| To sell successfully on eBay... any business or person | | | | not have any way to get those listing fees back if you |
| should establish themselves as a trusted merchant. | | | | need to make a change which requires canceling a |
| Once an image of trust is formed you can use your | | | | listing. So check your work.eBay and PayPal feeseBay |
| eBay listings as a tool to promote your business and | | | | charges you a small fee to list your item, and you'll |
| your products at the same time to the entire world at | | | | have to pay a Final Value Fee if it sells. Listings fees |
| a very low cost. | | | | range from 11 cents to $300.00 depending on the |
| Graphics and content usually command the buyers | | | | starting price and what category you list in ($300.00 if |
| attention online. But as in any business, everything | | | | the listing fee for a 90 day Real Estate Classified |
| starts with customer service. All the pretty graphics | | | | listing). Final Value Fees are calculated as a |
| and fancy descriptions in the world will not maintain and | | | | percentage of the sale price. All of eBay's fees for |
| grow your business if your do not follow the rules and | | | | listing and final value can be found here: |
| deliver the products. If you and/or your business do not | | | | Keep an eye out for cheap listing days when you can |
| know the basics of eBay selling, it will be very difficult | | | | benefit from a reduced fee. |
| to maintain an image of an established and reputable | | | | PayPal, the safest and most secure method of |
| online merchant. Learning the basics is where | | | | payment, will also charge you every time you receive |
| everything starts in this world. Online or not, you must | | | | a payment. You'll pay a flat fee of 30 cents plus 2.9% |
| know the ropes to succeed. | | | | of the amount being transferred. With an increased |
| The following primer is intended as a quick start guide | | | | volume of PayPal payments you will qualify for |
| for listing a single item on eBay using the free and | | | | reduced rates as a business. |
| easy tools eBay provides to the average eBay seller. | | | | Fees are essential to determining your best selling |
| Obviously the goal is to become an above average | | | | price for any item. As a general rule of thumb, with a |
| eBay seller... To do so, your business will require more | | | | small margin for error on an average item selling for |
| advanced tools available through eBay solutions | | | | less than $500.00, figure the cost of eBay and PayPal |
| providers. | | | | combined at 10% per successful transaction. |
| First things first though... It is a great idea to simply jump | | | | Managing your auction |
| in and try eBay selling for yourself. If you have an | | | | The job is not over once the listing is posted. When |
| eBay account already in your name, but have never | | | | your listing is "Live" on eBay the world is now part of |
| sold before... Go ahead and set up a seller account | | | | your retail store. Customers will come in and out and |
| with your established eBay name, or create a new | | | | look at your merchandise 24 hours a day. |
| one, and use this "personal" account to learn about the | | | | Some of these customers will want to ask questions. |
| necessary steps for eBay selling. This is a good way | | | | They will usually do this via the eBay email messaging |
| to research eBay as a sales tool for your business or | | | | system. These eBay emails will be forwarded to your |
| company. Doing so will give you a hands on idea about | | | | registered eMail account.eMail security Note: - It is very |
| how eBay works.eBay is an unmatched resource for | | | | important for your security and that of your customers |
| any business in many ways beyond simply selling | | | | to never respond to a eBay member question via your |
| product. It all must start with the simple act of selling | | | | registered eMail account. Always go to your "My |
| one item however - | | | | eBay" control panel and select "messages" to read |
| Let's get started! | | | | and respond to customer messages. eBay tries very |
| Registering as a seller | | | | hard to reduce the fake or phishing scam emails but |
| Before you start, you'll need to make sure you are | | | | the task is nearly impossible. Some emails will look |
| registered with eBay. Registering is a very easy and | | | | very official in your registered email account inbox but |
| painless process. | | | | unless those messages are also within the eBay |
| Simply click on the "Register" tab at the top of the | | | | messaging system, they are not real and to answer |
| homepage and follow the instructions. To minimize | | | | one is a mistake. - Never sign in to eBay from any |
| fraud and protect buyers, you're required to provide a | | | | email sent to your account! |
| credit or debit card to verify your identity. Make sure | | | | Once your listing is posted online the fun is just |
| you also sign up for a PayPal account at the same | | | | beginning. Some potential buyers will ask you questions |
| time if you do not already have one. | | | | about the item, and it's good practice to reply as |
| PayPal is the easiest way to accept payments on | | | | quickly as possible. You might want to add to your |
| eBay and even though some sellers qualify for better | | | | listing if you think your answer would be useful to other |
| rates elsewhere, it is always advantageous to your | | | | buyers. Doing this also indicates to other bidders that |
| business to at least accept PayPal payments even if | | | | you respond in a prompt and professional manner. |
| you prefer to use your own credit card processing. | | | | You can keep track on your item's progress using the |
| Writing a listing | | | | "My eBay" tab at the top of the eBay homepage. Use |
| Writing and eBay description can be as simple or as | | | | this function to see how many bids you've received, |
| difficult as you want to make it. Always try to keep in | | | | the price you've achieved and how many people are |
| mind that you are providing a description of your | | | | watching your item. |
| product for a BUYER. Write about the benefits of | | | | Quick Tip - If your item has a great deal of "watchers" |
| your product not just the specifications. Sell the sizzle | | | | and you have a reserve price or Buy it Now price on |
| and be honest. Buyers respond to honesty, especially | | | | the item, consider lowering these prices by a small |
| with used items. Show the flaws, tell the honest and | | | | amount about 24 hours before the end of the auction. |
| forthright truth about your merchandise. Writing an | | | | eBay will notify each watcher of your item via eMail |
| eBay listing doesn't always look straightforward to | | | | that you have lowered the price. Your price only |
| beginners. Keeping a few simple rules in mind will help. | | | | needs to be lowered by a small amount to get a free |
| Take your time: set aside an hour to get the listing right. | | | | promotional email delivered directly to your prospective |
| You'll get quicker with experience. Once you launch a | | | | buyers! |
| listing it could get a bid right away, when a listing has a | | | | Ride it Out! |
| bid eBay will not allow any revisions to the original text. | | | | As an anxious first-time seller, it can be disconcerting |
| Spell check and get it right from the start! | | | | not to receive any bids in the first few days of the |
| Make it easy: List a product you are familiar with. If you | | | | auction. You might be worried that you made a |
| carry a particular best seller in your retail store or | | | | mistake when listing the item. Do not despair - eBay is |
| business, list that item first. | | | | becoming more advanced each day and so are eBay |
| Think Keywords! Buyers find your listing from the title | | | | buyers. The seasoned buyers know to wait before |
| you place online. Proper Keywords increase sales! | | | | bidding because they do not want to drive up the price |
| The anatomy of a listing | | | | or show their hand. |
| An eBay listing requires information about the item, you | | | | Inexperienced bidders will bid immediately but savvy |
| enter this information into the "Sell your item" form... | | | | eBay buyer waits till the last minute or uses a "sniping" |
| Using the eBay "sell your item" form will introduce you | | | | program to buy your item in the last seconds of the |
| to all of the necessary steps required to list a single | | | | auction. This invariably creates a "last minute flurry" of |
| item on eBay. When you have mastered this method | | | | activity and your item may surge in price from $50.00 |
| of getting product online via eBay you may be | | | | to $5000.00 in a matter of 10 seconds. Keep your cool, |
| interested in third party applications which make this | | | | only lower that price once to get your emails out to |
| process much easier and repeatable. For now, lets | | | | the "watchers" and hold firm. You can't cancel or |
| look at the basics...eBay helps you build your listing or | | | | change the item with the last 12 hours in any case. |
| auction for you step by step, from assigning | | | | Quick Tip - When building your auction, make sure to |
| categories to setting the price. Click on "Sell" to get the | | | | include a "counter" so that you can see how many |
| "Sell your item" form. | | | | people are stopping by: it's a free option in the "Sell |
| Category: you need to list your item in one of the | | | | your item" form. |
| 13,000 categories of goods listed on eBay, from | | | | Safety for sellers |
| musical instruments to concert tickets. Choosing the | | | | Some sellers will go into great detail within their listings |
| right category helps buyers find you. It can be difficult | | | | telling buyers all of the forms of payment they will not |
| to choose the best categories for some items, but | | | | take. This is done on the chance that a payment is |
| eBay's category selector in the "Sell your item" form | | | | fake or fraudulent. This is of course a concern but it is |
| can help. You can list your item in two categories if | | | | a concern of any business and is considered a cost of |
| you like, but the cost of listing the item you wish to sell | | | | doing business in most retail circles. Protect yourself |
| will double. | | | | from these fraudulent payments by clearly stating your |
| Title: give your item a winning title to help buyers | | | | policy to not ship the item until the payment clears your |
| searching eBay find you. Cram your title full of | | | | banking institution. Use any length of time you wish to |
| descriptive keywords that people will be looking for. | | | | estimate the delay of shipment resulting from a less |
| Include the name brand of the item, the color, and size | | | | than stellar form of payment. Then offer quick shipping |
| if any. You should also take a look at similar items | | | | if the buyer uses your most secure and preferred |
| selling on eBay to get an idea about what keyword | | | | form of payment. This is a trick I have used since |
| terms other more experienced sellers are using | | | | starting on eBay in 1998 and I have only received a |
| successfully to sell similar items. Later you will look at | | | | couple of bad checks. I accept every form of |
| signing up for free and paid research tools like | | | | payment available and do so happily. But nothing ships |
| Terapeak or Hammertap to help with this research. | | | | until I can see that payment safely within my account. |
| You have 55 characters to fill up with words that | | | | Stand out from the crowd |
| buyers search for. Don't rely on guesswork - use | | | | If you are using the very basic sell your item form it is |
| Pulse ( to get the inside scoop on what buyers are | | | | difficult to stand out from the crowd. eBay offers |
| searching for. | | | | additional features on the "Sell your item" form to help |
| Description: provide a written description of what | | | | you get more attention from buyers. These features |
| you're selling. Describe your item as if you don't have a | | | | such as bold fonts, highlighting and "Homepage |
| photograph. Write your blurb in a text editor and then | | | | Featured" will give you more prominence, but unless |
| copy and paste the text into the "Sell your item" form | | | | you have a honed listing, the fee based extras are not |
| (after removing all formatting). Be honest and | | | | good value. We only recommend the gallery image |
| exhaustive. Include the good, the bad and the ugly: if | | | | selection as an upgrade. To really "Stand out from the |
| the item is damaged, say so. Read the eBay rules | | | | crowd" you may want to invest in your own eBay |
| regarding keyword spam. eBay forms on using tricks | | | | listing template design or a combination of listing |
| such as using the phrase "like Prada" or "Similar to | | | | template and eBay store design. This is really the only |
| Rolex" when your item is not a Prada or Rolex | | | | way to project your brand image to the browsers on |
| branded piece of merchandise. Just stick with the | | | | eBay and to stand out as a serious seller. |
| facts but do it will style and use the benefits of your | | | | Timing |
| items to sell the buyer on why they want to purchase | | | | When you're selling on eBay you choose the duration |
| from you! | | | | of your listing. Generally it's advisable to use seven-day |
| Photographs: Proper photos are essential to stellar | | | | or 10-day listings (additional fee) to get the most |
| sales, so make them clear and crisp. Try to use natural | | | | exposure, but if you're selling something like a concert |
| lighting rather than the small flash on your point and | | | | ticket, or if you have items which are in high demand, |
| shoot digital camera. Keep the background solid and | | | | like Wii Games or Hannah Montana collectibles a |
| only have one subject in your photograph. Using | | | | shorter listing would be best. (Turning inventory is |
| scantily clad models may sell product but be careful of | | | | preferable to long exposure). |
| your image. When selling something of high value | | | | If you start a seven-day listing, it ends exactly seven |
| include more than one image, at multiple angles, and | | | | days later: make sure that your listing ends at an hour |
| progress around your item with the images to give a | | | | which will allow your item its best chance of selling |
| complete picture of what it is your selling. Pictures sell | | | | (these hours of the day change depending upon the |
| and video is even better... Later we will discuss | | | | item, the best way to learn the best times to end an |
| inserting YouTube video of your items in your auctions | | | | auction on any item is to use Terapeak research |
| or listings - a killer sales tactic! | | | | tools). Many sellers swear by ending their listings on |
| Pricing: Protect yourself by starting your auction at the | | | | Thursday and Sunday evenings when eBay is busiest. |
| lowest possible price you're willing to accept. | | | | Packaging |
| Remember that lower start prices do attract more | | | | Take the utmost care when packaging your items for |
| bids, earlier in the auction. If you have some good | | | | shipment. The U.S.P.S. has many resources available to |
| feedback and have created a good listing, think about | | | | help you learn how to ship if you are not set up |
| starting your auction off at .99 cents. Starting this low | | | | already, (they even provide free boxes). Whatever |
| will attract interest and, bids - the more bids the more | | | | method you use to ship, be sure your items are |
| traffic to your listing. Traffic to your listing increases | | | | packed well and insured with some form of tracking |
| bids, get the picture? eBay is a marketplace which | | | | capability. |
| establishes true market value of merchandise... If you | | | | Quick Tip - Use your business card as a return label |
| place your product correctly, the market will respond | | | | on the outside of the box and throw some inside the |
| favorably. | | | | box - Your buyer may remember you and you can |
| Shipping: Using the included eBay shipping calculator is | | | | get direct off eBay sales this way! |
| essential to sales. People are very aware of the | | | | Follow Up |
| shipping scams other sellers have been using for | | | | Always save your feedback as a seller. This is a |
| years on eBay. (You know the story: $25 >1lb item | | | | policy which will save your feedback rating for when |
| listed for .99 cents on eBay with flat rate shipping rate | | | | you need it most. Follow up with your buyers about 10 |
| of $24.99...). To sell any item your shipping costs must | | | | days after your shipment to be sure everything went |
| be competitive. If you have an established account | | | | well and to ask for positive feedback. If there was a |
| with UPS or Fedex you should consider including free | | | | problem, resolve it quickly and with little friction. But if |
| shipping for a Buy it Now price... Buyers love free | | | | you do receive negative feedback do not panic. You |
| shipping! | | | | can always ask the buyer to mutually remove |
| Listing your item | | | | negative feedback if you have saved yours for this |
| Once you have put together all of the parts of a listing | | | | purpose. Some buyers will leave a negative by |
| and assembled them in your sell your item form on | | | | mistake or because they had a bad day. These |
| eBay you will have a better idea of how the whole | | | | buyers do not want a negative on their account any |
| process works for the next item you plan to list. Keys | | | | more than you do... It's a tough world out there; |
| to remember: | | | | sometimes we have to see it through business-like |
| Check spelling across the board in every field. | | | | eyes. Your feedback is your business reputation on |
| Make sure you have accurate shipping information | | | | eBay and you should protect it with all of your capable |
| entered: Size of the box, weight, your zip, etc... Getting | | | | efforts to do so. If you did not deserve a negative |
| tagged for oversized shipping or shipping an item for | | | | rating you have every right to try an get the buyer to |
| less than you programmed into the shipping calculator | | | | remove it. |
| can be painful lessons. | | | | Set up a System |
| Re-check the category eBay assigned to your item: | | | | OK, now you have gotten your feet wet on eBay - |
| some categories sell better than others | | | | What's next? |
| Remove any "Don't Buy From Me" text from your | | | | Set up a repeatable system of selling. You need to |
| description: (i.e. Don't bid if your feedback is low or | | | | find ways to reduce the time wasted making listings |
| Don't bid if you do not plan to pay) | | | | and re-listing of items. There are numerous software |
| Keep your text easy to read with just one font | | | | suites available to help your company do this. Some |
| selection in a limited amount of colors. Think about | | | | are free, and some are costly. The features you will |
| reading a book instead of a circus wagon. | | | | require will vary with your business plan. Staffing, |
| It's fairly simple and you'll be guided through each step. | | | | inventory, and goals... But once you have a listing |
| Relax. You can amend and revise your description and | | | | software suite installed, your eBay business will |
| details as many times as you like before submitting it | | | | become a well oiled machine for marketing your |
| to the site. You don't pay a fee until you list your item | | | | products to the world. |
| but also remember that once an item is listed, you do | | | | |