Now in Part 3, we will discuss the finishing touches. Please read Part 1 for tips on getting started and part 2 on the heart of your ad.
Photographs: Auctions with photos will sell higher than those without. You can add at least one photo before Ebay charges for you for additional photos, so make the most of it. You want to avoid being charged for extra photos as much as possible. Your photos should be clear, have good lighting, and highlight product. A photo can inspire a bidder to make a bid or it can turn the bidder off. Photos that turn bidders off are those of poor quality such as blurry or the item is far away or poor lighting. It could look like you have something to hide or that you do not care enough to provide one nice photo. Remember since there is no relationship between buyer and seller then reputation and inspiring confidence in the bidder is all you have to work with. A nice picture shows the bidder you care and you are trying to show him what he is getting. The picture should reveal the product exactly as it is, no smoke and mirrors to make something look better than it is as this could result in a dispute. Highest praise on Ebay goes to honest sellers who describe and show the item exactly as it is and not fluffed up or edited.
Pricing an Item: The best way to price items on Ebay is by searching past sales. If you do an advanced search you can find the final price of previously sold items. If you are selling a Saxon math book, then simply look up Saxon math to find the average price it has sold for in the past. You will have to take condition and demand in consideration. Always remember that an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay. You may have spent $50 on the text new but it may only demand $15 on Ebay. List your item at the lowest price you are willing to take for it.
Shipping: It is important to offer a variety of shipping to save your bidder as much money on that area as possible. People hate to pay high shipping even on low bids. Since Ebay offers UPS, many are using that route because of reliability and insurance. Just be sure to offer a few options and outline how long it will take you to ship your item out. A big negative on Ebay is “slow to ship” so make sure you are ready to ship your item or explain to the bidder what the wait on shipping will be in advance.
Payment: Ebay works with Paypal. Everyone expects that and like it or not they will pay by it. It protects you from bounced checks and ensures you get your payment quickly.
Return Policy: Having a return policy inspires trust from the bidder. No need to be complicated you can simply say they have a certain amount of time to return an item no questions asked. Just state that shipping back to you is their responsibility. You can sell “as is” if you wish. I have done that many times and have had no issues. However, in the beginning you may want to offer a return policy or if you are making Ebay your home business a return policy is crucial. State your terms clearly as to avoid any problems.