About Carol Rae Expertise I can answer almost any questions about how to open a business on the Internet. I am especially knowledgeable about antiques.
Experience I graduated from college with departmental honors
in Communication and Political Science, have
received several writing awards and presently
write an Internet Newsletter that covers many
books and historical research stories.
http://gbmbooks.com
Question You said I had asked this question before. I believe you got me confused. I did some time ago ask about Ebay, but not the offer below. I did look through the messages, I only found one message from a person who wanted to cancel his store. If you can give any feedback on the below opportunity, it would be appreciated.
I heard of an opportunity where you are given a website from Ebay. You give yourself a company name and products to sell from Ebay. You pay $14.95 for 2 weeeks and if you continue the program, you pay $30.00 monthly. They tell you how to go to search engines and put in keywords, so that by those keywords persons will be linked to your website. They suggest you get a domain name.
Does anyone know how successful this has been. Any feedback will be appreciated. I am thanking you in advance.
Answer Sorry Sallie, it must not have gotten through. I was having so much trouble in the upload spot that I did make a copy.
Here it is:
Yes I sure do. The businesses who have been taking peoples money for these scam programs are tremendous and their business is thriving. As to the poor saps who buy into it-does Amway ring a bell for you. You can always get a domain name for about $35 a year but it's a waste of time and money. You can always get links for free from just about anyone you want-they love the advertising and, as far as key word placement---it costs .02 to bid per hit. Ebay is already at the tip top of them all. As to what I think about these chizzlers, well I do no SELL my info on selling on ebay. Did you happen to total the 14.95 for two weeks? That's a sure $30 for them and you can multiply that by millions, not hundreds. The inital buy is their money and they don't particulary care if you continure or not. If you do, horray for them. Stay clear of this type of junk and print out my booklet below. It will take about 7 to 9 pages.
I've began with the 10 EBAY TOP 10 HOLIDAY SELLING TIPS straight off their Web page. I call it the TOP 10 HOLIDAY SELLING TIP MYTHS
1. Use Gift Services to add an eye-catching gift icon next to you listing when you offer
* Gift Wrap/Gift Card
* Express Shipping
* Ship to Gift Recipient
(This is just ebay advertising to extract cash from your pocket. You can offer what ever you wish within your description without ebay's help.)
2. Use Gallery to attract buyers and increase your final price by an average of 11%.
(It won't increase your price a whit but there are a lot of picture shoppers so I feel it's worth the .25 to increase your visibility)
3. Use Listing Designer to give your listings a festive Holiday theme.
(Excuse me! I don't think so. Ebay will have all the whistles and bells needed-everyone knows it's a holiday you don't have to take from your profit to give ebay theirs)
4. Use ebay's Pre-filled Item Information feature to create complete, detailed media listings.
(Totally unecessary but your option on this one.)
5. Use the ebay Shipping Calculator to let last minute holiday buyers figure out their shipping costs so they can pay you right away.
(Totally unecessary and a waste of time. Once you put in your description what the shipping might me-buyers have their own brain and can total it without your help.)
6. Buy your Holiday Shipping and Packing Supplies and Gift Wrap on ebay!
(Yea right! Get boxes anywhere even used ones and use the paper from your shredder or get free bubble wrap out of the dumpsters behind and furniture store.)
7. List early-give yourself a few days extra planning and your buyers more time to shop!
(Like you didn't know this?)
8. Find out What's Hot in each category.
(And do what?)
9. Buy to resell! Stock up on Wholesale Lots and Toy Trends for 2003.
(This is the worst yet. Don't even consider any part of the wholesale or drop ship scams.)
10. Learn more about how to sell on ebay.
(That's why you're here and that's why you won't have to pay for the information from books or scams offer within ebay.. and sadly even some on this site.)
Selling on eBay
A Functional How-To For Someone?
By Carol Rae
INTRODUCTION:
First I want to begin by keeping this real. I am not going to tell you how to strike it rich on eBay. In fact, if I was you, I would keep my day job.
In this text I have tried to be as explicit as I can to lead you through the steps of selling on eBay. This is a combination of the questions and answers I gave on ‘AllExperts.com' laced with lifetime knowledge. I hope you enjoy learning and always obey my rule number one. Have fun with it because that I can almost guarantee. I cannot tell you how to strike it rich on eBay anymore than I can tell you the right numbers to play in the lotto.
SECTION I
WHAT SELLS ON EBAY?
This is the question I am most asked and, believe it or not, the easiest to answer. The question should be, what is the best way to sell on eBay. By looking for a specific product, you are trying to empty the ocean with a spoon. First, the best selling item on eBay is the most unusual, that one of a kind, like for example, an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. First, people must understand that eBay is not a physical store where x amounts of people run to it, from a certain geographical area, on a weekly basis. In reality, what one has is over three million people, from different time zones, different cultures, different financial status and different needs/wants looking for a deal/steal not found physically within their area. That is one of the reason that books retain their popularity. What do you look for when you go to an auction or yard sale? Everything sells on eBay.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT TO BUY AND RESELL?
Yard sales, Thrift shops, Goodwill stores, and physical auctions are all good places to buy. The secret is to buy an item cheap enough that one can almost be willing to "give it away." You can cut costs by using the most basic listing and eliminating all the extras that do nothing-like gallery, bold print, second title line, buying any service offered like photos (you'll do fine on your own) etc. Make your description clear and concise. Put all your terms in the description, do not buy a second listing category, and make the title as specific as possible. For example: If you have a plate with a cat on it, put the word cat, the artist if signed, and the maker of the plat if necessary. People gravitate to search words. If you have a plate with the words Germany on the bottom and a cat on the front, forget the word Germany plates. No one will search it. They will put the word "cat" in their search. Try to out guess what is being asked. The reason books sell, at the moment, is that it is unchallenged. However, unless it's a collectible book or a trade book of interest, it will sell cheap. The common books tend to flood the market relatively quick. Why would someone buy a book on Palmistry for a fixed price that is high when there are several with the same title for lower of prices. The cheapest price will win.
Storage units that sell closed out compartments is another one for you that was suggested recently.
IS THERE A WAY TO BROWSE EBAY FOR TOP SELLING ITEMS?
Not that I know. Ebay advertises that books sell the most but then that's because there are more books than anything else and the prices for most are very low.
IS IT LEGAL TO BUY AN ITEM THROUGH EBAY AND THEN RESELL IT THROUGH EBAY AT A HIGHER PRICE?
Of course it's legal but you have to use be strategic. This might be tricky because I usually end up loosing money this way. Once it's sold on eBay, you can pretty well be sure that anyone interested has already bid. If you do this, be very careful.
DO I HAVE TO PAY TAXES OR COLLECT TAXES? HOW DO I GO ABOUT DECLARING THIS ON TAXES? DO I NEED A SALES LICENSE TO SELL ON EBAY?
No, the internet is free of taxation for two more years. I just claim earned income on my federal taxes so that I can take the deductions that I use in my business. Once you make the decision to sell it will greatly matter what you sell. Most states do not collect state taxes on crafts or used goods.
HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO EARN IN PROFIT BEFORE I AM CONSIDERED TO BE IN BUSINESS?
When you have employees and set up as a business it would be time to get your license. However, as long as you are not supporting your household with your profits, you can still consider it a hobby. Gun traders do it every day and they make plenty of bucks. I would not worry about it for a while unless you are doing enough to claim it as your primary income.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO START SELLING ON EBAY?
A computer that is on line and items to sell. You will also need either a scanner or a throw-away camera to take pictures and have them developed onto a CD ROM Disk. That's about it. I type all my descriptions in word pad and do a cut and paste into the eBay selling form. They sign you up with either a credit card or direct withdrawal transfer from your bank account. That's really all you need. Research a few items to get the feel of how others do it and you are ready to go.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET ON EBAY?
Getting on eBay is free. You can either use direct pay-which is through your checking account or you can use your credit card. The cost per item depends on what your opening bid might be. An item listed under $10.00 costs about 30 cents to list. You are billed one month after you start selling. It is not pre-paid and your charges are clearly marked at the end of the seller's form.
WHERE DO I SEND THE PICTURES IF I DO NOT HAVE A SCANNER?
The first one is free and you upload direct from your computer. I think the charge after the first one is 15 cents each. (With a scanner you are good to go.) However, there is still a way without one. You can also take photos with a camera and have them developed onto a CD. I started out with a cheap poloroid that I got in Kmart and used the pictures that were made immediately with my scanner.
WHAT BOOKS DO YOU SUGGEST BUYING TO LEARN HOW TO SELL ON EBAY?
The internet is over filled with people trying to set up a business wasting their hard earned cash chasing an ideal that does not exist. They have this premise of physical shops and sales routines of old that do not work on the net and will never work on the net. They spend money on infomercials, seminars, books, and various promises of wholesale junk with get rich schemes attached. Toss it all and take it for what it is. Avoid all the scamming and enjoy it at your own pace without making others rich. It appalls me that the internet has become nothing but a pimp for the innocents who use it while trying to make a silk purse out of a souses ear.
DOES EBAY TAKE ANY OF THE PROFIT OUT OF THE SALES MADE?
They do take a commission on high dollar items and when you go through the form, all fees are listed. It is clearly written out for you in the selling help section under fees.
HOW DO I FIGURE OUT WHAT AN ITEM IS WORTH IF I CAN'T COME UP WITH A VALUE?
Prices are levied by the sale of a collectible or antique. However, prices that you find in price guides are not stable. Many are far too high while others too low. Antiques and collectibles roll in a trendy manner and what's in demand now may have lessened the demand of another. (The Beanie Baby nightmare is a prime example right up there with Franklin Mint items.) I would suggest you see if there is a similar item selling on eBay. Make sure it is selling and not listed at a fixed price. You can also come up with your own value by deciding what you need for your item. I usually buy cheap enough that my opening bid can also be low. Believe me, buyers will pay what your item is worth to them. If it is a common item thay may not bid at all if your opening bid is too high or if you have a fixed bid. Remember what I said about buyers, they go to eBay for a deal. There was a painting a while back that a man found in his garage. He put an opening bid at 25 cents. The painting sold for $100,000.
HOW DO I DETERMINE WHAT TO USE FOR AN OPENING BID?
I'm sure that this will surprise you. I would not put a reserve on anything. However,it is most important to do that for cover if you have paid too much for something. People will bid without a reserve and shy away from the items that have a high opening bid or reserve.
WHAT TYPE OF ITEMS SELL WELL?
People are very fickle and they will spend $100 for something one day and not bid the next. I find that a consistent collectible or that odd piece (that is listed and something no one knows about-sleepers) always goes well. For example: Ruby Red Avon glass is now selling but it has to be in the box to get interest. Another example: Sterocard photos of occupations, vehicles, or disasters bring big dollars. I also find that Cat things go well if they are different. (probably the same with any animal specific item) Even crafts for animals and not necessarily antiques will sell. And then there is that super collectible that is sought after-Example: Bobbitt is fighting to get the knife that cut his private parts. Unique items always sell; however, you'll find most are common and you just have to sell for less or, better yet, open for less.
HOW DO YOU BUILD A CUSTOMER BASE AND HAVE REPEAT BUYERS?
It is the mystery of all the sellers. The reason for this is because of the choices blended with all the reasons mentioned in the last paragraph. The obvious sure thing is not the item but the listings. There are too many common items with equally as many various bids. People are motivated to, again, the best deal. Even then, an item might have been over listed-too many for a rational selection or too many to incite interest. Buyers, therefore, scream for choice and the quanity of listings, not the quality, becomes the order of the day blended with the deal/steal attitude. This goes back to "how to sell"
Then there are the seasonal questions that enter into the blend, the fad periods, the collection periods, and the time of exposure periods. No wonder a person can't find the perfect item. If they work during the week, they might not see an auction until the weekend. If they are in a time zone five hours off, they might not want to stay awake to make that final winning bid. All these factors enter into the mix. Now I want to tell you about another one.
The high rollers who have an opening bid that is close to retail. They won't sell. Do a little research and you'll see what I mean. I suspicion that many of the constant advertisers who have 100's of listings, have shills just waiting for that one bidder to give it a shot. They immediately enter the shill who ups the bid to make their item realize a better profit. Browsing for top sellers is not the same as finding the ones that sell, really sell.
WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE MY ITEMS SELL FOR MORE?
Absolutely nothing! It is an auction and most people go to auctions for bargains. One has to be willing to take their medicine and let go. What one doesn't make on one item, one might make on another. If you want retail prices what I advise people to do is set up their own retail page with pictures and prices and use eBay to advertise for you by always noting your page at the end of a description so interested parties can go to your site and buy direct. It's a great free advertising site but you have to part with something interesting to get "takers."
WHAT TIPS CAN YOU GIVE ON WRITING A GOOD DESCRIPTION OF AN ITEM?
Be sure to describe the key words that would direct a buyer to your item. If you have an oil painting of a horse, for example, OIL PAINTING, SIGNED..,HORSE. The same goes for anything, get the keywords first and describe the condition, year (if needed), color etc. There is time and space to go on and on so make it as accurate as possible. Always have a picture and, for Pete sakes, put it in your photo program and lighten it so it can be seen. This is the biggest fault of pictures. Most of them are horrible. Use a paint program that allows you to lighten and crop your photos to the best advantage.
DO YOU SELL FULL-TIME ON EBAY? IF SO, HOW DID YOU GET INTO IT?
No, I sell very rarely on eBay because I am have to work to survive. My brother's wife is always on and lists about 6 or 7 items a week so she can keep track. They buy at yard sales, flea markets, auctions, and thrift stores. They also buy cheap and does not fall in love with what he buys. He either sells it or not, if not, he waits and puts it on again in a few weeks. My best advice to you is don't give up your day job. My number one rule is have fun, remember? That was my first priority in my introduction and it stands. I got into it because it was there. Beats packin' and totin' to a flea market or the backyard.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A FIRST TIME SELLER? OR OLD TIME SELLERS?
Well I've already peppered my answers with some advice but I have some very poignant ones that must be followed. Never ever ever ever open with a retail price and expect to sell. Always open with a fairly low bid and be willing to give it up. Never put a reserve on an item unless you feel it has to bring a certain price. Never buy the extras like the Gallery, Bold print, Gift or whatever. Ebay is the only one who makes money on these deals. It is best not to get grandiose opinions of what you are selling because I cannot stress enough that it is an AUCTION not a retail market. (What you don't make on the bacon, you'll make on the beans.
When you fill in your titles always use specific key words. The description is just an afterthought. Always have good photos or scans.
I think pictures, one for sure, is a great way to sell because there are tons of picture shoppers on eBay. If they are too dark, lighten them with a graphics program-do the same if they are too large. And, most importantly, at the end of each description-put your site name so customers can visit retail items. - For unique antiques visit us at http..... I don't advise buying a site because it's really a waste of money. If you already have one, just be sure to advertise it.
HOW SOON CAN I START SELLING?
Immediately. It's been a long time since I first began but I think you are given a $10 credit to get started. In other words you can list items until you use it up. You will have to pay it but they just allow you that starting boost without any money up front.
Now, to put all this in a capsule, you are doing the right thing. Don't worry about "top sellers" because they usually have many employees putting in many listings just to make their costs. Peck away and use your own judgment, take the good with the bad and never open with a high bid. Always be willing to "get rid of" your item and move on. What you don't make on one, you'll make on the other.
ARE THERE OTHER AUCTIONS THAT SELL WELL ON THE INTERNET?
Ebay is the behemoth and I don't care if you go to a dozen auctions, you'll never get the exposure or bids anywhere else. Yahoo is second but I get $10 to $20 less if I even bids. I do like Yahoo because it's more user friendly-you can put three photos on with out charges. You can try to go to collector specific sites but none of them can hold a candle to eBay.
Section II:
Basic tips to survival:
Type your information for each item on your notpad before entering eBay because you can do a simple cut and paste. This will save you time and frustration. EXAMPLE: (under nonfiction book catagory)
POND SCUM & VULTURES - SPORTSWRITER'S TALK <title line>
.
by Gene Wojciechowske, America's Sportswriters Talk About Their Glamorous Profession. published 1990 by Macmillan with 244 pages. This book looks like it had a water spill that was almost caught in time. No stains but the first 10 pages have signs of wrinkling. Hard Cover with DJ, Good Condition. Shipping $3.00 stateside. International buyers will have to email for shipping costs. Money Order, PersonalCheck, Cashier's Check, and Cash. <description-note shipping charges and terms listed> (A new item on ebay is a second title line-you don't need it! It costs .50 and is just another charge.)
ponscum.jpg 1.99 <this line tells me what I named the picture and what I'll use as an opening bid>
Now you are ready to go onto the Internet and sell. Keep your wordpad opened so you can continually cut and paste from it. EXAMPLE: Once you enter your catagory and get to the title page, click on your notepad and highlight your title. Go to the top and click edit and copy, then clicl back on your eBay screen, place your curser at the beginning of the title, click again on edit and paste. Do the same operation for your description. Put your opening bid in the proper area also. You can type this, the notepad is just a reminder.
When you come to clicking on the Free Picture you will get two grey forms that asks you to either Grant or Deny (that means access to your computer. Click Grant so they can get your picture. Now click just one click on the free picture box. You will get a browser to locate your file. When you find your picture, say okay and it will automatically be uploaded to eBay.
Don't fill out the extensive mailing form because you have already stated shipping in your description. Don't bother with the free counter because-What do you care? It's just an eBay thing. Just click on the simple box pre-the detailed section saying buyer pays shipping.
Now go to review and look over your work. There are edit sections after each section so you can fix any mistakes here. Once everything looks okay-submit and walla, you have just listed something for sale.
Section III:
A bit about your account that might be helpful:
You may use either your bank account or a credit card. That is for billing purposes. You won't be charged until after a month of sales and your total is clearly reflected on your selling forms.
You will not loose sales by avoiding Paypal or credit card use from you customers. Some people do not even take personal checks. I dropped Paypal because of their high costs to both the buyer and seller. I do take checks, money orders and cash for deposit into my account. AVOID MAKING CUSTOMERS USE THEIR CREDIT CARD. This system works for everyone. Don't let anyone kid you, there are NO secure systems on the net. Let's face it, they are on an open line to the world basically setting their vaults in everyone's living room. They can all be broken into, some faster than others. Trust me on this.
ADDENDUM:
My brother and I discussed at great length on whether a gallery picture should accompany each listing. This is what we decided-YES on most but not neccessary all. Books, for example, are purchased by description so use your judgement. My brother is a picture shopper so he can go through quickly. I have reformed and do put a picture in the gallery and consider it one of the most important items for your listing no matter how mundane the item might be.
Finally, I hope I've answered all your questions, if not please suggest what I've missed and I'll be sure to add it.
Always research the item or a similar one you are about to sell to see how it is described, titled and how it opens a bid.
Best of luck to you Sallie on being your own boss.
Carol Rae
