19 Free eBay Secrets. For Your Success
It's hard to know what you're getting when you buy something on eBay. There are usually no clear instructions or reviews, and without tutorials online, finding out how to use all the features can be a confusing experience.
That's why we've compiled nineteen easy-to-follow tips that will help you get more money from your auctioning ventures and make better use of eBay as an investment tool. You'll also learn about some proven tactics for maintaining control of your investments so that you can maximize your profits while minimizing the risk involved in purchasing items on eBay.
You won't be able to sell an item if you don't know how to list your item, and you won't know how to list your item if you don't know what makes a successful sale.
1. Discover How to Use Your Auction with the Viewing Tool . Before You List: Knowing how to navigate eBay is essential. If you have limited viewing capabilities or are not located in the U.S., check out eBay's links for international users and links for Canadians and residents of other nations. The viewing tool allows you take a look at your auction up close before it goes online, making sure that the description is accurate and that all the terms are met.
2. Don't Assume that Your Posting Will Last Forever . The ideal length of time to keep an item in your auction is six months to one year. If it ends up being sold underneath your original price, you may have to lower the price of the item even more if you want to get it sold.
3. Use eBay's Watch List Feature . The watch list allows you to keep track of potential purchases that may have been made on a particular listing. You can receive an emailed email every time someone makes a bid on your item, and the buyer's name and identifying information will be listed as well.
4. Get Familiar with eBay's Cost Calculators . You'll need a firm understanding of eBay's charging structures and their fees. When you sell an item, you will first be charged a listing fee (20 cents). In addition, if the value of your item goes above $200, you will be hit with an insertion fee (25 cents per $100 value). The insertion fees are only applied when your item has received a bid, so it's important that you don't list an item for less than what it's worth.
5. Understand eBay's Return Policy. Be familiar with eBay's return policy and don't try to scam your buyers or pull any tricks with the timing of the return window. Buyers often use eBay's return policy to their advantage. If something goes wrong with your item, and you must have it repaired, you might end up losing money by being stuck with shipping charges.
6. Don't Make the Price Too Low or Overprice Your Item . You want to do some research on similar items so that you're not just selling someone on your taste in design or style but also on the value of your item. It's a good idea to keep the price point around the middle of the market, with a few exceptions based on how far off the real market value is.
7. Be Careful What You Add to Your Listing . When you are filling out the seller's information and posting the description of your item, be very careful about what you say. Don't put anything in your listing that might be offensive to anyone. Also, don't give away any personal information like your name or address.
8. Shipping Rates Are Important . If you are selling an item on eBay, make sure that the buyer understands how much it will cost to have it shipped to them. This is why it's a good idea not to charge on shipping until after someone has won the item (which will allow you to see what kind of return shipping they would prefer).
9. Take Care When Using a Calculator . Many people make the mistake of overcharging for shipping, because they are using the wrong postage and calculator programs. Make sure that you are using the eBay shipping calculator to take into account how many pounds your box weighs and how large it is. You should also be taking into account whether or not you will need to get delivery confirmation or signature confirmation from the post office.
10. Use eBay's eBay Shipping Calculator . The more items you sell on eBay, the better your chances of getting an understanding for how much your items weigh, and how big they are in comparison to other boxes. You will also be able to compare the cost of using different shipping options.
11. Use a Calculator and Watch a Video on eBay's Website if You Are not Sure how Much it Will Cost to Ship Your Item . The key here is to find out how much it will cost before you list your item, because you can only charge for shipping after you have sold your item.
12. Consider the Buyer's Location for Shipping Costs . It's a good idea to consider how far away from your location the item needs to be shipped when determining what kind of shipping cost you want to charge.
13. Know How to Calculate Shipping Costs . Once you're familiar with the weighing of your item, how to calculate shipping is pretty simple. You'll need to figure out the weight of the box, where it needs to go, and how much the buyer will need to pay for a specific shipping method. It's up to you to decide whether you want it sent priority mail or standard delivery.
14. Make Sure Your Buyer Agrees on a Specific Delivery Date . You don't want your buyer missing their delivery date because they simply didn't bid on your item until after it was being shipped out by the post office. You will also want to discuss any delivery dates with your buyer.
15. Consider Using Fulfillment By Amazon for Shipping . Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is where the seller places their own item in a warehouse and ships the user the package themselves. This saves on shipping costs because you are only paying for the sale price of your item and additional costs are paid by Amazon after they have fulfilled the order.
16. Provide a Tracking Number . This is crucial if you are shipping an item outside the United States, as you don't want to deliver an item that does not exist to your buyer. Use a package tracking number so that your buyer knows when their item will arrive.
17. Don't Play Games with the Post Office . If you're using the post office, be sure to have your item sent to the closest location, so that it arrives on time for your buyer. If you are using a FedEX or UPS store for shipping, make sure you know in advance when they will ship your item and watch out for weekends and holidays. The last thing you want is your buyer being left in the dark.
18. Don't Use Ebay Shipping as an Excuse to Trick Your Buyer .
Conclusion:
Even with shipping costs included, you're still going to be making a pretty penny, so make sure that you take good care of your item and don't overcharge or undercharge for shipping costs. Be sure to watch out for scams and don't commit any eBay fraud of your own. Make sure that you have the right description and pictures for your item, and make it available in time for the season it is being sold in.