How to Buy and Sell Safely on Ebay
How to Buy and Sell Safely and Sanely on Ebay
Ebay is a phenomenon and one you love or hate. It has become the rage of our generation, drawing in people from every walk of life. People from every honesty level as well. Caution is the word of the day when using Ebay. There are things to watch out for that can cost you money.
Buying on Ebay: Remember, you are looking at a picture. It might be a stock photo of the item you seek, but it might not be a picture of the item you want. Look it over carefully and ask the seller if they have other pictures of the item.
Realize that a bargain is only a bargain if it works out! Don't be tempted to over-bid on something you want. Bidding big at first is a waste of time and money. Here is a little secret I learned. Most serious buyers do not bid until the item has maybe fifteen minutes to go in its auction. Then there is a frenzy to get a high bid on the item. You are up against pros when you shop on Ebay. Auction lovers are sharp and quick.
When you see an item you want, read everything carefully. Are there flaws, how does the seller want to be paid, what will shipping cost you? I have found that the prohibitive part of Ebay is the postage. Be sure you add that to the price before you find you won an item and did not include shipping and handling.
The thing I have found is the people making the most money from Ebay are those writing literature about how to make it big on Ebay. I received a very glitzy folder with six pages in it. Very little actual information per page and some that was already what would be expected. I sent for that and paid $5.00. It was a joke. But at $5.00 times one hundred or a thousand people is tidy money.
There is no such thing as get rich quick, for absolutely, positively sure. Some of the offered programs are a lot of hard work and you would need to spend a lot of time doing all the things they suggest. Remember, that snake oil salesman has been around as long as the devil.
I have purchased two things that did not work. It is a trial to return them and get your money back, so be careful. Don't ever take anybody's word for anything. Make sure the seller has a fair return policy that is spelled out in plain words. Don't let sellers get away with shoddy products. Most sellers are great folks, but we all know that other majority that aren't.
Find a seller you like and be a faithful customer. I have a book seller on Ebay who gives awesome deals and since I am an addicted reader it is great to know I can order what I want and receive books in decent used condition. There is also a seller who handles wolf T-shirts, and I am an animal nut, so will buy my shirts through him. I have paid as much as three times what he charges for the same shirts.
If you are happy with a deal, let the seller know. Always leave feedback and be encouraging. It will create a good bond with you and the seller, and that can be the key to buying on Ebay.
If you want to sell on Ebay, there are even more considerations than buying. First thing: remember there are thousands of other sellers in the market and many will have what you have to sell. Or maybe you have a rare item - but that doesn't guarantee a sell. You have to be found by the right person who wants what you have.
This is where selling can get expensive. You have to have a bigger, better ad. You have to maintain a store or in some way keep your goods on Ebay. It may be a bit cold out there at first. I have had some great collectibles and things in auctions, and they did not sell.
So, what do we sell? The sky is the limit. There is drop-shipping for the real enthusiasts, but before you go to that trouble, look around the house and see if there are items you no longer need, use, or want. This can be appliances, jewelry, baby clothes and furniture, books and an endless list of other items.
Start out small, so you can easily control what you are doing. When you set a price, there are a couple of considerations to take into account. You can sell it without a reserve price or in other words, you just list a starting price. If the auction ends, that guy who offered a dollar for your Wedgewood platter is going to get a big bargain.
There are down sides to using a reserve price as well. I always protect my goods, I didn't come there to give them away. Ebay has a step by step program for listing and if you weigh your pros and cons carefully, you can come to a middle ground. They do have a feature that offers to not consider offers under a certain amount of dollars. I recommend that - it lets you have the auction, but guards you from giving away your items.
Make sure you are an honest seller. Don't mislead buyers with goods that may not work or are damaged in some way. Ebay works best when everyone tries hard to make it safe and sane.
