Some people are able to make a living working flexible schedules on eBay, yet for some reason some people are not able to do this. Some of the most common eBay mistakes are fortunately quite avoidable if the average eBay user is aware of a few little things.
1. The most common eBay mistake amongst newcomers is asking for outrageous shipping costs. New eBay users tend to ask for quite a bit for shipping. Consequently, doing this could potentially decrease your client base by 95%. It is always best to ask for what it will cost you to ship the item. A person who needs more information about the cost of shipping can find out more information by visiting their local post office or calling a courier service for more information.
2. Potential customers tend to be weary when an eBay user has a star rating of less than 4.8. A star rating on eBay generally tells the customer how good your feedback is on eBay giving your brand worth. A customer coming to a new store for the first time is probably already weary, as they don't know anything about the owner or the store other than the fact that it's selling something the customer wants. A good rating assures customers that the seller is reliable and helps ease them into the buying transition.
3. eBay requires a listing fee, and unfortunately too many people ignore the structure for said listing fee. eBay charges a small fee regardless of the item selling or not. Should the item sell, the seller is charged another small fee. The total fee a seller is charged is the listing fee plus the final sale fee, which varies depending on if the item is being sold at a fixed price or if it can be auctioned and how much the price the item being sold is going for. Some people set themselves up for failure by posting an item for sale then pulling it early as the listing fee still applies regardless of the item selling or not.
4. A picture speaks a thousand words. People tend to shy away from an item should there be no picture(s) accompanying it. Bad pictures tend to shy people away from a selling item as well. When selling an item, it is always best to keep in mind that sharp pictures that show as much detail as possible are always the best way to go.
5. There is not a single person in this world who likes to be ignored, so ignoring potential customers is never the best business decision when it comes to eBay businesses. It is normally thought to be impressive if a company or single business person answers inquiries to their products in a timely and professional manner.
6. Watch your spelling and grammar. It doesn't look very good on a company's image to have a lot of spelling and grammar errors in the description or title of an ad. Using slang may be the way people talk, but it's not going to gain your business any credibility with anyone who doesn't understand slang. When making a business decision, it is always best to think of how each move that is made is going to affect the business.
7. A common mistake amongst newcomers is offering inconvenient methods of payment. Should a customer want an item, and two people are selling that item on eBay, the customer would go with the seller who offers them the type of payment that is more convenient for them. Asking for a mailed check or money order is alright, but 90% of customers will move on to the next seller before mailing a check. When in doubt it's best to stick to a method widely known such as PayPal.
8. A lack of details and descriptions is also a mistake. Should a seller just write that they are selling an iPod, the item would not go very quickly; however, if a seller wrote all they could in detail about what that iPod could do, they could have a much greater turn around for their customer base.
9. The price a seller sets their item at should be researched. The smart customer always shops around for the best bargain. Should an item be priced too high, it will probably not sell, especially if there is someone selling the same item for cheaper.
10. The worst thing a new seller on eBay can do is use the words "all sales are final" or "no refunds." This sends the message to the customer that the seller is not reliable and would not be a good person to purchase a product from. When sending this message to customers, a seller is sure to lose customers.
Remember to always keep this in mind while setting up an item for sale.
Setting up an eBay account is quick and painless. Always remember to research all items extensively in order to ensure offering a competitive rate and interesting information that would draw the customer in. Timing is key, so it is in each person's best interest to optimize their selling times to optimize exposure of the selling item. These hot zones are Eastern Time 9 a.m. - 11 p.m, Central Time 8 a.m. - 10 p.m, Mountain Time 7 a.m. - 9p.m. and Pacific Time 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.
If people can't see the item being sold because it's only available at three in the morning, than that item will probably not sell. Try to sell unique items and hot picks. If the seller has the coolest thing that everyone wants, it is more likely to sell quicker.
Create an "About me" page to talk about the business and your items in order to let your customers get a little more comfortable with purchasing the items. Never use pressure or rush buying tactics, as this tends to scare potential customers away. Keeping these little things in mind, anyone can sell any unwanted items or create an empire on eBay.
Sources:
- AllBusiness, 2011
- Jane - eBay user, eBay most common selling mistakes, Sept, 7, 2010
- kansascitylistingservice, eBay auction selling topics/Top 10 eBay secrets 4 free, April 9, 2011
- eBay, selling ideas
Rita Stevason - Rita is a graduate from the video game design program at the Academy of Design and Technology in Toronto; however, she has been writing ...
