Any eBay sellers have tips for a first timer to maximize a product?

Kendro

Kendro

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I've been an eBay buyer for quite some time now but wanted to sell a few things that I won't be using anymore. I've noticed that the same product can have a $20 differential, even if all things being equal, are the same. Are there any tips on maximizing value, or basically get buyers to buy "your item" instead of a competitor's "item?"

1) I'm guessing that explaining your items in detail will help alot. Is it a bad thing to be too over-zealous? Meaning adding exclamation marks to signify just how great your product is?

2) More pictures the better? Meaning is 2-3 pics better than 1 or do some people only add one picture because you have to pay eBay more?

3) What's the best way to ship something? UPS? USPS?

Any other tips?
 
You can never put too many details, unless it's over a page long. Try to keep it to a paragraph or two unless it's a car or something of the like.

Never use stock photos, try to distinguish yourself from the rest. Thats the best way to get people to notice your auction and bid on it more. I've seen two identical auctions, two hours apart, but one had stock photos and one had photos the guy took and it went for $20 more (an xbox)

Best way to ship something...cheapest possible way unless it's something valuable. USPS is the way to go
 
Take more pictures, and host them on photobucket/etc. After that, get the
 
[quote name='Oberman']You can never put too many details, unless it's over a page long. Try to keep it to a paragraph or two unless it's a car or something of the like.[/QUOTE]
Actually, to me, the more is better. If you were a buyer, you would want to know every little bit about the condition and about the phone.

If its technical specifications, just give a little brief info on it and then link them to a site with more technical stuff about the phone.

- Describe everything to fullest extent. Put yourself in the buyers shoes. What would you want to know if you were bidding?

- Use keywords for TITLE of auction and do no repeat words. i.e. "Microsoft Xbox360 Xbox 360 Panzer Dragoon Saga PDS". You may need to play around with words. Again, put yourself in buyers shoes and think of what important keywords you would use to search for that product.

- Use your own images. Never use stock images and try not to take others. If you use your own, put watermarks on them so no one steals them.

- I usually offer some incentives. For instance, if BUY IT NOW is used, they get free shipping.

Here is an example of my recently sold auction - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110042754453&ssPageName=STRK:MESO:IT&ih=001

Used item usually goes for $200. New goes for about $270. I sold mine for $330 (buyer wanted the bluetooth headset and 512MB and free shipping).

If you're selling games and have old demos around, use that as free gifts. I use to add demos, stickers, promo items such as shirts, cd wallets and hats as freebies when they won.

- Last but not least, feedback. The more you have, the more the buyer will feel confident. The more they feel confident, the more your auctions will end in price.
 
A couple quickies: (video games)

Don't be too wordy, use the pre-filled info (enter UPC). Condition is important, if it is in good/mint/new condition state it, if it is not, just say used. Also state if it includes manual and original case.

Make sure your shipping cost is easy to find, nothing worse than reading two pages of text to find the shipping price

Ship using USPS 1st Class if you can (under 13 oz). If you are using paypal, print a shipping label through them, there is no extra fee for this and DC costs 14 cents (required) as opposed to 60 cents (optional) thru the post office.

From my experience, it is best to set up the auction so it ends in the evenings (if you are looking to buy, look for one the ends late at night/early AM, then snipe it)

Other items (depending on how common they are) should be descriptive and with a good layout. It is easier now that ebay has built-in html.

Always required insurance on big ticket items.

Understand how paypal works, i.e. shipp to comfirmed address only, otherwise you could get screwed.

Shipping other items might still be cheaper/easier to use priority mail (or parcel post) through the post office, if UPS/FedEx are convenient for you, you might try them. Use the shipping calculator to get an idea of cost for each.

As far as shipping goes, I generally charge enough to cover shipping/packaging & ebay/paypal fees (i.e. video games - $5) and I charge more to ship to Canada because it requires a trip to the post office.

good luck
 
-Don't end on a Friday or Saturday night

-Use flat shipping fees instead of a calculator. The latter requires an extra step, which can fluster a potential bidder

-Don't be afraid to ship internationally. If so, definitely use USPS for shipping as its much cheaper than UPS.

-Respond to all inquiries about your items.
 
I think you'll find there are as many ideas about how to sell as there are sellers on eBay. :lol:

I think you're better off with a short description for standard things like DVDs or video games. Everyone knows what Metroid Prime Pinball for the DS is, so don't take hundreds of words describing the game. "This is a great pinball game from Nintendo! You control Samus as a pinball ball and shoot her around different outer space levels as tables. Blah blah blah" That isn't needed IMO.

Just state the game's condition (complete or missing instructions, etc.), include your own photo, and use eBay's shipping section to give your ship rate.

When I first started I would write up lengthy descriptions of the games I sold. I found that games where I just stated "Finding Nemo (Xbox) Complete with case and manual!" did just as well and was a lot easier and quicker to prepare. IMO the average eBay buyer doesn't even care what condition the game is in, as long as it is 100% functional. If something I sell is in bad shape I mention that to avoid problems but for stuff with no problems I don't even mention anything about condition.

Extra photos certainly don't hurt, but I almost always get by with just the one eBay hosts for you for free. Frankly if you look at completed auctions ones with short descriptions and just the stock photo go for practically the same as listings with several pics.

You are right that listings can end all over the place. The only way to safeguard against that is to sell with fixed prices. If you sell with true auctions you are going to have some variance in your final prices. (But that's not always a bad thing, it's less effort than having to research and price everything you put up.) I've favored all fixed price listings in the past, but lately I've decided there's a lot to be said for just putting your stuff up at $0.01 and having everything sell. I'll probably mix it up going forward.

USPS is going to be your cheapest and best shipping method, unless you are selling stuff weighing several + pounds - not sure exactly where it gets better to use FedEx ground. Just be sure to use Delivery Confirmation.
 
I gave the item a fixed shipping cost of $8.00 which shows up in the search results. How do you make it show on the actual listing page? I've looked everywhere for this. And why can't I specify an end time?
 
It should show up under the Shipping section of the item. And everything does have an end time, it is automatically 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 days from the second the listing starts.

Post or PM me the link to your listing and I'd be happy to take a look.
 
[quote name='Kendro']2) More pictures the better? Meaning is 2-3 pics better than 1 or do some people only add one picture because you have to pay eBay more?[/quote]
If its a game, 2 pictures is enough (all you need is front and maybe back). If its an electronic, you'll want to take pictures in different angles. I use my own site to host pictures and I just use the free image hosting that eBay provides.

3) What's the best way to ship something? UPS? USPS?[/QUOTE]
USPS. Make sure to include delivery confirmation to all packages. Also include insurance as optional unless your item is very expensive then you'll either have the choice of including it, requiring them to pay or being optional.
 
Thanks for your help wubb. I haven't listed the item yet, it is still in preview mode.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q151/pbucket2000/ebay1.jpg

Basically in the "search preview," it shows my bid starting at $0.01 and the shipping at $8.00 (I chose a flat rate).

But when you see the actual listing (look at the red arrows), it doesn't show the end time or the shipping costs. Is that only because it is in preview mode and I haven't finalized the listing?
 
[quote name='Kendro']But when you see the actual listing (look at the red arrows), it doesn't show the end time or the shipping costs. Is that only because it is in preview mode and I haven't finalized the listing?[/QUOTE]

Correct.
 
Is it a general rule of thumb to use a BIN for "pretty good" products, and an auction with no reserves for "hot" products like Panzer Dragoon Saga? My "test run" will be auctioning off a mint and complete Time Crisis 3 with dual Guncon 2. I plan on starting a 5 day auction, no reserve, and starting the bidding at $.01. I have scoped out other TC3 bundles and they average around $35-50 so I'm not sure if I should also offer a BIN of $49.99?

I set up a Pay Pal for when I was a buyer. Now that I am selling, do I need to do anything further or may I use my buyer account? Because it states that I am not a Verified Premier or Verified Business account. I'm confused because I set Pay Pal as my payment option, yet I am not able to receive funding via credit card through Pay Pal? Or can I?
 
When you get your first CC funded payment PayPal will prompt you to upgrade to accept the payment. Just go ahead and upgrade at that time. You can upgrade now if you want, but there's the chance you'll get a few direct fund transfers before a CC payment and avoid a couple fees.

And yes your existing account you've used for buying should be fine for accepting payments.

Once the item gets it's first bid the BIN goes away. If you are doing a $0.01 starting bid paying for the BIN isn't worth it IMO as it will be killed pretty quickly. If you want to do a $49.99 BIN, I'd go with a $24.99 (or at least a $9.99) starting bid so it will stay up for some time.

I think going with a $0.01 start for your first auction is a great idea, it will obviously sell and you'll get that first one under your belt. I set a starting bid (not a fix price or BIN) close to what my item was selling at for my first listing. Needless to say it didn't sell, I spent all week furiously refreshing the page wondering when I'd get that first bid, and ended up not getting a real trial listing. :lol:

(Rambling ahead) Back when adding a BIN was just $0.05 no matter the amount I'd add them to nearly everything and used it as a way to gap into that range just above where the insertion fee ups. (For example if I wanted $30, I'd do a $29.99 BIN and a $24.99 starting bid.) But now that BIN is charged a stepped fee I just do fixed price listings. Although it is still cheaper to do things that way... Maybe I should go back to that for some things. Hmmm....
 
^Thumbs up, good job and great picture.

For me it is all about see a picture of the product I am going to buy not a stock photo. It also helps to have a correct colored, non blurry, and well set up photo like yours good job! Never just throw the product on your bed whip out your 2 year old camera phone and quickly take 2 pictures without proper lighting.

Your auction should do very well. I would have bid on it if I had a PS2.
 
[quote name='iazybandit']Good luck. BTW, why is the game under VIDEO GAMES > GAMES instead of VIDEO GAMES > PLAYSTATION 2 > GAMES?

Also, sometimes when it comes to games to include the prefilled information (this is the one that asks you to enter MPN/UPC/Item Name.[/QUOTE]

I don't think there is a VIDEO GAMES > PLAYSTATION 2 > GAMES category is there? Can you point me to a listing in that category?
 
I agree that looks really good, if i was interested in the item i would definitly take that over an item with just a description and no stock photos.

Mentioning its owned by an adult and comes from a smoke free home is another plus because then the buyer knows they are getting something that has not been attacked by children.
 
[quote name='Kendro']I've been an eBay buyer for quite some time now but wanted to sell a few things that I won't be using anymore. I've noticed that the same product can have a $20 differential, even if all things being equal, are the same. Are there any tips on maximizing value, or basically get buyers to buy "your item" instead of a competitor's "item?"

1) I'm guessing that explaining your items in detail will help alot. Is it a bad thing to be too over-zealous? Meaning adding exclamation marks to signify just how great your product is?

2) More pictures the better? Meaning is 2-3 pics better than 1 or do some people only add one picture because you have to pay eBay more?

3) What's the best way to ship something? UPS? USPS?

Any other tips?[/quote]
Having an actual picture of the item, a good description of the condition, having a lot of feedback and ending the auction at a high user time (like 5-8PM EST rather than 2AM) are the most important factors. Also if your item ends at a time far apart from others it can help.
 
I've noticed the following:

1) Profits seem to be more driven by random luck (it just so happens the only two people in the world who are willing to pay $71 and $72 for your item are both looking at it at the same time

2) Short and simple, with brief details (Is disc scratched, former rental, tested, plays fine?)

3) Too much information is a turn-off

4) When you look at people whose auctions blew up, there seems to be almost no correlation (sometimes it's a "professional" looking site, sometimes it's a guy who just said "Mario game for NES" and nothing else.

Thus, at the end of the day, make it short, simple, and address the obvious questions so you don't spend all day answering stupid questions like "is the case included"? or "Are the instructions "complete"?

Set your BuyItNow towards the top price you expect the bids to go, and set a low bid. This minimizes Ebay fees, and gives you a shot at a quick sale. Don't be a slave to the BuyItNow though, and don't be a slave to the auction. If you spend an extra 2 hours making the "perfect auction" and it earns you an extra $5 on the final bid price congratulation - you just made $2.50 an hour for your work.
 
Oh oh oh...

The best advice I can give you if you're selling more than one item. Make yourself a sensible template so all you have to do is "relist" or "sell similar item".

Then all you have to do is change out the name of the game and a couple minor details in the description. You don't want to retype everything. In my auctions, most of my games are in equal condition. So all I have to do is change the name and sometimes add or delete a minor condition.

I cut my listing time from 5-10 minutes per auction to average of 1 minute. It adds up fast if you have a lot of games.
 
[quote name='wubb']I don't think there is a VIDEO GAMES > PLAYSTATION 2 > GAMES category is there? Can you point me to a listing in that category?[/QUOTE]
I guess not. Just that when you choose the category, you have to select all that information. Just thought it would show on auction.
 
Just a quick question. My first auction above seemed to be "automated" when I created it. I didn't have to create it in HTML, there was a graphical editor for bolding fonts, colors, etc.

Now that I am trying to make a second listing, it doesn't have that graphical editor. Everything seems more "step by step" based instead of the automated "smoothness" of my first listing.

Is that a feature you have to pay money to use? Because I created that first listing using the free "eBay seller promotion" but now that the promotion is over, I have to pay to list my item.
 
[quote name='Kendro']Just a quick question. My first auction above seemed to be "automated" when I created it. I didn't have to create it in HTML, there was a graphical editor for bolding fonts, colors, etc.

Now that I am trying to make a second listing, it doesn't have that graphical editor. Everything seems more "step by step" based instead of the automated "smoothness" of my first listing.

Is that a feature you have to pay money to use? Because I created that first listing using the free "eBay seller promotion" but now that the promotion is over, I have to pay to list my item.[/quote]

I think there's 2 different versions of the 'sell your item' form. The new one is the one with the font/colors. They're both free to use, but in my experiences, the new one is way better.
 
[quote name='SolidSnakeX99']Take more pictures, and host them on photobucket/etc. After that, get the code, and insert it in your description. Free pictures.[/QUOTE]
Wait, ebay doesn't use UBB code. How are you entering [img]codes and getting them to work? Or do you mean you're using html listing and tags?

[quote name='Kendro']Just a quick question. My first auction above seemed to be "automated" when I created it. I didn't have to create it in HTML, there was a graphical editor for bolding fonts, colors, etc.

Now that I am trying to make a second listing, it doesn't have that graphical editor. Everything seems more "step by step" based instead of the automated "smoothness" of my first listing.[/quote]
The new "automated" as you call it listing editor is easily found. Towards the top of the page you'll have different links to click. Just click on "Sell" which is right between "buy" and "my eBay"

[quote]Is that a feature you have to pay money to use? Because I created that first listing using the free "eBay seller promotion" but now that the promotion is over, I have to pay to list my item.[/QUOTE]No, it's the same cost as the old HTML listing editor. From here on in, you'll be paying eBay fees for any of you auctions. But the automatic lister is no cheaper or more expensive than the HTML.

[quote name='BasketCase1080']make sure uur auctions end around 5 or six on fridays... from my experience thats where you make the most profit.[/QUOTE]
Eastern?
 
[quote name='wubb']Congrats on making your first sale. Get paid, yet? Shouldn't be a problem with a 100+ FB buyer, but you never know.

We had an entire thread devoted to when to end your listings.

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71764&highlight=time

I still use the same system, although I've stopped doing Sundays in favor of Mon,Tue,Wed, or Thu for the most part.[/quote]

Yes, I'm liking this eBay thing. :bouncy:

Really stupid question. How do I "get paid?" The buyer paid via PayPal, I accepted the payment. I just realized, how do I get the money from PayPal? Do they just "credit" my credit card? I didn't set up a bank account with PayPal.
 
[quote name='Kendro']Yes, I'm liking this eBay thing. :bouncy:

Really stupid question. How do I "get paid?" The buyer paid via PayPal, I accepted the payment. I just realized, how do I get the money from PayPal? Do they just "credit" my credit card? I didn't set up a bank account with PayPal.[/QUOTE]

You have to link it to a bank account to get your money out of PP.

Back in the early days (I think, but not 100% sure) they would credit to a credit card, but they haven't done that in a looong time.
 
[quote name='wubb']I've favored all fixed price listings in the past, but lately I've decided there's a lot to be said for just putting your stuff up at $0.01 and having everything sell. I'll probably mix it up going forward.
[/quote]

BOO for auction style listings! :lol:

Fixed price listing with offers available are the way to go for me.

Start the item with a high price. Some of the time, you'll get offers better than the average selling price.

If an item isn't selling, drop the price by a few dollars.

If an item doesn't sell, relist it again and keep dropping the price.

When the item's price is $4.99 and it STILL won't sell, bundle it and other unsellable individual titles into a bulk lot. Whether to use fixed price or auction style is a toss up at this point.

Finally, allow international buyers, but try to figure out a way to keep them from scamming you or bearing the brunt of a foreign country's incompetent postal service.
 
It's been about 10 days since my Delivery Confirmation showed that the buyer received my product. He still hasn't left me feedback (positive or negative). Is it considered okay to email and ask him if he is satisfied with the product and to leave feedback? And yes, I gave him feedback already the nanosecond after he paid me.
 
Yeah, I do that from time to time Kendo. Just a quick message:


Good afternoon/evening/whatever PERSONS NAME,

I wanted to make sure that you have recieved and are pleased with the WHATEVER THEY BOUGHT which you were the high bidder on. And thank you again for being the high bidder.


Best regards,
YOUR NAME



or something llike that. Play around with the wording till you have something you're comfortable with.
 
Sorry to bump this old thread but rather than create a new one, I'll ask my question here.

I recently won an auction and basically the seller said he can't sell me the item. I don't mind because it was an impulse by and things have turned out rather well that he would like to just "forget the auction happened."

We came to this mutual agreement after I already paid him via PayPal and he has refunded me very quickly. But on my eBay account, it still shows up with options like "Pay Now, Mark As Payment Sent, etc." Do I just delete this from my account? Or is there some sort of "formal" way to handle this?

I just don't want anything to look bad on my end, like have it on my record that I still have an outstanding auction that I never took any action on (like not paying even though I already did and was refunded). Should I just leave it as "Mark As Payment Sent" or just delete it from my eBay profile?
 
[quote name='Kendro']Sorry to bump this old thread but rather than create a new one, I'll ask my question here.

I recently won an auction and basically the seller said he can't sell me the item. I don't mind because it was an impulse by and things have turned out rather well that he would like to just "forget the auction happened."

We came to this mutual agreement after I already paid him via PayPal and he has refunded me very quickly. But on my eBay account, it still shows up with options like "Pay Now, Mark As Payment Sent, etc." Do I just delete this from my account? Or is there some sort of "formal" way to handle this?

I just don't want anything to look bad on my end, like have it on my record that I still have an outstanding auction that I never took any action on (like not paying even though I already did and was refunded). Should I just leave it as "Mark As Payment Sent" or just delete it from my eBay profile?[/QUOTE]

Just delete it... you have proof you paid and that he refunded. If he was smart he'd use the form to mutually agree not to sell the item but he dosen't smart so you can just delete it. Nothing will happen to you.
 
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