Be An eBay Seller

Selling on eBay: Shipping Insurance

2008-07-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

When making your eBay auction listings, you will see an option for shipping insurance. While not all items require shipping insurance, it is still recommended. Why? Because you are protected. It won’t be your responsibility to issue a refund if a package was damaged during shipping.

Although insurance is always a good idea and pretty affordable, it should be purchased for fragile items, as well as expensive items.

The good news is that the cost of insurance can be included in your shipping and handling fees.

Selling on eBay: The Importance of Proper Packing

2008-07-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

If you are new to selling on eBay, you may have yet to deal with a customer who was angry that their merchandise was broken. By taking a few simple steps, you can prevent that conversation from ever happening. You can do so with proper packing.

All items that can be broken, whether it be the items themselves or the cases, should be packed safely in a box or a padded envelope. Bubble wrap, air packs, and foam peanuts can also be used.

Selling on eBay: How to Find Packing Supplies

2008-07-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

A large number of items sold on eBay need to be carefully packaged to prevent breakage. This means that you need to have packing supplies to use, but where can you find them?

* You can save all boxes and bubble wrap that you receive through your own online orders.

* Many retail stores, especially those small in size, will let you take their cardboard.

* You can buy your supplies. Dollar stores, department stores, and office supply stores sell a wide range of packing supplies, including boxes, tape, bubble warp, and foam peanuts.

Selling on eBay: How Much Should You Charge for Shipping?

2008-07-04T18:55:00.001-07:00

One of the many questions that new eBay sellers have concerns shipping. Namely, how much should they charge.

When it comes to shipping, many eBay sellers charge for the cost of shipping only. Others will include the cost of packing supplies and the time required to properly pack and ship a package. This is okay, but be cautious of large increases, as they can later hurt you.

A great way to make sure that you charge a fair shipping price, but enough is to buy a scale and rely on the many tools that eBay has. They have shipping calculator tools that can calculate the cost of shipping for you. You can also set it so that potential buyers enter in their zip code to get a shipping total based on their location. This is often regarded as the safest route to take.

These tools are provided to you when making your eBay auction listings.

Selling on eBay: Why You Should Buy a Scale

2008-06-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I highlighted the importance of charging fair shipping rates. The only problem is how do you know what is fair? Your best option is to buy a scale. They are available for sale in most office supply stores, as well as department stores.

As a last resort, breakout the bathroom scale that you have at home. While you will not get an exact weight, it can give you a good idea for your calculations.

Selling on eBay: The Importance of Fair Shipping

2008-06-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

With all the previous posts about shipping, I have decided to highlight the importance of fair shipping. If you sell on eBay, are you reasonable with your shipping costs? Although most eBay sellers are, others try to increase their profits by charging high shipping. There are, however, downsides to doing so.

So, the next eBay auction that you list, make sure that your shipping is set at a reasonable price. When doing so, you are likely to get more page views, as well as increase your chances of making a sale.

Selling on eBay: Shipping Discounts You Can Offer

2008-06-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I discussed a few of the benefits of providing your buyers with small shipping discounts. When doing so, you are giving shoppers an incentive or a reward for doing business with you. So, what type of shipping discounts could you offer?

Free Shipping
Reduced Shipping (such as a certain dollar amount or percentage off)
Buy Two Items, Get Free Shipping
Buy Three Items, Pay Only One Shipping….

The list is endless. As an important reminder, don’t offer huge discounts on items that are costly to ship. This will have an impact on your profits.

Selling on eBay: Should You Offer Shipping Discounts?

2008-06-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

Although this topic has been covered here before, I think it deserves another look.

eBay is a great way to make money online, but the competition is increasing, as more people are finding it a relatively easy way to make extra cash. What does this mean? It means that you should occasionally offer incentives. Doing so is likely to draw more attention to your eBay auctions, as well as result in higher profits.

Offering shipping discounts is a great way to get started.

Selling on eBay: The Importance of Quick Shipping

2008-06-06T20:54:00.000-07:00

Are you looking to become a successful eBay seller? If you are, how fast do you ship your items out after they have been paid for? To improve your profits, you should have a good reputation and quick shipping can help you get that.

In the event that you cannot ship out a purchase right away (in 1 to 2 days) like if you will be out of town or if you are waiting until a check clears, be sure to notify all buyers ahead of time. This will reduce the chances of you ending up with an unhappy customer.

Selling on eBay: Promoting Your eBay Store

2008-05-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I highlighted a few ways that you can promote your eBay Store. On the eBay.com website, they also have a page devoted to promoting your eBay Store. The information is different from the suggestions that I posted; therefore, you may want to checkout the tips shared. You can do so here.

Selling on eBay: How to Market Your eBay Store

2008-05-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

My last couple of posts have outlined the benefits of having an eBay store. These benefits include your own website address, one place to list all of your eBay items, and reduced fees. There is, however, also a downside to owning an eBay store. That downside is the marketing that you must do.

Unfortunately, your eBay Store items are not likely to appear in a search performed on the eBay.com website. Some of your items may appear in a separate section, when an eBay buyer is presented with a limited number of buying options, but there are no guarantees. This means that if you want to make money with an eBay Store, there is some work that you will have to do.

As for how you can market your eBay store, you do have a number of different options.

You can put a link to your website in the signature of message boards that you belong to. Every time that you make a post, readers will see a link to your eBay Store.

In keeping with message boards, some have sections that are referred to as “buy and sell sections.” This is where you can typically list items that you have for sale. You can do so and include a link to your eBay Store.

A great way to run a successful eBay Store is to get repeat customers. When a new customer places an order with you, be sure to send a thank you note with their purchase. On that note, include the address to your eBay Store. That buyer is likely to return again.

eBay Stores: Why You Should Have One

2008-05-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

Are you an avid eBay seller or would you like to become one? If so, you may want to consider opening your own eBay Store. When you do so, you receive your own storefront page on eBay. You are also able to customize some of your options. If that wasn’t enough, there are more reasons why you should open an eBay Store.

* The listing fees are lower than traditional eBay auctions or Buy It Now listings.
* You can list items that you have more than one of (like a LeapFrog Learning DVD) without having to pay multiple fees.
* Your items are able to be listed for sale online longer.

Selling on eBay: What Is An eBay Store?

2008-05-26T19:54:00.001-07:00

If you are new to selling on eBay, you may have seen something called an eBay Store. Many sellers use eBay Stores as a way to list their items on eBay and make money online. Before you do the same, you may be wondering exactly what an eBay store is.

When you open an eBay Store, you, essentially, get your own website. Yes, this website will still be a part of eBay.com, but it will have its own unique web address. This is where all of your for sale items will appear together.

There are a number of benefits to opening up an eBay Store; therefore, you may want to take a closer look and you can do so by visiting the eBay.com website.

Selling on eBay: Why You Should Create an About Me Page

2008-05-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

If you are an eBay seller, especially one who is just getting started, do you have an eBay About Me page? If you don’t, you will want to consider making one, especially since it is so easy to do so.

Although you are able to customize your eBay About Me page, you can make it so that a few of your eBay auctions will appear, as well as a few of your most recent eBay feedback ratings. You will also want to create a small description of yourself. Make it be professional in nature.

An eBay About Me page can help to give eBay buyers comfort and reassurance in knowing that they are doing business with a real person who is serious about making legitimate sales online.

Selling on eBay: The Importance of Accepting PayPal

2008-05-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

If you are selling on eBay, do you accept PayPal as a method of payment? Unfortunately, not all new eBay sellers know the importance of doing so.

From the standpoint of a buyer, PayPal is one of the best ways to buy things on eBay. Why? Because it offers buyers protection. Unfortunately, there are scammers out there who sell on eBay. That is why many buyers receive protection for making their eBay purchases through PayPal.

Although a large number of eBay buyers prefer to pay with PayPal, not all do. For that reason, you should also offer alternative methods of payment, such as payment by personal checks or money orders.

Selling on eBay: Why You Should Check eBay’s Completed Listings

2008-05-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

In my last few posts, I stated that you should keep an eye on your eBay competition. Another small, yet effective step that you will want to take involves doing a little bit of research. Checking eBay’s completed listings can give you a good idea as to how much money you can expect to make. It can also help you determine how to accurately price your items or if you should even sell them at all.

To check completed listings on eBay.com, you must be logged into your eBay account. From there, you will want to click on the “Advance Search,” link, which is right next to the traditional eBay search box. Also, be sure to click on the “Completed Listings Only,” box.

Selling on eBay: Be Cautious of Spam and Spoof Emails

2008-05-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I highlighted the importance of checking your eBay messages. When doing so, you will want to do so directly from the eBay.com website. If you are not careful, you could fall victim to an online scam. These scams are commonly referred to as phishing scams or spoof email scams.

What will happen is that you will get a message that says it is from eBay. Unfortunately, not all really are. But, when you click on the link that allows you to view the message, you will be asked to enter in your eBay user name and password. If the email is a phishing email or a spoof email, a scammer will essentially walk away with your important eBay information.

That is why it is a good idea to check your eBay messages directly from the eBay.com website instead of clicking on a link in an email.

Selling on eBay: The Importance of Checking Your eBay Messages

2008-05-12T13:49:00.000-07:00

Do you sell on eBay? If you do, how often do you check your eBay messages? When you have eBay auctions up and running, you should check your messages at least once a day.

Why? Because there are some buyers who have additional questions that they want answers to before placing a bid. Not checking or answering your eBay messages could result in a lost sale.

Selling on eBay: The Importance of Not Giving Up Too Early

2008-05-11T21:47:00.000-07:00

Are you an eBay seller who isn’t seeing much luck? If you are, your first thought may be to give up and search for other ways to make money from home. Of course, the decision to do so is yours to make, but you may not want to give up too early or too easily.

Sometimes all that is needed is a little bit of help and research. You may want to examine this blog from the beginning to get a few tips. You can do so by clicking on the ”Be an eBay Seller,” heading at the top.

Selling on eBay: Why You Should Watch Your Competition

2008-05-02T18:42:00.001-07:00

Are you looking to be a successful eBay seller? If so, you should know that you are not alone. A large number of other internet users are turning to the eBay.com website, looking to make a profit. What does this mean? It means that you are likely to have a lot of competition.

Before you list an item on eBay, it is a wise idea to first check what you are selling. For example, if you have a LeapFrog children’s toy, perform a search for that item. If it appears that the website is currently saturated with the same toy, you may want to hold off on listing your item for sale until a later week, like when there is less competition. This approach can help to improve your chances of making a sale.

Selling on eBay: Why You Should First Start Small

2008-05-02T18:39:00.000-07:00

Are you just getting started with selling on eBay? If you are, you may want to get as many items listed as soon as possible. After all, the more items you sell, the more money that you are able to make. With that said, you may want to proceed with caution and first take it slow.

If you are a new eBay seller, you may find that some buyers are reluctant to do business with you.

You will also want to experiment with your auction descriptions, pictures, prices, and when your auctions are scheduled to end before you start listing too many items.

If you don’t do the proper amount of research first, you may actually end up losing money as a new eBay seller, as opposed to making more.

Selling on eBay: The Pros and Cons of Choosing a Niche

2008-04-25T21:51:00.000-07:00

If you are just getting started with selling on eBay, you may do some research online. When doing that research, you may find others who suggest that you choose a specific niche. This means focusing on one particular type of product, like children’s clothes. Although this is a nice approach to take, there are a number or pro and cons to choosing an eBay niche.

The pro to creating an eBay niche is that you are likely to get repeat customers or even multiple sales. For example, if an eBay buyer purchases a pair of children’s shorts from you and they had a good experience, they are more likely to do business with you again, especially if you have other children’s clothes available for sale.

The biggest con or downside to creating an eBay niche is the opportunities that you do miss. If you spend your time focusing on something in particular, like children’s clothes, you may miss out on something else great to sell. With that said, it is possible for you to toss in a new other eBay auctions that are out of your niche, like you if you find a valuable antique when yard sale or thrift store shopping.

Selling on eBay: Buying Out of Season Tip

2008-04-24T21:51:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for things to sell on eBay, you may want to visit a few of your local stores. Some have amazing sales throughout the year on out of season products. This is typical with clothing.

Although you will want to hang on to the items for a while, as you won’t want to sell winter clothes at the start of summer or spring, the money that you save on sales and discounts should help to increase your profits.

Selling on eBay: Reasons for Ending an eBay Auction

2008-04-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

Although eBay does have rules and restrictions concerning cancelled listings, it is possible for you to do so in most cases.

The reasons why you may legitimately want to cancel or end an eBay auction of yours early include:

* You Don’t Have the Item Anymore
* The Item Has Since Suffered Damage
* You Made an Error

Selling on eBay: What to Do With a Low Selling Item?

2008-04-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

Are you an eBay seller who doesn’t seem to be having much luck? If you have an eBay auction that isn’t going as high as you thought it would, you may be wondering what your options are. Unfortunately, there is not much that you can do. You do have the option of ending your auction early, but there are some rules and restrictions about doing so. You will also find that it is poor in taste to cancel bids or an auction altogether.

Selling on eBay: Links You May Find Helpful

2008-04-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

How to Be a Successful eBay Seller (Lot of Tips Shared)

How to Find Cheap Packing Supplies (When Selling on eBay)

How to Make Your eBay Auctions Standout (In a Good Way)

Selling on eBay: What to Do If a Buyer Doesn’t Pay?

2008-04-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I briefly summarized how you should give all of your buyers seven days to pay. During this time, however, you will want to send a few reminder messages. If, after this time, you do not hear anything, you can file an unpaid item dispute. If you win, you can also request to get your eBay fees back.

Selling on eBay: When Is Too Long to Wait for Payment?

2008-04-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

Are you an eBay seller who seems to be a having a problem with a non-paying buyer? If you are, how much time have you given the buyer? In all honesty, you will find that most eBay buyers will pay you within 48 hours, but you may encounter some late payers.

As for waiting for payment, be sure that you sent an invoice to the buyer following the end of your auction. On the third day, you may want to resend another reminder. On the seventh day, give one more (polite) final warning. After this, you may want to contact eBay.

eBay Sellers: Tips for Writing Your eBay Auction Listings

2008-04-17T21:00:00.001-07:00

In your eBay auction listing, which is the page you will create with information about what you are selling, you will see a box that enables you to write your product descriptions. Although using this given box is great, you may first want to prepare your descriptions elsewhere, like in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Works. These programs provide you with spell check and it is easier for you to proofread. When you are done, simply copy and paste.

Selling on eBay: An Important Tip for eBay Sellers

2008-04-15T12:33:00.000-07:00

If you have sold on eBay before, you likely already know that you are able to create your own eBay auction pages. This is where you can include pictures of what you are selling, write descriptions of what you are selling and so forth. Unfortunately, this is where some eBay sellers make costly mistakes.

Whether you are selling on eBay without success or if you are a new eBay seller, it is important that you take a look at your completed eBay auction pages. When doing so, look at it from the standpoint of a seller. Would you buy what you are selling? Are your pictures clear? Are your descriptions detailed enough?

Selling on eBay: The Importance of Choosing the Proper Category

2008-04-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

When you sell on eBay, you will choose a category to list what you have to sell under. While you will have a number of categories to choose from and sometimes multiple categories will fit for what you have to sell, it is important that you choose the right category. This is important, as it may have an impact on how many page views your eBay auctions receive, as well as what sells.

When many shoppers use eBay, many perform a search, as most already know what they are looking for, however, not all do. Instead, others will browse through eBay categories. This is why you will want to make sure that what you have listed for sale on the eBay website is listed under the right category.

New to Selling on eBay: The Best Times to Find Cheap Digital Cameras

2008-04-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I outlined tips on how you can make do with even a cheap digital camera, like one that comes without a flash or a display screen. Although these tips will help you, you may want to purchase a digital camera when you are able to do so.

What you can do is set aside a little bit of the money that you make selling on eBay to buy a camera. When doing so however, try to buy a camera around back to school time or Christmas, as this is when you are likely to find the best deals.

Selling on eBay: Do You Need to Have a Big Fancy Digital Camera?

2008-04-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

If you are looking to sell on eBay or if you just got started, you may have heard that it is important to have pictures of what you are selling. This is true, as many buyers will not make a purchase on eBay unless they are first able to see pictures. With that said, you may not own a digital camera or have enough money to go and purchase one.

When I first started selling on eBay, I was a stay-at-home mom who had no extra money, but I was looking to make some. At the time, most nice digital cameras were selling for about $150. The price has gone done for most cameras, but they can still be expensive to purchase. With that said, many retailer’s, like Wal-Mart, have cheap cameras that often cost less than $20 available for sale.

When buying a cheap camera, you are likely just going to get the basics. You may not get a digital camera with a display screen or even a flash, but there are ways to work around not having these. For example, make sure you have extra lightening surrounding the items that you are taking a picture of and you should be okay without the flash. As for not having a display screen, take as many pictures as possible to ensure that you get a good shot. When you load the pictures onto your computer, simply delete the ones that didn’t turn out good or any extra pictures that you may have.

eBay Sellers: Why You Should Use eBay’s Shipping Calculators

2008-04-11T18:24:00.001-07:00

In my last post (although it has been awhile), I highlighted the importance of letting all buyers know how much they can expect to pay in shipping costs ahead of time. With that said, you may be wondering how you can go about doing so. The good news is that eBay has a number of tools that you can use.

On the eBay website, you will find shipping calculators. These calculators enable you to enter in information about your package, such as its size and its weight. Then, by using eBay’s shipping calculator, you can determine how much you should charge for shipping.

In addition to charging all eBay sellers the same amount of money for shipping, you can also allow them to calculate the cost of shipping. This is ideal, as it often costs more for a package to be shipped a longer distance. eBay allows the shipping calculator to be embedded in your eBay auctions. When doing so, all prospective buyers can enter in their zip code and they will receive an estimate of what they will have to pay for shipping.

eBay Sellers: Why You Should Outline Shipping Costs Ahead of Time

2008-03-02T19:14:00.000-08:00

If you are looking to sell on eBay, you may be curious about how the shipping works. Typically, your buyer will pay for the cost of shipping, unless you offer them a special deal or discount. Although some eBay sellers do not outline the cost of shipping until after an eBay auction has ended, this is something that you will want to refrain from doing.

Unfortunately, some of the eBay sellers who do not tell buyers what their shipping is until after they have already agreed to make the purchase charge way too much money. For that reason, many buyers will automatically skip over eBay auctions that do not outright state what the cost of shipping is. You will not want your eBay auction listings to be those.

eBay Sellers: The Importance of Following All of eBay Rules and Restrictions

2008-02-29T17:34:00.000-08:00

In my last post, I highlighted the importance of examining eBay’s list of restricted and prohibited items. These are just a few of the many eBay rules and restrictions that you will want to take a close look at. Doing so is important, as you will not want to later end up suffering the consequences. Speaking of consequences, many wonder what will happen should they not follow eBay rules. A few of the consequences that you may face are outlined below.

* Your eBay Account Could Be Suspended
* Your eBay Auctions Could Be Cancelled
* You May Lose the Right to Your eBay Listing Fees, Even If Your Auction is Cancelled

eBay Sellers: The Importance of Knowing What You Can Sell

2008-02-06T16:23:00.000-08:00

If you are just getting started with selling on eBay, you may be curious as to what you can and cannot sell. Although there are a large number of items that can be posted for sale on the eBay website, there are items that are restricted. These items include alcohol, drugs, food, live animals, and so forth.

Generally speaking, using your best judgment will ensure that you are only selling items that are allowed to be sold on eBay, but, still, no harm can come from examining eBay’s restricted and prohibited list, which can be found here.

eBay Sellers: How to Reduce Your eBay Fees with Pictures

2008-02-04T19:21:00.000-08:00

In my last post, I outlined the importance of posting pictures of what you are selling in your eBay auction listings. Even with a clear picture, you may still want to post multiple pictures. Multiple pictures are extremely important when selling your items in lots, as you often have five items or more being sold in the same auction. Unfortunately, eBay only allows you one free picture for each eBay auction listing, but there is a way that you can get around this extra fee.

Online photo sharing websites can enable you to post extra pictures of your eBay auction items and for free. When I sold on eBay, I used Photo Bucket. Simply sign up with a free account and upload pictures from your computer to the website. Once you are done, you should be provided with a link or a button to click on which will generate a code for eBay. This code should be pasted in your eBay auction description box. Once properly done, your additional pictures will appear on the page, and for no extra fee.

eBay Sellers: The Importance of Using Pictures in Your eBay Auctions

2008-02-01T19:57:00.001-08:00

If you are new to selling on eBay, you may not know the importance of pictures. If you plan to be a successful eBay seller, you will want to make sure that you post pictures of what you are selling. When doing so, be sure that your pictures are clear and that the area you are taking pictures in is well lit.

eBay Sellers: What to Consider When Accepting Personal Checks

2008-01-31T17:07:00.001-08:00

In my last post, I stated that it might be a good idea to accept personal checks as a method of payment, in addition to PayPal. This is because not everyone knows what PayPal is, let alone uses it.

If you do decide to accept personal checks though, I highly recommend waiting until the check clears. This is especially important with checks that are valued $50 or higher. Simply outline in your eBay auction listing that you plan to hold the item until the check clears and you shouldn’t encounter any problems.

eBay Sellers: Another Great Idea to Increase Multiple Sales

2008-01-28T20:18:00.000-08:00

A few posts ago, I highlighted the benefits of offering shipping discounts to those who make multiple purchases from you. In addition to offering shipping discounts, you can also offer standard discounts. For example, if an eBay buyer spends twenty dollars or more with you, not including the cost of shipping, you can offer them a $5 discount.

eBay Sellers: What Offering Shipping Discounts on Multiple Purchases Can Do For You

2008-01-27T18:46:00.001-08:00

In my last post, I outlined how you may want to offer shipping discounts for multiple purchases. As nice as it is to hear that you can and should do so, you may be wondering what doing so can do for you.

When offering shipping discounts for multiple purchases, you are likely to increase your sales. Yes, you will have to take a small hit on shipping, but you should be okay if your items are small or light in size. In fact, when shipped together, one package may cost less than two would.

Generally speaking, this type of discount will work great when you are selling items, such as children’s clothes. For example, an eBay shopper can buy a kid’s shirt and then a pair of kid’s pants and only have to pay for shipping for one.

As previously stated, offering this type of shipping discount is likely to increase your sales. People always love offers that save them money.

Selling on eBay: More Information on Shipping Discounts

2008-01-25T18:48:00.000-08:00

Although it has been a while, my last set of postings focused on shipping discounts, why you should offer them, and what types you should offer. In addition to free or discounted shipping, you may want to offer shipping discounts for multiple purchases. Depending on the size of your items, you can offer free shipping for one of the items or offer a certain dollar amount off the cost of shipping like $5.

I’m Back

2008-01-25T18:40:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay in postings. I had a huge project to work on and I didn’t have much time for blogging. I am back now though.

eBay Sellers: Shipping Discounts You May Want to Offer – Tip #2

2008-01-14T17:02:00.000-08:00

If free shipping isn’t an option, you, as an eBay seller, should still consider offering a little bit of discount. For example, if were to charge $5 for shipping, you may want to charge $3 instead. This way you are not responsible for the full cost of shipping, but the discount offered is still likely enough to turn heads and generate interest in your eBay auctions.

eBay Sellers: The Importance of Using Caution When Offering Free Shipping

2008-01-12T19:48:00.000-08:00

As previously stated, offering free shipping on a few of your eBay auctions is likely to increase your eBay auction page views, as well as increase your chances of making a sale. As great as this is, you will want to proceed with caution.

To help you make money, not lose it, you will want to make sure that you offer free shipping on items that are easy and affordable to ship. For example, five books would be much cheaper for you to pick up the cost of shipping, as opposed to a lot full of twenty plus children’s toys.

You will also want to keep location in mind. If you live in the United States, you may not want to offer free shipping to buyers who live in another country, as it can often be expensive to do so. Simply set your auction for buyers in the United States only, or state your policy in your eBay auction.

It is also important to outline your intended shipping methods. For example, if you are offering free shipping on movies or books, you may want to use media mail as an option, as it is cheaper. However, media mail takes longer than first class mail or priority mail. To ensure your eBay buyers know what to expect and when they can expect their purchases to arrive in the mail, you will want to be upfront with your shipping intentions.

eBay Sellers: Shipping Discounts You May Want to Offer – Tip #1

2008-01-11T20:42:00.000-08:00

As previously stated, there are a number of benefits to offering shipping discounts when selling on eBay. One of the many types of discounts you may want to offer is that of free shipping. Free shipping is not only likely to improve your eBay auction views, but it is also likely to increase your chances of making a sale. If one thing is for sure, it is that online shoppers love free shipping.

eBay Sellers: Why You Should Offer Shipping Discounts

2008-01-09T19:26:00.000-08:00

If you are looking to see success as an eBay seller, you need to bring good attention to your eBay auction listings. Doing so will enable you to set yourself apart from the competition. While there are a number of steps that you can take, one option involves offering shipping discounts.

As nice as it to hear that you can and should occasionally offer shipping discounts on some of the things you sell on eBay, you may be curious as to why. Many eBay sellers are afraid of losing money this way. With that being said, there are a number of steps that you can take to offer shipping discounts while still making a profit. Just one of those steps involves only offering them on occasion, such as every five items listed or so. Other options will be covered in the following days.

As for why you should offer shipping discounts, even just on occasion, it is important to remember that you will likely have a lot of competition on eBay. Having a shipping price of even just $2 cheaper than your competition is likely to increase your chances of making a sale on eBay.

Selling on eBay: How to Get a Positive eBay Feedback Rating – Tip #3

2008-01-08T11:10:00.001-08:00

Another great way that you can get good eBay feedback ratings is by providing your eBay buyers with constant communication. Although not required by any means, constant communication can help your eBay feedback, often in more ways than one.

Approaches that you may want to take include contacting your eBay buyer right after they won one of your actions. In addition to sending your eBay invoice, be sure to send a little “thank you for your business,” note.

Next, be sure to notify your eBay buyer as soon as you ship out their items. Even if you do not have any tracking information to provide them with, this is still a nice courtesy to extend. It also gives eBay buyers an expected arrival date, which many appreciate.

Finally, after a few days have passed, send a confirmation message to your eBay buyer. You can once again thank for them for doing business with you, ask if their item arrived, and if it was what they expected.

These steps, as previously stated, are not required, but they often result in a happy eBay buyer. It is important to remember that happy eBay buyers leave positive feedback.

Selling on eBay: How to Get a Positive eBay Feedback Rating – Tip #2

2008-01-06T17:22:00.000-08:00

Another easy way that you can go about getting good eBay feedback ratings is by stating your shipping costs upfront. Also, you will want to be sure that you are fair with those costs.

Not all eBay sellers outline their shipping costs in their eBay auctions. In this case, the cost of shipping will be disclosed after an item has been purchased. Unfortunately, in many of these instances, eBay buyers are shocked when they are overcharged. This often has a negative impact on the eBay feedback left for the seller in question.

Selling on eBay: How to Get a Positive eBay Feedback Rating – Tip #1

2008-01-04T16:26:00.001-08:00

Perhaps, the best and easiest way that you can go about getting a good eBay feedback rating is by being honest. One of the biggest complaints made by eBay sellers is receiving something that they did not expect. This is most often the case with poor quality items that are passed off as being in new or like-new shape.

In your eBay auction listings, be sure to provide as much information as possible and be accurate with that information. If you have an item that is used, be sure to state so. Also, if the item in question is damaged in any shape or form, be sure to state so.

When an eBay buyer of yours receives exactly what they had expected, you are likely to receive a good eBay feedback rating from them.

Selling on eBay: eBay Feedback Tips

2008-01-03T17:59:00.000-08:00

As previously stated, your eBay feedback can have a huge impact on your success as an eBay seller. For that reason, this is a topic that will be focused on over the next few days.

I plan to outline ways that you, as an eBay seller, can improve or at least maintain your good eBay feedback rating.

Selling on eBay: How New eBay Sellers Can Get eBay Feedback

2008-01-02T19:23:00.001-08:00

Generally speaking, many eBay buyers will not do business with an eBay seller who has no feedback. If you are new to selling on eBay, you may want to consider making a few small purchases first. If you pay right away, you should receive a positive eBay feedback rating.

Selling on eBay: The Importance of Your eBay Feedback

2008-01-01T18:40:00.001-08:00

If you are interested in becoming a successful and profitable eBay seller, it is important to take a good look at your feedback. Your eBay feedback may have a huge impact on your success.

As nice as eBay is, there are a number of scams that occur on this website. These scams may include an eBay auction listed for an item that doesn’t even exist or an eBay auction that outlines an item that is new, but really in poor shape.

Due the possibility of losing money when shopping on eBay, many eBay buyers display caution. This caution mostly involves checking the feedback of all eBay sellers they are interested in doing business with. That is just one of the many reasons why your eBay feedback should be a great concern of yours.

Selling on eBay: Where to Find Shipping Supplies

2007-12-30T18:42:00.000-08:00

My last few posts have focused on shipping. As nice as it is to hear that you should properly pack all of your eBay items, you may be wondering how you can go about getting supplies to do so. Outlined below are a few ideas.

For Boxes

Save any boxes that come in your mail. This is great if you do a lot of shopping online. Store the boxes in your home and reuse them when they are the perfect fit for an eBay item of yours.

Visit your local retail stores. Many retail stores, especially those that are smaller in size, would be more than happy to give you a few boxes. Many will even let you choose the boxes that you want. This often reduces the amount of cardboard that workers later have to take the to dumpster

For Other Packing Supplies

For bubble wrap, foam, and air packs, be sure to examine any packages that you receive in the mail. Many retailers secure their packages with these great items. If so, store them in a safe place at home.

Many retailers also sell packing tape, boxes, bubble wrap, and other packing supplies. If you cannot find what you need elsewhere, you may need to buy your eBay packaging supplies. When doing so, be sure to checkout your local dollar stores or discount stores, as they often have the best prices.

Selling on eBay – Shipping Your eBay Merchandise – Boxing

2007-12-29T18:35:00.001-08:00

When shipping out your eBay merchandise to the buyer, you will find that you have a number of different options. Depending on the size of the eBay item in question, you may be able to use an envelope or a box. With that in mind, just because you can fit your eBay merchandise into an envelope doesn’t necessarily mean that you should. You will want to take damage into consideration.

Personally, I received a game controller that I order in an envelope before. It was used and just in a regular envelope. There was no padding at all. Surprisingly, the controller worked when I tried it, but I was shocked. Any items that could be crushed should be shipped in a box or it should, at least, be in a well padded envelope.

Selling on eBay – Shipping Your eBay Merchandise – Proper Taping

2007-12-28T19:32:00.000-08:00

Whether you ship your merchandise in a box or in an envelope, it is important to ensure that it is properly taped. Personally speaking, I can’t tell you how many half opened packages I have received. This is mostly due in part to a poor taping job.

Selling on eBay – Shipping Your Merchandise – Padding

2007-12-27T17:59:00.002-08:00

As previously stated, it is advised that you pad all of your eBay purchases. This is important, as padding is likely to lessen damages. What you will want to do is either use foam peanuts, small air bags, or bubble wrap. If all else fails, you can also use scrunched up paper for padding, but this approach appears a little bit unprofessional in nature.

If you receive any packages in the mail yourself that contain these packing supplies, be sure to save them for yourself. They can come in handy when you ship out your eBay merchandise to the buyer.

Selling on eBay – Shipping Your Merchandise – The Importance of Proper Packing

2007-12-27T17:59:00.001-08:00

Once you make a sale on the eBay website and receive payment, you will need to ship out the merchandise to the buyer. When doing so, it is important that you proceed with caution. You should always properly pack all merchandise being shipping out. When it comes to the mail and damages, there are no guarantees. Unless a buyer purchases shipping insurance, they may try to come after you for a refund when damage occurs in the mail.

To help lessen the damage of your eBay items being shipping, take the tips outlined below into consideration.

* Use Packing Supplies, Such as Foam, Shipping Air Bags, or Bubble Wrap
* Ensure Your Box is Fully Taped
* For Breakable Items, Box Them Up, Even If They Can Fit Into an Envelope

Selling on eBay – Shipping Your Merchandise

2007-12-17T17:07:00.000-08:00

After you are able to make a sale on eBay, you will need to ship out your merchandise. eBay or PayPal will provide you with the winning bidder’s address. With that in mind, it is first important to touch on when you will ship out your merchandise.

When an eBay seller, you will want to ship out merchandise to your customers as soon as possible. Any significant delay is likely to cause you problems, especially with your eBay feedback. For that reason, if you will be unable to ship out your eBay merchandise within two days after your eBay auction has ended, you may want to state so in your eBay auction. This will help any eBay buyers who would need to have their merchandise before you are even able to ship it out.

Selling on eBay: Accepted Methods of Payment – Checks

2007-12-15T20:30:00.001-08:00

Checks are another method of payment that you may want to consider accepting. Although checks are decreasing in popularity as a method of payment on eBay, you may still want to consider offering them.

One important step that you will want to take, when accepting checks as a method of payment on eBay, is waiting until the check clears. You will not want to send out your merchandise until you know that you have the money in your account. Due to this delay, you may want to state your check accepting policy in your eBay auctions.

Selling on eBay: Accepted Methods of Payment – Money Orders

2007-12-14T20:43:00.001-08:00

Although many eBay buyers prefer to pay with PayPal, not all have PayPal accounts. For that reason, you will also want to consider accepting money orders.

Although money orders are generally considered a safe way to pay for eBay purchases, you will still want to proceed with caution. Due the possibility of fake money orders, you may want to refrain from shipping out your merchandise until you have cashed the money order.

Selling on eBay: Accepted Methods of Payment – PayPal

2007-12-13T21:48:00.000-08:00

Do you have a PayPal account? If you do not, you will want to sign up for one. Having a PayPal account is nice, not only for eBay. PayPal is considered, by many, a safe and convenient way to shop online. In fact, did you know that many eBay buyers will only pay with PayPal?

When signing up for a PayPal account, you have a number of different options. For starters, you can choose a standard basic account. This account is nice, as you are not charged any fees. With that in mind, if you want to accept credit cards, which is advised, you will want to consider upgrading your PayPal account. Although you will be charged PayPal fees, many eBay sellers find this upgrade more than worth it

Selling on eBay: Accepted Methods of Payment

2007-12-13T21:47:00.000-08:00

If you are interested in selling on eBay, you will first need to decide which methods of payment you want to accept. Below are a few methods of payment that many eBay sellers choose to accept.

1 – PayPal
2 – Money Orders
3 – Personal Checks

More information will be covered on these accepted methods of payment over the next few days.

Selling on eBay: Another eBay Auction Lot Tip

2007-12-12T08:00:00.001-08:00

As previously stated, you may want to group some of your eBay items into lots or groups. Although this approach is a good one to take, you will want to proceed with caution.

Generally speaking, you should only group similar merchandise together. For example, it may be a good idea to avoid grouping movies, books, and children’s clothes into lots or groups together.

Selling on eBay: Should You Sell Your Items in Lots?

2007-12-11T17:43:00.001-08:00

As previously stated, in my last post, an eBay auction lot is when you choose to group multiple items together and sell them in one eBay auction, instead of multiple, individual ones.

When it comes to determining if you should sell your eBay items in a lot or individually, there are a number of important points that you will want to take into consideration.

One of the many points that you will want to examine is that of brand name. Whether you are selling toys or clothes, you will likely find that brand name merchandise sells better than unknown brand names. For that reason, if you have multiple off-brand products, you may want to consider grouping them in lots with similar name brand products. This may increase your chances of selling all of your merchandise.

Selling on eBay: What is an eBay Auction Lot?

2007-12-11T02:21:00.000-08:00

If you take the time to explore the eBay auction website, you will find that many auctions are listed as lots. Do you know what an eBay auction lot is? If not, you should, especially if you are looking to become a profitable eBay seller.

An eBay auction lot is when multiple items are listed or grouped together in a group. For example, if you are interested in selling 25 pieces of children clothes, you may want to sell your 25 pieces in a lot, as opposed to listing 25 separate auctions.

Although there are no guarantees, you may be able to save a considerable amount of money overtime with the use of eBay auction lots.

Selling on eBay: What Things Should You Sell?

2007-12-09T21:53:00.001-08:00

One of the most commonly asked questions, concerning selling on eBay, involves what items should be sold. When it comes to determining what you should sell on eBay, there are a number of important points that you will want to take into consideration.

One point that you will want to examine is popularity. Items that are popular or in need, like a new toy or video gaming console, are more likely to be “hot,” sellers on eBay.

You will also want to take your likes or your hobbies into consideration. You are more likely to enjoy selling on eBay if you are able to sell items that you like or items that interest you, such as toys, clothes, books, or movies.

Top 6 Ways to Find Items to Sell on eBay

2007-12-09T21:25:00.000-08:00

These 6 ways are just a few of the many ways that you can go about finding things to sell on eBay. However, they are some of the most widely used approaches.

1 - Yard Sales
2 - Estate Sales
3 - Thrift Stores
4 - Drop Shipping Companies
5 - Wholesale Suppliers
6 – Your Own Home

More information will be covered on each of these approaches later on.

Selling on eBay: How to Customize Your “My eBay,” Section

2007-12-08T20:39:00.000-08:00

As stated in my last post, it may be a good idea to customize your “My eBay,” section. This can make selling on eBay a much simpler task. To customize your “My eBay,” section, start there. Near the upper right hand corner, you should see a link titled “Customize Summary.” You will want to click there.

You will then be presented with a number of different options. Of course, you can choose to have any “My eBay,” headline listed, but you may want to add the following ones:

My Messages
Selling Reminders
Selling
Sold
Unsold
Posts I’ve Created
Scheduled

These “My eBay,” section headlines are ones that are designed for eBay sellers. If you also plan to become an eBay buyer, there are additional headlines that you may want to add.

Selling on eBay: Customizing Your “My eBay,” Section

2007-12-08T20:38:00.000-08:00

If you are new to eBay and plan to sell on eBay, you will want to take the time to customize your “My eBay,” section. In all honesty, I do not remember what this section looks like for new members. With that in mind, there may be some headlines in your “My eBay,” section that can be hidden from your view. These are ones that do not pertain to you as an eBay seller.

Look at the next post for information on how you can customize your “My eBay,” section.

Selling on eBay: The Importance of Your “My eBay,” Section

2007-12-08T20:23:00.000-08:00

As previously stated, the “My eBay,” section on the eBay website is an important part of selling on eBay. This section is where you are able to monitor your eBay auctions, as well as those that have completed.

In addition to monitoring your eBay auctions, you will be able to view all eBay messages here. This is particularly important, especially since a number of online scams center on eBay. These scams are commonly referred to as phishing scams. What you will want to do is not click on any eBay links that arrive in your email inbox. Instead, you will want to open a new internet window, go to eBay.com directly, log into your account and check your eBay messages, which can be done from the “My eBay,” section.

Selling on eBay: What Is “My eBay?”

2007-12-08T20:19:00.000-08:00

When you sign into your eBay account, you will want to click on the “My eBay,” link towards the top of the main page. When looking to sell on eBay, the “My eBay,” section will be your best friend. It is here where you will be able to view messages sent to you by eBay or potential eBay buyers, review your current eBay auctions, as well as those that ended with or without bids.

Before you start selling on eBay, you may want to take a look around and explore the “My eBay,” section of the eBay website.

Selling on eBay: Bag Sales

2007-11-20T18:28:00.000-08:00

In my last post, I outlined how yard sales are a great way to find cheap items to sell on eBay. Although yard sales already have quality, yet cheap items available for sale, you may want to examine bag sales.

Bag sales are often hosted by churches or other non-profit organizations. With bag sales, you are able to fill up a shopping bag and pay a set price. This set price is often $1 or $2 per bag. If you are lucky, you are able to use paper bags. With careful packing, you can walk away with a lot of great merchandise to sell on eBay, without having to spend a large amount of money.

As previously stated, bag sales are often hosted by churches or other non-profit organizations. With that in mind, it is common to find these sales on the last day or the afternoon that a yard sale ends. Bag sales are a great way for yard sales hosts to get rid of their leftover merchandise.

Selling on eBay: Why You Should Target Yard Sales

2007-11-20T18:22:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for items to sell on eBay, you will want to examine your local yard sales. Yard sales are a great way to find old, quality, and cheap merchandise.

Although yard sales often take place during the summer months, there are many parts of the country where yard sales are just getting in full swing. If you live in one of these areas, you will want to stop and see what you can find.

Personally speaking, I used yard sales when selling on eBay. What I did was purchase large quantities of infant and toddler toys and clothes. Many of these items were available for purchase for $1 or less. I would then group all of these items in lots. This was a great way to get rid on non-brand name clothing, as I would pair it in lots with name brand clothing pieces.

One of the many reasons why you should use yard sales as a way to find items to sell on eBay is because of your profits. The less you spend on merchandise to sell, the more money you are able to make.

Selling on eBay: What Should You Sell?

2007-11-15T22:24:00.001-08:00

Are you interested in making money online by selling on eBay? If you are and if you are just getting started, you may be unsure as to what you should sell. The good news is that you have so many options.

Of course, you will find that eBay has rules and restrictions, concerning what can be sold on their website, but these rules and restrictions shouldn’t really have an impact on your sales. Common items that are restricted include certain adult entertainment items, such as adult movies, alcohol, food, and anything that is illegal.

Now that you have an idea as to what you cannot sell on eBay, you may be wondering what you can sell on eBay. In my past experiences, as an eBay seller, I found infant toys and clothing to be great sellers. Other items that sell successfully are antiques, plus size clothing, and hard to find items.

eBay Selling: Setting Up Your Account

2007-11-14T06:50:00.000-08:00

The first step in eBay selling involves setting up an eBay account. If you have never used eBay before, you will need to start from scratch. Although this may sound complicated, it is actually fairly easy for you to set up an eBay account.

What you will first want to do is visit the eBay website. This website is found at eBay.com. Towards the top of the eBay website, you will be able to find a link that either allows you to sign-in or register. You will want to register a new account.

Once you have clicked on the link to register a new eBay account, you will find a questionnaire to fill out. This will require you to provide information about yourself, such as your full name, address, telephone number, date of birth, and email address. It is important that you provide accurate information, especially with your email address.

Speaking of your email address, if you provide an email address that is difficult to trace or use to determine your identity, such as a free email program, like Hotmail, you will need to provide eBay with a valid credit card. This credit card is used to verify your identity.

Once the process has officially been completed, you will need to check your email account. There you will find a confirmation email. You will want to click on the link provided to you. You should then be able to sign into your eBay account.

Selling on eBay: Why You Should Give It a Try

2007-11-04T15:32:00.000-08:00

Although it is nice to hear that you can make money selling on eBay, you may be curious as to whether or not it is right for you. What is nice about selling on eBay is that you do not have to make an investment. Yes, there will be minimal eBay fees and you may have to purchase products to sell, but you should be able to find yourself getting started with spending less than $10!

Another one of the many reasons why you should give selling on eBay a try is because it is easy. The learning curve for using the eBay website is very easy. Yes, you will want to learn tips and tricks to have your eBay items sell, but you will find that it is more than easy to get started. eBay provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to get all of your eBay auctions up and running.

Selling on eBay: Can You Really Make Money?

2007-11-04T15:28:00.000-08:00

When I told my friends and family that I sold on eBay, one of the most commonly asked questions was “you can really make money doing that?” Of course, you can make money selling on eBay, but it is important to remember that it can be difficult.

Over the past few years, the popularity of eBay has skyrocketed. This popularity is nice, as it means more shoppers are visiting the website, but it also means that you have more competition. With that in mind, even with competition, it is possible for you to make money selling on eBay and possibly quite a bit of money.

As a reminder, this blog is going to focus on tips to help eBay sellers or hopeful eBay sellers make a profit. Please continue checking back for more helpful eBay selling tips.

Selling on eBay: What It Entails

2007-10-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

Although the phrase “selling on eBay,” is pretty self-explanatory, you may be looking for more information. Hopefully, this blog will provide you with that information.

The first step in selling on eBay is creating an eBay account. More information will be covered on this later.

Secondly, you will need to have items to sell. These items can be things that you have around your home or items that you purchased just for selling online. More information will also be covered later on, concerning what you can sell on eBay and how to find items.

Next, you will need to create an eBay auction page for your item. This involves posting any pictures that you have, setting a Buy It Now price or an auction price, typing up a description of your product, and entering in other similar information.

Once your eBay auction page has been created and posted, you basically sit back and wait. Those who wish to purchase your items will either do so or they may contact you for more information.

Should your item or items sell, you wait for payment and then ship out the merchandise to the buyer.

The above mentioned summary is just that, a summary. Selling on eBay entails a lot more than what was mentioned above, but this a general overview of what you can expect, when selling on eBay.

Introduction

2007-10-22T20:28:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in making money from home or making money online? If you are, you may want to examine eBay.

Even if you have never sold anything on eBay before, you likely already know what it is. eBay is an online auction website that allows interenet users to buy and sell online. With millions of visitors, there is a very good chance that you can make money with eBay.

Although a large number of eBay sellers simply do so for extra cash, you may even be able to make a full-time income from selling on eBay. With that being said, it isn’t always easy. That is why I created this blog.

Privacy Policy

2007-10-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

The privacy of my visitors is important.

At http://beanebayseller.blogspot.com, we recognize that your privacy is important. As an important note, your personal information is never sold to a third party.

Please continue reading on for additional information.

At http://beanebayseller.blogspot.com, we do collect standard data, as does most other websites. This information includes your ISP (Internet Service Provider), IP (Internet Protocol), and the internet browser used (such as Internet Explorer). This information is recorded each time that you visit our site.

Cookies are also used to store your personal preferences. This may result in your receiving tailored advertisements or popups.

Third party advertisements are also used, which help to support our site. Many of these advertisers do use advanced technology, including web beacons and cookies. These advertisers, such as Google, through the use of the Google Adsense program, will typically use this information for targeting purposes. This may result in you seeing local advertisements, as opposed for those across the country.

If you would prefer, you can modify your preferences, namely the use of cookies, on your computer. Please know, however, that this may impact the way that you are able to view and interact with websites, such as ours.

Welcome to My Blog

2007-10-15T22:11:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my new blog. My new blog is designed for those who are interested in selling on eBay. If you would like to sell on eBay, you have come to the right place. Having sold on eBay before and having researched eBay selling, you may find a number of the tips that I have to share helpful.

Please regularly check back, as I plan on updating this blog often.