| Sometimes just a few small tasks make all the | | | | encountering a high reserve price on that '99p' starting |
| difference between making a few dollars profit on | | | | price item. Nevertheless, the low starting price / |
| eBay and generating a small fortune each month. | | | | reserve price combination can result in furious bidding |
| These ideas will help you make more from your | | | | and high realisations and guarantees you get a good |
| listings. | | | | price or the item goes unsold. The reserve price is |
| * Don't think if an item goes unsold first time round that | | | | never disclosed but is always fifty pounds plus. |
| nobody wants it. Many times I've had items that failed | | | | * Specialise! Become an expert in one area and make |
| to attract even one visitor but achieved multiple bids | | | | fewer costly buying and selling mistakes. Experience |
| and high profits on second or third appearance. eBay | | | | also saves you time researching and listing items for |
| is a fast changing marketplace with new members | | | | sale. You'll also generate repeat business from regular |
| appearing daily and many more categories to list | | | | customers who'll come to trust you and your business. |
| previously unsold goods. See the next tip. | | | | * LIST, LIST, LIST!!! And when you think you've listed |
| * A more appropriate listing category might increase | | | | enough - LIST SOME MORE! Warning: This applies to |
| sales. For example, I had some World War One | | | | items you've already tried and tested, and not to |
| stereoviews which eBay's suggestion tool considered | | | | expensive new products about which you know little |
| most appropriate for listing under 'Antiques and Art | | | | or nothing. |
| > Art > Photographs > Pre-1940', where I sold | | | | * Aim to have a web site outside of eBay from which |
| some, but not many of my 200 photographs. I relisted | | | | to sell additional items to customers derived from |
| unsold items under 'Collectables > Militaria > World | | | | eBay. This can be done by including a leaflet or other |
| War 1' and lowered the price from £4 to | | | | mention with the original fulfillment package, thanking |
| £3. Almost all sold, many at £3, others up | | | | the buyer and inviting him (or her) to visit your web site |
| to £40 each. Magic! | | | | for other items of interest. Consider including a voucher |
| * Market your most likely best sellers outside of eBay. | | | | for a small discount on anything ordered outside of |
| For example, I had a brass statue recently depicting a | | | | eBay. See the next tip. |
| Greyhound, but not just any Greyhound. This one had | | | | * When you have that web site, get it listed faster in |
| won the revered Waterloo Cup in 1906. I listed it under | | | | Google's search engine by including the site url in your |
| Collectables > Animals > Dogs > Greyhound | | | | 'About Me' page on eBay. Someone told me that |
| but visitors were few and the statue went unsold. I | | | | Google and other search engines index eBay related |
| relisted it in the same category, but this time I wrote to | | | | pages faster than most other sites. I wasn't convinced, |
| editors of specialist Greyhound and Dog Racing | | | | so I tried, and found it worked. Start by creating an |
| magazines which I'm certain helped lift a simple 'Dog' | | | | 'About Me', you'll see how in your eBay account, and |
| statue into a much prized Racing collectible that sold | | | | say something like. 'Thank you for visiting. We are |
| for fifty pounds. (It cost me 10p at flea market). | | | | suppliers of XYZ and you can learn more about us at |
| * Look for anniversaries or other events which might | | | | Bear in mind it doesn't matter if no-one ever visits your |
| inflate the price of your goods significantly, and list | | | | 'About Me' page, Google and other search engine |
| them close to the appropriate date. For example, an | | | | spiders will visit and index your site. I follow this |
| early autograph I had of Fay Wray, heroine of the film | | | | technique for all new web sites and find them indexed |
| King Kong, had gone unsold over two listings, until she | | | | in days or weeks, never months. Warning: eBay takes |
| died recently, whereupon my third listing suddenly | | | | a dim view of anyone giving web site addresses in |
| attracted dozens of bids and a cool £20 profit. | | | | their listings, or as part of an eBay ID and active links |
| * Be aware that it's just as easy (some say easier) to | | | | are likely to get you barred. The rule does not apply to |
| sell to people who have money as to others on tiny | | | | 'About Me' pages. |
| budgets. So rather than offer cheap items with tiny | | | | * Use counters in your eBay listings. These are |
| profit margins, go for big ticket items. You'll probably | | | | provided by eBay, free of charge, during the listing |
| achieve fewer sales, but you won't work so hard and | | | | process. Counters let you see how many visits each |
| there'll be fewer communications to handle. Consider: | | | | listing gets, from which you can plan and make |
| computers, fine jewellery, designer clothing, original art, | | | | changes (lots of visits but no bids is a sign something is |
| cars, motorbikes. But be careful and check listing fees | | | | wrong in your listing; few visits and several bids |
| before pressing the submit button. Some items, like | | | | normally indicates a hot product). Few visits and |
| cars and motorbikes cost more to list and could eat | | | | plentiful bids could indicate a niche market, one with |
| extensively from your profits. Check carefully or do as | | | | fewer members but one hundred per cent responsive |
| I did and promote a pair of cufflinks shaped like | | | | buyers. But your competition can also check popularity |
| motorbikes under Motorbikes > Accessories, and | | | | of your listings, allowing them to capitalise on your |
| realise later you paid £6 in that category | | | | expertise and possibly poach your ideas and products. |
| compared to the 35p you'd have paid under 'Jewellery'. | | | | The choice to use counters or not is up to you and |
| * Consider setting a reserve price on a low starting bid | | | | you can always remove them once testing is |
| item. The low starting price can generate early interest, | | | | complete and you know your product's a winner. |
| but be warned, some bidders feel cheated on | | | | |