Remove These Objections and Watch Your eBay Auctio

Remove These Objections and Watch Your eBay Auctions Fly

by: Brian McGregor

กObjectionก is a term taken directly from sales and marketing training, and it is important you understand the significance of objections to your sales process.

Objections are those points, sometimes small issues, which make a bidder or a buyer think again about going for your offering.

In your auction description you need to remove as many of these objections as you can.

These are the kind of objections which your prospective buyers will have.

Objection 1

Is the seller trustworthy?

The buyer usually doesn’t know you. If they’re serious bidders they will check you out. How will they do this?

a) A good Feedback Rating will be one way they assess you. Be determined in getting your feedback up, and making it all positive.

b) They might also click through to your About Me page. This page gives you the opportunity to convey your personality and your honesty.

One of eBayกs standard About Me page formats lets you display your recent feedbacks always useful and also your other auctions, again useful. This is in addition to anything about yourself which helps to show what a sincere and genuine person you are.

And finally, if you have a web site from which you sell products or services, you are allowed to place a direct link to it from the About Me page. This is in marked contrast to your auction description page, where eBay does not allow direct links to web pages. So, create an About Me page and incorporate the points mentioned.

c) A prospective bidder may wish to ask you a question. As you will know, there is a standard eBay facility whereby a bidder can ask a seller a question. You should really welcome questions. Why do I say this?

Well, if a bidder asks you a question, first of all you know they are interested in your offering. They wouldn’t have wasted their time on typing out their question to you if they weren’t. So, by asking you a question they are qualifying themselves in as a real prospect. And you now have the chance to directly influence them in your reply to their question. Depending on the nature of their enquiry, you have the opportunity to convey your integrity, honesty, credibility, fair mindedness, helpfulness, expertise, knowledge, other appropriate products etc.

So, if questions are such good things, why not make it easy for the bidder to ask one? Always have some text in your auction description offering to answer any questions, with a link to your email address. If you have a little knowledge of HTML coding you will know how easy this is to do. It is far better than simply relying on buyers finding the standard กAsk the seller a questionก link provided by eBay.

d) You might consider a moneyback guarantee, if itกs appropriate and you can กaffordก it.

Why would you or should you do this?

Well, when you think about it, in online auctions, the buyer is normally asked to take all the risk. They usually pay the seller up front before the item is delivered to them. The risk is all theirs that the seller doesn’t perform.

To some buyers, particularly on higher value items, this risk is so high that it can cause them to have second thoughts about bidding. You know you are trustworthy, but they don’t. By offering a moneyback guarantee you are offering what is known as กrisk reversalก. You are taking the risk off your buyer. In effect you shoulder the risk.

I know this works, because I use it myself. In thousands of auctions Iกve run, I can count on one hand the number of people who have invoked my money back guarantee.

If you can practice กrisk reversalก, it will help your auction success rate, and it is vital on Dutch auctions.

Objection 2

How do I pay?

Always maximise the number of payment options you will accept.

You should provide different types of payment options for your buyers:

PayPal

Nochex

FastPay

Cheque

Postal Order

Bankerกs Draft

Bank Transfer

Cash

You can accept credit/debit cards on your auctions if you open accounts with relevant payment processors. These enable buyers to pay you with a credit/debit card even though you aren’t a business, and you don’t have what is known as a Merchant Account.

As you probably know, PayPal is owned by eBay. Therefore eBay make it really easy for you to take PayPal payments from your buyers. But don’t forget other payment processors, like Nochex and FastPay. It might just be that your interested buyer only has a Nochex account, or a Fast Pay account.

Opening accounts is free. Paying anyone via PayPal, Nochex or FastPay is also free which is why so many auction bidders and buyers use them. There are charges for you as a seller, however, and these are incurred when you receive money and/or when you transfer money from/to your PayPal, Nochex or FastPay accounts from/to your own bank account. Check out the respective fees via their web sites.

In my experience, the rates of charges are reasonable for giving you the significant advantage of being able to accept credit/debit card payments on your auctions.

If you are selling low value items, say less than £3, it may be prudent to add a small sum or percentage to the final sale value to cover this.

Speaking personally, I never ask the buyer to incur additional charges for using PayPal, Nochex or FastPay. (You will now realise why itกs called removing an objection!) I take the view that buyers who wish to pay by credit/debit card should not be discouraged in any way and a surcharge of this nature might just prevent them from bidding or buying.

If you don’t have PayPal account and youกd like to create one, click here.

If you don’t have Nochex account and youกd like to create one, click here.

If you don’t have a FastPay account and youกd like to create one, click here.

As I mentioned, they’re free to set up.

Objection 3

Is delivery expensive?

Always fully describe your delivery details within your auction description. Be up front about delivery costs.

If bidders or buyers aren’t given this detail within the auction description, they may become suspicious that the seller is hiding something, and therefore decide not to bid. There have been occasions where sellers have sold items at what appear to be cheap prices, but have inflated delivery costs to compensate, or even over compensate. Never do this!

There is no reason why you cannot say up front how much P&P will be. You can find out the real delivery costs of the company you plan to use. You can get these details from their website.

Once you have the postal costs you can add the appropriate handling and packaging costs, and there you have the figure to let your buyers know in advance that you’re not hiding anything.

You have just removed another doubt in your prospective buyerกs mind.

Objection 4

What happens if the item arrives damaged?

In your auction description you should cover your policy in relation to damages and insurance.

If you’re selling higher value items you may wish to consider using a delivery service which includes insurance. Remember, even though the buyer has paid for it, the item is your property until it is accepted by the buyer. So if it is damaged in transit, this is your responsibility. You will have to arrange a replacement or a refund, and claim your costs back via your insurance.

Don’t forget, if you do need to have enhanced insurance cover, it is perfectly reasonable to include this is in your delivery costs as shown in your auction description.

Objection 5

How professional is someone who has multiple spelling errors?

It is very unreasonable for any bidder to overlook your auction just because you have spelling errors. Isn’t it?

However, they may believe someone who won’t take the trouble to get their spelling correct might be equally unprofessional elsewhere.

You and I might consider that stance to be unreasonable. With spell checkers available, however, thereกs no reason to have any spelling errors creeping through on your auction page.

So, spell check your auction description page please.

Objection 6

What do I do now?

You should always กask for the orderก. In other words, suggest to your prospective buyer that they make a bid today for this valuable, rare, stunning, limited edition item!

And remind them that when they win the item they will be enriched by the strongest benefit you have already identified to them in your auction description.

Objections Summary

If you spend time removing these objections, you will be repaid handsomely. I can guarantee you will receive more genuine bids for each of your auctions than if you had left these points hanging for the bidder to ponder and make assumptions.

About The Author

Brian McGregor specializes in showing website owners how to make more money from their sites by applying inventive and original use of eBay. For a free copy of ‘The eBay Traffic Funnel’ which shows you how to use the power of eBay to make more money with your website, visit http://www.moreauctionsales.com/websites

[email protected]

This article was posted on January 19, 2005

by Brian McGregor

Make Online Auctions a Home Business

Make Online Auctions a Home Business

by: John Lynch

Everyone is aware of online auctions nowadays. We all know someone who has bought or sold something on an Ebay online auction site. But how many people know that this hobby can be turned into a profitable business?

The fact is online auctions are a new kind of home based business created by the Internet with no capital investment and no risk.

An online auctions business has the following advantages:

No startup costs.

No financial risk.

Work whenever you choose.

Targeted customers brought to you by auction sites such as Ebay.

No technical skills required.

Startup in 5 minutes.

How do I start an online auctions business?

First, if you are not familiar with the process of buying and selling, you need to understand how auctions operate. By far the biggest online auction site is Ebay (http://www.ebay.com), boasting millions of users worldwide.

However, this is the tip of the iceberg. Other popular auction sites include:

Yahoo Auctions http://www.auctions.yahoo.com

uBid http://www.ubid.com

OnSale http://www.onsale.com

QXL http://www.qxl.com

Start off by buying an item yourself to get the feel of how it is done. This will give you an overall insight into the process of registering with the auction site, bidding, paying for your goods and the delivery arrangements.

Don’t Feel Forced to Buy

As a buyer you should not feel pressured into buying something that you know is overpriced because you think it is the last item. There are many online auctions and there is a good chance that you will come across the same item at another site.

Leave Your Bid Late

Experienced online buyers will leave their bids until the last few minutes before an auction closes to prevent the price being driven up too high.

Use Automated Bids

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time waiting for an auction to close, you can use an automated bidding service such as eSnipe (http://www.esnipe.com). You can open a free account and type in the auction number and the amount you want to bid. ESnipe can then place a lastminute bid for you just before the close of the auction. If you win the bid, you pay eSnipe a small fee and if you lose you pay nothing.

Search for Misspelt Items

Savvy buyers know that many items listed for sale at Ebay are misspelt. You can use this to your advantage by searching for wrongly spelt items. You will have far less competition as most people search for correctly spelt items.

Once you have bought something and paid for it, you will know how the auction process works from the buyerกs point of view. This is vital as it will give added insight into how you can provide good customer service when you set up your own business.

So now that you have bought and paid for an item on an online auction, you are ready to sell something yourself as a first step to setting up an online business.

At this point, most people look around their own homes to rid themselves of some unwanted items for which they have no use. This is a good way to get started. When you list your item on auction sites, make sure you provide a photograph. This will grab the attention of the buyers.

Description of Goods

A good description of your กfor saleก items is essential. Give all relevant details including technical specifications and dimensions where necessary.

Guaranteed Refund

Give a guaranteed refund to potential buyers to reassure them of your integrity. Most buyers and sellers on the Internet are honest but there are a few rogues, and buyers like to be reassured.

Positive Feedback

Getting positive feedback from your previous customers is the best way to prove you are trustworthy. Always request feedback politely after a successful sale.

Reserve Price

Set a reserve price to ensure that your goods do not sell for less than you want. Make it reasonable. If you set it too high, you will not receive any bids.

Payment Options

The more payment options you offer your buyers, the more likely you will be to make a sale. Ebay auctions offer the online payment transfer system Pay Pal (www.paypal.com) which is free to set up. Credit cards also offer security and are popular.

If you intend to set up an online auctions business, it is best to specialise in a niche which is a little out of the ordinary. Thereby facing less competition and guaranteeing your profitability.

Setting up an online auctions business can become a reality for anyone who is prepared to do the necessary research and put in the effort. The enormous interest in auction sites created by the success of Ebay has provided huge numbers of targeted visitors ready to part with their cash for a great variety of goods.

(C) John Lynch 2003

About The Author

(C) John Lynch 2003

Visit http://www.merchantaccountservice.com/auction_ebay.html for a Free auctions course on how to start a successful online auctions business from home.

This article was posted on October 24, 2003

by John Lynch

Game Theory, Nobel Prize & Auctions Auction Prim

Game Theory, Nobel Prize & Auctions Auction Primer Series – Part 1

by: Steven Woodward

The Auction Primer Series is a group of articles to help further educate sellers about auctions; their history, strategies for use, and provide a comparison of various auction sites and types. In Part 1, we look at the more common type of auctions in use today.

William Vickrey, highly regarded as the founder of auction theory, was an economics professor at Columbia University when he published two papers outlining his views on auctions:

กCounterspeculation, Auctions, and Competitive Sealed Tendersก, 1961, Journal of Finance

กAuction and Bidding Gamesก, 1962, Recent Advances in Game Theory

In 1996 he received a Nobel Prize ขfor fundamental contributions to the economic theory of incentives under asymmetric information.ข It’s important to understand that asymmetric information is an essential component of auctions, where potential buyers have varying levels of knowledge about the value of the item.

Although Vickrey considered his work on auctions as กone of my digressions into abstract economics, at best of minor significance in terms of human welfareข, to those of us who work with online auctions, much of what he outlined is useful to understanding our marketplace.

Vickrey identified 4 general types of auctions:

English

Dutch

Firstprice sealed bid

Secondprice sealed bid

English Auctions

The most common type of auction is the English Auction, although it may also be known as an ascending price auction. In ascending price auctions each subsequent bid is higher than the previous one. This is the most popular type of auction for single items.

Although traditional ascending price auctions use a ขsoft closeข format where bidding continues until a final bid is placed, the majority of today’s online auction sites use the ขhard closeข format also known as a ‘time intervalข auction having a set time limit, regardless of ongoing bidding. It’s important to note that in a ขsoft closeข format, bid snipping, that is bidding during the last few seconds or minutes on an item, is eliminated since the auction stays open as long as bids are being made.

In an attempt to minimize bid snipping and provide more of a ขsoft closeข characteristic to their ขhard closeข auctions, eBay allows bidders to use ขproxy biddingข. In proxy bidding, a bidder enters the highest price they are willing to pay for an item when they first bid. The bid begins at the lowest possible level and increases automatically only if their original lowest bid has been beaten. For more indepth information on the ขproxy bidding capability on eBay go here. http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/proxybidding.html

Amazon.com currently offers a feature for their auctions called ขGoing, Going, Gone.ข The Going, Going, Goneข feature extends the end of an auction for 10 minutes if a bid is placed effectively creating a ขsoft closeข. For more information on the ขGoing, Going, Goneข feature on Amazon go here. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse//1161360/10316661898415007#goinggone

From the buyers standpoint a ขhard closeข format is preferable since they may be able to make a final bid before others can react, possibly winning the auction at a lower price.

For sellers, a ขsoft closeข format provides an opportunity to realize the maximum price for an item by removing the time restrictions for an auction. As long as bidders are bidding the auction remains open.

Dutch Auctions

As you may have guessed, the concept of the Dutch auction originates in the Netherlands. Unlike English auctions which utilize ascending price methods, Dutch auctions are descending price auctions and are commonly used when multiples of the same items are to be auctioned. In a Dutch auction the bidding starts at a relatively high price which is driven progressively downward by bids.

As an example of a Dutch auction let’s say you had 10 items you wanted to sell for $20 each.

Bidder A bids $18 for 6 items

Bidder B bids $17 for 5 items

The final result is:

Bidder A would receive 6 items for $17 each

Bidder B would receive 4 items for $17 each

Please note that most Dutch auctions allow bidders to refuse an order for a lesser number of items than what they bid on. A ขsoftข or ขhard closeข format may be used in Dutch auctions although the most common is the ขhard closeข.

Firstprice Sealed Bid Auctions

Sealed bid auctions differ from the English and Dutch in as much as the bids are not announced to other bidders. The individual bid is only know to the bidder and the seller. This type of auction may be either buyerbid, where the highest bidder wins the item and pays the amount of their bid, or sellerbid, where the lowest bidder sells the item and is paid the amount of the bid. This form of auction is common for construction contracting, military procurement, foreign exchanges, and other types of goods.

Secondprice Sealed Bid Auctions

Another common name for secondprice sealed bid auctions is Vickrey auctions (named after William Vickrey) There is a slight variation to the firstprice auction for Vickery auctions. In a buyerbid auction the highest bidder buys the item and pays the amount of the second highest bid. Or in a sellerbid auction, the lowest bidder sells the item and is paid the amount of the second lowest bid.

The above descriptions provide a general overview of the most popular auction types in use today. Depending on the auction website these general categories may include a number of variations and options such as reserve pricing, open or closed venue, multiple items, fixed price and lot listings to mention a few. Before entering any particular type of auctions make sure you study and understand the rules for that specific type of auction, as the rules may vary from website to website.

About The Author

Copyright © Steven Woodward – All Rights Reserved

Steven Woodward is the owner, editor and publisher of the Auction Sellers Network (ASN); a web site for individuals and companies who are serious about utilizing the online auction marketplace for their business. In addition to topical articles, ASN provides an extensive resource center, news feeds and member forums. For more information, or to become a member, please visit us at http://www.AuctionSellersNetwork.com.

No permission is needed to reproduce an unedited copy of this article as long the About the Author tag is left in tact and included. We do request that we be informed of where it is posted and reciprocal links will be considered.

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 26

by Steven Woodward

21 Success Strategies of eBay Powersellers

21 Success Strategies of eBay Powersellers

by: David Espino

The online auction giant eBay has exploded on the Internet scene. Currently boasting over 29 Million members, eBay is one of the most visible and farreaching Internet companies in existence, with a large segment of the population either using the service, or at the very least, aware of it. Among the eBay sellers, there is a designation given to approximately 4% of the people. These are eBayกs กPowersellersก, a group of sellers that is distinguished by the amount of volume they produce. The entrylevel Powerseller, the Bronze level, does at least $2,000 a month in eBay sales, maintains a 99% positive feedback level and maintains their eBay account current. Higher award levels are granted at the $10,000 level, (Silver level) and at the $25,000 level. (Gold level)

What are some of the strategies and techniques that these Powersellers use?

As someone who achieved Powerseller status a little over a year ago and continues to study other Powersellers, Iกve compiled a listing of the 21 Success Strategies of eBay Powersellers.

Powersellers are serious Powersellers treat their eBay business just like they would any other business. They are deadserious about it. Look at any Powerseller operation and youกll find organized systems and กassemblylineก techniques being used. While a Powerseller may not have invested thousands of dollars into her operation, she treats it as if she has.

Powersellers are focused A Powerseller is focused on listing, packing and shipping, often on different days of the week. Their focus is as intense as that of a Corporate Executive or an Olympic athlete, because they are juggling various activities at the same time.

Powersellers are organized The Powerseller is organized, otherwise they wouldn’t make it to the level of Powerseller. Since Powersellers do a huge volume of listing, packing and shipping each month, they must develop processes to ensure that the items sold are delivered within a reasonable period of time and that customer satisfaction is always at the forefront.

Powersellers delegate Powersellers delegate because they have to! Their volume dictates that they hire an assistant to do some of the more repetitive tasks that don’t require the Powersellerกs attention. This way the Powerseller can focus on the important moneymaking tasks of product acquisition and marketing.

Powersellers use assembly line techniques The Powerseller has developed smooth running systems to make sure that product fulfillment is accomplished as quickly and efficiently as possible. This may involve setting up a large 4ก by 8ก table with bubblewrap and packing materials at one end, products in the middle, and boxes, labels and packing tape at the far end.

Powersellers use Dutch auctions Many Powersellers have graduated from selling oneofakind knickknacks found at yard sales and are now selling a volume of the same item through Dutch auctions. In a Dutch auction, a seller can place a large number of the same item up for sale. The bidders can bid on one or more of the item, but the highest bidders will be first in line to actually get or กwinก the products they bid on. So there is a possibility that if someone bid too low, they might not get a product. A Powerseller uses Dutch auctions often because it is a huge timesaver. This is a true กassembly lineก auction from start to finish. The packing and shipping goes a lot faster when the same item is being packed and shipped over and over again.

Powersellers do efficient work Another trait of the Powerseller is that they are extremely efficient, knowing that time is money. A Dutch auction is a great example of this efficiency. In the same period of time that it takes to list one item, you are listing dozens, or even hundreds of items! This timeefficiency is a powerful way to leverage your time and profits.

Powersellers กBulk Listก their auctions Bulk listing your auctions using a bulk listing software or auction management service will dramatically organize your time and allow your eBay operation to run a lot more smoothly. There are various options in this area, from eBayกs own กMister Listerก to Blackthorne software to Andale, and Auction Watch auction management services, there are a lot of options for you to look into. These services allow you to list your auctions at your leisure and then schedule them to go live on a certain day and time. This saves you the hassle of having to list your auctions on the particular day that you want them to go up.

Powersellers use clearly focused photos Powersellers have acquired their status by using clear photos or scans of the items they are selling and making sure that the photos show all flaws. In effect, along with all of the other skills they have acquired, they have also become semipro photographers! Many have built a กministudioก with optimum lighting and background, that is available at their beck and call for those quick shots when they need to email an additional photo to a bidder. The Powerseller usually has both a Digital Camera for photographing 3dimensional items and large items and also has a scanner for the paper items and flat items.

Powersellers use headlines with key words and no fluff A Powerseller resists the temptation to use กfluffก words like กL@@Kก, กWOWก and กMUST SEEก. Instead, the Powerseller uses descriptive words in the headline, realizing that the headline is the กad for the adก. A Powerseller is also กsearch engine savvyก, realizing that keywords in the headline are picked up by the eBay search engine. They are sure to load the headline with descriptive, key words that help the bidder determine if the item is what they are looking for and keeps out the กfluffก.

Powersellers write thorough and detailed item descriptions A Powerseller has achieved their level by maintaining a high ratio of positive feedback. This is primarily accomplished by having clear and accurate descriptions of the items so that the bidder can clearly กimagineก the item as if it were sitting in front of her. The art of writing a great item description involves an interesting mix of using กselling wordsก (such as กbeautifulก, กfantasticก, กintricately designedก, กgorgeousก, กspectacularก, กpowerfulก, กcolorfulก, etc.) along with describing the flaws in the item. A great description should entice the bidder to bid while at the same time providing full and complete disclosure of the itemกs condition. Your test of whether you have a great description or not is if it answers the following two questions well:

A. If I were to compare the description to the item, while holding the item in my hand, would it be an extremely accurate description? or would I have good reason to return the item?

B. Does this description entice me to place a bid on the item?

Powersellers give กBenefit of the doubtก customer service Customer service is such a cliched catchphrase in American Business today. In the eBay auction world, it is mandatory that you implement a very meticulous level of customer service. Powersellers have a clear reflection of their level of customer service in their feedback profile. One glance at any eBay sellerกs feedback profile and you have an instant snapshot of that individualกs customer service rating. (Imagine if regular กbrick and mortarก stores had a feedback rating posted at the front door!) This public feedback rating is both your best advertisement (if you provide great customer service) and can also be your downfall. (if you don’t) A Powerseller is constantly aware of this กsign at the front doorก and places a high priority on giving stellar customer service. I call it กBenefit of the doubtก customer service because even in those instances where the customer is clearly wrong, the Powerseller doesn’t argue or get into an emotional กwar of wordsก, she simply refunds the money or reduces the shipping cost or sends an unexpected gift with the package. The Powerseller realizes that business and ego don’t mix, they leave their ego on the table they go on to build lifetime customer relationships.

Powersellers have their own websites A Powerseller realizes that business conditions change. On the Internet, business conditions can change literally from quarter to quarter! Because of the transient and highspeed nature of change in the Internet business, the Powerseller realizes the value of having their own storefront on the Web. They have either built a website themselves or have had someone build a site for them. They have developed a following and a customer base through their eBay auctions that can help sustain them even if dramatic changes come about on their main selling venue. As eBay continues to evolve and change applying restrictive and invasive policies this will become more of a priority for all eBay sellers, not just Powersellers.

Powersellers make it easy for bidders to pay By offering a variety of payment options, Powersellers make it easy for winning bidders to pay for their items. They offer to accept Checks, Money Orders, all types of credit and debit cards through PayPal, Billpoint, or their own Merchant Accounts. By offering a wide variety of payment options, they open up their market of available bidders and end up with higher ending bids as a result.

Powersellers offer discounts on multiple items Whether it is a discount on shipping multiple items or a discount on the actual price of multiple items, Powersellers realize the value of a good customer and treat that customer special. Unexpected discounts tell the customer กYouกre specialก and build a reciprocity that keeps customers coming back or searching the Powersellersก auctions.

Powersellers are always on the lookout for great deals The Powerseller is the consummate กdealmakerก. Whether itกs at an antique store or at a swap meet, the Powerseller is always thinking about things they can resell. They find that popculture collectible and buy it. List it the same day and see the bid amount grow and grow. Part of the thrill of selling on eBay is ‘taking a shotก and listing items that you are not familiar with. Seeing the items shoot up in price is a fun and enjoyable hobby!

Powersellers do not mind making money! A Powerseller has no กissuesก with making money. Many Americans have been brought up with the notion that the only กrespectable wayก of making money is by working at a job for thirty years. Sales and selling is looked down upon. The Powerseller is way beyond that. They have a healthy attitude towards making money and it becomes like a กhobbyก to them! As new and strange as it may appear to the more traditional types, selling on eBay is one of the easiest and most lucrative ways to make a parttime income. The alternatives to selling on eBay are either too time consuming or too unrealistic. This กnewก way of earning an income is powerful and realistic.

Powersellers enjoy their workathome lifestyle Powersellers love the fact that they get to work from home while the rest of America sits on the freeway, waiting for their fellow กworkerbeesก to move. The freedom of having a Home Based Business is something the Powerseller relishes and appreciates. This enjoyment of the lifestyle has many tangible benefits better health, freedom of time, being able to spend more quality time with kids, attending their school functions and field trips, better scheduling of time (around the rush hours) and an overall feeling of wellbeing. There is no doubt, working from home is the wave of the future.

Powersellers are willing to invest in their business Whether it means investing in a highspeed cable modem or DSL connection, highquality computer components, including digital cameras, monitors, keyboards, etc. or whether it means buying a กFeatured Auctionก listing which will drive further traffic to their other auctions, the Powerseller knows how to use their money wisely. There is a difference between wasting money and investing money in your business. An eBay Powerseller knows when to กinvestก money into their business. Basically, anything that saves you time or saves you money is an investment in your business. As an example: A digital camera is a huge timesaver over taking traditional 35 mm photos and then scanning them.

If you go the scanner route, here are the steps you must take:

Buy film. (this takes driving time and money)

Shoot the photos.

Get the film developed. (this takes driving time, waiting time and money)

Inspect the photos for clarity and reshoot, if necessary. (this takes additional time and additional money)

Scan the photos (additional time)

Crop and edit the images

Upload the images to your webhost

The same actions using a digital camera are much more efficient:

Shoot the photos. (film purchase not necessary)

Inspect the photos for clarity and immediately reshoot. (no additional cost)

Crop and edit the images.

Upload the images to webhost.

The investment in a digital camera is one of the best ways to become a more efficient eBay seller! I paid a little over $700 for my digital camera about two years ago, it was the best time and moneysavings investment Iกve made!

Powersellers stay uptodate on auction trends and changes Because Powersellers take their business seriously, they constantly keep themselves up to date on the latest industry trends and changes. They do this by buying books about online auctions, participating in eBay Message Boards / Forums, and staying tuned to the eBay Announcements Board. They don’t want to be caught off guard with a new change or new policy that might affect their business.

Powersellers are always looking for better ways to do things Whether itกs listing auctions, packing and shipping, getting organized, or expanding their business, Powersellers are always looking to improve their online business. This is the nature of all successful business people, they want to improve their business constantly.

As the 4% of eBay sellers known as Powersellers continue to improve their processes, here’s hoping that the above strategies will be helpful reminders in improving yours!

About The Author

David Espino is the Author of Beyond eBay and Life In The Dot Com Lane.

To receive a free excerpt from the book Beyond eBay, visit www.HomeBasedBusinessowner.com

Email: [email protected]

This article was posted on February 1, 2002

by David Espino

Online Auctions: 10 Secrets You Should Know Before

Online Auctions: 10 Secrets You Should Know Before Bidding At An Online Auction

by: Ikey Benney, CEO

You may have heard about ebay and other online auctions.

You may have participated in some of the biddings.

But before you do the next bidding for a product or service, here are some few important online auctions secrets to help you:

1. Know the value of the product before you bid. If the product is brand new, check to see what price retailers are charging for it. If the product is used or reconditioned, you will want to pay way less than the retail value.

2. If the productกs description or picture isn’t detailed enough for you, contact the merchant to get more information before you bid. You don’t want to take a chance to waste your hard earned money.

3. Know the highest price you will bid for the product and stick with it. Don’t get caught up in a bidding war; you may end up paying more than the productกs worth. Don’t forget to add in the shipping price with your bid.

4. Visit a few online auctions before bidding because some merchants auction the same product in many auctions. You usually can purchase the product for a lower price in a unpopular auction because there are less bidders.

5. Know the time the auction begins and ends. You also want to know how long it will take to ship. If you need the product by a certain date, youกll want to estimate the time it will take to receive it.

6. Know the payment options the merchant accepts before you bid on their product. If they only accept checks or money orders, it may take even longer to get the product because the payment has to clear. If they accept credit cards make sure they have a secure server.

7. Know if the merchant offers a warranty or money back guarantee or before bidding on a product. You don’t want to get stuck with a product that does not work or you’re not satisfied with.

8. Online auctions will, sometimes, allow you to check the merchants history with their auction. Check to see if people have complained about the their products or business practices before you decide to bid.

9. Itกs important to place a bid early in the auction to show other bidders you are interested in the product. If someone does out bid you, don’t be afraid to out bid them. Remember not to go over your maximum bid price.

10. Another reason to know when the auction ends; you can place a last minute bid. The other bidders may not be keeping track of when the auction ends or may not have the time to bid again.

May these online auctions secrets help you to make a lot of money.

Warmly,

Ikey Benney, CEO

About The Author

Ikey, a Millionaire CEO from New York City is the creator of กMscsrrr: Millionaire Secret Cash Systemก, (internet income opportunity) which has helped thousands of ordinary people from all over the world to attain financial security and shining success during the past 2 yrs.

Mscsrrr Millionaire Secret Cash System helps you to generate $1,500+/Week for life, from home or office, part time or full time. No large investment or hassles. Win $1000$2000 free ขcashข…

mscsrrr.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on March 21

by Ikey Benney, CEO

How To Use Online Auctions As Traffic Generators

How To Use Online Auctions As Traffic Generators

by: Paul Jesse

There are thousands of online auctions on the internet. People love them because they can usually find great bargains. If you have an online business, you can use them to increase traffic to your web site.

You could create an electronic book or report that relates to your online business, then auction it off at an online auction. You could increase traffic to your web site by placing an ad for your web site in the electronic publication. Some online auctions will even allow you to link directly to your web site.

Electronic publications won’t cost you anything to ship. You could send them via email or allow people to download the electronic publication from your web site. You can also auction them off for a lower price. When they visit your web site you could offer them a higher priced product.

You could also get traffic from people who don’t bid or don’t get the winning bid. You could direct them to your web site to download and read a free sample of the ebook or report before they bid. If they want more detailed information about the ebook or report, you could also direct them to your web site.

You can also get traffic to your web site by auctioning a physical product. Print your web site advertisement on a flyer or brochure then insert it into each product package you ship.

Before you start auctioning any product at an online auction, read the terms and conditions. Some auctions may not allow the auctioning of electronic products or directly linking to your web site where you have other products for sale.

Copyright 2005 Paul Jesse

About The Author

Paul Jesse is a a retired government employee and the author of several articles on home based business. Visit his site and subscribe to the free Marketing Tips newsletter. http://www.sheamarketing.com.

This article was posted on March 14

by Paul Jesse

The 3 Minute Auction and Minute Auction Explained

The 3 Minute Auction and Minute Auction Explained

by: Renee Matt

Am I the only person who doesn’t know what a 3 minute auction is? Looking for fresh content for my site, I discover that กminute auction,ก or even a 5, 10 and 30 minute auction is a popular item. Some auction sites may refer to a minute auction as a กLive Bid.ก The กminute auctionก or ก3 minute auctionก actually comes the closest to duplicating the excitement (and anxiety) of a real auction. No, it is not the same as an Ebay minute auction.

I will give the example of Bidz.com. Bidz.com uses Flash technology to constantly update in realtime auction bids right before your very eyes! The price goes up, up, up and the time clicks away … down, down, down!. Add flashing green highlights for added new bids and red flashing for the ominous approaching 0 minute and to say the least, it is quite thrilling.

On the Bidz home page, there is a link that says 3minute auctions. This is a separate category all by itself. If you click that link you are taken to the 3 minute auctions, usually consisting of jewelry. (Note: See end of article for ‘the 3 minute auction too good to be true?ก)

A word of caution: It takes a little finesse to bid at these fastpaced auctions and I mean FAST! You must be EXTREMELY CAREFUL when bidding. The highest bid I came across on my visit was for $1500. My advice would be to practice on the dollar starting bids. Bids quickly escalate to $15 and $30. In the words of BidZ:

กIf you are bidding on items in the 3 Minute Auctions category, you will not be notified if you are outbid. These auctions move very quickly, so you have to monitor your winning bids very carefully.ก

Back on the 3 minute auction page of BidZ, what do you see? >From left to right: the product picture, the item number, title, price, bids, and time left. The กbidsก and the ‘time leftก are where the auction action is at. But just as its nearing 0 minutes left, it jumps up to more time left what gives? According to Bidz.com:

กIf the bid is placed during the last minute of an auction, the auction will be automatically extended for an additional 1 minute from the time of the latest bid. The auction will close once all bidding has stopped for a period of 1 minute.ก

OK I decide I am going to get in on this action. Registering is free (username must be a combo of numbers and letters). I have to click on the picture to go to the listing to actually bid according to Bidz.com directions below:

1) Simply use the กplusก and กminusก graphic keys to select the amount you would like to bid. The amount of the next bid is automatically one dollar more than the current bid. If you only want to place a one dollar bid, you can just click the Bid button without any adjustments.

2) Click the bid graphic button to register your bid. PROBLEM: I click the Bid! button and then find out I have to register my credit card in order to bid but they didn’t tell me that when I was registering (even though I quite expected it).

Another problem I encounter is a sluggish modem. By the time I reach the listing page and the picture and bid button loads, the auction can be over (sigh…).

Its not hard to become giddy over the amazing deals of a 3 minute auction…too good to be true? 3 minute auctions ‘typically offer expensive items, such as Cartier watches, Beanie Babies, computers, and cars at prices that are low enough to dull the scam alarm in most people.ก

This was taken from an auction fraud article. The same article reports that the Federal Trade Commission has identified a scam email that includes กLive 3 minute auctionsก in the subject line. See the details of the 3 minute auction scam at http://www.chiff.com/a/fSCAMauc.htm

For a list of minuteauction websites, refer to: The 3 minute auction list at http://shmyl.com/dpzison

My final words: The 3 minute auction and minute auction are the epitome of auction entertainment. So pop some popcorn, invite some friends over, and have yourself some Friday night auction fun!

About The Author

Renee Matt maintains AuctionTongue.com, a review site of auction tool, free auction templates, auction software, auction sniper and image hosting services. AT focuses on auction websites outside of Ebay. Sign up for their FREE Auction Freebies newsletter: http://www.auctiontongue.com/.

[email protected]

This article was posted on October 22, 2004

by Renee Matt

Drive Yourself to More Auction Money

Drive Yourself to More Auction Money

by: Brian McGregor

Big ticket items are increasingly popular on eBay.

Cars are probably one of the best examples of this.

In fact, eBay is the largest dealer of used cars in the USA. And eBayกs car sales in the UK is also growing significantly. Every 16 seconds, a car is sold on eBay!

If you’re an eBay seller, hereกs an idea you might like to consider to make extra cash.

The vast majority of car dealers don’t use eBay. They advertise in the press, usually locally, and their customers likewise usually live within reach of the car dealer.

What eBay Motors has successfully proved is that people will bid on cars from owners hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

Why not take your eBay selling expertise, and offer your services to car dealers in your area?

You know how to create auctions, take and upload photos, and manage auctions. The dealers have vehicles which are getting a tiny fraction of the exposure which eBay could offer.

You might decide to offer this to dealers on a nocost basis. In other words, you bear the cost of eBayกs listing and selling fees. The benefit here is that there is no reason why the dealer shouldn’t give you the goahead. They could get a sale without cost to them and no extra effort on their behalf. Thatกs what I call a nobrainer!

Alternatively, you could pass on the fees to the dealer on the basis that they would be spending money anyway on press advertising.

The other commercial arrangements are simple. You could work on a commission, where you get a percentage of the sale price. Or you could agree a price which the dealer will accept for the sale of the car, and anything you can get above that price is your profit. This would work particularly well if the dealer has had a vehicle for some time, and has no interest in it.

The best types of cars to sell on eBay are those that are unusual for one reason or another. It might be vintage or classic vehicles, sports cars or high value models. You’re best to avoid what might be termed กnormalก cars. It also depends on the kind of dealers you have in your area.

One of the major potential problems is easily handled. You can’t expect the dealer to cease trying to sell a vehicle which you have on eBay auction. In every auction you run for a car, you state that the vehicle is also on sale in other ways, and that you reserve the right to withdraw it before the end of the auction period. You will see such statements on many eBay car auctions.

This idea doesn’t have to be limited to cars. There are big ticket item opportunities in several categories. You’re looking for retail outlets which tend to concentrate on local advertising and local trade. Examples of this would be jewellers, antique traders and real estate operations.

With big ticket items, just one or two sales per week could make a significant difference to you.

Worth thinking about!

About The Author

Brian McGregor specializes in showing website owners how to make more money from their sites by applying inventive and original use of eBay. For a free copy of ‘The eBay Traffic Funnel’ which shows how to use the power of eBay to make more money with your website, visit http://www.moreauctionsales.com/websites.

[email protected]

This article was posted on December 16, 2004

by Brian McGregor

Ebay Secrets Revealed

Ebay Secrets Revealed

by: David B. Ledoux

It is rumored that the top affiliate at eBay made over $1 million dollars in January 2004. Who wouldn’t like to know his eBay secrets? In fact, it is estimated that the top 10 eBay affiliates all earn over $100,000 per month.
In a world where average men and women commute to jobs they hate, knowing eBay secrets to generating extra income is of major interest. If at least 75% of people hate waking up to an alarm clock and commuting to work, then learning to make extra income parttime from home with online auctions is a big deal.
Can you really make extra income learning eBay secrets? Over 25,000 people make their FULL TIME LIVING with online auctions like eBay, Google, Yahoo and more. A whisper number of part timers is over 250,000! Imagine, a quarter of a million people are putting extra income in their pockets with online auctions.
Raise your hand if youกd like to join the ranks of the thousands of smart people making extra income in their own homebased business thanks to online auctions!

About The Author

David Ledoux is a freelance writer for http://www.bestonlineauctionlinks.com and http://www.freepalmprograms.com

This article was posted on July 31, 2004

by David B. Ledoux

USP on eBay

USP on eBay

by: Greg Hayes

If you have dabbled at all in the world of Internet marketing, you may have heard the term กunique selling propositionก or USP. USP is a technique that Internet marketers use to set themselves apart from the competition. Internet marketing is highly competitive and highly saturated. In order to be successful, it is vital that the Internet marketer present himself as being unique and different from his competitors especially when many of them are selling the same products.
It is also just as vital to have a unique selling proposition on Ebay. I am amazed at the number of Ebay sellers that are either unaware or just don’t care about the importance of having a unique selling proposition. A case in point: A while back, I was researching some products on Ebay from a wholesale company called B&F System. B&F System is a wholesale only company that carries a variety of brand name products. One of the brands they carry is called Maxam. I came across several Maxam leather jackets on Ebay while searching ended auctions. Now hereกs the kicker. About a dozen or so of these leather jacket auctions were exactly the same. They all used the same image of a guy modeling the jacket that was captured from the B&F website. They even used the exact ad copy used by B&F!
What was the result? Only one of the sellers was able sell any jackets. The top bid was only $26. And since he purchased the jackets from B&F for $20, he made about $5.00 profit after Ebay fees. Thatกs a slim profit for an item that normally retails for $95.
Always keep in mind that the amount of effort you put fourth on you auctions will be in direct proportion to the amount of return you get from your auctions. The sellers who put up the jacket auctions put fourth little effort by using stock photos and ad copy from the B&F website, and therefore received little or no sales from their auctions. The sellers in this case might think that using stock photos makes their auctions look more professional. Itกs just the opposite. These auctions look very amateurish. Using a picture of someone modeling a garment will not entice people to bid on your auction. Using three or four high quality pictures of the actual item along with a detailed description will entice people to bid. Remember that buying apparel off the internet is not like buying music CDกs or software. You don’t need to worry if a CD will fit. You don’t need to see multiple pictures of a box of software to know what youกll be getting. However, when selling apparel, good quality pictures and a detailed description are vital. You should use a good quality digital camera to take pictures of the item from different angles. If you’re selling jackets or coats, include a picture of the lining as well. In your description, don’t just say itกs a large size. Give measurements of the garment including overall length, sleeve length and chest size. If you’re going to specialize in apparel, it would be a good idea to purchase a form or clothing dummy to model your apparel. Doing these things will go a long way in setting you apart from the competition and establishing a กunique selling proposition.ก
What ever you’re thinking about selling, always look at your competition and think about how to set yourself apart. Remember that unless you’re selling antiques on Ebay, thereกs always someone else whoกs trying to sell the same thing you’re selling. Establishing your USP will put you on the road to Ebay success.

About The Author

Are You Tired of the scams and the getrichquick schemes? Greg Hayes is founding editor of http://www.mammothprofits.com/. Mammothprofits is the website devoted to helping others filter out the scams and become successful in a home based business.

[email protected]

This article was posted on July 11, 2004

by Greg Hayes

Wimpy Google and Michael Jackson: Birds Of A Feath

Wimpy Google and Michael Jackson: Birds Of A Feather

by: Dean Phillips

Google Inc. is suing a Houstonbased company for allegedly clicking on sponsored links to fraudulently boost advertising revenues.

Google filed a lawsuit two weeks ago in Santa Clara County Superior Court in California against Auctions Expert International LLC. Google is accusing Auctions Expert of abusing the Google AdSense program, in which web publishers display Googleกs payperclick ads and receive a share of the revenues.

Auctions Expert joined AdSense in August 2003, according to the lawsuit. Google later discovered the alleged misconduct, terminating the contract between the companies and refunding advertisers, Googleกs complaint states.

‘these clicks were worthless to advertisers but generated significant and unjust revenue for Defendants who were paid by Google as if the clicks were legitimate,ก the lawsuit states.

Google is seeking an unspecified amount of damages and restitution for the revenueshare payments it had made to Auctions Expert, according to the lawsuit.

Google spokesman Steve Langdon said that the Mountain View, Calif., company uses fraud detection technology to combat click fraud and protect advertisers.

‘this lawsuit against Auctions Expert demonstrates the success of our antifraud system and that we will take legal action when appropriate,ก he said in a statement.

Talk about your alltime wimpy statements. Iกm not impressed. All Google did was exercise its right to file a lawsuit. The same right any of us have. Somebody shoot off the fireworks. Woo hoo! Thatกs some scary stuff right there!

Iกm still waiting for Google to flex its considerable muscle. I want to hear a powerful statement from a powerful company. Something to the effect:

กNothing is more important to us than our customers. They helped make us who we are today, and we will not let them down. We are determined to meet and defeat click fraud head onno matter how how long it takes or how much it ultimately costs!ก

But it will never happen. Why? Because despite its considerable power, Google is a lot like Michael Jackson in some ways. Let me explain:

At one time Michael Jackson was the biggest, most powerful star on the planet. However, as we soon discovered, he was also a wimp who was out of touch with reality.

I view Google the same way. Google is the biggest, most powerful search engine on the planet. But the way its handling click fraud is wimpish and shows itกs out of touch with reality also. These are criminals we’re talking about here. They’re not afraid of a silly lawsuit.

Google needs to get with the program and develop a กgangstaก attitude. Hold a worldwide press conference and tell these punk click fraud thieves in no uncertain hip hop terms:

กYo, dog, let me holla at you for a second. We are Google, yo. We are the biggest, baddest, most powerful search engine on the planet, yo. Peep this: Do NOT steal from us or our homeyกs, fool. Me and my posse have the means, the resources and the resolve to hunt you down like the punks you are 24, 7 and bust a cap in your ass! Peace…we out!ก

About The Author

Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto: [email protected]

Visit his website at: http://www.letsmakemoney.net

This article was posted on December 02, 2004

by Dean Phillips

eBay Gold

eBay Gold

by: Greg Hayes

Internet auctions are relatively new having been around since the mid 1990กs. There are several Internet auctions including Yahoo Auctions and UBid. But of course the undisputed king of Internet auctions is Ebay. Ebay has over 100 million registered users making it one of the top 10 most visited websites in the world.
I discovered Ebay way back in 1998. At first, I was strictly a buyer. I was amazed at the thousands of items that could be found on Ebay. Just about anything you can imagine can be found on Ebay. And there were more incredible bargains to be found than at any other ecommerce website or brick and mortar store I had ever visited. After about six months or so of buying, I began selling items on Ebay. I had an extensive collection of unbuilt as well as built plastic model cars. I began placing the models on Ebay with starting bids of $5.00 and no reserve. To my surprise, people started jumping all over these model kits. Some of them sold for as high as $70.00. It was at this time that I realized the enormous money making potential of Ebay. The key to being a successful seller on Ebay is selling items that people want. There are a number of ebooks on Internet auctions that tell of the importance of a great headline and a killer ad for your auction. While this is true, it is also important to remember that the best ad in the world will never sell an item that no one wants. The items that do well on Ebay are unique or interesting items. Antiques, pottery, collectables and highend apparel are just a few of the items that will bring high bids on Ebay. If you can easily find the item at WalMart, chances are it will not do well on Ebay.
There are a number of wholesalers around the country that you can buy merchandise from to sell on Ebay. But before you buy, do your homework. Itกs very tempting to buy a bunch of electronic widgets that sell for $2.00 a piece. You might think you can buy 20 of the $2.00 widgets and then sell them for $12.00 a piece on Ebay and make a killing. Unfortunately, you discover that no one is bidding on your widgets despite the fact that you have started the bidding at a mere $6.00. In fact, there are very few people that are even viewing your auctions. The end result is you are now stuck with 20 widgets that no one wants. The first mistake here was not doing a search of widgets on Ebay to find out if they’re hot or not. The second mistake was trying to sell an electronic item. Yes, I know there is a huge market for electronic gadgets. Thatกs the problem; the market is too huge. It is already saturated. How many times a day are you bombarded with offers for the latest and greatest cell phone or digital camera? If you try to sell in this market on Ebay, you’re encroaching on Best Buyกs turf, which means youกll be smashed like a bug. On the other hand, how many offers do you receive for NASCAR collectibles or Gucci shoes? Or how about die cast models? These are the hot items on Ebay. These are in demand items and more importantly you can sell these items without competing against WalMart and Best Buy.
If you’re new to Ebay, the first thing you need to do is to build positive feedback. Feedback is vital to your success on Ebay. Potential buyers will read your feedback in order to determine if you’re an honest seller. If you have high numbers of negative feedback, many buyers will look elsewhere. Take a look at some of the Ebay Power Sellers feedback. Many of them have feedback in the thousands with a rating of over 99% positive. Itกs no secret how these Power Sellers became successful on Ebay. They take care of their customers. This means theyกll have plenty of repeat business.
When you first sign up with Ebay, youกll have zero feedback. Most buyers will shy away from an Ebay newbie with zero or very low feedback. Start building your feedback rating by selling personal items from around the house that you no longer want. This is a good way to get the feel of using Ebay and to build positive feedback. You should invest in a good digital camera. Good clear pictures are an important selling feature on Ebay. Remember to describe your items accurately and honestly. Do not try to trick or deceive buyers in any way. You can’t afford receiving negative feedback this early in the game.
I came across a perfect example of a deceptive seller on Ebay a while back. The seller had sold a pair of slightly used shocks for a 2003 Chevy pickup. He used Ebayกs BuyItNow feature to sell the shocks for just one cent. Wow! What an incredible deal! But wait a minute. The unwary buyer forgot to read the entire auction. The shipping charges were a whopping 60 bucks! The result was a pissed off buyer and negative feedback for the seller. This was an obvious attempt on the part of the seller to make money on the shipping costs. He was banking on the fact that the buyer would not read the entire auction and would simply assume the shipping charges would be reasonable. Do not use deception in your auctions or try to make money on shipping costs. If you treat your customers the way you expect to be treated you will never go wrong and youกll be well on your way to building a reputation as an honest topnotch seller.
If you happen to get a few nonpaying bidders, resist the temptation to leave negative feedback for these individuals. Leaving negative feedback will only result in possible retaliation by the nonpaying bidder and negative feedback for you. Once again, you do not want any negative feedback this early in the game. Buying items off of Ebay is another great way to build positive feedback. When you win an auction, pay for the item promptly. The result will be positive feedback for you. Most buyers will not care whether your feedback came as a result of buying or selling as long as itกs positive.
After youกve built a feedback rating of least 25, youกll be ready to start purchasing wholesale merchandise to sell on Ebay. Remember what I said about doing your homework before buying merchandise. If you have your eye on a particular item you think might sell on Ebay, first do a search of that item on Ebay to find out what people are bidding if anything on the item. If it looks hot, at least 7 or 8 bids, then itกs probably a good bet. If it doesn’t appear to be getting many bids, you should steer clear. You can also do an advanced search for auctions that have already ended. Itกs a great way to find out the final bid price for a particular item. A few extra minutes of research can save you from a giant headache down the road.

About The Author

Are You Tired of the scams and the getrichquick schemes? Greg Hayes is founding editor of http://www.mammothprofits.com/. Mammothprofits is the website devoted to helping others filter out the scams and become successful in a home based business.

[email protected]

This article was posted on July 11, 2004

by Greg Hayes