| eBay is one of the world's largest market places with | | | | send to the buyers address if it is registered with |
| over 35 million visitors per day. That first sentence is | | | | eBay. A couple of years ago a gentlemen contacted |
| worth repeating because I want you to realize that | | | | me to buy a $250 wireless antenna, he said he was |
| eBay gives you the ability to reach a customer base | | | | traveling and asked me to send it to his satellite |
| of millions and millions of people which is beneficial to | | | | office. He paid me through PayPal, I always thought |
| you. Say Goodbye to garage sales and hello to | | | | that was safe and would automatically include |
| eBay.You don't have to become a major power-seller | | | | coverage. Two months went by and then all of the |
| or wholesaler to take advantage of eBay and what | | | | sudden Paypal took $250 out of our account without |
| this mega marketplace can do for you. All you need | | | | warning or explanation, when we called them they |
| is a computer with Internet access so you can setup | | | | said that one of our eBay transactions was |
| auctions for all that stuff laying around the house | | | | fraudulent! It turns out the man used a stolen credit |
| you've been wanting to get rid of by selling it or | | | | card, PayPal told us we were out of luck since we |
| giving it away, so why not eBay it?eBay auction VS | | | | did not send to his confirmed address. Lesson |
| garage sale First lets talk about garage sales. Holding | | | | learned.Always state the terms of your auctions, it is |
| a garage sale consists of getting all of your items | | | | good to come up with your terms to use at the end |
| ready to sell and placing them on display in front of | | | | of every auction that states your policies, if you |
| your house or on your driveway for neighbors and | | | | combine shipping, the payment methods you accept, |
| lookers to purchase. You or someone you know and | | | | etc. Also, think of a refund policy. I give a full refund, |
| trust needs to be physically present at all times to | | | | or for instance my sister-in-law gives purchase |
| sell the items as your front yard has now become a | | | | amount |
| small storefront. In other words you have to sit at | | | | back but not shipping, those sort of policies are up |
| home all day after getting everything together and | | | | to you as a seller.I use Turbo Lister, a free software |
| promoting your garage sale which is a lot of work | | | | program, that makes it so much easier to get |
| especially considering what you can accomplish with | | | | multiple auctions setup simultaneously. If you do it |
| less time and effort | | | | directly from eBay it seems like it takes forever to |
| on eBay.Time & MoneyJust about everybody is | | | | enter each one. Turbo Lister is a free download and |
| looking to save time and money which is | | | | is available in Seller Tools at eBay.A way to save |
| exactly what eBay does for you. eBay is a much | | | | money; I always use the free template from eBay. |
| larger market and can attract many more potential | | | | It's not really anything fancy. You can choose to get |
| buyers than a garage sale can. The very reason that | | | | those cute little borders and clipart on each auction |
| there are more potential buyers creates more of a | | | | but it costs more money. It's proven that ultimately it |
| demand for your product, toy or whatever you are | | | | doesn't matter to people, they want what you are |
| trying to sell. eBay commands more dollar for your | | | | selling. Your first picture is free after that they are .15 |
| product than a garage sale for this very reason.eBay | | | | cents for additional ones. So I always try, when |
| also saves you time because once you have setup | | | | possible, to use only one picture. Sometimes if it is a |
| your auction it does most of the work for you. You | | | | big clothing lot or a large dollar item I will only use |
| don't have to be present to sell the item, you don't | | | | more pictures. I also make sure to try and write a |
| have to be home to get paid electronically and you | | | | great |
| don't have to be there for somebody to see your | | | | description so potential buyers know what they are |
| auction because your potential buyers can look at | | | | getting and are excited for their purchase.Something |
| your item for sale from the convenience of their | | | | that works; I will sometimes utilize the 'Buy It Now' |
| own computer which saves you precious time.eBay | | | | features (they cost extra) but I put the BIN price |
| also gives you the ability to accept different | | | | higher than I would normally expect to get and when |
| payment methods such as PayPal, money order, | | | | somebody really wants an item, they would rather |
| check or cash it is up to you what payment methods | | | | pay the higher price than risk missing the auction end |
| you wish to accept. Garage sales simply do not offer | | | | without winning the item. There are |
| this sort of flexibility with time and money.Quick | | | | many times where this has benefited both myself |
| tipsShipping can be a hard one to get used to - so | | | | and the buy it now bidder.If you are doing a local |
| make sure that you either A. get a postal scale | | | | pickup or have special instructions for your auction |
| (about $20 at Office Depot) or B. have the post | | | | make sure you include those instructions ALL OVER |
| office weigh the packages before you list. Take it | | | | your auctions. The mistake I made one time was |
| from me because I have lost so much money on | | | | only putting local pickup only on just the shipping |
| shipping because I would just 'guesstimate' and that | | | | description and |
| simply does not work. I would recommend always | | | | the winning bidder did not notice that. Now I plaster |
| making the buyer purchase Insurance and tracking. I | | | | special instructions like that everywhere.Remember |
| had an issue where a customer said she never got | | | | that people love fast shipping so when you do sell |
| her package and I didn't insure it. We decided to wait | | | | try to ship the item out as soon as possible after |
| a couple of weeks then figure it out, she actually | | | | auction ending. Your customers will love fast shipping. |
| wanted me to refund everything to her, which I | | | | I also include a note thanking them and sometimes I |
| didn't feel was fair but was willing to do it because I | | | | include a bonus item. That's just |
| believe in customer satisfaction. Fortunately the | | | | some of the fun and benefits of selling on eBay.Lori |
| package finally showed up after three and half | | | | Osenbaugh sells on eBay in addition to being a |
| weeks (and I sent it Priority Mail).You want to only | | | | licensed Realtor(R) and Pampered Chef Consultant. |