Step Into eBay, Slowly

[If you've never been to eBay, please read eBay Overview, first, then come back here.]

Want to sell on eBay "someday"? Take time, now, to get registered--it's free, quick, and easy. All you need is an e-mail address.

Why register, now?

• eBay puts a little "newbie" graphic next to your ID for the first 30 days. These icons make the old pros nervous. Many eBayers will not buy from or sell to anyone who's new, so you want to be a member for more than 30 days before trying to sell anything. [This isn't a requirement, just a suggestion. If you absolutely can't wait to start listing, at least save your best merchandise until after that icon goes away.]
  
  
• If you have an online business or domain name, you should lock up the corresponding eBay ID, now, before someone else beats you to it.
  
  
• You should have a positive feedback rating of at least 10 before starting to sell. This isn't a rule, just a good idea. You'll get a star when you reach 10, which makes you look like an experienced eBayer. Not everyone gives feedback, so you may need 12-15 transactions to get your double-digit feedback score. By starting now, as a buyer, your comfort level and feedback rating should be established when you're ready to start selling.

What about your ID name?

• Choose your ID name carefully. Don't use your amyl address - it's considered a security risk by eBay. Also, if you change your amyl address, you'd want to change your ID, which causes another graphic to appear by your name for another 30 days. That could make bidders nervous.
  
  
• If you have a domain name, or a following under your own name, use one of those as your eBay ID. The more places you can use your business or domain name the better-it's free publicity.
  
  
• Make your ID easy to type and remember. Your friends and customers should be able to find your auctions without difficulty.

What should you do after you register?

• Spend an hour or so a day just playing on eBay. Learn the ropes. Explore. Click on the Community link. That will take you to the message boards, where you can read what others have to say and join in with your own questions and concerns.
  
  
• Check out the help area and get familiar with policies and procedures. eBay has a great tutorial for new sellers.
  
  
• Play with the features. eBay comes up with new things all the time. For example, there's a "Want It Now" where buyers can post their wish lists, and a "What's Hot" report (pdf) that tells you what merchandise is selling best each month.
  
  
• Learn how to search efficiently. If you go to the home page and search for "bears" you'll get everything from books and photos to stuffed animals to football cards. If you browse first, then get to the proper category before you search, you'll get better results. (You'll also learn more about eBay categories.)
  
  
• Start "pretend" shopping. Search for merchandise that interests you. Guess at what it should sell for. Put items in your eBay "watch" list to see what happens to them. Compare similar listings. Try to figure out why this one sold and that one didn't, or why one went for so much more than the other one. Notice the days and times when auctions end and try to decide if timing had anything to do with the final value. Pay particular attention to what doesn't sell. (Collector plates, for example-blah!--unless they're Disney.)
  
  
• When you feel brave enough, start bidding on very inexpensive items, but don't get carried away. Give yourself a bidding budget and stick to it. Read the fine print before you bid, so you don't get burned on outrageous shipping costs. If the item you want goes too high, back off and go find something else to bid on. Winning auctions will give you a chance to see how other sellers handle questions, payments, shipping, and feedback. Learn from them--it's a free tutorial.

When should you start selling?

As soon as you have your first feedback star and a PayPal account, you're ready to set up your procedures and start selling. Read Policies and Procedures and Do You Need PayPal for more information.

Fun 4 The Money HOME << >>Country Naturals HOME