eBay presentation
Welcome
My Introduction - My numbers 1999 140,000 13,000 1500 dularson
oldpostcardsforsale
Affiliations - none
Questions at any time - use hand method - answers are based on my experience
Rest Rooms - go out at any time - leave at any time
Print workbook online -
http://www.oldpostcardsforsale.com/selling_all.htm
Purpose of this presentation - orientation for new sellers on ebay
Vocabulary - for ebay
Sell or donate items - choice - what do you think you'll sell
What to sell - nothing breakable or expensive at first - research - google
Banking - separate from household checking and credit card - not connected
Accounts - set up a paypal and ebay account with this bank account number
Password Record - booklet never leaves home
Sourcing - items to sell - sellers get 50 free listings monthly
Tutorials - numerous -
youtube.com - also instruction for how to list on ebay
Images - camera - phone - scanner - remember where you save them
Typing - computer skills - equipment - scale - computer - printer
SixBit - Seller Hub - My eBay
Shipping - bubble wrap - boxes - envelopes - Priority Mail flat rate
Discount postage - online - available on eBay
Print postage on line - tracking on expensive items
Large mailbox - to avoid trips to the post office
emails - answer quickly - use caution
Feedback - buyer feedback adds to the total
Taxes - IRS Schedule C
Business License - your municipality
Selling Postcards on eBay Booklet
To print a copy of this booklet, click print on your computer tool bar.
Selling Postcards On The Internet
The prospect of trying to sell unwanted postcards to others seems
difficult regardless of the method used.
Selling all the postcards not wanted to a dealer is the easiest and least
profitable.
Selling postcards to fellow collectors at club meetings will take
forever.
Selling postcards to others at postcard shows is labor intensive,
expensive, and may not result in much profit after seller expenses.
Selling cards on the internet will require constant attention to detail
but will result in the best return.
So, if you want a profit when selling postcards, if you would like to
sell off the postcards you do not want in this lifetime, if you do not like the
idea of possibly loosing money while selling postcards, then the internet may be
just right.
Postcards On The Internet
An excellent method to use to learn about selling postcards on the internet
is to observe what others are doing. Here is a collection of postcard seller
links. Visit as many as you have time to visit to see how others are doing what
you hope to do.
Here is a list of postcard dealers at eBay. Check them out. They can be an
excellent source of knowledge as you enter this hobby business.
also
http://www.oldpostcards.com
http://www.oldpostcardsforsale.com
http://www.delcampe.com
http://www.playle.com
Useful Links
Computer Skills Needed
This is a minimum set of computer skills needed to pursue the hobby business
of selling postcards on the internet through eBay. They are entered in no
certain order. But all are essential to participation in the computer work for a
hobby business.
If you find a skill listed which you do not understand, then seek help from
others or from online tutorials.
1. Typing skills slightly better than hunt and peck.
2. Search the internet with Google.
3. Open email program like Outlook Express. Update it from time to time..
4. Reply to email messages.
5. Print messages.
6. Use drafts in Outlook Express
6. Paste text from drafts into messages.
7. Create and send new email.
8. Create shortcuts and favorites on desktop.
9. Follow hyperlinks. Use back button to return.
10. Use refresh button F5.
11. Scan a postcard image and save to a folder.
12.
13. Follow online tutorials.
14. Access online banking account.
15. Access My eBay account.
16. Access PayPal account.
17. Use WSFTP if you plan to send pictures to a memory other than eBay.
Organizational Methods
Determine how you will organize the items you plan to
sell so you can match pictures with listings with the actual item.
PC numbers work great for me. Each postcard has a PC
number. Starting with PC001, I now have pictures up to about PC2800.
When a listing is typed, the title of the item starts
with the PC number. The item PC number in the title helps to locate the item
when it sells and needs to be sent.
When the description is written for the title, a scan
is made of the postcard (s) so a picture can be added to the listing.
The picture file number is the PC number. So a scan of
postcard PC001 will be pc001.jpg I also have folders for each 100 postcard scans
to make finding them easier. See a list of my scans for postcards numbered PC100
through PC199 HERE.
The cards are the filed in numerical order. How
original that is.
When an item sells, a record is made of the sold PC
number. About a month after the item is sold, a different item is listed with
the PC number. The PC numbers get recycled over time. The same boxes can be used
to store the postcards. When a new card is added to the store, it is put in the
numerical order box for ease of location when it sells. And on and on.
Now all of this takes time, and effort. You may find a
system which works better for you. Well have at it. Develop a system that works
for you. The important details are to have as many items in your store as
possible, don't sell the same item more than once, replace pictures and
descriptions as postcards sell, and be able to find and send an item when
payment is made.
Banking Aspects
For security reasons, your personal finances need to be kept separate from
your hobby business finances. Do this by establishing a bank account near where
you live. Find one that
offers online banking, free checking, debit card, and banking by mail. Do not
tie this new account to your personal account. Do not use it as a backup to any
personal account. It should be independent of all other accounts you may have.
When you find a bank which offers these features, and most do these days,
gather up $100. Go to the bank. Set up your hobby business account. Use your
name. Do not use a business name, ever.
Why online banking? With a computer connected to the internet you will be
able to access your account to track deposits and withdrawals from eBay and
PayPal.
Why free checking? This is obvious.
Why banking by mail? You will not want to run to the bank to deposit every
check you receive. But you do need to promptly deposit checks you receive. Now
that PayPal is used by most buyers, you may not receive many checks. But when
you do, then stamp the back of the check with the "Deposit Only"
rubber stamp, fill out a deposit slip, and drop it all in the mail every few
days.
ebay class - banking
An important consideration when selling online is how to get paid
efficiently.
Further, the banking aspects of online selling should be separate from your
household accounts. Here's what to do:
Gather up $100. Visit your local bank.
Ask them if they have a free checking account with no fees and no minimum
balance.
If not, go to another bank that does have free checking with no minimum
balance and no fees.
If they do have this sort of account, set up an account.
Make sure that this new account is NOT tied to your household accounts or to
your credit cards.
They go to PayPal.com. Set up an account there.
Paypal is y0ur friend.
Request a paypal debit card. Use the new bank account number as backup for
paypal.
Then go to ebay to set up an account with the paypal information and bank
account.
Start selling. Payments to you will go into your paypal account.
You can spend the money you receive with your paypal debit card immediately.
Shipping Methods
Single postcards or small groups of postcards can be sent in a business
envelope with a stiffener.
Have a postal scale handy.
Print the postal rates for first class then tack it up where you can see it
easily.
Use priority mail envelopes when you have 100 or more postcards to send. The
flat rate is $7.05 regardless of where the item is going in the USA, and
regardless of what the weight it. Pretty much what ever you can fit into the
envelope is OK.
Be sure to have a few flat rate envelopes on hand.
If you have several hundred postcards to send to the same address, mixtures
and the like, then you want to investigate the flat rate boxes offered by the
post office. For a reasonable sum you can really get quite a bit of material in
a flat rate box. There are three sizes. Keep a few of each size on hand.
You will need to speak with your route letter carrier to let them know you
will be sending items from your home from time to time.
Try to mail every paid order out the next day after payment is received.
That is only efficient business. Getting behind is painful.
Sequence of Events
Selling Sequence
This is a flow chart to offer suggestions on steps to follow to become a
seller of postcards at eBay on the internet. Expect to modify this list as your
need requires. Follow the links you find if they seem interesting to you.
eBay Quick Start
Here is a checklist which will aid you in getting an eBay hobby business up
and running. Please consider this my personal advice. It is worth more than the
nothing you have paid to use it. Ask advice of others who have an eBay account
to make sure these are the right things to do for you.
1. Realize that this will be a time consuming activity which can not be
successful unless you have adequate time on a DAILY basis to answer email
questions, put things up for auction, and fill orders promptly. Don't believe
the TV hype promo commercials about making big money right from the first day.
Learning any new skill takes time.
2. Set up a separate debit account at a bank which has the ability to give
you free checking, free debit card, and online banking. Deposit $100 in it. Be
sure to ask for the debit card. A lot of times the bank worker will need
to be told this more than once for it to sink in. You definately need the debit
card. Do not use a credit card you may already have. You will need to record the
pin number when you get the card.
3. Research what others are selling the same item for.
4. Determine what you want to sell. Determine what the minimum price is that
you can sell each item so you will not have sellers remorse.
5. Start accumulating the items you plan to sell. Make sure you have a place
where organized storage will not be disturbed. Finding items in a hurry is
important to fill orders promptly.
6. Print post office rates for the class of mail you plan to send. If you
plan to use USPS Priority Mail, then go to this suite to order FREE shipping
materials. Here is the URL for shipping materials:
Set up an account there and order a beginning supply of the sort of
packaging you will need. Make sure you have an accurate weight scale for the
weight you expect your items to ship at.
7. Make sure you have a computer connected to the internet available to you.
You will also need a scanner, possibly a digital camera, and a printer.
8. Go to the office supply store and buy pens, pencils, file folders,
mailing envelopes, bubble wrap, peanuts, boxes, and any other sort of item you
think you will need.
9. Buy a supply of postage of the denominations you expect to need. Meet
with your route carrier to tell that person you plan to be sending items by
mail. Make arrangements for the carrier to pick up USPS Priority Mail if you
plan to use that method. Consider getting a larger mail box for the front of
your home.
10. Write a short paragraph about yourself to be used in the ME page of your
listings. See what others have done along these lines. Be sure to stress that
this is a hobby for you and not a business regardless of if it is or not.
11. Consider setting up a web page or even a separate web site for your
merchandise. Then look into FrontPage software. This will take effort. Perhaps
this is something to consider for a year from now. But begin thinking about it
now.
12. Make sure you have computer skills needed to answer and generate email,
print, scan, down load programs, and save pictures.
13. Establish a place where you can store the images you generate. This
might be at a memory space which is yours through your internet provider. Or it
may be at a web site that you create.
14. Down load a WS_FTP95 LE Program. It's the FREE version. This
program may be needed to send your photographs to your memory. If you only need
one picture per item you sell, then this will not be necessary. You may need to
google this. Here is a URL which works for now:
15. From a pay phone without giving your name, call the office of the
licensing department for the town where you live. Find out if you need a
business license to do this eBay hobby stuff from your home. Stress the word
hobby in the telephone conversation. Then do what you feel is right.
Get some sort of bookkeeping set up to record expenses and receipts.
16. When you have established a separate bank account, go online to sign up for PayPal.
http://www.paypal.com Use the new account number. Have your checks handy. You will need those numbers for the
day when you will want money sent from your PayPal account to your checking
account. You may never do this but it is part of the process.
17. Log on to eBay and set up an account with the PayPal numbers and debit
account you have. http://www.ebay.com Read the tutorials about anything you do not understand.
18. Start taking pictures or scanning and then saving them to a folder for
eBay images, to your web site or to your ISP account.
19. Open the Sell Your Item to set up all the standard terms you plan
to follow for your account.
20. Establish a numbering system so you can identify each item you plan to
sell. This is the number you assign so you can quickly find each item when it
sells. Some call it a lot number.
21. Determine what you plan to use as a selling model. For example, listing
on what day and what time to close on what day and what time, how many items
will you plan to have listed all the time. Will you want to move unsold items to
an ebay store? Probably yes so you can build an inventory.
22. List one item with the default settings. Look over the ad before
submitting it. Do this by clicking Preview. See if everything came out as you
expected. When you are pleased with the result, then submit it.
23. Somewhere along the way you will need to make a payment to eBay in your
sellers account. Use your PayPal balance to do this. Go to your sellers page and
click on my account. There will be a PayPal box there for you to send money into
your paypal account. You may not need to do this very often since buyers will be
putting money in that account every time they buy something. eBay gives sellers
50 free listings each month so you may never need to send money unless you sell
something.
24. Answer emails as they come in about the item you have for sale. But do
not answer email messages which request you to update your account. These are
phishing emails and can be a problem for you. Report these emails to the
authorities by clicking forward, then entering the email address of spoof@ebay.com
or spoof@paypal.com and also spam@use.gov
25. Enter more items to be submitted later.
26. When you feel ready, submit more items. Determine how many you plan to
list at one time. Then try to hold to that number for a while. Twenty seems
ambitious enough to start with.
27. When an item sells, you will be given an email notice that the person
has paid for the item through PayPal. Send the item that day or the next day.
28. If there are items that didn't sell, you may want to relist them once.
If they still do not sell, then move them to your eBay store. Read the tutorial
about eBay stores. It might not be profitable until you have a hundred things to
put in it. But you will loose listing detail if you do not move items over
within I think 30 days. So you will want to open the store right away.
29. Develop a rhythm. Listing certain times. Preparing items for listing.
Answering emails. Submitting items for sale. Packing. Sending out items.
30. Review what sells and what does not sell by visiting eBay advanced
search completed listings. Look over your items to verify that the price you
start them at is within range of what they will sell for. Continue to modify
your practices to refine the selling experience. This will never end.
31. Prepare to receive bogus emails requesting your password for eBay and
PayPal. Never enter this information in response to an email.
Questions answered depending on my ability to answer them. dularson@bellsouth.net
Security ConcernsWhen selling on eBay, expect a rash of emails
attempting to get your password. Expect emails which look like they are from
eBay and from PayPal.
The emails will say something like your
verification of account information is required or your account will be frozen.
Or that if you do not respond, your account will be removed from the list of
approved sellers.
All of this is garbage. The people who do this have
nothing better to do than try to steal from you. Consider it like shoplifting.
So the best procedure to follow is to NEVER give
out your confidential information in response to any email of any kind.
NEVER give out your confidential information to
anyone on the telephone.
When you do receive a suspicious email, and every
one will seem suspicious eventually, do the following:
Click on the Forward button in your top tool bar.
Enter this email address to send the email to:
Shortly thereafter you will receive an email
telling you want to do. Here is a copy of that email currently in use:
Hello,
You may have received a message attempting to solicit a transaction
outside of eBay or a message sent in an attempt to obtain your account
password or other sensitive information.
We recommend that you ignore all offers received through email that ask
you to complete a transaction outside of eBay. Please make sure that you
are the confirmed winning bidder on a listing before sending money to
anyone and make certain that you are dealing with the actual seller and
not someone else. eBay only recognizes the seller and the winning bidder
that appear on the listing page at the end of the listing.
Do not use instant cash wire transfer services such as Western Union and
MoneyGram when paying someone you don't know and decline sending payment
in cases where these are the only methods of payment offered by the
seller. Generally, if payment is sent using an instant cash wire
transfer service and the item is not delivered as promised, no recourse
is available for recovering funds. More information on the benefits and
risks of individual payment methods can be found at:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/payment.html
More information on Spoof and Phishing emails:
Messages known as "spoof" or "phishing" emails are sent by
third parties
in an attempt to obtain your account password or other sensitive
information such as credit card numbers. If you receive an email about
your account that appears to be from eBay, check My Messages in My eBay.
If the same email is not in My Messages, it's fake. Do not respond to
the sender.
To learn more, take the Spoof Tutorial at:
http://pages.ebay.com/education/spooftutorial
Additionally, you can help protect yourself from fake eBay and PayPal
Web sites by downloading the eBay Toolbar with Account Guard. The eBay
Toolbar with Account Guard is free and offers the following benefits:
1. An indicator that shows when you are on an eBay or PayPal Web site or
a known spoof (or "phishing") site.
2. Buttons to report fake eBay Web sites to us.
3. A password notification feature that warns you when you may be
entering your eBay password on an unverified site.
To learn more about the eBay Toolbar with Account Guard go to
www.ebay.com, and click on the "eBay
Toolbar" link at the bottom of the
page.
Regards,
eBay SafeHarbor
Investigations Team
Then some time later you will receive a
confirmation email telling you the message you received was not from ebay or
paypal. Here is a sample of what it will look like:
Thank you for contacting us about a potential fraudulent (spoof) email
or Web site. We will investigate this situation immediately and inform
you of the results in a separate email. If you are reporting an email or
a Web site that is asking for personal financial information, it is best
to assume it is fake until you receive a response from us.
In order to reply as quickly as possible, we are sending you an
automated response about the following topics:
1. IDENTIFYING FAKE EMAILS AND WEB SITES
2. USING EBAY TOOLBAR WITH ACCOUNT GUARD
3. PROTECTING YOUR ACCOUNT AND INTERNET SECURITY
Please submit other questions or concerns through our Contact Us System,
which can be accessed by clicking on the "help" button on the top of
any
eBay page. This allows us to dedicate our resources appropriately.
1. IDENTIFYING FAKE EMAILS AND WEB SITES
The best defense against fake emails and Web sites is learning how to
spot them. You can learn more about fake emails and Web sites through
our Spoof Tutorial at the following Web page:
http://pages.ebay.com/education/spooftutorial/
You can also use My Messages (located at the top of the My eBay page) to
detect Phishing emails. If an email from eBay affects your eBay account
or asks for personal information, it's now in My Messages. Any email
sent to your registered eBay email address from eBay that concerns your
account or requests personal information will now appear in My Messages.
2. USING EBAY TOOLBAR WITH ACCOUNT GUARD
One of the best tools to protect yourself from fraudulent (spoof) Web
sites is eBay Toolbar with Account Guard. The Account Guard feature
indicates when you are on an eBay or PayPal Web site and warns you if
you are on a known spoof site. To learn more about eBay Toolbar with
Account Guard open a new browser and type www.ebay.com/ebay_toolbar
into
the address bar.
3. PROTECTING YOUR ACCOUNT AND INTERNET SECURITY
We recommend that you keep your browser, operating system, and virus
protection software up to date. Check for updates at the "Windows
Update" link on www.microsoft.com
and scan your computer for viruses
often.
If you think your personal information has been compromised in any way,
you should take immediate steps to change your eBay, PayPal, and email
passwords. You should also contact your bank to see if there has been
any suspicious activity on your account. You can find more information
about protecting your identity at the following help page:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/confidence/problems-identity-theft.html
Thank you again for sending us your report. We appreciate your efforts
to keep eBay and PayPal safe.
Regards,
eBay Trust & Safety Team
Vocabulary For eBay
David U. Larson - OldPostcardsForSale.com
active listing - for sale at this time.
advanced search - to see what has sold and not sold. Right of search button.
auctionbytes - water cooler website for details about what's happening.
auction item - bidding is necessary. Seller may use when value is not known.
best match - results of search based on what eBay wants you to see.
bidding - selling to highest bidder, useful when value is not known.
bidding war - when two or more bidders drive up the selling price.
box lot - sell several related items at one time to get rid of stuff.
buy it now - no need to bid. Just buy.
Cassini search - eBay broken search engine. Google search better for eBay.
completed sales - click to see items sold and not sold in advanced search.
create shortcut - right click to have icon on desktop to go to webpage fast.
customer service - none for a seller, only a buyer.
desktop - screen which first shows when computer is turned on.
duplicate listing - can not list same item twice at the same time.
eBay- greatest website for selling unusual stuff, sort-of.
ecommerce - on line sales .
empty box - customer says box was empty when delivered.
ending soonest - a sort which is great at attracting buyers but not default.
eyeballs - people who look at your items.
feedback - online reputation with eBay for buyers and sellers.
final value fee - ebay commission when item is sold of 15%.
fixed price item - no need to bid. Item is available for immediate sale.
foreign sales - OK for very small items that will fit in an envelope.
free listings - given by eBay from time to time.
free shipping - no such thing.
good till cancelled - item will be relisted automatically by eBay when listing
expires.
Google search - a better way to find stuff on eBay.
icon - graphic which when clicked will take you to webpage without typing.
images - pictures.
import listings - bring items into eBay from other websites.
ISBN - identification number of book which speeds up listing of a book.
life is an average - there will be good and there will be bad.
listing - advertisement goes worldwide if seller selects worldwide shipping.
listing fee - cost to advertise varies per item from 20 cents to 5 cents to free
at times.
lowest price first - search sort to show lowest price items at top of search.
minimum bid - set by seller.
My eBay - location of useful links to various seller tools.
new listing - never listed before except if it comes from Turbo Lister.
niche - area of specialized selling.
not as described NAD - buyer can claim this and get refund without returning
item.
notebook - spiral notebook to record passwords, security questions, codes.
one of a kind OOAK - most items like this sell on eBay quickly if the price is
right.
page views - number of times page has been shown to buyers and other sellers.
password - security code to access accounts.
PayPal - payment method acceptable to eBay.
PayPal debit card - way to pay for anything with PayPal proceeds.
PayPal fees - cost of collecting payment and sending it to you.
picture photo - to display item for sale.
photo enclosure - to minimize surrounding details and focus on item for sale.
phishing emails - dishonest people looking for your details to steal from you.
postage fee - cost to send an item to buyer with USPS.
power seller - seller who sells a large quantity of items in the span of a year.
profit - great if possible but sometimes happy to get what you can even if loss.
proxy bidding - when ebay advances a buyer bid to limit set by buyer.
research - used to determine details about item and establish a price.
relist - when an item is not sold, then it can be put up for sale again.
reserve auction - where minimum selling price is hidden. Not a good seller
technique.
returns - eBay permits returns for up to 180 days through PayPal if NAD.
rolling blackouts - where all listings are not shown all the time.
scan - to capture a picture with a scanner.
seller fees - cost to sell on eBay. Usually about 33% of sold items when all do
not sell.
seller's remorse - after an item sells, disappointment to have sold the item.
sell through rate - percentage of items that sell. Usually low.
sell your item page - easy to follow form to sell only a few items.
separate bank account - necessary to protect personal finances.
shill bidding - dishonest method to drive up the sale price of an item.
shipping included - an honest statement about postage amount.
short cut - click to go to a webpage quickly.
SixBit.com - program to create listings and store them until needed
SKU - item identification number on newer items.
sold listing - useful list to process items for shipping.
store levels - Basic - Premium - Anchor.
synchronization - where items are for sale on several platforms and are in sync.
top rated seller - seller who uses tracking on all items.
tracking - method to determine where an item is located at all times.
unsold listing - useful to relist when listings are available.
upload listing to eBay - sending advertisement to eBay to sell an item.
user agreement - terms to use the eBay program when selling.
USPS - United States Postal Service is your friend.
visibility - ability of buyers to see listings.
YouTube - educational videos for instruction of eBay techniques.
My eBay
Items not to sell at first:
electronics
glass objects
anything of interest to young people
video games
play station stuff
knives
toys
coins
comic books
no worldwide sales at first
Items that would be good to sell at first:
historic newspapers and magazines
original art
wooden objects that will not break
rubber objects for the same reason
maps
prints
stamps for collectors
postcards
greeting cards
ephemera
tools
blotters
household kitchen items
DVD's
CD's
memorabilia
advertising
table cloths
place mats
napkins
clothing
candle sticks
guide books
sheet music
coasters
plastic flowers
small car parts
moror cycle anything
yarn
pine cones
Well you get the idea from this list.
Selling Tips For eBay
Here are random thoughts about selling on eBay which were not mentioned on
previous pages of this website.
Consider including postage in the bid amount for a single card to any
address in the world.
Do not have a huge postage amount in the listing. This will be seen as a
scam by buyers and they will not bid. Shipping should be just shipping, not most
of the profit from the item.
Do not use threatening language in boiler plate. Nothing like if you don't
pay, I will cut off your ear.
Do not enter negative feedback. Just swallow hard and move on.
Do not bother with buyers who have not paid after one month. Just wait a
week after a one month notice then relist.
Do not try to get final value fees back from eBay for a non performing
(nonpaying) bidder. It is a waste of time.
Refund the full amount without question when an item is returned.
Enter feedback for every transaction even if the buyer did not enter
feedback for you.
Check PayPal daily to see if a payment was made but no email was received.
On large orders send a bonus item.
Automatically combine shipping when a buyer pays for several items at the
same time.
Expect to encounter various problems from time to time. Approach each
problem with a positive attitude.
Make sure the minimum bid you enter will be enough so you will not have
sellers remorse if you get only one bid.
Hold back offering expensive items you might want to sell until you have a
feedback of at least 50. That way buyers will not be reluctant to bid a
high amount.
Visit the seller soapbox forum now and then to see what other sellers are
concerned about.
Encourage others to buy and sell on eBay to grow the community.
Become familiar with Global Priority Mail flat rate envelopes for orders
going to foreign countries. They are a bargain depending on weight.
Be sure to include shipping for each item in the listing notice to minimize
email questions about shipping.
List of other online selling venues in no particular order. Note all of them
are dot coms.
bidstart
stanleygibbons
etsy
bonanza
ebid
ecrater
amazon
ePier
webstore
boocoo
Wensy
AtomicMall
OnlineAuction
WeBidz
blujay
Here are my thoughts on Do's and Don'ts for selling on eBay
Select from these lists as you see fit:
Do's
-send out items the day after payment is received
-print postage on eBay or PayPal
-include a thank you note with each order
-give complete description with all features noted
-answer all emails
-organize stock in an easy to find location
-use a lot number system for small items
-research the value of an item to find a good starting price
-find a niche for your specialty
-use several pictures
-tell your postal worker about your plan to sell on ebay
-use turbolister program right from the start
-accumulate shipping supplies
-use an accurate scale. One to 5 pounds. One to 20 pounds.
-notify buyers when the item is sent
-leave feedback for all transactions
-keep the better stuff for sale later
-learn about IRS form Schedule C
-request a PayPal debit card
-buy a book about selling on ebay
Don'ts
-ask for feedback
-put dryer sheet in with order
-put music on listing
-threaten a non paying bidder
-contact a non paying bidder
-expect everything to sell right away
-lower price so you have seller remorse
-ignore email questions
-send dusty dirty items out
-take pictures with clutter in the background
-sell items you do not have control over
-sell any large difficult to ship items
-sell worldwide anything that needs a box to ship
-expect every item to reach the buyer
-expect every buyer to be honest
-call ebay customer service for anything
-sell expensive items at first
-sell for others
-go away on vacation with items for sale
-expect watchers to be buyers
-sell breakable items online
-start auction items at 99 cents
_expect huge fast sales
Step by Step
Find an item to sell
Use research to determine current value
Determine if selling it is worthwhile (profitable for time spent)
If so, write a description, select a title, assign lot number, take
photographs or make scans, weigh for shipping, calculate postage, ready package
but do not seal
Type listing in sell your item on ebay
Send listing to ebay when ready. Best time varies. Experiment
If not sold, plan to relist at a later date with just a click from
unsold.
If sold, watch for email sold notification from eBay
Look for paid email from PayPal before sending
Open my eBay, click to sold page
Find item on list of sold items
Click print packing list includes address
Print postage from eBay sold page or
use stamps if under 14 ounces
Enclose packing slip, thank you letter, seal the box or envelope
Cut out shipping label, tape to box or envelope
Mail as soon as possible
On sold page of My eBay, click shipped, leave feedback.
Have fun.
David U. Larson
Marty eBay listings
https://www.ebay.com/str/bitsey1212
Margaret eBay listings
https://www.ebay.com/str/used-but-lovely
David U. eBay listings
https://www.ebay.com/str/oldpostcardsforsale