Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Seasonal Selling Strategies For Ebay

Writen by Paul Duxbury

When you sell on eBay, it's important to know how to take advantage of the kinds of markets you encounter in the different seasons. As a rule, the summer months are slow and the winter period is fast, but there's more to it than that.

It Depends What You're Selling.

Your sales won't necessarily be slower in the summer than in winter – they might just be different. If you're selling sports equipment, for example, you'll probably find that surfing gear sells in summer while skiing gear sells in winter. You should make sure you are aware of any seasonal variations there will be in your particular market, and plan in advance to take advantage of them.

Selling in Peak Season.

The holiday season is eBay's peak, and the best time to be selling on eBay – the December rush is relatively short, but if you play it right then you could make half your year's profit over those few days.

In the holidays, people are looking for presents, and eBay run more advertising than usual targeted towards buyers, not sellers. Target your auctions more towards new users than experienced ones, writing easy-to-understand descriptions. If you have any items that are in demand, try listing some at auction and some with high But it Now prices, to see what works best.

The chances are you'll be surprised when the Buy it Now auctions go almost instantly and the auctions rack up bids like nobody's business. It is important to remember, however, that most of these buyers will only buy from you once.

Selling Off-peak.

For the rest of the year, the market is far slower. Don't worry though – you can still make money. It's a little like being a stockbroker: you can make money whether the market is good or bad, if you know what you're doing.

Remember that your target market is a little more 'expert': you're mostly selling to people who know what they're buying, and know what they want to pay. Cater to this by providing a service suitable for these customers. Show that you know what you're selling and sell things consistently and you'll have people coming back again and again.

Here's one extra tip that you might try. If you know of items that have a consistent value, it might be worth buying up as many as you can cheaply in the summer, storing them for half a year, and selling them during the winter rush. If you're willing to give over a little space for storage, you can make a lot of profit for little effort. After all, you don't even have to take the items out of the packaging the last seller put them in.

Paul is Head of Training for a major UK Charitable Organisation with a wealth of experience in personal development, management development, e-learning and operational management. In addition he owns PK eBooks (http://www.pk-ebooks.co.uk) two sites specifically aimed at those who want to successfully sell on eBay http://www.ebay-profits.co.uk and http://www.info-entrepreneurs.co.uk

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Monday, September 29, 2008

Command Browsers To Bid With Hypnotic Auctions

Writen by Gary R. Ferguson

If you have ever watched any items for sale on an auction you site, you may have wondered why some listings get bids and others don't, or why two identical items end for drastically different final bids?

If you are the seller of one of these ignored or low bid items you are definitely not maximizing your potential sales.

With some minor changes to your listings you can create an auction that captures attention, promotes trust, and evokes action – hence a Hypnotic Auction.

A hypnotic auction works considerably different than a normal auction although when you see (experience) one you will probably not realize it, but you will be "controlled" by it.

Once you learn the techniques you will be able to recognize hypnotic auctions and create you own to command buyers to do your bidding. (Pun Intended)

A hypnotic auction in a very simplified form is the proper combination of hypnotic writing, hypnotic pictures, and hypnotic publicity.

The "inventor" of hypnotic writing, Dr. Joe Vitale, defines hypnotic writing as "anything you do which makes your readers react because of mental images you plant in their minds" or "is intentionally using words to guide people into a focused mental state where they are inclined to buy your product or service."

So what does this really mean?

This means that by choosing the words you use in your auctions, listings can greatly influence what a potential bidder will think and do.

For example, if you read the words:

Imagine eating a yellow banana…

What just happened? Did you for a split second visualize in your head, holding a peeled banana and taking a bite? You had almost no choice. Your brain just ran on autopilot and you couldn't control it for a split second.

In addition, if you like bananas, it was probably an enjoyable thought. In fact, if you had a banana for breakfast, you may have quickly remembered your state of mind this morning. On the other hand, if you dislike bananas it was probably not an enjoyable experience.

Now this was an unexciting example, but it demonstrates the power of suggestion and how certain words, phrases, and pictures can influence a person's thinking.

This is just one example of a hypnotic element you can use to create a Hypnotic Auction. There are many more which can be found at http://www.hypnoticauctions.com

Discover how you can create auctions that receive more bids and higher final prices than your competiton with the free Hypnotic Auctions Newsletter available at http://www.hypnoticauctions.com Gary R. Ferguson is an author, publisher, and on-line marketer and can be reached at me@garyrferguson.com

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Sunday, September 28, 2008

Why Adding Pictures Increases Ebay Bid Response

Writen by Jeanne Sheridan

Buyers really like pictures. The more pictures you have, the more they'll feel like buying their item from you instead of your competitor. In fact, there are plenty of buyers who will literally leave your auction within 5 seconds of arriving if they don't find a picture there waiting for them.

A little extra work on photography can pay off massively, especially if you're working on slim profit margins. But why is it so effective?

1. It shows you're serious.

Sellers who take the time to take good pictures and present them properly are much more likely to go to the trouble of providing good customer service. Buyers instinctively know this. If you can't be bothered to take a simply photo and upload it to eBay, are you really going to pack their item properly? Are you going to post it on time?

2. It makes them trust you.

Your buyers will feel more comfortable that you actually have the item if they can see that you have your own photo of it. It also reassures the buyers that your item isn't a beaten up and broken piece of rubbish.

3. It makes your auction stand out.

When your picture is displayed on the search results screen, people can see your item right there instead of having to read your title. People prefer to work visually, and are more likely to pay attention to a picture.

If you want the kind of response that pictures can bring, then here are a few simple tips to make this work for you even better.

* Bombard them with images.

eBay might want you to pay for the privilege of adding more than one picture to an auction, but if you have your own web hosting then you can do it for free. Just take as many pictures as you want, upload them to your webspace, and then add them to the auction using HTML.

It's really very simple... Just write this in your description each time you want to insert a picture: img src="http://www.your-website.com/picturename.jpg"

* Take better pictures.

You should also use an image-editing program to touch up your pictures. There are plenty of choices. Ifranview (www.ifranview.com) is good and it's also free! Adjust things like brightness and contrast to make sure that buyers get the best view of your items.

* Improve picture quality.

Get a good camera, and pay attention to technique and composition when you take the photos. Don't just throw them on your bed and take photos. A better way would be to use an empty, lightly coloured table, place it against a white or nearly-white wall and take your photos there.

Other good ways to get more people to respond to your auctions is to find the best price points. This includes starting prices, Buy it Now prices, and shipping prices. But remember... Even if your prices are good, without photos you won't get the good results you're looking for.

Copyright 2006 J. Sheridan

For more free information on ebay selling, drop shipping strategies, handling bid snipers, and to find out what's the hottest selling items on eBay, visit http://www.Ebay-Selling-Tip.com

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Saturday, September 27, 2008

Ebayyour International Marketplace

Writen by Steve Durkin

Harness the presence of eBay throughout the world to increase your sales or find new bargains. A lot of sellers on eBay tend to trade within their comfort zones without realising the potential of expanding global markets. Whilst it its true that for some sellers it is simply not practical, in shipping terms, to target international markets - for many it is an opportunity missed.

For buyers the sheer scale of items available makes international purchases an attractive proposition. On any given day there are thousands of items listed worldwide by the over 169 million eBay users across 33 markets.

Obviously when considering venturing into international markets a lot of questions will be raised and here are a few of the top points for consideration:

  • Payment
    Quick & secure payment is the top concern for most eBay sellers and when the buyer is many thousands of miles away this is never more true. Whilst it may not be everyone's favourite payment processor Paypal has enabled international trade on a scale never before envisaged. There are other methods of payment but very few if any have the instant recognition that Paypal has accumulated over the years.

  • Shipping
    Costs to ship to other countries can vary greatly depending on the distance, shipping method and the item being sent. It is avisable when creating a listing to present the shipping information so that prospective buyers can see the total cost upfront and can therefore make an instant decision. It is worth remembering when selling an item into an overseas market that the buyer may well have to pay additional duties/taxes or Customs clearance fees. You should always ensure that shipments sent by you are insured and the ability to track your consignment will enable you to provide proof of delivery should there be a dispute with the buyer.

  • Taxes & Custom Duties
    It is normal practice for buyers to pay for any taxes or duties that may arise and this together with the cost of shipping should be taken into consideration when bidding. In the UK you may find that the HM Revenue & Customs website is helpful when trying to work out what the charges may be. Similarly residents of the US may want to review the Customs & Border Protection website.

    Each country will have different tariffs depending on the type of item and by doing a little research you can avoid purchases that become uneconomical by the time they arrive at your door.

  • Local Laws/Regulations
    When considering selling items internationally it is crucial that you ensure the transaction is lawful in the countries of both the buyer & seller. eBay specifically prohibits sales that contravene the local laws of either party - educating yourself about the pertinent laws prior to sale will avoid problems later. You may find further assistance available by contacting your courier of choice who should be able to provide information regarding the paperwork needed for shipping and any restrictions applicable. It is advisable that sellers visit the eBay sites that they intend to trade on for specific details as to what that particular site considers a restricted item.

    Whilst it can certainly be daunting to make the initial foray onto the world market you can guarantee that if you don't take advantage of the opportunity your competitors most certainly will!

    For a helpful & comprehensive list of eBay International Auctions please visit: http://www.auctionlotwatch.com/ebayauctionsites.html

    Steve Durkin is a Director of Online Merchants Ltd which operates the Auction Lotwatch network of sites. Auction Lotwatch have been providing a selection of free auction tools and information to the online auction community for over five years. http://www.auctionlotwatch.com

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  • Friday, September 26, 2008

    Anatomy Of An Ebay Scam The 7 Warning Signs

    Writen by Mike Makler

    Ebay has over 8o Million Registered Users. Over 60 Million Dollars Daily on average is spent on Ebay. It is no wonder the Scam Artists prey on Ebay and it's members.

    The Most common Ebay Scam Involves E-Mail, You will receive an E-mail from Someone claiming to be Ebay requesting you Verify your Information. That is Warning Sign 1 Ebay will never send you an E-Mail Requesting Your Personal Information

    Often this E_mail will be sent to an E-Mail Address that is not the same one that Ebay has on File. That is Warning Sign 2

    The Third Warning Sign is forged Headers (From Address). This is often hard to detect without knowledge of the Internet. Many Spam filters are now setup to block E-mail that has forged headers. Ask your E-mail provider how you can block Forged Headers.

    The Fourth Warning Sign is the Greeting says something like Dear Ebay user or Ebay Member. Ebay knows who you are they will use the name you registered with.

    The Fifth Warning Sign is the threat. The E_mail will threaten to suspend your account if you don't take immediate action.

    The Sixth Warning Sign is a Non Secure Page. If you do click on the link in the E-Mail you will not be on a secure Page, No Https in the URL and no little Padlock in the lower left hand corner of your browser.

    Bad Grammar or Misspelled words in the

    If you receive an E-mail from Ebay with even 1 of these warning signs more likely then not it is a scam. Forward the E-Mail to Ebay and ask for assistance if you have any doubts.

    Ebay Fast Start Video Tutorial "The Hottest Home Business In The Past 50 Years -- Maybe Ever!" Make money with eBay and online auctions. step-by-step system for making money at home with online auctions. Learn how new step-by-step "How-To" Video. Start today! http://ewguru.com/ebayvideo

    About The Author:

    Mike Makler has been Marketing Online Since 2001 When he Built an Organization of over 100,000 Members

    Drop Shipping Your Way to Wealth Over 90,000 Items You can Sell on EBay Today
    http://ewguru.com/ebay-dropship

    Getting Started With Ebay Resource Guide
    http://ewguru.com/ebay-start

    Copyright © 2005-2006 Mike Makler the Coolest Guy in the Universe

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    Thursday, September 25, 2008

    Auction Seller Guide To Success

    Writen by Leroy Chan

    When its time to clean-up around the house, some people have a hard time deciding what to keep and what to throw out. What they need is an incentive.

    How about collecting cash from stuff that was collecting dust?

    You can do this by auctioning-off your unwanted or no longer needed items on eBay. eBay is the largest online market place of its kind. If you are considering this, then you need to gain some basic knowledge of the listing process.

    Here is a 10-item checklist to go over before you begin selling:

    1. Look at Other Seller Listings

    Do a search for your item. See how other sellers list the same or similar item. Take mental note of the category, the title, the description, the photo and the pricing.

    2. Choose the Most Appropriate Category

    Make sure your item is in the most appropriate category. Avoid placing it in a category where it doesn't belong. List your item in the wrong category, and people looking for your item will not find it. Let eBay suggest the category for you, if you are unsure which category your item belongs.

    3. Write an Accurate Title for Your Listing

    Make it easy for buyers to find your item in a search by writing a precise title of it. Be as exact and detailed as possible so your item can show up in broad keyword searches too. Avoid using hype words like "Best," "Great," or "Fantastic." Putting these words in the title will not help buyers find your item because they don't type in these types of words in their searches.

    4. Set Your Price Low

    Entice your buyers by starting at a low price. Set a reserve price in your listings so you don't have to sell it when the auction ends at too low of a price for you to make a profit.

    5. Give Plenty of Time for Your Auction

    Let as many people as possible see your auction. Set the duration for five or seven days so weekend buyers will have a chance to bid on your item too.

    6. Show a Photo of Your Item

    Take a digital photo of your item and post it with your listing. Let your buyers see what they are bidding on. Allow the photo to help you sell it. Having to see something first before you buy it is only natural. Apply this same principle to online auctions. Buying a digital camera is a good investment these days and instructions on loading pictures up to the eBay site are simple enough that there really is no excuse not to have a picture.

    7. Give Buyers Plenty of Payment Options

    Make it easy for the buyer to pay. Providing as many payment options as available is better. Place in your item listing your own merchant account or credit card processor information. Sign up with Paypal if you don't have your own merchant account. Let buyers pay by check or money order if you don't provide payment through Paypal or credit cards. Including all payment options leaves no buyers behind.

    8. Be Clear on Shipping and Handling Information

    Avoid troubles or negative seller feedback by stating upfront your shipping costs. Mention this clearly in your listing. Include your return policy.

    9. Give Contact Information

    Gain the buyer's trust by freely stating your contact information. List your email, phone number or mailing address.

    10. Keep on Testing

    Review the auctions that have ended. Learn from the wins and losses. Try changing the category, title, description or price if it didn't sell. Testing the individual elements in the auction process is critical to your goal of becoming a successful auction seller.

    (c) Leroy Chan - All Rights reserved

    Discover the "Insider Tricks" to making money on eBay. Visit Leroy Chan's site, Auction Seller Guide to receive a free 12-part auction selling course.

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    Wednesday, September 24, 2008

    Internet Marketing Resources

    Writen by Janet Yoney

    Will you honestly be where you want to be one year from today?

    Will you honestly be any closer to financial freedom?

    Will you be manifesting your dreams?

    If you don't like your own answers to the above questions....I will help you take the steps to get you on the right path toward your financial situation forever...If you plan on getting different results in your life, you obviously need to do something different than you've been doing. Yes, you can keep dragging yourself out of bed to that meaningless, never ending day job, put in those miserable long days at your job. Yes, you can keep hoping and praying that one day some how get ahead and make something substantial for yourself.

    But why on Earth would you bother putting yourself through all this.Why not put a stop to all that misery right here and now. It's a matter of simply investing in you and finding out how easy it is to create more than one income stream. With this time-tested program in your hands, you'll begin to discover the real, genuine secrets to bringing in about wealth and freedom. Take a moment to think about this. Let's wrap this up. I've perfected a very unusual internet money-making system, The ideal in this business gives me up to $2,778.50 in a single day! I really believe you can learn to do the same, and bring in same income or even more it's up to you. Consider this if you continue in the same direction your in now, where will you be?

    I recently started the internet resource business, because I want to help people find their dream, and make the future financially secure for them and their families. And to give them a pride in themselves. So they can acheive their goals in life, and help other people acheive their goals as well.

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    Tuesday, September 23, 2008

    Mistakes To Avoid In Your Ebay Auctions

    Writen by Evelyn Lim

    Online auctions continue to grow in popularity as an easy and efficient way to make money on everything from unwanted household items to rare and expensive collectables and even to bulky items like cars.

    Log on to eBay and you will see countless auctions on any item you can imagine. As eBay auctions grow in popularity, it becomes harder to make money with your auction because it often gets buried or overlooked with all the competing auctions in the same category. Therefore, to make money on your auction, it is important to set your auction apart and avoid common eBay auction mistakes. Here are 3 important mistakes that you must take note of:

    1. Wrong product category or product category not specific enough. As it is relatively simple and inexpensive to auction an item, many sellers simply do not put in enough effort researching the market. The result is the auctions are put up in the wrong category. This would be tantamount to pitching your deal to the wrong market.

    However, if you are marketing your product in traditional channels and paying money for your promotions, you are likely to do a lot more research and legwork. If you want to earn a serious income, then you should not treat your eBay auctions any differently.

    To research, find the best eBay category to put your product auction in. If you are selling coins, eBay shoppers do not have the time to search all 38,000 plus auctions put up under the category of coins. You need to define your product category as specific as possible. You will then target the true eBay shoppers that are likely to be interested in your auction.

    2. A blurred or ugly looking image. Be sure your eBay auction has a clear professional looking image. Pay heed to the saying "A picture speaks a thousand words". Also, don't forget to ensure that your image file size is not too large. If the image takes minutes to download, the typical eBay shopper is bound to skip your auction.

    3. Incomplete and unclear product description. Be sure to give a detailed and precise description for your eBay auction item. For instance, you can give exact dimensions of the product or give specific details about the condition of the second hand item. An incomplete or unclear description is not likely to attract bidders for your item.

    All in all, the best exercise I can suggest is to visit your Ebay auction and honestly ask yourself if you would be even tempted to put in a bid for this product.

    If the answer is no or even probably not, then change it. If you are passionate about your auction and take the time to make it professional, your auction is likely to stand out. Make the effort to do it right and you are likely to have successful auctions.

    Evelyn Lim is an online publisher of a FREE newsletter aimed to help all aspiring home based business owners. She also hopes to equip her readers with skills on acquiring multiple sources of online income. To subscribe to her popular newsletter, please visit http://www.e-bizmap.com or her blog at http://www.EvelynLim.com .

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    Monday, September 22, 2008

    Start Your Own Business Sell Things On Ebay

    Writen by Jon Evans

    The popularity of online auction site eBay has been legendary. With millions of transactions completed daily, it is no surprise why many individuals who do not usually shop online regularly purchase items through eBay. From antique washboards to brand new wedding gowns, everything under the sun can be found within the many categories in one of the web's most popular websites. Many entrepreneurs have used the website's popularity to their advantage and sell things on ebay. With little start-up costs, using eBay as your marketplace instead of a traditional storefront, selling items on eBay is an excellent means for any entrepreneur to develop a successful business.

    There are many e-books and websites devoted on how to start an ebay business, so resources abound on the World Wide Web. You may want to seek out individuals who have started a successful eBay business for their stories and helpful tips. You can find these individuals by directly contacting them through their eBay sites or through business-related websites. Additionally, you should check out the websites of other eBay sellers, especially those selling things similar to your goods. Finally, access the eBay website and find the specifics on how to go about setting up your eBay business. You will find some auctions will be more successful than others. Many sellers choose to set their auctions to end on a weekend instead of a week day. These sellers have determined their auctions tend to elicit more bids during that time since more potential buyers are online.

    Regardless what you choose to sell on eBay, keep in mind the size and shape. You will be shipping all auction items to their buyers, who will cover the cost of shipping in their payment. For this reason, many buyers may be hesitant to bid on items that will be expensive to ship. Additionally, you will want to choose items that will easily fit into a standard-size box, since oversized items (even though they may be lightweight) will be expensive to ship. You will want to be knowledgeable of the shipping policies of the United States Postal Service in addition to other shipping companies. Furthermore, if you plan of shipping a large volume of items, you should consider where you are going to get your shipping supplies. Many sellers add in a slight handling fee to cover the cost of these supplies.

    Just as with starting any business, carefully consider what type of eBay business you wish to start. Deciding what items to sell will be a huge part of the start-up of your eBay business, as you must figure out where you are going to get your stock. Many sellers choose to sell their handmade or craft items instead of purchased goods. Other individuals choose to sell antiques on eBay instead of renting space in an antique mall or setting up a traditional storefront shop. If you currently participate in an "at-home" business such as Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, or Creative Memories, eBay is an excellent way to expand your clientele. Many buyers are looking for these items but do not know a representative or do not wish to wait the traditional order time to receive their products.

    Whatever you choose to sell on eBay, the appearance and wording of your auction will make all the different when it comes to selling your products. Perhaps the most important feature of your auction website will be the photographs of the products. Investing in a digital camera will pay off quite well in the end, as most eBay users do not look at auctions unless they have images of the product attached. Your description should compliment your image and describe the product to the utmost detail. If there are any flaws in the item, be sure to note this and even take a picture. You will find sellers would rather bid on items they know is slightly damaged instead of thinking they have been duped when they receive your auction in less than mint condition. The buyer feedback that makes up your seller rating will be quite important, since you are selling items based on your good faith.

    John Evans runs http://www.SuccessAlert.net and has written the book Success Alert - Conversations with Successful Internet Entrepreneurs which has been widely acclaimed in a variety of online and print media. If you want to learn to sell things on eBay this book is an absolute must-read!

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    Sunday, September 21, 2008

    How To Price Your Item Correctly On Ebay

    Writen by Ricky Lim

    Many new ebay sellers often fall into the pricing trap. Either they price their items too high to be unsellable or they price it too low to make any profits.

    Some basic information on ebay pricing. Ebay has three prices that can be set for an auction.

    The "Buy It Now" Price

    Allow bidders to buy the item at a fixed price immediately without waiting for the auction to end. Effectively, it also means the auction will end once it has a bidder. The only exception will be in dutch auctions.

    The Starting Bid Price

    Any auction will require a starting bid price. This is the price set by the auctioneer when he/she first lists the auction.

    The Reserve Price

    This is the pre-determined price set by the auctioneer. Bids will need to exceed or equal to the reserve price before it will be sold. If an auction ends with the reserve price not being met, the item will not be sold.

    Both the "Buy It Now" and reserve price are optional on ebay.

    It is important that your starting bid price be set low to attract bidders to your auction. My advise would be to set the starting bid as $0.99 or lower. As a rule of thumb, never set it higher than $50.

    What do you do then if you can't sell an item below a certain price? The answer is to set a reserve price. That way, you do not have to worry about selling an item below your profit margin.

    Also, it will not affect your feedback rating.

    Another potential pricing issue on ebay is shipping. Most disagreements between buyers and sellers occur because of shipping cost.

    My advice would be not to overcharge on shipping since most buyers take shipping cost into consideration when looking at an auction. Also it is relatively easy for buyers to determine the shipping cost since ebay and most shipping services such as USPS and fedex provide one.

    It is fair for sellers to charge a little for handling charges since it take work to package the item and also postage fees. Most buyers would understand however if possible, try to eliminate handling charges except for big and heavy items.

    It is also important to first find out the average selling price of your item before even listing it on ebay. This will tell you the starting price you should list and how much is the ending bid.

    The most simple way is to browse through the history of the item you are planning to list on ebay. You can get a feel for how much your item is worth and even determine the starting bid by browsing other sellers' items.

    Ricky Lim is an avid ebay fanatic who has been quietly earning a comfortable living online. Visit his site for more ebay selling secrets and strategies.

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    Saturday, September 20, 2008

    Auction Sales Keeping Customers You Worked So Hard To Get

    Writen by Steven Woodward

    If you've studied business concepts you know that finding a customer can be the most expensive part of the sales process. Once you've got a customer why not maximize the money you've already invested in the effort?

    This time honored business concept certainly falls under the category of going the extra mile for a customer. Assuming your product, customer service, packaging and shipping all work together to create a positive feedback posting, here are a few simple ideas companies have been utilizing for years to help them stand out from the crowd and maximize the return on sales dollars:

    • A personalized thank you

    • A drop in

    • A thank you gift

    Personalized Thank You

    Every package you send to a customer should include a personalized thank you letter. Personalized means there is a salutary greeting such as "Dear Customer Name" and your personalized signature. Why personalized? Ever hear the old sales adage, "Don't sell the product - sell the person?" It's taught to sales professionals because it works. A friendly thank you note near the end of a good transaction (more on this later) reminds the buyer they are thought of as a person, not just another sale or number. A personalized touch in today's impersonal marketplace is very refreshing.

    The body copy of the note or letter is certainly up you but should be as specific to the transaction as possible (if you also include a packing slip/invoice the letter can be a little more generic). The goal of the note is to let the customer know they, and the sale, are important to you. Here's a short example:

    Dear (Customer Name):

    I just wanted to personally thank you for your winning bid on our (product name), Item #11111111111, enclosed. Our customers are very important to us. We realize you have a choice in selecting who you buy from and we greatly appreciate your business - now and in future.

    Sincerely,

    (Your Signature)

    Drop-ins and gifts

    A drop-in or gift provide extra chances to say thank you, create customer loyalty, increase future sales, and maximize your return on the investment of finding your customers. As an example let's say you're selling pet supplies. For a few pennies each you can have refrigerator magnets printed like business cards that include your company name, email, eBay store, or website address. They can be as simple or complex as you can afford but only need to include something like:

    Acme Pet Supplies (Your company name)

    For All Your Pet's Needs (A marketing line is a good idea)

    Your Website Address (Either a link to your website or auctions)

    Other inexpensive drop-ins and gifts could be something as simple as a business card, a sales sheet listing all the product types you carry, a gift certificate (to be used on your e-commerce website) for a future purchase, or an offer for your free newsletter. If you're selling kitchen products you could include your favorite recipe, or if you're selling poker supplies - a print out of the best starting hands might be nice.

    Closing the Sales Cycle

    Do you remember my comment earlier when I mentioned "near the end of a good transaction"? If you consider sending the product (with a thank you note, drop-in or gift) the end of the sales process you are missing another great opportunity to increase sales and improve you customer relations. Don't consider the sales process completed until you send your valued customer one more email. About a week or ten days after shipping the product, send a follow-up email such as:

    Dear Customer Name (again, make it as personal as possible):

    Just wanted to follow up on our transaction and make sure everything went smoothly for you. We trust everything went well but if you had any problems please let us know. We are always looking for ways to improve our service and your input is very important to us. We will post positive feedback for you and hope you'll do the same for us. We look forward to doing business with you again in the future.

    Thanks again,

    Your Name

    (Suggestion: To avoid spam filters, in the subject line of your email include the eBay or auction item name and number)

    Are the efforts to include a note, a drop-in, a gift, and do follow-ups a little more work and expense? Of course, but with the aid of simple automation packages on your computer the follow-ups can be somewhat automated and the drop-in or gift will help you create a returning customer.

    Copyright © Steven Woodward – All Rights Reserved

    About the Author:

    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, member forums and classified ads. For more information or to become a member visit 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 intact and included. We do request that we be informed where it is posted and reciprocal links will be considered.

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    Friday, September 19, 2008

    Tips And Help For Online Auction Sellers

    Writen by Michael Russell

    Many sellers are unaware that an online auction is the same as a normal bushiness. Just like a normal business, there are laws that must be followed. That means that if you don't keep the laws, you could be liable for fines and other legal actions. The federal law says that you must only advertise your services and items honestly and accurately. You are not allowed to make bids on your own items to drive the price up. You are not allowed to make or give false testimonies about yourself at the auction website to make yourself look better. These are just a few of the federal laws, but you should get the idea. An online auction is a business and not a game. If you treat your online auctions like a business, they will treat you well too. The laws are there to protect you and me, and they are meant to be taken seriously. If you aren't ready to do that, then you'd be better off making money some other way.

    Here are some tips to that can help you avoid legal problems. Let your customers know if you offer service after they buy. Explain your return policy and make it clear who pays for shipping if an item must be returned. Always include one or more photos. List some FAQ's-- it will help sales and save extra emails being sent to you. Always make clear if the item is new, used, refurbished, or "as is". • Offer a guarantee-- it helps build trust in you and people buy from people they trust. Settle the issue of who pays for shipping and if you ship internationally.

    Answer all questions about your items as quickly as possible. Make sure that at the end of every auction you print out the information about the buyer, item, time, date, price and file it. Keep extra records out side of your computer and on paper. Save all the copies of the emails that you receive from your buyers and auction site. They could be a big help in the future.

    Make sure that you contact each buyer as soon as the auction is over. Confirm everything again such as the total cost, shipping address, and where they need to make their payment. Don't forget to thank them for their purchase and remember that this is also a good time to invite them to visit your website if you have one! It's much easier to sell something to an existing customer than to find a new one. Treat them well and they will come back again with open wallets!

    Run your online auction like a business and watch it grow. The web is full of people who make big time money with online auctions. You can be one of them, but lay a good foundation, be honest and latter you'll be glad you did. You are where you are today because of all the decisions you made in the past. Make good decisions today and you'll have a better business tomorrow. Make sense?

    Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Online Auctions

    medical health hospital

    Thursday, September 18, 2008

    Beware The Dangers Of Selling On Ebay 101

    Writen by Brad Eden

    It's obvious that eBay provides internet users with an online flea market where buyers and sellers from around the world meet to conduct trade.

    However, like most traders who are faced with an innovation of this sort, the first question will always be: It is safe?

    The answer is yes, but devious scammers seem to be plotting daily to forward their dastardly schemes and take advantage of eBay's power.

    So, what is the user's recourse? The users of eBay must learn to gather information and take meticulous care in dealing on eBay. Only then can they be less gullible to scammers.

    A common consensus is that bidders are often scammed by sellers. But it is possible for things to be the other way around.

    Here is a list of the common problems sellers encounter and the means to handle them.

    Fake Escrow Services

    A winning bidder may request that an escrow service be used to assure both parties of a fair transaction. Unfortunately, the seller is sometimes duped into using a fake escrow system.

    To avoid this situation, the seller must always verify the authenticity of an escrow service. eBay recommends the use of escrow.com. If the bidder insists on his or her escrow service, chances are, that person is a scammer.

    Victims of this fraud find it difficult to reclaim their items. They may, however, appeal to the legal system afforded by the state they live in. They must also contact eBay regarding the matter for any assistance they may be willing to offer.

    Deadbeat Bidders

    Deadbeat bidders (a winning bidder who doesn't pay for an item at the auction's close) are more common on eBay. If the winner of your auction does not pay, you may leave that person a negative feedback.

    As for the listing fees the seller shells out, eBay lays out a four step procedure that sellers can use to potentially recover lost selling fees. If sellers complete the process to eBay's satisfaction, they will receive a Final Value Fee credit and a re-list credit. Filing out an Unpaid Item dispute is the first step toward eBay reimbursing such fees. A person can report an unpaid item up to 45 days after an auction's close.

    Trade Dispute

    This occurs when the seller and bidder disagree on some terms of the sale. This may also happen if there is a purported violation of any of these agreements.

    If communication between both parties does not help, they may consider availing of a third-party dispute resolution outfit to help. SquareTrade.com is one of these outfits that eBay recommends.

    An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

    A seller's life may be made terrible because of the constant scamming attacks unscrupulous individuals undertake. But, with proper information and care, he or she can continue trading on eBay with relative safety.

    Payment Methods on eBay

    Gone are the days when only cash (or cattle in some cases) was the only accepted mode of payment for trades. As the concept of trading evolved, so did the means of paying for items.

    Today's electronic world pushes the envelop further. With the advent of online trading systems such as eBay, many new forms of payment have flourished.

    First of all, on eBay, the mode of payment depends on the agreement between the buyer and the seller. Most often, the seller will specify his or her desired payment method. In these cases, the seller often has primacy in the decisions regarding payment modes. However, the buyer may still communicate with the seller regarding a viable alternative if it suits both parties.

    The following is a list of common eBay payment modes.

    Cash On Delivery

    Cash is, after all, still cash. This payment method can be done through a third party courier system or by the buyer and seller meeting each other at an agreed place. The advantage of a cash transaction is that the exchange of the item for payment is done in the presence of the buyer and the seller (or the seller's representative). However, some people will not accept the risk present when two strangers meet.

    Personal Check

    One popular method of payment is personal check. Writing checks is easy and safe. However, many sellers do not like accepting check because they are easy to cancel.

    PayPal

    PayPal is the payment of choice on eBay. In fact, eBay owns PayPal.

    Using PayPal is easy, convenient, and relatively safe. PayPal acts as like an internet 'wire transfer.'

    After signing-up for PayPal, one may send cash to anyone with an email address using the PayPal system. PayPal also has security features that safeguard against fraud in case there is a dispute between the seller and the buyer. This system is best for transactions up to $1000.

    Escrow.com

    Escrow.com is the payment of choice for purchases over $500. Escrow.com holds the buyer's money from the seller until the seller delivers the item. Only then will the funds be released to the seller. This system makes for a very safe, although highly procedural transaction.

    Wire Transfer

    This is the payment of choice for countries that do not carry the PayPal service. Wire transfers are risky because the buyer usually has to wire over the funds before the seller sends the items. The chance for non-delivery of items is high.

    Other Payment Systems

    The number of third party payment services is steadily on the rise. Their systems for payment vary. However, to be successful they must be convenient to use and safe as well.

    Copyright 2005 Brad Eden

    Brad Eden is a Entrepreneurial Sciences expert with 14 years of industry experience in real estate, marketing and technical communication. He currently consults with IBM in CA. Brad owns & operates a free traffic resource for entrepreneurs. http://www.americanfreetraffic.com

    medical health hospital

    Wednesday, September 17, 2008

    When You Need Extra Cash Ebay Fits The Bill

    Writen by Nicole Soltau

    We all have items in our closets and stuffed in drawers that we no longer have a use for. Some of us use our free time to manufacture craft items that we give to our friends and families for gifts, and still others of us buy candles and other items in bulk to sell to family and co workers for a little extra cash. Anyone with something that they no longer need or want to sell has options to help create a little more cash flow. EBay is an online community providing auction services for buyers and sellers of just about everything. The question remains, though, how to utilize this website in the best way to make the most money?

    The first thing to consider is what you want to sell. Looking over your items, would it be better to sell them off one item at a time, or to sell a bulk lot at some discount from the individual cost of the items. Another thing to consider is if you want to use the buy it now option. This allows someone to pay a preset price for the item, if there have not been any other bids, and avoid the auction proceedings. If you have multiple items, do you want to spend the cost for multiple listings, or do a dutch auction, where there are multiple items that are sold for a set bid price? This allows multiple people to get the items from the same auction.

    The next thing to look at is who is offering the same items that you are. Searching for items brings up a listing, and this allows you to see what type of descriptions and advertisements get the bids, and which ones do not work. This will allow you to make sure that your descriptions are written to make the most of the space available.

    Looking into how many people are offering items similar to yours also helps when deciding how to market your items. Consideration needs to be made to starting bid range, how much the winning bids were, and how the items were offered. Looking into these things allows you to price your items low enough to get bids, but still high enough to prevent losing money.

    Nicole Soltau
    President and Founder
    http://CreditUnionRate.com
    The Leading Online Credit Union Directory

    medical health hospital

    Tuesday, September 16, 2008

    Ebay Licensed Merchandise Sales

    Writen by Donny Lowy

    eBay licensed merchandise sales have grown during the past five years. It is safe to say that licensed merchandise auctions have been one of the fastest growing segments on eBay.

    Licensed merchandise has a broad appeal among customers of all ages.

    eBay bidders are willing to pay a higher price for brand name merchandise because of the popularity of a name, and because of the expected higher quality that brand name merchandise has.

    You can build a successful eBay business by running auctions for licensed merchandise.

    In order to be successful in auctioning licensed merchandise you should follow certain key steps.

    Step #1

    Make sure that the licensed merchandise you buy is legitimate. With the mass production of knock off merchandise you need to be exceptionally careful that you are buying the real thing.

    Step #2

    Shop for the best wholesale source of licensed merchandise. Many wholesalers offer licensed merchandise, but their prices can vary widely. Take a look at www.wholesalequest.com to search for sources.

    Step #3

    Have a proof of purchase. If eBay requests proof that the merchandise is legitimate be ready to email or fax a copy of your receipt.

    Step #4

    Licensed merchandise will appeal differently based on demographic groups, the same way one age group loves one brand that another age group could live without.

    Describe your licensed merchandise in your eBay auctions according to the demographic group you are selling to.

    You should also stay on top of brand popularity. By knowing which brands are popular you will be able to offer the brands that can sell well on eBay.

    Remember, just because a brand might not be popular in your area, does not meant that it will not be popular on eBay, since eBay reaches millions of customers on an international scale.

    Donny Lowy operates the following wholesale sites:
    http://www.closeoutexplosion.com
    http://www.wholesalequest.com
    http://www.wholesalecloseoutforum.com

    medical health hospital

    Monday, September 15, 2008

    5 Rules To Auction Seller Nicknames

    Writen by Jay Leishman

    What's in a nickname?

    Nicknames are pretty important in the eBay world. You can use your nickname that you buddies gave you at a wild high school party and sure brag about it to your buddies. Your buddies will all know forsure and maybe they just might get thinking it's cool. Just maybe...

    But, we not trying to sell to our buddies. We want to sell to the world! Here are some must do's and dont's when picking your nickname for eBay or Yahoo!.

    #1. Try to use your domain name as much as possible. If it is already taken, Put a word or something infront or behind the nickname. For example you want "todayauctions." Suppose this is gone. Now go for "todayauctions22." Play around with this.

    #2 Don't use your first name. This is the grand rule....You may think that this builds brand awareness but it doesn't. How many Steve Smith's are out there?

    #3 Catchy names may or maynot work. Unless, your domain is the catchy name already, I would stay away. The idea is to match something that you either have existing or soon to be existing(ie website or business name).

    #4 Changing your name will show that you have changed your name. Some buyers may see this as an identity change and maybe trying to hide something. Only change if you absolutley have to.

    #5 Don't settle for a medicocure name...give it some thought. Write down a list. The name can be very important. Don't settle if you have a website URL at www.coolphonestoday.com and get a nickname of "ilovejane." Pointless if you ask me.

    Just my thoughts!

    Jay writes for http://auctionsellertips.blogspot.com/ Why not follow someone who loves eBay?

    medical health hospital

    Sunday, September 14, 2008

    How To Convert Ebay Surfers Into Bidders

    Writen by Joe Clare

    Do you know the phrase "A Call To Action"? Well, using "A Call To Action" on your eBay Auction could help increase your sales almost immediately. As outlined in my book "eBay Marketing Wholesale SourcePak" having the right product, at the right price is crucial. But, what else can you do to entice those eBay surfers to become a bidder? Here is One Hot Tip anyone can implement on their auctions to increase their sales - it's called "A Call To Action!"

    Some of you may be asking "What is "A Call To Action?" Well it's a simple phrase that you would add to your auction description. This phrase should tell your potential bidder what they should do next. I know what your thinking, "Don't they know what to do next?" But really, you do need to tell people what it is you expect them to do. You can not depend on or assume that an auction surfer is automatically going to become a bidder without telling him/her what you want them to do. You need to come right out and tell them to buy. And why they should buy. Here are some examples of phrases you could use to entice that potential bidder to take action now and make a bid.

    - Bid Now! Save Money!

    - Buy Now and Save on Shipping!

    - Bid Now! Don't Miss This Incredible Deal!

    - Buy Now! Quantities are Limited!

    - Bid Now! One Of A Kind!

    - Bid Now! Collectors Item!

    You get the idea. If you have what that surfer is looking for any of the above phrases will entice him/her to make a bid now. And this method is not something new. Retail stores have been using this for years. You know any of the big sales where the advertisement says something like "And don't wait, Quantities are Limited!" This method is time tested. Some experts report you can increase your sales by 50% simply by telling those who are just surfing your auction page what you want them to do.

    You can also use more then one call to action. And use them for different reasons in your auction. Say you use one of the above. Bid Now! One of a Kind! But what if this surfer is not interested in this item for auction. Well, don't let him/her leave without inviting him/her to view your other auctions. Say something like "If you don't see what you are looking for here - please visit my other auctions" and create a link to your other auctions, possibly your "me page" which lists all the auctions you have running.

    Try this method on your next auction.

    Happy Selling!
    Joe Clare

    Joe Clare is an active Netpreneur and eBayer! He is the author of numerous articles on how to succeed on eBay! Check out his latest Best Selling eBook "eBay Marketing Wholesale SourcePak" Your Passport to Success! at http://www.ebooksnsoftware.com

    medical health hospital

    Saturday, September 13, 2008

    Avoiding Buyer Complaints On Ebay Is Easy

    Writen by Ben Catt

    Once you've sold a product on eBay and shipped it, the last thing you need is for the buyer to contact you to complain. If this happens you now have to spend extra time exchanging emails and trying to please them so they don't leave negative feedback or insist on a refund.

    Follow the points below and you will protect yourself against complaints and potentially messy refund/return situations.

    (1) Be completely honest in your description

    This is the most important defence against complaints. If you have listed every possible problem, glitch or blemish on your product in the description in clear terms, the buyer will not have much reason to complain.

    Also, if they complain to eBay, you can simply point eBay to the description and they will see you pointed out the problem.

    If you are selling a DVD and it has slight scratches on the disk, say so.

    If you are selling a porceline doll and it has a hairline fracture on the bottom, inform potential bidders in the description.

    Hiding problems with your item will results in problems. There is no point selling an item, packaging it carefully and shipping it to the buyer quickly only for them to return it within days for a refund. You've wasted their time, your own time and your own money sending it to them.

    A simple sentence in the description will avoid problems and can be a reference point to alert any complaining buyers to.

    For example:

    I recently listed an 8 VHS video set on eBay but tape 5 was almost unwatchable. To cover myself I simply added the following to the description:

    "PLEASE NOTE: Tape 5 of this set is not in very good condition, it was shipped in this way and a replacement could not be sought. Most of the tape has bad audio and it is hard to pick up what [the presenter] is saying although the picture is fine. All of the other 7 videos are in excellent condition. Please do not bid if this is a problem."

    If the buyer complains now, I can point him back to this text in the listing (which, by the way, was written in red text so it stood out!)

    (2) Make it clear where you can ship to

    If you are selling in the UK and do not want to ship abroad, make it perfectly clear that you only ship to the UK.

    i.e. put in the description "UK bidders only please. Sorry but I cannot ship this item outside the UK"

    Also, eBay allows you to state in the options where you ship to. Make sure you choose the "United Kingdom Only" option.

    (3) Justify the postage costs and make sure they are stated

    Nothing annoys a buyer more than winning an item and then being charged what they see as too much for postage.

    eBay's stand on postage is that you can charge a reasonable fee which covers the postage and packing charge as well as any "handling fee".

    The problem with this is that a buyer will not be happy to have an extra £5 or so "handling fee" added on to compensate for your troubles. Any normal eBay buyer wants to pay the exact postage cost and no more. If the parcel turns up with a £4 stamp printed on it and they paid £10 they will not be happy.

    State and justify your exact postage costs. If you don't clearly tell potential bidders how much postage and packing is, don't be surprised if they neglect to bid on your item.

    (4) Let bidders know how long it will take to post the item

    Another problem with eBay and the world today is that everyone is in a rush. People expect goods to arrive next day.

    Complaints can be lowered (and feedback improved) if you let the buyers know, in the description, when you are likely to post the item and how long it will take to arrive at the buyer's location.

    e.g. "After payment I will despatch as soon as possible, usually the next working day so you should take possession of the package within 48 hours."

    (5) Don't shill bid or use underhand tactics

    Shill bidding is using someone else's account to ramp up the price of your own auction. It is relatively easy to detect if you are shill bidding and it usually results in negative feedback and suspension/banning from eBay. Don't trick your buyers, it isn't worth it.

    (6) Respond to buyer questions quickly and politely

    If a buyer asks you a question after the auction ends, respond quickly and be polite. When using email it is hard to convey emotions and a quick response may seem rude or "stand off-ish". Remember your manners and add a quick line to your replies such as:

    "Thanks for your question, please do not hesitate to contact me with any further queries".

    (7) Act professionally at all times

    Some people like to complain. Before firing off a reply email, write it but do not send it.

    Wait a few hours until you have calmed down and write a polite response asking the buyer what you can do to help or resolve the situation.

    You may be forced to offer a refund and in this case, it may be easier to simply refund the money and relist the item rather than argue.

    If you are forced to leave negative feedback, try to wait until 90 days following the sale before you submit the feedback. This will leave the other party with less than 24 hours to respond. This is due to the fact that eBay does not allow anyone to leave feedback once 90 days has lapsed.

    Ben Catt is an active eBay buyer and seller and runs an eBay Tips and Tricks website found at http://www.BenCatt.com. He also runs a business opportunity information site - http://www.BizOppsUK.com

    medical health hospital

    Friday, September 12, 2008

    7 Simple Steps To Profit Without Your Own Product

    Writen by Clifford Mee

    Most people do not succeed on the internet because they are selling products no one desperately wants.

    If you want to be truly successful sell only things that people really really really want to buy!

    Sounds simple? It is.

    You only need to find out what people desperately want and then give it to them.

    Unfortunately most people online (and offline) are ignoring this basic fundamental law to sales success.

    So without further ado, just follow this 7 step system to profits even if haven't made a dime online yet....

    1. Go to Ebay's 'Hot Item Forum' and find out what products and services are selling well.

    2. Find a local wholesaler who sells the products or services that are selling well on Ebay who doesn't already sell on Ebay (most won't be)

    3. Ask them, "If I was able to move X amount of units of your product, what percentage of your profits would you share with me?"

    4. If they are interested and are willing to give you a decent share of their profits, get them to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement and a Joint Venture Contract. They are both simple documents that you can find and download from the Internet.

    5. Arrange shipping with the company. Ask them to dropship the products to the people who have purchased from you on Ebay. (If they won't do this get them to ship pallets of the product to you for you to do the shipping.)

    6. Get them to provide you with a complete list of their in-stock inventory. You'll then be in a position to offer related products to any ebay customers who purchase from you as extra backend sales. Just make sure you agree a good profit percentage on each backend product with the company.

    7. Advertise the products on Ebay and rake in the cash. If you are a complete Ebay newbie or you have very limited time, go to the 'Easy Trading Assistant' homepage to do the selling for you if necessary.

    This is a proven, simple, elegant formula for anybody with a few spare hours a month to make good profits online. It requires zero technical knowledge and even a complete newbie can get started immediately.

    It only requires some surfing of Ebay & the Internet followed by a few phonecalls to some wholesalers. The rest is child's play. In fact you can even use the Ebay Trading Assistant to do the selling for you. (They would take a small cut of course).

    Remember on Ebay the shipping cost is a standard extra that the bidder pays, so you should have no problem negotiating with the wholesaler a fair price to do the shipping for you.

    The most important factor to increasing your income is to launch what I call your own little 'oil wells' which bring you in cash like clockwork. The above system shows you how easy this is to do.

    A fantastic resource for this simple system is available at http://www.hotitemfinder.com/cliffsfriends

    Copyright 2004 Clifford Mee

    About The Author

    Clifford Mee is an author, internet marketer, hypnotist and success life coach. If you want to discover little known 'battle tested' strategies to persuade more customers to spend more money more frequently, then please visit his main website at http://www.marketingpersuasion.com

    medical health hospital

    Thursday, September 11, 2008

    Using Misspellings To Buy Items Cheaply On Ebay

    Writen by Dyfed Lloyd Evans

    Of the tens of thousands of items offered for sale on eBay every day a small but significant proportion will have misspellings in their titles and their descriptions. An example would be the common typographic substitution 'camrea' instead of 'camera'. Anyone searching for the word 'camera' would never see the entry for 'camrea' and this item might never be bought.

    Across the entirety of eBay therefore there are literally thousands of items for sale that no one will find because they have an unusual or non-standard spelling. If you could search eBay with a variety of these possible alternate spellings then you could find such items, snap them up cheaply and sell them on at a profit. Indeed, a simple search of eBay for the misspellings of 'camera' revealed the terms: 'camers', 'camer', 'camrea', 'amera', 'camra', 'camara', 'kamera' and 'kamra'.

    Some of the substitutions are easy to work out. A common example being the n/m substitution because these keys are next to one another on the keyboard. A less obvious example is the r/l substitution. This occurs as the 'r' sound is relatively weak in English and can sometimes be interpreted as an 'l'. Then we have the common -ibl/able substitution at the end of words and the equally common - ize/-ise substitution. Another common error is the dropping of a single character from a name (often a vowel) so that 'camera' becomes 'cmera'.

    It's actually possible to work-out what these rules are and generate an algorithm based upon them that will calculate all the permutations of misspelled words. Most such algorithms, however, also work out how likely a typographic error is to occur before using the word to search eBay. This way only the most frequent misspellings are presented to the user. 99% of the time this can be great as the results come back quickly. It's only in 1% of cases where a rare typographic error occurs that the drawback of this method is revealed and a product that might otherwise have been snapped-up very cheaply is lost.

    Other systems (and a good example of this is the Searchspell tool (found at http://www.searchspell.com) which has a database of likely typographic errors which is searched for each keyword entered. A mixture of these two solutions provides the best possible coverage and this is what is given in the Nemeton eBay misspelling search tool (found at http:// www.celtnet.org.uk/auctions/synosearchresults.php). Using this tool it's possible to search eBay for misspelled items based on word and phrase searches. The tool also allows you to search any of the English language eBay sites, maximizing the items you can find.

    Once you've sourced your item then it's simply a question of purchasing that item; hopefully as a massive saving and then selling it on at a profit. Here you can use eBay auctions to generate revenue in other eBay auctions. (But make sure you have correct spelling when you come to sell the item yourself!)

    Dyfed Lloyd Evans is a web developer who has been writing code for over twenty tears and who now generates applications to make the surfing (and buying) experiences of others simpler. His latest project is an eBay search tool that can be found at Nemeton eBay search tool which also contains the novel misspelling search tool designed by him.

    medical health hospital

    Wednesday, September 10, 2008

    Misspelled Items For Sale On Ebay

    Writen by Mikel Beck

    The method of selling and auctioning off old items was radically transformed with the introduction of eBay just a few years ago. eBay has grown to become the most popular form of buying and selling goods online and has spread to countries all around the world. You can find whatever you are looking for in just minutes using eBay's search tool. Hundreds of new items for sale are being put up on eBay every day. However, every now and then, a few items are placed incorrectly or not spelled correct and thus get placed in the wrong categories. These items are known as "lost items" on eBay and do not display in search results. Hence, to find names on eBay with misspellings, one has to hunt for them. As a result of this, these listings get fewer visits and thus fewer bids. You can purchase items on eBay that have misspellings for far less than you could a regular item, as you will have less competition when bidding on misspelled items.

    Now, although misspelled items may be great for buyers who can save money when they make a purchase, they hurt sellers greatly as prices can decrease significantly for a misspelled product. Hence, it is very important that when filling out the "Product Title" and "Product Description" categories, all information is entered correctly. It is surprising how many people do not take the time to double check and edit their listings and enter incorrect information. With the enormous number of items that are being put up for sale on eBay each day however, there is bound to be hundreds of products which are incorrectly placed and categorized each day.

    Now, for the eBay shopper, finding these gems can be very difficult as they do not display in regular search listings and searching all possible spelling variations of a product, or manually searching through all of the categories on eBay until you find the product you are looking for or come up empty handed. This processes it tiresome and can take very long to complete. Hence, we have developed a free toll that solves this problem. Just type a product into our search bar and we will scan all the products listed on eBay that are relevant to your search query, and then display the results of incorrectly categorized products that match your search query. This toll makes the process of finding misspelled and miscategorized products on eBay much quicker and easier.

    There are thousands of misplaced names on eBay right now, and finding these items can save you tens, even hundreds or thousands of dollars. Search for the exact product you are looking for, or the general category of the item at our home page and we will show you which products that may not display properly in the eBay searches, match your query. There are hundreds of gems listed on eBay so do not delay and find the exact item you are looking for now.

    Mikel Beck is the owner of ListedWrong.com, which is a search engine that allows you to search eBay for listings that have misspellings. He can be reached by e-mailing mikel.beck@elite-computing.net or webmaster@listedwrong.com.

    medical health hospital

    Tuesday, September 9, 2008

    Wholesale Customer Returns How To Find The Best Wholesale Customer Returns Deals For Ebay

    Writen by Donny Lowy

    Wholesale customer returns offers resellers high profit margins along with high volume sales, when done right.

    Resellers, whether flea market vendors, eBay sellers, or dollar stores, will be faced with competition from online and offline retailers who can buy wholesale customer returns at a lower price.

    To outmaneuver this competition in the wholesale customer returns business, resellers need to have a strategic plan in place.

    Part one of their plan deals with finding the best sources for wholesale customer returns at the lowest possible prices.

    For this reason I would recommend resellers to stay away from drop shippers when looking for wholesale customer returns.

    Since the drop shipper is set up to offer his products to thousands of other resellers, you will not be able to compete based on price. All the resellers are paying the same price to the wholesale customer returns drop shipper, so how can your prices be lower?

    When looking to buy wholesale customer returns you want to get as close to the source as possible.

    Since you will not be able to buy brand name wholesale customer returns for a lower price than major retailers can, you will want to look for lesser known wholesale customer returns sellers.

    For instance, ABC Returns might not have the name recognition that Genco enjoys, but you can show customers that the quality is the same, and as long as your prices are lower some customers should buy the wholesale customer returns distributed by ABC Returns.

    When you contact these companies looking for wholesale customer returns ask them for their overstock, overrun, and closeout deals. You would be surprised at the wholesale customer returns deals you can find from small manufacturers that are looking to move merchandise out.

    You can find great wholesale customer returns deals but it will take some solid leg work.

    Donny Lowy is the CEO of http://www.closeoutexplosion.com, an online wholesale and closeout business, and http://www.wholesalecloseoutforum.com, an educational site for the wholesale and closeout business.

    medical health hospital

    Monday, September 8, 2008

    Ebay The Killer Of Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

    Writen by Andre Bias

    Every product has a Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) and a lot of retailers tend to dip their prices a little bit below that amount so that their customers can save a little money. If you go to any website you will see small 5% to 10% discounts off of merchandise but if you go to eBay you will see larger discounts of 50% to 75% off of merchandise.

    Due to the fact that everyone wants to sell merchandise on eBay, supply is exceeding demand. When supply exceeds demand the price of goods will decrease dramatically. Everyone knows eBay is the place to get a good deal but it is difficult to realize how people still can sell merchandise on eBay at such low prices and still make money. Especially with eBay fees and shipping cost being so high.

    The fact that profit margins are being cut so drastically should make eBay store owners question the future of their eBay businesses and maybe even eBay in general. The more competition that arises on eBay the lower prices will go and the less money people will make. That will eventually leave them to close shop and that will hurt eBay's revenue stream in the process.

    Andre Bias is the owner of http://www.kidfriendlyentertainment.com, an online source for top notch DVD's for children 10 years old and younger. He is also owner of the website http://www.mustseeauctions.com

    Sunday, September 7, 2008

    How To Create Automatic Delivery For Your Ebay Items

    Writen by Matthew Hansen

    So you want to sell ebooks and/or digital products on eBay and you want your customers to have instant access and for this to be done automatically? Up until recently automatic delivery has never been so easy!

    Now you can sell hundreds of digital products every day and never have to send an email.

    Where is my eBay digital delivery?

    Some customers may ask you where is my product, or that they have checked their email and there is no delivery. If you are selling digital products and a customer asks you where their product is, please feel free to provide a link to this article.

    As per eBay's new policy on digital products the download page is displayed after your purchase by eBay. To find this page

    1. Log in to the eBay account under which the item was purchased.
    2. Go to "My eBay."
    3. View the "Items I've Won."
    4. You will find the view digital delivery hyperlink next to the item you purchased.

    Please note, you may have to click the arrow to see the drop down menu to access the hyperlink.

    Also, you can find the digital download hyperlink by going back to the ad of the item you purchased.

    Digital delivery seller requirements

    Here are some of the requirements to sell digital items.

    1. Use fixed price or store inventory (you can't sell digital items by auction).

    2. Offer only immediate PayPal payment.

    3. You must use a PayPal Verified Premier or Verified Business account. (From experience I find the most trusted sellers are verified)

    4. No pornographic material.

    5. Seller must be the intellectual property owner, or an authorised reseller.

    6. Sellers item must not include any software/scripts that harm the buyers computer or privacy.

    For more information try reading eBays FAQ on digital items

    Step one

    Please note you can only sell digital items as fixed price, or store item (no auctions allowed). After selecting your category you will then arrive at the "Title & Description" page.

    If you don't see the "List as a digital file or information" then you may have used the wrong category. For example, you can't sell digital products in the motor vehicle category. Also, you could try lisiting the item from ebay.com to see if that makes a difference (sometimes does).

    Please note, you may have to start a new listing to enable the digital delivery option.

    Step two

    After clicking the "List as a digital file or information" link, type some information about the product for sale. For example, is it mac compatible? Windows XP SP2 compatible? pdf, .exe, or zip files? Will the file be downloaded or emailed?

    Make sure you click the legal agreement box and that you are an authorised seller.

    Step three

    After you have setup the "Title & Description", the "Pictures & Details" you now will have to setup the "Payment & Delivery".

    This is the page where you specify how the buyer will receive the item. The buyer will only be shown this after payment has been made.

    Here you can give the buyer details, for example:

    "You can download your purchase from here...."

    "Please message me (my email address) and let me know which email address you would like me to send your purchase to ..."

    "If you have any questions or problems, please email me here..."

    I recommend you supply people with a download page, or a link to download the file. That makes the whole process more automatic, and your customer receives the product immediately after purchase.

    Final word

    I hope this article answers all of your questions about ebay digital delivery, and thank you for your time.

    Matt D. Hansen has become an expert veteran in the subjects of Internet Marketing and Home Business. He is the creator of 10 ways to make money online - his site and blog are dedicated to helping people make a living on the internet.

    Saturday, September 6, 2008

    How Does Ebay Auction Work For A Buyer

    Writen by Donny Lowy

    EBay wants its buyers and sellers to register with eBay. This simple process takes no more than 10 minutes to complete (one has to have credit card for this purpose). Once you have registered yourself with eBay, you can now start bidding or buying from eBay.

    The buyer should go to home page of ebay.com and start looking for the products he is interested in purchasing. Alternatively, one can browse the products portfolio through search function provided. When a particular product of interest is ascertained, the buyer will have a list of all the products from different sellers on the page. Buyer can sift through the listed products on display, and decide the one he is interested in and finds the value.

    Each product on the list will have a minimum price to bid on with increments in the bid price. There will also be a reserve price for the product. Once the buyer places a bid amount on the product of interest, his bid will becomes the maximum bid unless other buyer places his bid for the same product. This bidding goes on till the end time of the bid (which ranges from one day to 10 days). If your bid happens to be the maximum bid amount, you are selected as the winning bidder. One you have been selected, you will receive an email from eBay for the product you have placed bid on. You have to effect the payment through the specified route, and you will receive the product through the specified shipment mode. That's it to eBay.

    Donny Lowy runs http://www.closeoutexplosion.com an online wholesale and closeout business that supplies eBay sellers, retailers, and flea market vendors.

    Friday, September 5, 2008

    Ebay Ebook Success Tips Avoid Spoof Emails

    Writen by Thomas Parker

    One of the things I have noticed as I have increased my sales volume on eBay is the increased volume of spoof emails I have received claiming to be eBay or PayPal. They do this to try and gain access to your eBay or PayPal account, and sometimes even to try and get your bank details. I therefore felt that my next article should be on spotting and avoiding spoof email as it will surely be a problem that all you ebook sellers are going to have to deal with too.

    Spotting spoof email can initially be quite tricky. After all the address appears to be a PayPal or eBay one and the often use eBay and PayPal graphics to make the emails look even more authentic. However, once you have had a reasonable amount of spoof email come your way, you soon realise that they all generally stick to the same format. Below are some of the most common spoof emails.

    1) Ebay / PayPal Account Suspension:- These claim that your account will be suspended by a certain date if you do not take action. Some look more genuine than others. They ask you to click a link which directs you to a false eBay login screen where the spoof company then tries to steal your eBay Username and Password. These are relatively easy to spot because you are unlikely to receive an email on this subject from eBay or PayPal unless you have committed a serious violation of policy. Even if you believe you have been suspended it's always best to be safe and logon to eBay manually through your internet browser.

    2) Ebay / PayPal Unauthorised Access:- These claim that someone has been making attempts to access your account from another IP address. Some even give false IP addresses and locations from where your eBay account was apparently accessed. These are obvious spoof emails because the fact that you have accessed your account from a different IP address does not constitute someone else trying to access your account. It could simply be you accessing your account from a different computer.

    3) Unpaid Item Reminder:- These send you an unpaid item reminder for an item you haven't even purchased. For example a few days ago I received one for a $2000 camera. Surely I wouldn't forget if I had purchased an item like that. If you click on the links in this email you are directed to a false eBay page which tries to steal your eBay Username and Password.

    4) Question about Ebay Item:- These are one of the trickier spoof emails as it is likely that you do receive questions about the item. Some even have an eBay ID link embedded in the email so that they look more authentic. However, most of the spoof emails do not state which eBay item the query concerns. Furthermore, the questions often do not make much sense and include phrases such as "How much is your last item?" The best way to make sure you do not get caught out is to log into eBay manually and then answer the question through my messages.

    5) PayPal payment Sent:- These spoof emails again look a little more genuine. They claim that an unauthorised PayPal attempt has been sent. I received one today saying that I had sent $400 without my knowledge. They then have a link saying if you did not authorise this payment "Click Here" which then leads you to a spoof PayPal page where they try to get your User ID and Password. However, when you make a genuine PayPal payment they do not usually mention anything about it being unauthorised. If they did suspect it to be unauthorised they would probably just hold the payment.

    6) Ebay PowerSeller Confirmation:- I received a couple of these before I actually was made a PowerSeller. They do look genuine but instead of directing you to eBay to enter your Username and Password you are directed to a spoof website. The best way to make sure the email is genuine is to go to the eBay PowerSeller page and login at http://pages.ebay.co.uk/services/buyandsell/powersellers.html. If the email is genuine you will be recognised as a PowerSeller here. If you are not then you know the email is spoof.

    Beware that this is only some of the spoof email subjects you may receive. The people who write them will always be thinking of new ways to steal your ID and Password and as a result new spoof emails are surfacing all the time. Below is a list of the common things to look for in emails to identify them as spoof.

    1) Ebay ID / PayPal Name:- If the email addresses your either by your eBay User ID or your actual name it is much more likely to be genuine. Most spoof emails simply address you as the email address to which the email has been sent. For example a genuine email from eBay is likely to say "Congratulations ebookcavern..." whereas a spoof email is likely to say "Congratulations sales@theebookcavern.co.uk..."

    2) From Email Address:- Although this is not a dead certain way of identifying spoof email on some it is noticeable. The spoof emails will claim to be from eBay or PayPal and in a large majority of them when you check this out the email address looks genuine. However, some of the from email addresses do not look so genuine. For example I recently received a spoof email claiming to be from the PayPal address: service@paypal.comservicepaypal.com which made it pretty clear that this email was spoof.

    3) Excessive use of eBay / PayPal images:- Many of the spoof emails in an attempt to look genuine use eBay or PayPal images in the email. However, some use excessive amounts of these and when compared to a normal email from eBay or PayPal and so can be easily identified by this.

    4) The Hyperlink:- This is the link that the email is trying to get you to click on. It is also the best way of identifying whether the email is spoof or not. If you scroll over the link or right-click and view the properties you should find out what the actual link is. If this link is not part of a PayPal or eBay domain then you can be sure it is spoof.

    If you identify an email as spoof using the above criteria then you must not click on any of the links inside it. If it is an eBay spoof email forward it to spoof@ebay.co.uk and if it is a PayPal spoof email forward it to spoof@paypal.com and then delete it. Remember it is always better to be safe then sorry so take precautions such as logging into eBay and PayPal manually through your internet browser and regularly changing your password. You can also read eBay's guide to spoof email at http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/confidence/isgw-account-theft-spoof.html Stay safe and Good Luck!!!

    Tom Parker (Owner and Creator of The Ebook Cavern) http://stores.ebay.co.uk/theebookcavern
    http://www.theebookcavern.co.uk/
    http://www.theebookcavernreviews.co.uk/

    Feel free to use any of my articles on this website but if you do please include my signature (name and website) from above.

    Thursday, September 4, 2008

    Protect Yourself From Ebay Scams

    Writen by Khieng Chho

    While eBay may be heaven for eager buyers and sellers, it can also be trap for those who don't know any better. If you're not cautious enough, you could end up sending your hard-earned cash to somebody only to find out later that the item you ordered has a gazillion defects or, worse, will never, ever, reach your doorstep.

    So to spare yourself the hassle, since most professional eBay scammers are hard to track down, here are some tips to protect yourself from the onset.

    1) Ask for photos

    Only buy goods that have clear, well-lighted images attached. This will give an assurance that the seller actually has the item with him and is not just making something up. Check the image posted on eBay against the photos on accredited web sites and catalogs. Who knows? You might even discover that getting it brand new from another, more trusted site, is cheaper.

    If the Ebay seller cannot produce photos, the offer could be a hoax.

    2) Check the eBay seller's background and reviews

    You can always click on the seller's user history to know what he has sold and bought over eBay before and if he has participated in other auctions. Check the feedback other buyers and sellers wrote about him and ask questions from people who have already closed transactions with him. Also, look at his "Member Since" profile. Based on previous cases, those who have been eBay members for a long time but were not active and those who are new members are the ones most likely to commit fraud.

    Find out if the seller's registered address is the same as the address he told you to send money to. If these do not match, the deal might be a scam. If a phone number is given, give the seller a call. But, to do this, you will first have to place a bid on the item. When in doubt, call.

    3) Know what you're buying

    Nothing beats educating yourself about the product you're buying. If the eBay seller claims the item is antique, have it checked out. If you have a friend who lives in the area where your seller is located, have your friend go over and have a look at the item. Or you can search for more information online. You might even be able to find a more reliable store that offers the same product as a lower price.

    4) Investigate the seller's payment options

    Wire transfers are a dubious trade. If the eBay seller accepts only that or money orders, you could be putting yourself up for a hoax. It would be better if he has credit card payment options, so you can easily call your bank to reverse the transaction when you find out you'd been duped.

    5) Ask about the seller's return policy

    If your seller is not willing to give you a refund or is not willing to acknowledge any responsibility for the item you bought after it was sent to you, start getting cautious. You see, if the seller declares a "hands-off" approach to post-selling issues, you will have a hard time pressing claims against him. And because eBay is a free market, you will not be able to demand too much help from the eBay administration either.

    The Internet can contain both real-deal sellers and scammers. When you really think about it, the only way you can definitely be sure about the credibility of your seller is to ask a lot of questions and to be always vigilant. The tips above are not set in stone, so they are not always right for every occasion. It is really all up to you (and your instincts and research skills).

    Khieng 'Ken' Chho is author and owner of Online eBay Resources. For related articles and other resources, visit Ken's website: http://ebay.onew3b.net

    Wednesday, September 3, 2008

    Selling On Ebay Dont Lk

    Writen by Shari Hearn

    "L@@K" !!!

    Let's face it, "L@@K" is really not a good beginning to an article, and it's definitely not good to include in the Title for your eBay listing.

    Why, you ask? Isn't L@@K a good eye catcher? Won't people scrolling through the categories on eBay notice it and click through to the description, bid on your item and make you gobs of money? Well, perhaps, and perhaps people have learned to tune out the little gimmick. The reality is, a great number of people find items on eBay using the search function, and I don't know of many people who search for "L@@K". (Okay, in researching this article I searched for L@@K and I found 135,726 listings on eBay that recently included L@@K in their titles!)

    eBay only allows you 55 characters in your title to bring people to your auction, so you have to use those characters wisely. You have to include words in your title that people are typing into the search box. Words like "WOW," "rare," "beautiful," "cool," or "unusual" are a big waste of eBay real estate.

    What makes a good title? Well, that, of course, depends on the item you have up for auction. You have to anticipate what people will type into the search box. Many people make the mistake of thinking it's redundant to include the category name (such as "men's shirt") because they placed their item in the "men's shirt" category and they figure it's obvious. However, since a majority of people search through the search box, if they were looking for a "Men's large Hawaiian shirt" that's probably what they'd type in the search box. It doesn't matter if you placed your item in "men's shirts – casual" or "Collectibles – Cultures – Ethnicities – Hawaiiana.," If your title shouts "WOW – Cool Vintage Kahala Shirt – L@@K" and the person typed in "Men's large Hawaiian shirt," the both of you will never make contact and you will lose a potential sale.

    Make sure you also anticipate different words for the same item. I used to sell Lu-Ray dinnerware from the 1940s. Well, there are three different ways that people search for Lu-Ray: Lu-Ray, Luray and Lu Ray. I had to include both Lu-Ray (Lu Ray and Lu-Ray are considered the same) and Luray if I wanted to bring the greatest number of people to my auctions. The same with "cowboy boots." To some people they're "cowboy boots" and to some they're "western boots."

    If there's a popular misspelling you might see if you can squeeze that in your title as well. For example, a Jack Lalanne Juicer to many people is a Jack Lalane Juicer.

    It's always good to check out similar items as yours to see what others have put in their titles. See if there's a difference between very successful auctions and those that didn't sell. Many times it boils down to the title. Great titles bring the most people to their auctions. Flashy titles which waste precious characters are seen by no one – as in "Don't L@@K now, but you have no bids."

    Shari Hearn, is a writer and owner of http://www.ebaysellingideas.com

    Tuesday, September 2, 2008

    Having A Backup Plan For The Serious Ebay Seller

    Writen by Mark Kenny

    Not a day goes past when I here of some seller frustrated that eBay have pulled their auction listing. It is very easy to violate an eBay listing guideline without knowing, the first you'll learn about it is when you receive an email from eBay.

    If it's a serious violation or a number of smaller repeated violated eBay can & will close down or suspend your account. Don't be fooled into thinking they need your revenue as a seller, I know of one eBay power seller who paid close to £25,000 per year to eBay in sellers fees & had his account closed overnight.

    Firstly and most importantly familiarize yourself with all the selling guidelines on eBay. By doing things right first time, you'll be less likely to have your auctions cancelled by eBay's safe harbour team.

    But let's image the worse case scenario, you're an eBay trading assistant or a professional seller dependant on eBay and overnight eBay close your account, pulling all your listings in the process. Overnight your business will disappear.

    Don't fool yourself that by sticking strictly to eBay guidelines you'll avoid the hassle. You'll have many competitors on eBay who will try and report you at some point, even if their accusation is false your listing may be pulled by an overzealous eBay employee.

    Leaving eBay listing violations alone there are still potential hazards that may jeopardize your account or account status. Negative feedback, your account being hi-jacked, even forgetting your account password could cause massive delays to your business. If you get too much negative feedback, you may want to abandon the account altogether and start afresh.

    eBay does allow you to have more than one registered account as long as it using another email address, so it is essential to have at least one backup account for emergency use. Keep one registered for a spare account and also remember to consider that eBay does not use allow certain selling features (Buy-It-Now, Featured Plus) to be used until your feedback is at a certain level - normally 10 for the most widely used features. It may be worth buying a few low priced items to get your feedback to the required level.

    If you are suspended from selling eBay guidelines states the following:

    "Members who are suspended are prohibited from registering new accounts with eBay, or bidding or selling on eBay using any existing accounts. eBay reserves the right to suspend existing accounts as well as new accounts opened by anyone in the same household of a suspended user or by any other associates of a suspended user."

    Now I'm sure that 99% of eBay sellers, especially serious sellers (like yourself) reading this would not violate rules to a degree where your account was suspended. And I'm not recommending you to continue selling on eBay even though your were suspended.

    BUT, what I will say is in the unlikely event this did happen what would you do?

    You have an obligation to your clients, yourself and your business to get things back on track as soon as possible. Having an eBay account registered in the name of a distantly located friend which you can use discreetly may allow you to keep your business long enough to sort out your original problem with eBay.

    Some situations can be sorted out within hours, while others carry an automatic suspension for 30 days. Now, no business can afford to stop trading for 30 days & expect to carry on when the suspension is lifted as if nothing has happened. You'll lose credibility, you'll lose money and most importantly you will have lost a lot of clients.

    Mark Kenny, runs the AuctionCUT forum. The forum is for any eBay or related auction subject. You can also read a number of Marks other articles about Turnkey Website Opportunities here.