Selling 101: How to eBay Successfully
Since its inception, eBay has proved to be a truly brilliant innovation. It provides a fantastic option for those looking to make a little extra money, whether through selling on second-hand items or setting up a small online shop. Indeed, as a means of supplementing your income, it’s second-to-none, offering access to a huge global market, as well as unparalleled protection for both buyer and seller.
Despite this, eBay is only really useful to those sellers who understand how to take advantage of the many opportunities it presents. Here’s a short guide to help you do exactly that…
Tip #1: Choose the Right Courier
Selling on eBay is not without its costs, and in order to maximise your profits, it’s important to minimise these as far as possible. One of the easiest and simplest ways to do this is by choosing the right courier, so rather than settling for the first delivery company that you stumble across, take the time to do your research.
Companies like TNT offer some brilliant rates, and the lower your overheads, the higher your profits. Add to this their exceptional performance and unparalleled record, and they’re a great choice if you’re looking to minimise costs at the same time as maximising your feedback.
Tip #2: Set a Minimum Bid
As we mentioned above, eBay charges sellers certain fees in exchange for the service they offer. This is hardly something to hold against them, considering the exceptional package that you receive in return, yet it does cut into your profits.
This means that it’s important to limit how far this will affect you, and one of the best ways to do this is by either entering a set ‘buy it now’ price, or placing a minimum bid threshold. By doing so, you can make sure that you’re not paying fees on any items that it’s not cost-effective to sell.
Tip #3: Combine Postage Costs for Multiple Items
A great way to set yourself apart from other sellers is by combining postage fees. This can be an important selling point in your favour, so be sure to promote this on your main page and individual item listings.
Make it clear that when buyers purchase more than one item from you, you are happy to combine postage charges in order to minimise their overall total. This little act of generosity on your part costs nothing, but is often very much appreciated by your customers.
Tip #4: Don’t Post Items Until You’ve Received Your Payment
An additional tip for protecting your money is this: never post items until you’ve received payment in full. Although eBay has a number of procedures in place to protect its sellers from fraud, the best way to cover your back is simply by waiting for any and all bills to be settled before you post an item. Once the money is in your account, it’s far harder to be defrauded, helping to ensure that you gain the profits you deserve.
Tip #5: Encourage Your Customers to Leave Feedback
Our final tip is to take full advantage of the opportunities that eBay’s unparalleled feedback system affords you. Many users imagine that this is only in place to benefit buyers, but the opposite is true: it’s also a great way to help genuine sellers increase their turnover.
Although most customers will resent being nagged, nobody will mind you including a small note in your parcels, requesting that your buyers remember to leave you some feedback. The more stars you can earn, the more your profits will soar.
Selling on eBay
Follow these five top tips today to transform yourself into one of eBay’s many success stories.
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