Tricks of the eBay Masters, Second Edition

Tricks of the eBay Masters, Second Edition

Released February 2006
Publisher(s): Que
ISBN: 9780768683813

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Book description

Take the mystery out of eBay and the enviable PowerSellers. Tricks of the eBay Masters, Second Edition is full of advice and over 600 tricks from expert eBay users. They learned by doing and are now going to pass on their wisdom to you. Find out how to jazz up your auction listings with HTML, how to increase buyer traffic through key words and how to use photos to increase your selling potential. You'll even get tips on where to find items to sell, how to pack your items better and how to ship cheaply. Also find out what not to do as the experts give you examples of mistakes they made early in their eBay careers and how not to repeat them. Increase your auction income and successful bidding through Tricks of the eBay Masters, Second Edition.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
    1. Dedication
  2. About the Author
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. We Want to Hear from You!
  5. Introduction
    1. Who Are the eBay Masters?
    2. Where Can You Find the eBay Masters?
    3. How the Tricks Are Organized
    4. What’s New in the Second Edition
    5. Tricks Credits
    6. One Last Word About the eBay Masters
    7. Let Me Know What You Think
  6. I. Tricks That Any eBay Member Can Use
    1. 1. How to Get Smarter About Buying and Selling on eBay
      1. Signing Up and Choosing an ID
        1. Trick #1: Register Without Providing Financial Information
        2. Trick #2: It's Okay to Change Your ID
        3. Trick #3: Use Two Different IDs
      2. Learning More About eBay
        1. Trick #4: Use the Site Map
        2. Trick #5: Use eBay's Live Help
        3. Trick #6: eBay's Help Doesn't Have All the Answers
        4. Trick #7: Learn from Your Sellers
        5. Trick #8: Let eBay Notify You of News and Happenings
        6. Trick #9: Get the Latest Auction News at AuctionBytes
        7. Trick #10: Subscribe to an eBay Newsletter
        8. Trick #11: Frequent the eBay Discussion Boards
        9. Trick #12: Search the Boards Before You Post
        10. Trick #13: Subscribe to Other Online Auction Groups
        11. Trick #14: Learn the Lingo
        12. Trick #15: Attend eBay University
        13. Trick #16: Go to eBay Live
        14. Trick #17: Find a Mentor
      3. Creating Your Own About Me Page
        1. Trick #18: Use Your About Me Page to Offset a Low Feedback Rating
        2. Trick #19: Make Your About Me Page About You
        3. Trick #20: Use Your Own HTML
        4. Trick #21: Use eBay Tags for Specific Information
      4. Avoiding Scams and Spams
        1. Trick #22: Beware Fake Emails
        2. Trick #23: Minimize eBay-Related Spam
      5. General Advice
        1. Trick #24: Use the eBay Toolbar
        2. Trick #25: Contact Other Members
        3. Trick #26: Help Your Kids Buy and Sell
        4. Trick #27: Get a High-Speed Connection
    2. 2. How to Deal with Feedback
      1. Using Feedback as a Buying Tool
        1. Trick #28: Avoid Sellers with Negative Feedback Scores
        2. Trick #29: Don't Automatically Dismiss Low-Feedback Users
        3. Trick #30: Set an Acceptable Feedback Percentage
        4. Trick #31: Look Beyond the Feedback Numbers
        5. Trick #32: Isolate the Negative Comments with Toolhaus.org
      2. Building Up Your Own Feedback
        1. Trick #33: Establish Fast Feedback Before You Sell
        2. Trick #34: Build Your Reputation by Writing Reviews and Guides
      3. Leaving Feedback
        1. Trick #35: Leave Feedback as Soon as You're Paid
        2. Trick #36: Don't Leave Feedback Until the Buyer Leaves Feedback
        3. Trick #37: Leave Feedback Once a Month
        4. Trick #38: Be Factual
        5. Trick #39: Leave Tracking Information in Your Feedback
      4. Handling Negative Feedback
        1. Trick #40: Don't Risk Retaliatory Negatives
        2. Trick #41: Don't Be Afraid of Negative Feedback
        3. Trick #42: Leave Negative Comments in Positive Feedback
        4. Trick #43: Respond to Negative Comments
        5. Trick #44: Ask eBay to Remove Unjustified Negatives
  7. II. Tricks for More Successful Bidding
    1. 3. How to Find What You Want to Buy
      1. Using eBay’s Search Feature
        1. Trick #45: Search, Don't Browse
        2. Trick #46: Use the Search Page, Not the Search Box
        3. Trick #47: Search the Full Description
        4. Trick #48: Search by Price Range
        5. Trick #49: Search for Items Near Your Home
        6. Trick #50: Use the eBay Toolbar to Search
      2. Fine-Tuning Your Search
        1. Trick #51: Conduct a More Specific Search
        2. Trick #52: Narrow Your Search Results
        3. Trick #53: Search for an Exact Phrase
        4. Trick #54: Don't Use AND, OR, or NOT
        5. Trick #55: Search for One Word or Another Word
        6. Trick #56: Exclude a Word from Your Search Results
        7. Trick #57: Use Wildcards
        8. Trick #58: Use the Singular, Not the Plural
        9. Trick #59: Spell Out the Numbers
      3. Searching for Bargains
        1. Trick #60: Search for Misspellings
        2. Trick #61: Vary Your Vocabulary—and Your Spelling
        3. Trick #62: "Birddog" Other Bidders
        4. Trick #63: Search for Last-Minute Bargains
        5. Trick #64: Save Your Searches
        6. Trick #65: Get Notification of New Items That Match Your Search
        7. Trick #66: Expand Your Search to eBay Stores
        8. Trick #67: Search for Items with Want It Now
    2. 4. How to Be a Smarter—and Safer—Buyer
      1. Before You Bid
        1. Trick #68: Consult eBay's Reviews and Guides
        2. Trick #69: Read the Fine Print
        3. Trick #70: Ask Questions
        4. Trick #71: Find Out Shipping/Handling Costs Before You Bid
        5. Trick #72: Beware Exorbitant Shipping/Handling Charges
      2. Bid Smart
        1. Trick #73: Don't Bid on the First Item You See
        2. Trick #74: Research the Item's Real Value
        3. Trick #75: Check the Seller's Current—and Past—Auctions
        4. Trick #76: Check Out Buy It Now Items
      3. Managing Your Bids
        1. Trick #77: Watch, Don't Bid
        2. Trick #78: Use My eBay to Track Your Bids
        3. Trick #79: Don't Let the Proxy Bid Things Up
        4. Trick #80: Know When to Say No
      4. After the Auction
        1. Trick #81: If You Haven't Heard from the Seller, Make Contact Yourself
        2. Trick #82: Pay Now with a Single Click
        3. Trick #83: Ask If the Seller Will Insure the Item
        4. Trick #84: Include the Item Number When You Pay
        5. Trick #85: Be a Considerate Buyer
        6. Trick #86: Inspect It When You Receive It
      5. How to Shop for Cars
        1. Trick #87: Question the Buyer First
        2. Trick #88: Have the Vehicle Inspected Before You Bid
        3. Trick #89: Factor In Vehicle Transport
      6. How to Protect Yourself from Fraud
        1. Trick #90: Check the Seller's Feedback
        2. Trick #91: If the Deal Seems Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is
        3. Trick #92: Beware Fraudulent Auctions from Hijacked Accounts
        4. Trick #93: Don't Send Cash in the Mail
        5. Trick #94: Don't Pay via a Cash Wire Transfer Service—Including Western Union
        6. Trick #95: Pay via Credit Card—Using Paypal
        7. Trick #96: Use an Escrow Service for Higher-Priced Items
      7. What to Do If You Get Ripped Off
        1. Trick #97: Submit a Claim to eBay's Buyer Protection Program
        2. Trick #98: Use a Mediation Service to Resolve Conflicts
        3. Trick #99: Report Fraud to the Authorities
    3. 5. How to Win More Auctions
      1. Win with Proxy Bidding
        1. Trick #100: Bid Now, Not Later
        2. Trick #101: Bid High—Don't Nibble
      2. Win with Sniping
        1. Trick #102: Make a Last-Second Bid
        2. Trick #103: Don't Wait Until the Literal Last Second
        3. Trick #104: Sign In First
        4. Trick #105: Snipe in Two Windows
        5. Trick #106: Get in Synch
        6. Trick #107: Let AuctionTamer Manage the Bid Process
        7. Trick #108: Use Other Sniping Software and Services
        8. Trick #109: Snipe Similar Auctions with eSnipe Bid Groups
      3. Other Tricks for Winning Auctions
        1. Trick #110: Bid in the Off Season
        2. Trick #111: Look for Off-Peak Auctions
        3. Trick #112: Look for Items with Bad Pictures
        4. Trick #113: Bid in Odd Numbers
  8. III. Tricks for More Successful Selling
    1. 6. How to Find Merchandise to Sell
      1. Doing the Research
        1. Trick #114: Check the Guide Books
        2. Trick #115: Don't Rely on the Guide Books Exclusively
        3. Trick #116: Search eBay's Closed Auctions
        4. Trick #117: Use eBay's Hot Categories Report
        5. Trick #118: Search eBay's Marketplace Research Database
        6. Trick #119: Use Ándale's Research Tools
        7. Trick #120: Check Out Other Third-Party Research Tools
      2. Picking the Right Merchandise to Sell
        1. Trick #121: Specialize
        2. Trick #122: Sell a Variety of Items
        3. Trick #123: Sell Stuff No One Else Sells
        4. Trick #124: Sell Things You Know and Love
        5. Trick #125: Trade on Regional Scarcity
        6. Trick #126: Buy the Whole Thing, Sell the Parts
        7. Trick #127: Sell Higher-Priced Items
        8. Trick #128: Take Advantage of Home Page Promotions
      3. Where to Find Merchandise
        1. Trick #129: Shop at Estate Sales
        2. Trick #130: Shop the Thrift Stores
        3. Trick #131: Shop Garage Sales, Yard Sales, and Tag Sales
        4. Trick #132: Shop the Antique Malls
        5. Trick #133: Buy at a Live Auction
        6. Trick #134: Buy from a Liquidator
        7. Trick #135: Buy from a Wholesaler
        8. Trick #136: Consider Using a Drop Shipper
        9. Trick #137: Think Carefully About Using Drop Shippers
        10. Trick #138: Buy Direct from the Manufacturer
        11. Trick #139: Use Ándale Suppliers
        12. Trick #140: Go Dumpster Diving
        13. Trick #141: Buy It on eBay
        14. Trick #142: Make Contacts at Trade Shows
        15. Trick #143: Don't Buy More Than You Can Sell in a Reasonable Time
    2. 7. How to Maximize Your Sales
      1. Setting the Initial Price
        1. Trick #144: Start the Bidding at 99 Cents—or a Penny
        2. Trick #145: Don't Do Penny—or 99-cent—Pricing
        3. Trick #146: Set a Low Initial Price...But Make It Up in Shipping/Handling
        4. Trick #147: Set Your Initial Price High Enough to Cover Your Costs
        5. Trick #148: Price One Item Really High—to Make Your Other Auctions Look Like Steals
        6. Trick #149: If You're Selling Something Expensive, Create a Critical Mass
        7. Trick #150: Set Your Price Just Below the Listing Fee Cutoff
        8. Trick #151: Make Sure Your Initial Price Is Well Below Retail
      2. Using Buy It Now
        1. Trick #152: Use the Buy It Now Option
        2. Trick #153: BIN Isn't Right for All Auctions
        3. Trick #154: Use BIN in the Summertime
        4. Trick #155: Only Use BIN If You Check Your Auctions Frequently
        5. Trick #156: Don't Be Afraid to Set a High BIN Price
        6. Trick #157: Offer an Incentive for BIN Purchases
      3. Using Reserve Pricing
        1. Trick #158: Set a Low Initial Price...But Add a Reserve
        2. Trick #159: Don't Set a Reserve Price
        3. Trick #160: Use Reserve Pricing for Higher Value Items Only
        4. Trick #161: Reveal Your Reserve Price If Asked
      4. Choosing the Right End Time
        1. Trick #162: End When You're Awake
        2. Trick #163: Don't End Your Auctions in the Middle of the Night
        3. Trick #164: End Your Auction in Prime Time
        4. Trick #165: End in the Daytime
        5. Trick #166: Use eBay's Start Time Feature
        6. Trick #167: Don't End Your Auctions All at Once
      5. Choosing When to List
        1. Trick #168: End on Sunday Evening
        2. Trick #169: End on Tuesday or Wednesday Evening
        3. Trick #170: Don't End on Friday or Saturday Nights
        4. Trick #171: Don't End on a Holiday
        5. Trick #172: Space Out Your Auctions Throughout the Week
        6. Trick #173: Avoid the First Week of the Month
        7. Trick #174: Avoid the Tax Season Slump
        8. Trick #175: Avoid the Summer Doldrums
        9. Trick #176: Christmas Season Is the Greatest
        10. Trick #177: Pick the Right Season for the Merchandise
        11. Trick #178: Even When It's Slow, Keep a Few Active Listings
        12. Trick #179: When It's Slow, Promote!
        13. Trick #180: Summer in the U.S. Is Winter in the Southern Hemisphere
      6. Listing Options
        1. Trick #181: List for Seven Days
        2. Trick #182: Get an Extra Weekend with a 10-Day Auction
        3. Trick #183: Don't List in Two Categories
        4. Trick #184: Don't Pay for Subtitles
        5. Trick #185: Use the Gallery
        6. Trick #186: Don't Use the Gallery for Certain Items
        7. Trick #187: If You Use the Gallery, Use a Different Photo
        8. Trick #188: Don't Use eBay's Listing Designer
        9. Trick #189: Use a Hit Counter
        10. Trick #190: Hide Your Counters
        11. Trick #191: Use Third-Party Counters
        12. Trick #192: Don't Use the Slideshow
        13. Trick #193: Track Your Fees with ecal
      7. Offering Incentives
        1. Trick #194: Offer Additional Services
        2. Trick #195: Offer a Discount for Multiple Purchases
        3. Trick #196: Offer Free/Discounted Shipping on Multiple Purchases
        4. Trick #197: Bundle Slow Sellers Together
        5. Trick #198: Blitz Multiple Auctions with a Similar Theme
      8. Mid-Auction Strategies
        1. Trick #199: If You Don't Have Any Bids, Extend the Auction
        2. Trick #200: Create Multiple Ending Days
        3. Trick #201: Add a BIN If You Have a Lot of Watchers but No Bidders
        4. Trick #202: Change the Item Title Mid-Auction
      9. If It Doesn’t Sell
        1. Trick #203: If It Doesn't Sell the First Time, List It Again
        2. Trick #204: When You're Relisting, Change Things Up
        3. Trick #205: Use the Second-Chance Offer to Sell Additional Items
      10. Promoting Your Auctions
        1. Trick #206: Find Prequalified Buyers with Want It Now
        2. Trick #207: Inform Past Buyers of Upcoming Auctions
        3. Trick #208: Inform Other eBay Buyers of Your Auctions
        4. Trick #209: Inform Bidders in Older Auctions of Your Auctions
        5. Trick #210: Inform Other Interested Parties of Your Auctions
        6. Trick #211: Offer Discounts to Repeat Buyers
        7. Trick #212: Promote Duplicate Items
        8. Trick #213: Link to Your Other Auctions
        9. Trick #214: Include Photos of Your Other Auction Items
        10. Trick #215: Link to Other Items in Your eBay Store
        11. Trick #216: Use Your About Me Page for Promotion
        12. Trick #217: Promote a Second ID
        13. Trick #218: Tag Along on eBay's Promotions
        14. Trick #219: Cross-Promote with Another Seller
      11. Other Selling Tricks
        1. Trick #220: Let a Trading Assistant Sell It for You
        2. Trick #221: Check Out the Trading Assistant Before You Sign the Contract
        3. Trick #222: Include a Photo of Yourself in the Listing
        4. Trick #223: Get Bonded with the buySAFE Shopping Network
        5. Trick #224: Include a Phone Number in the Listing
        6. Trick #225: Adapt Your Strategies During the Christmas Season
        7. Trick #226: Use Sellathon to Analyze Your Auctions
    3. 8. How to Write Better Titles and Descriptions
      1. Writing a More Powerful Title
        1. Trick #227: Use Keywords Buyers Will Be Searching For
        2. Trick #228: Be Creative—Think Like a Copywriter
        3. Trick #229: Use a Synonym Finder
        4. Trick #230: Use the Entire Phrase or Title
        5. Trick #231: Use the Common Word
        6. Trick #232: Sometimes Less Is More
        7. Trick #233: Avoid Superlatives
        8. Trick #234: Avoid Nonsense Characters
        9. Trick #235: Avoid "Not" Comparisons
        10. Trick #236: Use Accepted Acronyms and Abbreviations
        11. Trick #237: "Borrow" Successful Wording
      2. Writing a More Effective Description
        1. Trick #238: Provide an Accurate—and Detailed—Description
        2. Trick #239: There's Lots of Space—Use It!
        3. Trick #240: Prioritize the Information
        4. Trick #241: Write with Authority
        5. Trick #242: Be Unique
        6. Trick #243: Stress Benefits, Not Features
        7. Trick #244: Describe Every Flaw
        8. Trick #245: Don't Describe Every Flaw
        9. Trick #246: Don't Exaggerate the Condition
        10. Trick #247: Keep It Professional
        11. Trick #248: Be Positive, Not Negative
        12. Trick #249: Include Alternative Spellings—and Misspellings
        13. Trick #250: DON'T WRITE IN ALL CAPS!
        14. Trick #251: Provide Accurate Measurements
        15. Trick #252: Spell Check and Proofread
        16. Trick #253: Check the Pre-Filled Information
      3. Details, Details, Details...
        1. Trick #254: Include Your Terms of Service
        2. Trick #255: Make the TOS Distinct
        3. Trick #256: Don't Scare Buyers Away
    4. 9. How to Enhance Your Product Listings with HTML
      1. Simple Steps to Better-Looking Listings
        1. Trick #257: Do Simple Formatting without HTML
        2. Trick #258: Use eBay's Listing Designer
        3. Trick #259: Use Free Auction Templates
        4. Trick #260: Use Listing-Creation Tools
      2. Using HTML in Your Listings
        1. Trick #261: Learn How HTML Works
        2. Trick #262: Learn the Basic HTML Tags
        3. Trick #263: Learn Which HTML Tags Not to Use
        4. Trick #264: Learn How eBay HTML Differs from Regular HTML
      3. Making Fancy Listings with HTML
        1. Trick #265: Add a Link to Another Web Page
        2. Trick #266: Add an Email Link
        3. Trick #267: Jump to Another Section of Your Listing
        4. Trick #268: Change Font Type and Size
        5. Trick #269: Add Colored Text
        6. Trick #270: Highlight Text in a Sentence
        7. Trick #271: Add a Colored Background to Your Listings
        8. Trick #272: Use a Picture as a Listing Background
        9. Trick #273: Add a Sound Bite to Your Listing
      4. Using Tables
        1. Trick #274: Learn How to Create Tables
        2. Trick #275: Add a Border to a Picture
        3. Trick #276: Add a Left Border to Your Listing
        4. Trick #277: Create a Two-Column Listing
        5. Trick #278: Use Nested Tables
      5. HTML Editors and Tools
        1. Trick #279: Use a Simple Text Editor
        2. Trick #280: Use a Simple (and Free!) HTML Editor
        3. Trick #281: Use an Online Color Chart
        4. Trick #282: Find Free Graphics for Your Listings
        5. Trick #283: Test Your Code with a Practice Board
      6. What Not to Do
        1. Trick #284: Avoid HTML Overkill
        2. Trick #285: Avoid Centered Type
        3. Trick #286: Link with Restraint
    5. 10. How to Display Better Product Photos
      1. General Photo Tips
        1. Trick #287: Include More Than One Photo
        2. Trick #288: Accessorize Your Photos
        3. Trick #289: Use a Tripod
        4. Trick #290: Take More Than One Shot
      2. Setting Up Your Shot
        1. Trick #291: Put a Neutral Background Behind Your Item
        2. Trick #292: Angle Your Subject
        3. Trick #293: Get Close Enough to See the Detail
        4. Trick #294: Use Your Camera's White Balance Control
        5. Trick #295: Use eBay's Stock Photos
        6. Trick #296: Don't Use eBay's Stock Photos
      3. Lighting Your Shot
        1. Trick #297: Shoot Outdoors
        2. Trick #298: Shoot Next to a Window
        3. Trick #299: Don't Use Your Camera's Flash
        4. Trick #300: Use External Lights
        5. Trick #301: Use a Reflector
        6. Trick #302: Add "Hair Lighting"
        7. Trick #303: Avoid Glare
        8. Trick #304: Use a Light Box or Light Tent
      4. Shooting Different Types of Items
        1. Trick #305: Shooting Clear or Translucent Glass
        2. Trick #306: Shooting Opaque Glass and Jewelry
        3. Trick #307: Shooting Clothing
        4. Trick #308: Shooting Colored Fabrics
        5. Trick #309: Shooting Patterned Fabrics
        6. Trick #310: Shooting Black Fabric
        7. Trick #311: Displaying Clothing in a Photo
        8. Trick #312: Shooting Wood Furniture
        9. Trick #313: Take Pictures of Flat Items with a Scanner
        10. Trick #314: Take Pictures of Small Items with a Scanner
      5. Optimizing Your Images for eBay
        1. Trick #315: Use Image-Editing Software
        2. Trick #316: Crop to the Most Important Part of Your Image
        3. Trick #317: Resize Your Photos to Match eBay's Dimensions
        4. Trick #318: Shrink the File Size
        5. Trick #319: How Not to Name Your Photos
      6. Choosing an Image Host
        1. Trick #320: Use eBay Picture Services
        2. Trick #321: Use a Third-Party Picture Host
      7. Adding Pictures to Your Listings
        1. Trick #322: Insert a Picture with HTML
        2. Trick #323: Link to a Larger Picture
        3. Trick #324: Insert Two Pictures Side-by-Side
        4. Trick #325: Insert Four Pictures in Two Rows
        5. Trick #326: Add One Big Picture That Changes When You Click a Button
        6. Trick #327: Add a "Click to Enlarge" Picture with Thumbnails
      8. Keeping Your Photos from Being Copied
        1. Trick #328: Add a Watermark
        2. Trick #329: Shoot with a Plastic "Sample" Sign
        3. Trick #330: Overlay a Transparent Gif
        4. Trick #331: Use a No-Click Script
    6. 11. How to Better Manage Your Auctions
      1. Managing Your Workflow
        1. Trick #332: Develop a Routine
        2. Trick #333: Automate the Process
        3. Trick #334: Hire an Assistant
        4. Trick #335: Don't Rely on eBay's Notification Emails
        5. Trick #336: Store All Your Emails
      2. Using Auction Management Tools
        1. Trick #337: Use an Excel Spreadsheet
        2. Trick #338: Use Plane Cents' eBay Auction Tracker Spreadsheet
        3. Trick #339: Use an Access Database
        4. Trick #340: Use eBay Selling Manager
        5. Trick #341: Use Ándale Checkout
        6. Trick #342: Use Marketworks
        7. Trick #343: Use Vendio
        8. Trick #344: Use SpareDollar
        9. Trick #345: Use Auctiva
        10. Trick #346: Use Zoovy
        11. Trick #347: Use Auction Wizard 2000
        12. Trick #348: Use eBay Blackthorne Software
        13. Trick #349: Use Other Auction Management Tools
        14. Trick #350: Write Your Own Custom Auction Management Program
    7. 12. How to Handle Customer Payments
      1. Payment Methods
        1. Trick #351: Don't Accept Personal Checks
        2. Trick #352: Only Accept Personal Checks from Returning Customers
        3. Trick #353: Hold Personal Checks for at Least 10 Business Days
        4. Trick #354: Call the Bank Before You Deposit a Check
        5. Trick #355: Accept Money Orders and Cashier's Checks
        6. Trick #356: Accept PayPal
        7. Trick #357: Clean Out Your PayPal Account Daily
        8. Trick #358: Get a PayPal Credit/Debit Card
        9. Trick #359: Sign Up for a PayPal Personal Account—Not a Business Account
        10. Trick #360: Accept BidPay
        11. Trick #361: Establish a Merchant Credit Card Account
        12. Trick #362: Get a Merchant Account via Your Wholesale Club
      2. Dealing with Problem Payers
        1. Trick #363: How to Handle Customers Who Pay via an Unacceptable Method
        2. Trick #364: How to Deal with Slow Payers
        3. Trick #365: How to Handle Bad Checks
    8. 13. How to Pack and Ship More Efficiently
      1. Setting Shipping/Handling Charges
        1. Trick #366: Use eBay's Shipping Calculator
        2. Trick #367: Charge a Flat Shipping/Handling Charge
        3. Trick #368: Add a Handling Fee to Your Shipping Costs
        4. Trick #369: Don't Gouge on Shipping/Handling
        5. Trick #370: Use Stealth Postage
        6. Trick #371: Offer a Combined Rate for Multiple Items
      2. Choosing a Shipping Service
        1. Trick #372: Use Priority Mail
        2. Trick #373: Use Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes and Envelopes
        3. Trick #374: Use Media Mail
        4. Trick #375: Use Bound Printed Matter
        5. Trick #376: Use First Class Mail
        6. Trick #377: Use UPS (United Parcel Service)
        7. Trick #378: Use FedEx Ground
        8. Trick #379: Use DHL
        9. Trick #380: Ship Bulky Items via Ride-Share Services
        10. Trick #381: Be Nice to Your Shipping Carriers and Clerks
      3. Confirmation and Insurance
        1. Trick #382: Use Delivery Confirmation on Everything
        2. Trick #383: Get Free Delivery Confirmation When You Buy Postage Online
        3. Trick #384: Email the Tracking Number to the Buyer
        4. Trick #385: Delivery Confirmation Isn't Delivery Tracking
        5. Trick #386: Use Signature Confirmation on High-Priced Items
        6. Trick #387: Require Insurance for High-Value Items
        7. Trick #388: Use a Third-Party Insurance Company
        8. Trick #389: When You Ship via UPS or FedEx, Insurance Is Included
        9. Trick #390: Take Care of Your Customers—Even If It's Out of Your Own Pocket
      4. Labels, Invoices, and Postage
        1. Trick #391: Print Prepaid Postage/Shipping Labels from My eBay
        2. Trick #392: Put the Right Date on Your Prepaid Postage
        3. Trick #393: Skip the Post Office
        4. Trick #394: Put Clear Tape Over the Label Address
        5. Trick #395: Put a Packing Slip in the Box
      5. Boxes and Packing Supplies
        1. Trick #396: Buy Packing Materials on eBay
        2. Trick #397: Buy Packing Materials from Another Online Store
        3. Trick #398: Get Free Priority Mail Boxes
        4. Trick #399: Don't Try to Use Priority Mail Boxes for Non-Priority Mail
        5. Trick #400: You Can Squeeze Almost Anything into a Priority Mail Flat-Rate Envelope
        6. Trick #401: Get Free Recycled Shipping Supplies at Freecycle
        7. Trick #402: Get Boxes from Your Local Retailers
        8. Trick #403: Reuse Packing Materials
        9. Trick #404: Don't Reuse Packing Materials
        10. Trick #405: How to Recycle Printed Boxes
        11. Trick #406: Use a Box Sizing Tool to Cut Down Large Boxes
        12. Trick #407: Standardize on Similar-Sized Boxes
        13. Trick #408: Use Plastic Grocery Bags for Cushioning
        14. Trick #409: Get Plastic Baggies for Less
        15. Trick #410: Self-Pad Your Own Envelopes
        16. Trick #411: Use Styrofoam Peanuts
        17. Trick #412: Use Bubble Wrap Instead of Peanuts
        18. Trick #413: Big Bubbles Are Better
        19. Trick #414: Use Shredded Paper Instead of Peanuts
        20. Trick #415: Bag Your Paper
        21. Trick #416: Use Egg Cartons Instead of Peanuts
        22. Trick #417: Use Foam Wedges in the Box
      6. General Packing and Shipping Advice
        1. Trick #418: Ship Promptly
        2. Trick #419: Ship Just a Few Days a Week
        3. Trick #420: Email Your Buyer When the Item Ships
        4. Trick #421: Weigh Your Item and the Packing Box
        5. Trick #422: Use Multiple Boxes for Heavy Shipments
        6. Trick #423: Wrap Multiple Items Separately
        7. Trick #424: Lightly Tape the Bubble Wrap
        8. Trick #425: Ensure Smooth Sliding
        9. Trick #426: Leave Space Around Your Item
        10. Trick #427: Double Box Fragile Items
        11. Trick #428: Ship Fragile Items Faster
        12. Trick #429: Keep It Dry
        13. Trick #430: Don't Indicate That You're Shipping Valuables
        14. Trick #431: Before You Ship It, Shake It
      7. Packing and Shipping Specific Types of Items
        1. Trick #432: Packing and Shipping Clothing
        2. Trick #433: Packing and Shipping CDs and DVDs
        3. Trick #434: Packing and Shipping Small Items
        4. Trick #435: Packing and Shipping Fragile Items
        5. Trick #436: Packing and Shipping Plates and China
        6. Trick #437: Packing and Shipping Artwork and Paintings
        7. Trick #438: Packing and Shipping Antiques
        8. Trick #439: Packing and Shipping Books
        9. Trick #440: Packing and Shipping Magazines and Postcards
        10. Trick #441: Packing and Shipping Stamps
        11. Trick #442: Packing and Shipping Coins
        12. Trick #443: Packing and Shipping Jewelry
        13. Trick #444: Packing and Shipping LPs and LaserDiscs
        14. Trick #445: Packing and Shipping Tires
      8. Shipping with an Extra Touch
        1. Trick #446: Include Your Business Card
        2. Trick #447: Include a Handwritten Thank-You Note
        3. Trick #448: Include a Special Gift
        4. Trick #449: Gift Wrap the Item
    9. 14. How to Sell and Ship Internationally
      1. Selling Internationally
        1. Trick #450: Invite International Bidders
        2. Trick #451: Include International Shipping Charges in Your Listings
        3. Trick #452: Buy Low in One Country, Sell High in Another
        4. Trick #453: There's Money in Repatriation
        5. Trick #454: You Don't Have to Sell to International Buyers
        6. Trick #455: Blocking Non-U.S. Bidders
      2. International Payments
        1. Trick #456: Accept Payment in U.S. Funds Only
        2. Trick #457: Accept International PayPal Payments
        3. Trick #458: Accept BidPay Money Orders
        4. Trick #459: You Can Cash Canadian Postal Money Orders at Your Local Post Office
        5. Trick #460: Use an Online Currency Converter
      3. Shipping Internationally
        1. Trick #461: Know What You Can—and Can't—Ship
        2. Trick #462: Fill Out the Proper Paperwork
        3. Trick #463: Don't Lie on the Customs Forms
        4. Trick #464: Ship via the U.S. Postal Service
        5. Trick #465: Use Global Priority Flat Rate Envelopes
        6. Trick #466: Ship Airmail
        7. Trick #467: Use M-Bag Mail for Media
        8. Trick #468: Don't Leave Price Tags on the Merchandise
        9. Trick #469: Always Insure International Shipments
        10. Trick #470: Add an Additional Handling Charge for International Sales
    10. 15. How to Deal with Customer Problems—and Problem Customers
      1. Handling Customer Complaints
        1. Trick #471: Don't Overreact
        2. Trick #472: Issue a Refund If the Customer Complains
        3. Trick #473: Add a Returns Policy to Your Auction Listings
        4. Trick #474: You Don't Have to Refund Shipping Charges
        5. Trick #475: Don't Refund Any Money Until the Item Is Shipped Back to You
      2. Dealing with Problem Customers
        1. Trick #476: Contact the Buyer Again—and Again
        2. Trick #477: File for an eBay Fee Refund
        3. Trick #478: Cancel Unwanted Bids
        4. Trick #479: Block Deadbeat Bidders
        5. Trick #480: Don't Ship to a Different Address
        6. Trick #481: Avoid Fraudulent Escrow Service Scams
      3. How to Create Happier Customers
        1. Trick #482: Treat Your Customers the Way You'd Like to Be Treated
        2. Trick #483: Answer Bidder Questions—Promptly
        3. Trick #484: Communicate!
    11. 16. How to Sell Specific Types of Items
      1. Clothing
        1. Trick #485: Find Out Who Manufactured a Specific Item
        2. Trick #486: Include Measurements—Not Just Size
        3. Trick #487: Include Fabric Content
        4. Trick #488: Don't Use Dutch Auctions to Offer Color Choices
        5. Trick #489: The More Photos, the Better
        6. Trick #490: Start at 10% of Retail—Relist at 5%
        7. Trick #491: Embellish the Clothing for Higher Prices
      2. Art
        1. Trick #492: List Smaller Pieces Along with Featured Pieces
        2. Trick #493: Include a Letter of Authenticity
        3. Trick #494: Use Your About Me Page as an Online Art Gallery
        4. Trick #495: You're Only Selling the Artwork—Not Reproduction Rights
        5. Trick #496: Supplement Your eBay Sales by Listing with ArtByUs
      3. Books
        1. Trick #497: Determine the Book's Value Before You Sell
        2. Trick #498: Start Bidding at Half the Current Value
        3. Trick #499: Sell Old Books in Lots
        4. Trick #500: Sell by the Theme
        5. Trick #501: You Don't Have to List the Book Title and Author in the Auction Title
        6. Trick #502: Include the Illustrator's Name in the Title
        7. Trick #503: Include All Bibliographical Information in the Listing Description
        8. Trick #504: Describe the Condition Accurately—but Euphemistically
        9. Trick #505: Use Readerware to Catalog Your Inventory
        10. Trick #506: Skip eBay and Sell on Another Site
        11. Trick #507: Trade Titles on PaperBackSwap.com
      4. Automobiles
        1. Trick #508: Include Lots of Photos
        2. Trick #509: Point Out All Flaws or Problems
    12. 17. Turning Your eBay Sales Into a Real Business
      1. Launching Your eBay Business
        1. Trick #510: Bone Up on Business Basics
        2. Trick #511: Write a Business Plan
        3. Trick #512: Set Definable Goals
        4. Trick #513: Factor in All Your Costs
        5. Trick #514: Get the Proper Paperwork
        6. Trick #515: Keep Your Expenses Low
        7. Trick #516: Don't Invest a Lot in Inventory—Yet
        8. Trick #517: Don't Expect Immediate Success
      2. Different Types of eBay Businesses
        1. Trick #518: Become a Second-Hand Reseller
        2. Trick #519: Become a Bulk Reseller
        3. Trick #520: Sell New Merchandise
        4. Trick #521: Launch a Collectibles Business
        5. Trick #522: Sell Your Own Crafts and Artwork
        6. Trick #523: Launch a Trading Assistant Business
      3. Discovering Other Ways to Sell
        1. Trick #524: Open an eBay Store
        2. Trick #525: Use eBay's Want It Now Feature
        3. Trick #526: Sell on Half.com
        4. Trick #527: Sell in the Amazon Marketplace
        5. Trick #528: Use Another Online Auction Site
        6. Trick #529: Open an Alternative Auction Storefront
        7. Trick #530: Open an eBay ProStores Store
        8. Trick #531: Open a Full-Fledged Online Store
        9. Trick #532: Buy Online, Sell Offline
        10. Trick #533: The Grass Isn't Always Greener
      4. Managing Your eBay Business
        1. Trick #534: Control Your Costs
        2. Trick #535: Use Microsoft Money
        3. Trick #536: Use Quicken
        4. Trick #537: Use Quickbooks
        5. Trick #538: Get an Accountant
    13. 18. How to Sell More Products in an eBay Store
      1. Benefits of Opening an eBay Store
        1. Trick #539: Use Your Store to Park Unsold Auction Items
        2. Trick #540: Use Your Store to Sell Fixed-Priced Items
        3. Trick #541: Use Your Store to Sell Lower-Priced Items
        4. Trick #542: Use Your Store to Cross-Sell Related Items to Your Auction Winners
        5. Trick #543: Use Your Store to Push Multiple Sales
        6. Trick #544: Use Your Store to Sell to Losing Bidders
        7. Trick #545: Move Items from your eBay Store to Regular Auction Listings
      2. Setting Up and Managing Your eBay Store
        1. Trick #546: Sign Up for the Right Store Plan
        2. Trick #547: Create a Custom Storefront Page
        3. Trick #548: Make Sure Your Store Is Fully Stocked
        4. Trick #549: Set Multiple Quantities So You Don't Have to Relist When Sold
        5. Trick #550: Track Your Business with Store Information Reports
        6. Trick #551: Don't Forget Your Regular Auctions!
      3. Promoting Your eBay Store
        1. Trick #552: Cross-Promote in Your Regular Auction Listings
        2. Trick #553: Join the eBay Keywords Program
        3. Trick #554: Spread the URL Around
        4. Trick #555: Use a Referrer Code, Get a FVF Credit
        5. Trick #556: Redirect to Your Store from a Separate Domain Name
    14. 19. How to Make Money as a Trading Assistant
      1. Setting Up Your Consignment Business
        1. Trick #557: Operate Your Trading Assistant Business as Part of Your Normal eBay Activity
        2. Trick #558: Keep Your Trading Assistant Activity and Your Regular eBay Activities Separate
        3. Trick #559: Join eBay's Trading Assistant Program
        4. Trick #560: Open a Retail Storefront
        5. Trick #561: Buy Into a Franchise Operation
      2. Managing Your Consignment Business
        1. Trick #562: Qualify Your Clients Over the Phone
        2. Trick #563: Take Possession of What You're Reselling
        3. Trick #564: Handling In-Home Visits
        4. Trick #565: Create a Consignment Contract
        5. Trick #566: Have a Lawyer Review Your Contract
        6. Trick #567: Manage Your Clients' Expectations
        7. Trick #568: Document All Items for Sale—and Their Condition
        8. Trick #569: Valuate the Items Up Front
        9. Trick #570: Charge a Reasonable Commission—Plus Fees
        10. Trick #571: Charge a Minimum Fee, Even If the Item Doesn't Sell
        11. Trick #572: Charge Extra for High-Priced Items
        12. Trick #573: It's Okay to Turn Away Questionable Goods
        13. Trick #574: Avoid Low-Priced Items
        14. Trick #575: Create a Web Page for Your Clients to Track Their Auctions
        15. Trick #576: Track Your Business with the Plane Cents Spreadsheet
      3. Promoting Your Business—and Finding New Clients
        1. Trick #577: Add a TA Button or Logo to All Your Auctions
        2. Trick #578: Include a Link to Your TA Page in All Emails and Correspondence
        3. Trick #579: Build Up Your References
        4. Trick #580: Promote, Promote, Promote
    15. 20. How to Become an eBay PowerSeller
      1. Advantages of the PowerSeller Program
        1. Trick #581: PowerSellers Display the PowerSeller Logo in Their Auctions
        2. Trick #582: PowerSellers Take Advantage of the Perks
        3. Trick #583: PowerSellers Join PESA
      2. Tricks of the eBay PowerSellers
        1. Trick #584: PowerSellers Treat Their eBay Business Like a Real Business
        2. Trick #585: PowerSellers Do Their Research
        3. Trick #586: PowerSellers Make Their Profit When They Purchase Their Merchandise
        4. Trick #587: PowerSellers Turn Their Inventory Fast—to Maximize Their Cash Flow
        5. Trick #588: PowerSellers Never Run Out of Inventory
        6. Trick #589: PowerSellers Develop Expertise in a Given Category
        7. Trick #590: PowerSellers Sell Higher-Priced Merchandise
        8. Trick #591: PowerSellers Are Organized
        9. Trick #592: PowerSellers Go Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
        10. Trick #593: PowerSellers Set Themselves Apart from the Competition
        11. Trick #594: PowerSellers Cultivate Repeat Customers
        12. Trick #595: PowerSellers Become More Efficient Over Time
        13. Trick #596: PowerSellers Supplement Their Auctions with an eBay Store
        14. Trick #597: PowerSellers Spend Money to Make Money
        15. Trick #598: PowerSellers Hire More Help When They Need It
        16. Trick #599: PowerSellers Network with Other Sellers
        17. Trick #600: PowerSellers Never Stop Learning

Product information

  • Title: Tricks of the eBay Masters, Second Edition
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: February 2006
  • Publisher(s): Que
  • ISBN: 9780768683813