionaire who has developed a lot of tactics for creating income from web sites and affiliate programs. (He recently sold a web site of his on eBay for an amazing $369,000)
And like a lot of other "gurus" he just wrote an eBook about his methods.
That's where the similarities end.
Because the Rich Jerk's book talks about some very controversial tactics. Like "black hat" search engine cloaking. And questionable rebate tactics. Stuff I wouldn't personally use.
But...
He also reveals tips for Pay Per Click advertising that will work wonders in competitive keyword situations. He talks about how to structure "review" sites that promote ClickBank products for maximum profits.
He offers great advice for eBayers looking for quality drop shippers, and how to avoid scams.
I have to admit that I learned many tactics and ideas that I have never heard before in any of the seminars I have attended nor any of the eBooks and courses I have read.
He's got some great ideas on PPC arbitrage and using low-cost keywords and search engines to make money with AdSense.
He's also got some solid search engine optimization strategies to get any site ranked higher.
This is not a "comprehensive guide" type book. It is not for complete beginners who still need to learn the basics.
Consider it a "tactics resource", any one of which could pay back the cost of the book many times over. There is zero fluff in this book. Every page holds ideas that could help your sites do better, whether you have your own product or not.
-- The Warning --
And now here's the warning. The salesletter and the book are obnoxious. This guy is so full of himself and his success that it almost makes you want to find out who he is and cut him down a peg.
I don't know if this is part of his marketing schtick for the book or if he really is that way. (My guess is that it's the marketing because in a couple of emails to me, he came across as a normal, polite guy.)
Personally, I can separate the delivery style from the content because the content is that good.
But if you don't have a thick skin, don't bother to visit the link:
On the other hand, if you want to learn some secrets that are extremely effective, I can guarantee you will find them here.
The Rich Jerk is nor for everyone. In fact, it's appeal is limited to those who can get past the style and focus on the substance. But the fact is, there is a boatload of tactical knowledge in this book. I know it has already helped me.
Crank up your Ego Filter and have a look: The Rich Jerk
Jeff Mulligan
CBMall
SearchFeast
Posted by auction at 04:22 PM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2005
About eBay
Founded in September 1995, eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) is The World's Online Marketplace® for the sale of goods and services by a diverse community of individuals and small businesses. Today, the eBay community includes more than a hundred million registered members from around the world. People spend more time on eBay than any other online site, making it the most popular shopping destination on the Internet.
- Mission
eBay's mission is to provide a global trading platform where practically anyone can trade practically anything.
- Marketplace
On an average day, there are millions of items listed on eBay. People come to eBay to buy and sell items in thousands of categories from collectibles like trading cards, antiques, dolls, and housewares to practical items like used cars, clothing, books and CDs, and electronics. Buyers have the option to purchase items in an auction-style format or items can be purchased at a fixed price through a feature called Buy It Now.
People from all over the world buy and sell on eBay. Currently, eBay has local sites that serve Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition, eBay has a presence in Latin America through its investment MercadoLibre.com.
eBay offers a wide variety of educational tools, features, and services that enable members to buy and sell on the site quickly, safely, and conveniently. These services include online payments by PayPal, tips on safe trading, and the Developers Program for community members who would like to develop their own technology solutions.
Posted by auction at 04:19 PM | Comments (0)
