List it, watch it sell, and collect your money. If only selling on eBay were really that simple. To sell on eBay
requires a little skill, access to a few simple tools, and a little luck. The process for selling in a standard
eBay auction can be broken down into a few simple required steps and some optional steps, which may help
increase your selling success.
Step 1: Register for a seller's account. eBay members can sign up for a seller's account by providing
credit card and bank account information or choosing the ID verification process, which helps eBay
confirm that you are who you say you are and that you live and bank where you say you do.
Step 2: Create your auction. To do this you will need to create a short title and a complete description
and fill in a few eBay blanks such as method of payment, shipping fees, etc. In this crucial step, a few
things are important to remember:
- Use key search words in the title to draw buyers in. It is especially useful to use the brand name
or a unique product name. Think in terms of the key words you would use if you were searching
for the product.
- Give as much information as possible in the description, including product condition, flaws,
paperwork included, original product packaging, etc.
- To really succeed, especially if you are new to eBay, a digital photograph is necessary. It
provides proof of the product and its condition, and buyers trust what they see.
- Create a professional-looking auction with a word processor or Web design program. Fancy
flashing animation is not necessary, but a professional auction look is. Even using a product
such as Microsoft Word to center and boldface titles, create paragraphs, add font colors, and add
graphics will help. You are not trying to show off graphics skills but to boost your legitimacy.
Step 3: Answer your e-mails. Potential buyers will ask lots of questions. Timely answers will help
improve your standing. Buyers want to be able to trust you, and your friendly and quick response will
help build that trust.
Step 4: When the auction is over, collect your money and mail the merchandise. Send the buyer an
e-mail reminding him or her of how much is owed, the method of payment, and where to send the
money. If you do not receive payment, don't be shy. In the sellers' section of eBay there are helpful
hints about contacting bidders and filing nonpaying bidder notices. Most of the time collecting payment
is not difficult, but if you run enough auctions, you will find some buyers who won't pay.eBay has been called "the perfect marketplace," providing a place on the Internet that connects gigantic
numbers of buyers and sellers worldwide in an open market. eBay does not guarantee that a buyer will receive
a particular item or that the seller will receive the payment. With that in mind, eBay is an open community
and the majority of the time the transactions are good. |
