Being a seller on eBay can be profitable, but it also involves a lot of responsibility. There may be times when you feel overwhelmed or wonder if you’re doing everything right. These simple tips will help you stay on top of your business and be a successful eBay seller.
Research Your Merchandise
Do you know everything you could possibly find out about your items? If not, type your item names into an online search engine. You might discover something you didn’t already know. If another eBay seller is offering the same items that you are, always try to give more information in your descriptions than they do.
Monitor the Competition
Do you check out the listings of the competition? You really should. Get into the habit of keeping an eye on other sellers’ auctions featuring similar items. Sort the items by price and note the range of bids and fixed prices. There’s not much point in listing a fixed price auction item for $50 when another seller is offering the same product for $40.
Post Quality Pictures
Do you post quality pictures of your items? It’s well worth the time to take photographs or scan your items. Even if you’re selling a service and not a product on eBay, people expect pictures. If you’re serious about eBay selling but don’t have access to a digital camera, then you’ll probably need to invest in one eventually.
Maintain Good Communication
Do you communicate with your buyers? It’s a good idea to send a brief email when transactions take place. It can be something as simple as “Thank you for your purchase!” Always send an invoice with a polite message, unless the buyer has sent an immediate payment. After receiving payments, follow up with a message thanking the buyer for the payment and letting them know when the item will ship. You’d be surprised how many problems can be avoided just with good communication.
Pack and Ship Items Carefully
Do you wrap and pack your items correctly? Your packaging and shipping should look professional to make a good impression. You may not think careful packaging matters much, but it does. Use envelopes and boxes of appropriate sizes. Wrap fragile items in bubble wrap to prevent damage. Print labels from your computer instead of handwriting addresses. Send the items quickly and use first-class mail whenever possible.
Be Honest and Courteous
Being a successful eBay seller is mostly about delivering genuinely honest and courteous customer service. Honesty and courtesy are foolproof ways to protect your feedback rating and reputation. Your products or services for sale are what attract buyers, but giving them a good eBay experience will make them want to do business with you again.