How to Sell Expensive Items on eBay

Selling expensive items on eBay is really no different  than selling low cost items. Essentially, no matter  what you are selling, it all comes down to how you  market the item. This doesn’t mean you have to  surf around the Internet placing ads here and there –  when it comes to eBay auctions, the marketing is  all done at the eBay website. Basically, when you  set up your auction, you are setting up an  automated marketing campaign.

First, you must determine what the value of your  item is, in three different ways. This will help you  determine what your reserve price is. On eBay, the  reserve price is the lowest price that you are willing  to accept for your item. First, have your high priced  item evaluated to determine what the actual market  value is. Next, research similar items from past  auctions at eBay to see what price those items sold  for. Finally, determine what the value of the item is to you. With this information, you should be able to  determine the lowest amount you are willing to sell  the item for.

Set your reserve price, and then set your opening bid  price lower than $50 – no matter how high your  reserve price is. This is a marketing tactic. It will be  hard to attract potential buyers to an auction for an  item selling for hundreds or thousands of dollars –  but getting them to an auction where the opening  bid is only $50 is quite simple. Remember, you don’t  have to sell the item to anyone who bids less than  your reserve price – unless you choose to do so at  the close of the auction. This method of price setting  resembles marketing gimmicks used by offline  businesses that are simply designed to ‘get customers  in the door.’

Work hard on the description for your listing. Use  words that really describe your item well. Provide as  many details as possible, including details that prove  the authenticity of collectible items. Include pictures  of the item as well. Do not try to deceive potential  buyers! If the item has marks or scratches, simply  be honest about it, and make sure that the pictures  convey this as well. State how the item will be  packed and shipped. Also let potential buyers know  that shipping insurance must be purchased as well  – in case the item is damaged once it leaves your  possession.

For higher priced items, most eBay buyers feel more  comfortable using an escrow service. Offer this as  an option in your auction, with the understanding that  the buyer must pay for the service. This protects both  parties from fraud, and it makes many buyers more  open to spending the money to obtain the item.  eBay has partnered with an escrow service that is  commonly used for high ticket items.

‎‌How to Find Great Deals at eBay

Everyone loves a great deal! Many people spend  quite a bit of time searching for good deals on the  items that they want and need – and when they find  those deals, they experience a certain amount of  satisfaction. These people typically haunt garage  sales, stores that are holding sales, wholesale  warehouses, flea markets, and especially online  and offline auctions. With the incredible number of  auctions that are constantly going on at eBay, it  can be difficult to find the items you want, at the  price you want to pay. But it isn’t impossible to find  great deals!

There are steps you can take to ensure that you are  getting a great deal on the items you purchase  through eBay. In fact, these same steps will also  help to protect you against fraud. Participating in  online auctions is a great deal of fun, but you must use caution as well. This caution entails doing your  research before you place any bids.

Start with the auction in question. Make sure that  you read every word of the description and the  auction details. You can never have too much  information – especially if that information is  about an individual that you may be doing business  with. Pay special attention to what the description  and auction details do not say. For instance, is a  guarantee mentioned? Is the item new? Is it  authentic? Is there proof of authenticity? Look for  auctions that provide the right information – and  the right amount of information. Avoid those that  do not.

Who will pay the shipping and handling costs? Often, the buyer pays these costs, and sometimes, the  seller tries to charge more than the actual shipping  and handling costs are. Beware of high shipping  costs, especially for items that will be auctioned  off at a very low price. Also note when the item is  supposed to ship after the bidding has ended.  Depending on what you are trying to purchase the  item for, it may not arrive in time.

Don’t make the mistake of bidding on an item simply  because it is a ‘good deal.’ It is only a good deal for  you if the item is something that you really want or  need. Many people simply bid for the sake of  bidding – or winning – without having any real need  or desire for the item in question. Before bidding on  items that you do want or need, check prices  around the Internet and the prices available from  offline sources as well. Just because it is on eBay  does not guarantee that it is the cheapest price  available!

Finally, learn more about the seller. Can you trust  them? What is their rating? Read their feedback  page! Failure to learn more about the seller can be costly. Not everyone is as honest as you are – and  the seller may be trying to take advantage of people  that simply don’t know enough to find out more  about them. Sometimes scammers make their  auctions sound like really great deals. Beware of  prices that seem extremely low!

eBay Users: What You Need to Know About Phishing Scams

Are you an eBay user?  Whether you use eBay to do your online shopping or if you use eBay to generate extra income for yourself, as an eBay seller, there is something that you need to be aware of. As an eBay user, whether you are a seller or a buyer, you need to be on the lookout for phishing scams.  Phishing scams are rapidly increasing in popularity and many are using eBay as a front.  To protect your identity, as well as you finances, you need to be on the lookout for them.

If you are relatively new to eBay or online shopping in general, you may not know exactly what phishing scams are.  Do you?  If not, you should know that phishing scams are actually complex online scams.  A shady individual or a scammer makes a fake website that is similar to eBay or at least a fake eBay sign in page.  You are then sent an email that appears as if it was from eBay.  The only thing is that it wasn’t.  The goal of a phishing scam is to get you to visit the fake page and enter in your eBay sign in information, including your eBay screen name and your eBay password.  Once a scammer has your information, they get access to you personal information stored on eBay, as well as free use of your eBay account.

One of the reasons why phishing scams are so easy to fall victim to is because they give you the impression that is something is wrong with you eBay account or that you did something wrong yourself.  For instance, many phishing scams contain a message asking why you didn’t pay for an item that you ordered or outline the fact that your eBay account has been suspended.  The goal is to get you so worried that you will automatically click on the link to get the problem solved; however, as previously mentioned, the link takes you to a site that looks just like eBay, but it isn’t.  There is where the trouble comes in.

If you get an eBay phishing scam email, you will want to do a little bit of detective work, before actually clicking on the link. In fact, you shouldn't even click on the link.  The first thing that you will want to do is look at your name, as most eBay phishing emails start with “Dear eBay Member,” or something along those lines.  Real eBay messages will refer to you by your eBay screen name or even your real name.  You can also roll your mouse over the link provided to you and see where it will actually take you.  In most cases, you will find that you are being directed to another site, not eBay.com.  All eBay messages should appear in your “My eBay,” message box.  To see if eBay really sent you an email, you can log into your eBay account, from a brand new window that you open up, and check your messages, if you even have any at all.

If you do receive an eBay phishing scam email, you are advised to contact eBay or examine eBay’s help center. There you will find instructions on how to report the email or send a copy of it to eBay. Although your first thought may be to delete the eBay phishing scam email, you will actually want to follow eBay’s reporting instructions.  You may know that you are being scammed, but other may not.  Reporting an eBay phishing scam to eBay allows them to take care of the problem; thus likely reducing the number of eBay users who fall victim to similar scams.

Now that you know exactly what eBay phishing scams are, you are urged to be on the lookout for them.  Keeping an open eye is your best line of defensive against eBay phishing scams or any phishing scams for that matter.

eBay Users: T‬he Importance of Knowing and Following All eBay Rules

Are you an eBay member?  If so, do you consider yourself to be a relatively new eBay member?  If you have just recently started buying or selling on eBay within the past few months you may be.  As time passes, you will likely become more aware of how eBay works. For instance, if you are an eBay seller, you may find new ways to improve your eBay listings or if you are an eBay buyer, you may find new ways to get great deals.  One thing that you will likely do, overtime, is learn more about eBay’s rules.

As you likely already know, eBay is considered one of the world’s most popular online marketplaces.  eBay gives internet users, like you, the option to buy and sell online.  While giving all internet users the ability to buy and sell is nice, it can make for some problems, particularly concerning security or inappropriate content.  That is why eBay, like all other online marketplaces, has developed a set of rules or guidelines that you must follow, whether you are an eBay buyer or an eBay seller.  You should not only familiarize yourself with those rules, if you haven’t already done so, but you also need to follow them.

If you are an eBay seller, one of the most important eBay rules that you need to abide by is prohibited items.  Although just about anything can be sold on eBay, there are a few restrictions.  For instance, alcohol, drugs, pornography, and stolen merchandise are just a few of the many items that all eBay sellers, including you, are prohibited from selling.  Another eBay rule that you must follow, as an eBay seller, is to pay all of your eBay fees on time.  eBay has a set pay schedule, which you will be notified of in advance.  To be able to keep on making a profit selling merchandise on eBay, you will want to make sure that you pay your eBay fees on time.

If you are an eBay buyer, instead of an eBay seller, you will also have to know and abide by all eBay rules.  One of those rules is bidding only on items that you intend to buy.  If you place a bid on an eBay auction or if you agree to buy an item listed in a “Buy It Now,” listing format, you must do so.  That rule is stated in eBay’s guidelines.  If you do not feel that you can pay for the items that you bid on or agreed to pay for, it is best if you stay away from eBay for the time being.  Another eBay rule that you must follow is being honest with your purchases.  If you don’t receive an eBay purchase, it is fine to report that, but give it a few extra days for your item to arrive. Although eBay scams are often associated with sellers, many buyers are beginning to stir up trouble.  This involves reporting that they had not received an item, when they actually did; thus resulting in a refund, as well as the purchased item.

In most cases, you will find that it is relatively easy to get caught breaking eBay’s rules. That is why it is advised that you not only know all of eBay’s rules, but that you also abide by them. Should you not, you may end up suffering the consequences.  One of those consequences involves having your eBay account temporarily suspended or even permanently suspended.  In rare, but serious cases, the authorities may be contacted or legal action may be taken against you.  In all honesty, the action taken depends on the parties involved.
Despite the varied consequences for breaking eBay’s rules, it is extremely important that you take the time to examine all of eBay, including the sites rules, restrictions, and guidelines, before you get yourself into trouble that is difficult to get out of. For more information on eBay’s rules, visit their help center, speak to an experienced eBay user, or try and contact eBay’s customer service department.

eBay Success - How to Price Your Items

Many new sellers don’t realize how important pricing is when it comes to eBay auctions. Many don’t even realize that ‘pricing’ needs to be done. eBay is an auction site after all! But eBay auctions are not quite the same as the auctions you attend in the offline world. In fact, quite a bit of work goes into determining and setting prices.

 Essentially, there are only three prices that can be set for an eBay auction: the ‘buy it now’ price, the reserve price, and the starting bid price. Of these three, the starting bid price is the only one that is required for an eBay auction. The reserve price and the ‘buy it now’ price are optional. The starting bid price is fairly simple – never set it higher than $50 or so – no matter what your item is really worth.

This low opening price will get bidders to your auction. Setting low starting bid prices creates the need for a reserve price. A reserve price is the absolute lowest price that you want to get for your item. You may sell the item below the reserve price, but you will not be required to. In other words, if you set your reserve price at $100, and your highest bid is only $50, you do not have to sell the item to the highest bidder. You can close the auction without any negative feedback or repercussions. Set your reserve price at the absolute lowest price you are willing to sell your item for. Keep what the item is worth, as well as what it cost you in mind. The ‘buy it now’ option will allow you to set a price, and buyers can buy the item immediately, without bidding, for that set price. This option can be used for any type of item, and it should be set to match your reserve, give or take a few dollars. This option is great if you have multiple identical items to sell. Shipping has a price, and potential buyers take this into consideration when they are looking at an auction. If you can see your way clear to offer free shipping, you will find that people are placing more bids. Make sure that your potential buyers realize that you are offering free shipping! Before setting any prices, you need to determine what the item is really worth. The value of the item in different markets might be quite high. However, you are selling on eBay, and it is a different world altogether! Find out the price that similar items sold for on eBay before setting any prices. If it is a collectable, or a high ticket item, have the item evaluated to ensure that you aren't going to lose money!

eBay’s Turbo Lister Program: Should You Use It?

Are you an eBay seller?  If you are, are you familiar with eBay’s Turbo Lister program?  If you are not, you may want to take the time to familiarize yourself with it, as using eBay’s Turbo Lister program can make selling on eBay as easy as can be.

eBay’s Turbo Lister program is a program that is available for download, free of charge on eBay’s website.  What is nice about eBay’s Turbo Lister program is that it is easy to install and use.  In fact, like eBay’s traditional way of listing items for sale, you are given step-by-step instructions. Even if you have minimal computer knowledge, you should still be able to use eBay’s Turbo Lister program, without any problems.

Now that you know exactly how you can get eBay’s Turbo Lister program, you may be wondering exactly what it is or how it can help you.  See, when you download eBay’s Turbo Lister program to your computer, you can access it at anytime, even if you are not connected to the internet.  eBay markets its Turbo Lister program to those who are high or medium volume eBay sellers, but it is also great for those who have dialup internet.  Listing a large number of eBay auctions can tie up your phone lines, but with eBay’s Turbo Lister program you don’t even have to be online!

The eBay Turbo Lister program sets up all eBay auction listings or “Buy It Now,” listings the same way as it is done online, through their website.  For instance, when using eBay’s Turbo Lister, you need to assign your item to a category, make a headline for your auction, write a detailed description of the item that you are selling, upload pictures if you have any, mention how your item will be shipped, as well as outline what methods of payment you will accept. As stated above, this process is easy, as everything is explained to you step-by-step.  With eBay’s Turbo Listing program, listing on eBay is still as easy as it was before, if not easier with the ability to do so while not connected to the internet.

Speaking of not being connected to the internet, you may be wondering how your eBay items can be listed on eBay’s website if you are not connected to the internet. This is where the internet connection comes in.  eBay’s Turbo Lister program enables you develop as many eBay auctions as you want, even thousands of them, without being connected to the internet. When doing so, you have the ability to save your listings for a later date; a time when you can sign online.  Once you are connected to the internet, a simple click of the mouse and your eBay listings will automatically be uploaded to the eBay site.  In addition to giving you the ability to work offline, you also have the ability to time your auctions, like if you want them to start or end at a certain time.

As mentioned above, if you are interested in downloading eBay’s Turbo Lister program, you can do so through their online website.  Since downloading and using eBay’s Turbo Lister program is free, you are urged to at least give it a try. Should you not like the way that the program works, you could always return to listing your eBay items the traditional way, though the eBay website.