Expert: Marvinator - 6/16/2004

Question
What should I know about selling on Ebay? Any secrets? What should I watch out for?

Thanks

Answer
I'm sure you understand that your question is like asking "I want to be a brain surgeon, what do I need to know?"  It is an indepth process and I will do my best to lay it out for you.

First and foremost. READ and PREPARE.  The ebay system is quite large and many people go right to the SELL page and start selling.  Then when their item sells they have no idea how to get the money or what to do.  At the same time, they don't think beyond the webpage about what they are doing.  Let's take a look at this chronologically.

The first page to learn on the ebay system is the Site Map. There is a link to the Site Map at the top of every page.  Information is grouped and clearly marked.  In the left hand column toward the bottom is a section entitled HELP.  Read every link under help. (You may wish to print some of these for future referece and study.) This gets you the basics.   When you're done with that section, you should know the real workings of Ebay.  [Hint: To get quick help, get to know the LIVE HELP Link on the Ebay Main Page.  Though they cannot act as mediators in any disputes, the Live Help People can direct you to anything on the system which you may need to answer just about any question about how ebay works.]  

Before you sell, PREPARE.  This means you need to understand the total picture of a sale.  Selling is more than just putting up an auction and waiting for bids. First there is getting the item.  Making sure it is sellable.  Then there is the photo, making sure that the photo is clear and makes the item look good. (Note to remember: Items without pictures rarely sell, and if they do, they would sell HIGHER if there were a picture.) Then you write up the auction, paying close attention to the facts.  (You'd be surprised how many people forget sizing, colors condition, faults, inclusions, etc when writing up an auction.)  [Hint: Use Upper Case in the Title, but in the body use both upper and lower case.  Many feel that all Upper case in the description is rude and makes it look as if you are shouting.  It's also hard to read in a paragraph form. Layout the page like an advertisement, making it readable and easy on the eye.  Group like information together.]  

Next, what happens after the sale.  How will you get payment?  Many people use a P.O.Box to receive payments in check or Money Order form to retain anonymity. In addition, this information  (payment types accepted, international shipping etc) can be set into one section of your auction description.  [Note: Never use Western Union and never deal with anyone that suggests going against Ebay rules or your own rules. This is how people get scammed!]

Paypal is the recognized payment form on Ebay and getting an account takes little time.  [Hint: www.paypal.com.  Don't rely on the Ebay tools, learn how to make the Paypal system work by reading everything on their site, too.]  As for Checks, you may wish to check with your bank as some banks will charge a fee for too many checks deposited in a given month.  You should never mail the item without knowing that the check has cleared.  14-21 days is a good rule of thumb. [Again, this can go in your auction, so that all bidders know what to expect when dealing with you.  Make yourself LOOK professional.]  

Shipping and Packing:  Shipping costs can vary especially if you are going to go out and buy boxes and packing material.  Some sellers charge a 'handling fee' to cover material costs others do not.  [Handling costs are a large point of contention among bidders.  It is not uncommon to pay 8.95 to ship an item, only to find out that the actual postage was only $1.00.  If you feel a handling charge is necessary, make it small and unobtrusive to the cost of the item.]  Other Sellers use recycled material and charge no handling fees.  Only you will know what is best for you.

Communication:  With every auction you're going to have email - and lots of it.  Questions from bidders for shipping quotes, questions about the product itself. ["Is this Size 7 REally a size 7?"  Yes, you will get those!]  At the end of the auction, you're going to generate a notice to the winner which will include the final price including shipping to the buyer, and you may want to let the buyer know when the item has shipped.  In all your communication, always be polite and informative.  Avoid being arguementative or brusk and never ignore an email from a buyer. [Stupid questions like the one above, you can laugh at and ignore, but once a person has won an item from you, it's best to keep in contact with them.] When in doubt, have someone (not a family member) read your letters with an objective eye.  

Feedback.  This is a sore spot with Ebay sellers and buyers. Feedback is voluntary.  No one is forced to leave it.  As a seller I expect the buyer to be the first to leave feedback as a signal to the end of the transaction.  Did it arrive as they had hoped?  Did it get lost? How good was the seller in handling problems?  But at the same time, how demanding was the buyer? Did they expect to much from the item? Did they misread the auction?  These all must be answered before feedback can be left, so it's the buyer (in my opinion) who should leave feedback first.   When it comes to leaving a Negative Feedback always remember that Negative Feedback usually means you get Negative Feedback in retaliation. NO Feedback is sometimes more effective than a Neg.  Never threaten Neg Feedback as leaving it must always be considered a final 'no recourse' move. (The correlary to this is never insist on feedback either.  Some people expect feedback before they give a refund, or badger people about leaving it.  Remember, Feedback is voluntary.]

Lastly, Ask questions.  Everytime you read something on Ebay, ask yourself why it works that way, or better yet - What if?  What if the buyer wants out before the end of the auction? What if the buyer bids too high and wants out after the auction?  What if? If you can't find out how to handle something, find someone to ask.  Never ASSUME if there is even one ounce of doubt.

I hope this helps you get started.  Feel free to return and ask more questions at any time.