So you want to be a successful seller with your own eBay business, do you? Here’s a simple, ten-step path to eBay enlightenment.

Steps

1. Identify your market. Take a while to sit and watch for what sells and what doesn’t out of the items you’re interested in. Any market research data you can collect will be very useful to you later on. You’ll probably see the ’sweet spots’ quite quickly - those one or two items that always seem to sell for a good price.

2. Watch the competition. Before you invest any money, see what the other sellers in your category are up to, and what their strategies are. Pay special attention to any flaws their auctions might have, because this is where you can move in and beat them at their own game.

3. Find a product: Get hold of a supplier for whatever it is you want to sell, and see what the best rates you can get are - don’t be afraid to ring round quite a few to get the best deal. If the eBay prices you’ve seen are higher than the supplier’s, then you’re set.

4. Start small: Don’t throw thousands at your idea straight away - get started slowly, see what works and what doesn’t, and learn as you go. Remember that it’s very cheap to try out even the craziest ideas on eBay, and who knows, they might just work!

5. Test and repeat. Keep trying different strategies until you find something that works, and then don’t be ashamed to keep doing it, again and again. The chances are that you’ve just found a good niche.

6. Work out a business plan: A business plan doesn’t need to be anything formal, just a few pages that outline the market opportunity you’ve spotted, your strategy, strengths and weaknesses of the plan and a brief budget. This is more for you than it is for anyone else.

7. Invest and expand: This is the time to throw money at the problem. Buy inventory, and start spending more time on your business. Set a goal number of sales each week, increasing it each time.

8. Make it official: Once you’ve made a few thousand dollars worth of sales, you should really register yourself as a business. Don’t worry, it’s not expensive or hard to do - a lawyer is the best person to help you through the process.

9. Automate: You’ll probably find that you’re writing the same things again and again in emails or item descriptions. This is the time to give up on the manual method and turn to automated software that can create listings for you, and respond to completed auctions and payments with whatever message you provide.

10. Never give up: Even when it looks like it’s all going wrong, don’t stop trying until you succeed. If you keep working at it then you’ll almost always find that you make a real breakthrough just when things are starting to look desperate.

Warnings

* Once you get into the swing of things, you might start thinking that you should quit your job and take up eBay selling part time. But it’s not always as easy as that - there are all sorts of factors that you need to consider.

Ever wondered how some people are able to swoop in and win an eBay auction at the last second? You can do it too. Here’s how.

Steps

1. Once you have decided to purchase an item, put it in your watch list to keep an eye on until it is time for the auction to end.

2. A few minutes before the item is ready to end, go ahead and go through all of the steps to purchase the item.

3. Once you get to the point where they want you to submit your bid, stop. This is where it gets a little tricky.

4. At the upper right hand side of Internet Explorer, between the (-) sign and the (X), is a box with two little boxes in it. Click on that box to Restore Down the window size. Then click and drag the sides of the window so it takes up half of your screen and you can see your auction item and the icon you need to click on to bid.

5. Open Internet explorer again and do the same thing with the new window that appears.

6. In the new window, go to Ebay again and look for the item you are going to bid on. You can type the item number in the search box and it will bring it up. Don’t sign in to Ebay in this window; you are just going to use it to watch the timing.

7. In the new window, click on the refresh icon every now and then and Ebay will tell you how much time is left. When the Item is down to the last 10 or 15 seconds (depending on your internet speed), go to the other window and click on the Submit Icon to submit your bid.

Tips

* Bid in odd amounts, like $11.33 or $23.03 or .07. You might be just 1 or 2 cents more than the next higher bidder.

* Remember the auction time is in California, so take the time difference into account.

Warnings

* Watch the postage, you can get ripped off on that.

* Only bid what you are willing to pay for the item. You are entering into a legal contract to purchase if you win the bid.

This how to guide will show you the best methods of sniping an eBay auction, increasing your chances of winning an auction for the least money possible.

Steps

1. Find an auction you’re interested in.

2. Watch the auction you’re interested in. Note when it finishes and remember this for later. Record the item number and auction end time.

3. Come back to your auction 10 minutes before it ends. If it’s still in a nice price range, then sit back and wait. Make sure you’re logged in.

4. While waiting, decide exactly how much you’re willing to spend on this item. Lets say you’re willing to pay $10 for it. Keep reloading or refreshing the page to keep a better watch on the time.

5. Wait until the auction has about 1 minute - 40 seconds left. Experts can and probably should wait for a little lower, say 30 - 20 seconds left. Start to place your bid.

6. Say your auction had 40 seconds left, input your price and go to the confirm bid screen, wait about twenty to thirty seconds.

7. You should bid about $10.07; the 7 extra cents pennies can beat a bidder if they’ve set their maximum bid at $10. You win for a measly 7 cents more.

8. By the time you click confirm bid, there will be about 10 seconds left, not enough time for someone to make a come back bid.

9. You should win the auction, unless someone’s highest bid is over your snipe.

Tips

* Sniping is a way to make sure you win an item for the least price possible, as the other person isn’t able to make a comeback bid.

* If the current highest bidder’s maximum bid is over yours, you may not have time to make another bid, so make sure you place your highest bid in your snipe.

* Always stick to your highest bid. If you’re not the highest bidder after your snipe, do not enter a frantic bidding war. Sniping is an activity which will usually raise your adrenaline/excitement and you may succumb to thinking “Just a few more dollars/pounds won’t matter.” Don’t fall for this; stick to what you predetermine.

* Check bid history before the auction is over, many people use sniping tools - in some cases their final price may be shown before the bid reaches that amount.

Warnings

* Sniping is viewed by many “ebayers” as an extremely rude and underhanded method of winning an auction.

* Sniping is an unreliable method, so if you’re really desperate for this item (i.e. it’s rare or you especially need it) you should play it safe by just bidding normally.

* Watch the location of the item, as shipping from other countries can be expensive.

Writing a quality listing is the backbone of selling items on eBay. Your listing is your “sales pitch,” and first impressions will mean the difference between buyers purchasing your item, or moving on.

Steps

1. Write a descriptive title. Use all 55 characters and stick to key words such as brand name, model number and words you would search for to find the item.
2. Include an attractive, well-written description. Make sure to include accurate details on the condition including all defects and problems. Try to include a bit of history of the item, such as how many owners it has had, or interesting bits of information.

3. Include as many photos as you can. Take photos from all angles of the item. Make sure you get detail shots of any dents, dings, scratches, or defects.

4. Display clear and fair policies. Make sure to keep them simple, firm, and friendly. Keep the length shorter than your item description.

5. Keep a friendly tone. It never hurts to wish your buyers “Happy Bidding”.

Tips
* The title should have key words relating to the item, such as brand, model number, style, and color. Stay away from verbs and words like “cool” “excellent” “magical”..

* Remember, buyers cannot physically touch and examine your item. They are relying on the detail and accuracy of your listing to make the purchase.

* Photos, photos, and more photos.

* Be friendly, buyers are more likely to buy your item if they feel welcomed and not threatened.

Warnings

* Do not title something vintage if it is just “used”. An item should be at least 15 years old for it to be respectfully labeled vintage. Otherwise, it is misleading and fraudulent.

* Words like “emo” shouldn’t be used to describe your item if you don’t know what they mean.

Ebay is being sued by LVMH. Also check out some good tips when shopping on Ebay.

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With over 180 million members eBay is one of the most visible and far-reaching Internet companies and the leading auction site in the world. Among eBay sellers a designation of Power Seller is given to approximately 4%. Becoming a power seller is a question of following eBay’s guidelines for Power Sellers, and the same is true for keeping your Power Seller status. Power sellers get many advantages and discounts from eBay, access to special areas and more, so becoming and staying a Power Seller is considered important by many people. There is far more to being a good Power Seller than the eBay rules. In this article we will show you some of the tricks we have found to become an accomplished Power Seller.

Win and Understand Power Seller Status

1. Learn eBay’s policies for power seller status. Policies are always subject to change, but Power Seller rules have been fairly stable for a few years. To become a power seller you must:
* Be an active member for 90 days.
* Average a minimum of $1000 in sales per month, for three consecutive months.
* Maintain a minimum of 4 average monthly listings for three consecutive months.
* Have an overall feedback rating of 100, of which 98% or more is positive.
* Have an account in good financial standing.
* Uphold the eBay community values, including honesty, timeliness and mutual respect
* Comply with all eBay listing and marketplace policies.

2. Understand Power Seller Tiers. There are several tiers of Power Seller, and your benefits vary depending on your tier. The tier you fall in is determined by consistent sales volume over a period of months. There are 5 Power Seller Tiers:
* Bronze power sellers have a minimum of $1000 in sales per a month. Bronze tier benefits include prioritized online support from eBay.
* Silver power sellers must have a minimum of $3000 of business a month. Silver power sellers get both prioritized online support and toll free phone support.
* Gold power sellers are required to do $10,000 of volume a month. These power sellers get all the benefits of the first two tiers plus free access to eBay’s Account Manager Software.
* Platinum power sellers get all the benefits of the gold tier but must do $25,000 of business monthly.
* Titanium power sellers to $150,000 or more of business a month.

Develop Good Practices

1. Put the customer first. Power sellers always have the customer at the forefront of their operation. Understand that your seller reputation on eBay’s is primarily determined by your feedback score, therefore treating your customers right is not only common sense but good business too.
* In a conflict with a customer always use the eBay email system to communicate with them in order to establish a written record.
* Always keep your cool and be professional.
* If the customer is wrong consider the money involved in keeping a customer against the money involved in proving you are right. Consider offers for dissatisfied customers, even if they are wrong:
o Give them free shipping, or refund their shipping.
o Include a free gift in the package.
* Develop a listing that answers all questions about your sale, including your return, shipping and other customer service policies. Stick with it!
* Be consistent with all customers when it comes to your own policies.

2. Maintain active communication with your customers. Customers are less likely to be unhappy, file complaints or make your life miserable if you communicate with them.
* Always send the customer a tracking number for their package.
* Always include a packing slip with the auction number in the package.
* Respond to any questions promptly.

3. Choose a focus. A Power seller is usually focused on a single article or type of product. Doing so makes all other aspects of running the business easier, including listing, packing and shipping.

4. Plan to be organized. Power sellers deal with such a large volume of business they need to develop a “back-end” organization (also known as a workflow) that minimizes the time they spend keeping up with their own policies regarding on-time shipping, packing, returns and similar activities. You may think of this preparation as creating an “assembly line”. For example, you may set up a large 4′ by 8′ table with bubble wrap and packing materials at one end, products in the middle, and boxes, labels and packing tape at the far end.
* Buy and keep a selection of shipping boxes and shipping materials in your home.
* Consider setting aside an area of your home just to run your business.
* Create online shipping accounts with USPS, UPS or your favorite shipper so you can print shipping labels at home.
* If you do a lot of shipping consider signing up for a pickup service, rather than lugging it all to the mailer yourself.

5. Establish an accurate accounting procedure.
* Keep a paper copy of every auction, the winner, and the shipping receipts.
* Keep a record of all your customers, their names and addresses.
* Establish a regular schedule for balancing your books, perhaps monthly.

6. Stay up-to-date on auction trends and changes.
* Buy good, recent books on online auctions and e-commerce in general.
* Participate or read the eBay Message Boards and Forums.
* Stay tuned to the eBay Announcements Board.
* Subscribe to newsletters and groups concerning power sellers.
* Scan the news for power seller and eBay announcements and changes.

Create Professional Listings

1. Create professional photographs. Learn to take good product photographs, or use a scanner well if your item is flat. Be sure to include enough detail in your photographs to show all flaws in an item.
* Learn how to take a basic quality photograph. Make sure it is in focus!
* Consider creating a mini studio including photographic lighting.
* Learn how to color correct photographs taken in interior or other lights.
* Use a mixture of close ups and wide shots to give your customers a good feel for the item.
* Remember that your photographs are part of your listing and will be considered in any disputed transaction. Photographs must be as ‘true’ as your listing text.
* You pay no more for larger photographs than smaller ones, so make your photographs as large as possible for the eBay system.
* Consider paying extra for oversize photographs and other eBay photographic features.
* Only use a scanner for flat items.

2. Schedule listing for peaks periods. For ten cents you can schedule any start time for your auctions. Peak buying periods are generally considered to be, Saturday, Friday and Sunday evenings between 6 and 8 pm eastern standard time. That said, the peak periods for your particular customers may vary.

3. Write professional headlines. A Power seller resists the temptation to use “fluff” words like “L@@K”, “WOW” and “MUST SEE” as these provide no information for your customer about your item, do not show up in searches, and are generally ignored by most buyers. Instead, the wise power seller uses descriptive words in the headline, realizing that the headline is the “ad for the ad”. A power seller is also “search engine savvy”, realizing that keywords in the headline are picked up by the eBay search engine, and by Google, more often than not.

4. Write detailed item descriptions. A Power seller has achieved their level by maintaining a high ratio of positive feedback. This is primarily accomplished by having clear and accurate descriptions of the items so that the bidder can clearly “imagine” the item as if it were sitting in front of her along with describing the flaws in the item. A great description should entice the bidder to bid while at the same time providing full and complete disclosure of the item’s condition. Always be scrupulously honest in your descriptions.

5. Make it easy for winners to pay you!By offering a variety of payment options, power sellers make it easy for winning bidders to pay for their items. They offer to accept Checks, Money Orders, all types of credit and debit cards through PayPal, Billpoint, or their own Merchant Accounts. By offering a wide variety of payment options, they open up their market of available bidders and end up with higher ending bids as a result.

6. Accept International Bids. By accepting bids from around the world you dramatically increase the number of customers you can attract and probably increase the end price of your item. On the down side shipping to many other countries is often difficult and awkward.

7. Offer discounts on multiple items. Whether it is a discount on shipping multiple items or a discount on the actual price of multiple items, power sellers realize the value of a good customer and treat that customer special. Unexpected discounts tell the customer “You’re special” and build a reciprocity that keeps customers coming back or searching the Power sellers’ auctions.

Take it Further

1. Advertise.
* Complete your “About me” page and any other tools eBay offers for advertising.
* Explore the use of “coop” money.
* Include a link to your current auctions in your email signature.
* Include a link to all your other auctions on all your listings.

2. Use the Power Seller tools on eBay All power sellers get benefit and tools from eBay to help maximize their profits. Learn to use these tools. The welcome kit varies for different tiers of power seller but includes:
* A welcome kit featuring an official certificate of achievement from Meg Whitman [[1]] and essential advanced selling tips available in electronic format (.pdf) on the Power Seller portal.
* Personalized sales and Feedback information on program portal pages.
* Power Seller icon next to user ID.
* Use of Power Seller logo in your item listings and on your About Me pages.
* Unique Power Seller logo merchandise to wear and use or give to customers.
* Power Seller logo letterhead and business card templates for customer communications.
* Exclusive Power Seller-only discussion board
* Monthly PowerUp! email newsletter featuring the latest program information, special promotions, and advanced selling education
* Quarterly printed PowerUp! newsletter in the mail

3. Consider hiring an assistant. Power sellers delegate because they have to! Your volume may require you hire an assistant to do some of the more repetitive tasks that don’t require the your expertise attention.

4. Consider a “dutch auction” In a Dutch auction a seller can place a large number of the same item up for sale individually. Bidders can bid on one or more of the item, but the highest bidders will be first in line for the products they bid on.
* A Power seller uses Dutch auctions often because it is a huge time-saver. This is a true “assembly line” auction from start to finish.
* Packing and shipping goes a lot faster when the same item is being packed and shipped over and over again.
* In the same period of time that it takes to list one item, you are listing dozens, or even hundreds of items!

5. Bulk list your auctions Use bulk listing software or auction management services to list many auctions at the same time. There are various options in this area, from eBay’s own “Mister Lister” to Blackthorne software to Andale, and Auction Watch auction management services.

6. Develop your own Web site. On the Internet, business conditions can change literally from quarter to quarter! Because of the transient and high-speed nature of change in Internet business, a Power seller realizes the value of having their own storefront on the Web. Most have either built a website themselves or have had someone build a site for them. They have developed a following and a customer base through their eBay auctions that can help sustain them even if dramatic changes come about on their main selling venue. As eBay continues to evolve and change - applying restrictive and invasive policies - this will become more of a priority for all eBay sellers, not just Power sellers. Having your own Web site is also an excellent marketing tactic for power sellers.

7. Create an actual business. You may be legally required or may prefer to create an actual small business if you are running the typical power seller operation. Having your own business has advantages and disadvantages. For example, you may qualify for special bank loans for capital investments or you may get certain tax privileges. The disadvantages include extra record keeping and all the work involved in creating and maintaining a small business. The eBay power seller program includes some benefits designed especially for small business owners including:
* Health insurance solutions for Power Sellers and their employees
* Special invitations to participate in eBay events
* Additional special values from eBay service providers

8. Invest in your business. Whether it means investing in a high-speed cable modem or DSL connection, high-quality computer components, digital cameras and lights, monitors, keyboards, or anything else investing in the tools that make running a power seller program easier is always a good idea, so long as your business will scale to support such capital expenditures.

Steps

1. Assuming you haven’t yet signed up, go to eBay’s Main Pageand then click on register at the very top of the page to create an eBay account.

2. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll want to log in and go to Sell either in My eBay or on the Main Page at the top.

3. After picking a category you’ll then be asked to enter the title and description. Be VERY detailed about your product, and include a picture unless it is impossible. Not including one will deter some buyers from your item.

4. Continue to go through the options, and be sure to look everything over very carefully. There’s a lot to look through and you’ll want to make sure everything is correct.

5. Be sure that when you’re done with everything at the end (you’re at the overview page) to double check and press submit. If you don’t press submit it won’t be entered. You’ll then get an e-mail confirming that your product was placed on eBay.

6. Once the item has been shipped, and they have left feedback for you, you should leave feedback for that person.

Tips

* You need to have excellent feedback to sell well on eBay. Sell inexpensive items to build up your feedback first.

* As long as you follow the directions and press submit at the end, your product will be viewable to everyone.

* Always answer a customer’s questions promptly. Be clear, direct, and friendly.

* Be sure to choose the correct category and keywords…the easier it is for your customer to find you, the better it will sell!

* You will have to ship the product out on your own, so you’re going to have to add shipping into the price, there’s a section where you set the shipping.

* You can always go back and edit it if you don’t like something. Just go into “My eBay” and go from there.

* All of your questions can be answered in the “Help” section.

* Keep good communication with your customer, they’re interested in your product and you want to be ranked as a good seller in the end, so be a good seller!

* Try and have it so your auction ends on a Sunday. Avoid ending auctions on Friday or Saturday when people are not home to bid.

* Avoid using “reserve price” auctions. These auctions are a form of shill bidding where the bidders are bidding against the seller himself. A reserve auction makes some buyers angry because they have no idea what the buyer wants. Instead, set the opening bid at the lowest amount of money you would be willing to sell the item for.

* Help keep the feedback system honest by only placing honest feedback and avoiding the “trading” of positive feedback. A seller should leave positive feedback if the buyer pays promptly. A buyer should leave positive feedback if the item arrives in a reasonable time and is as advertised. A seller who waits for a buyer to leave positive feedback is really trading feedback. Such a practice skews feedback ratings.

* Use USPS Priority Mail for shipping. It is usually faster and buyers will have less anxiety about sending payment to you because their waiting period is shortened. It is also usually cost-effective, and shipping boxes are free! Besides, THEY usually are paying for their products shipment.

* People will look at things that have cheap or free shipping, so include the shipping price in the total price (or min bid) and people will be more inclined to buy. If you offer it, make sure they know that you’re offering it.

* SHIPPING is key in selling for eBay–understand the basics of using the postal service and services such as UPS and FedEx, such as postal rates, types of services, incurance, and office hours.

* Packaging is also important. If items are fragile, improper packaging can end up in broken items and unhappy customers! Also keep in mind the price YOU pay for shipping: the box, padding, etc., to decide on a reasonable price or add it to shipping and handling fees.

* Payment will be vital. PayPal is an extremely popular payment service on eBay, and as a seller, you will want to understand how it works and quite possibly sign up. Offering this service also may help attract buyers, because payment is instant and simple. Checks and money orders are also popular, but by nature take time. Also, be aware that payments from buyers by check does not necessarily mean they have sufficient funds! So consider what your comfort level is with these different payment types when you list your item.

Warnings

* Do not sell illegal items. Doing so can bring heavy consequences upon you.

* Negative feedback can lead to buyers cautious of you and makes sellers think twice about selling to you. Follow up any negative feedback with accurate facts. Do not call names.

* Be careful when sending feedback. You can be sued for making dishonest statements on the feedback page, so keep in mind that you are responsible for your remarks. Keep it honest and professional, and above all, don’t make childish and angry remarks.

* Don’t overcharge for shipping and handling. A reasonable amount for your materials and effort is okay, but buyers don’t want to pay $15.00 for shipping and handling and then see on the postage label that it only cost you $3.85 for shipping.

* NEVER put the starting price lower than what you can afford to lose by selling it! You need to consider the fees eBay, Paypal (if you offer a PayPal payment) and shipping. It is entirely possible to lose money on an item if you put a starting price that is too low for you to at least break even if only one person bids on it.

* Be careful of selling overseas. Most items are perfectly fine, and can increase your bidding pool. However, what may be perfectly legal in the US may be illegal in New Zealand, Turkey, or Japan (or vice versa).