EBAY SELLER GUIDE

So you have decided which item's you wish to sell, and you are all set to place them on eBay all is well and you're certain they'll sell for a good price, but wait! Have you done everything possible to achieve the final highest price possible?

Having used eBay since 2000, I would not consider myself an expert but I certainly would describe myself as a proficient user! Below are a few of the tips I have picked up over the years, hopefully you can use them to your advantage too.

TITLE

The title is what your buyer will see first so ensure it is clear and compelling.

Make your title descriptive, clear, accurate, and appealing.
Use descriptive keywords that clearly convey what you're selling.
Include your item's brand name, artist, designer, or other labels buyers will recognize. For games include the heroes name if not already in the title for instance; Tomb Raider Lara Croft.
State exactly what the item is, even if it repeats the category name.
Think of words that buyers might use to search for your item and include relevant terms and words.
Don't use WOW, RARE, LOOK or multiple characters (*** or :::), think of a suitable word or abbreviation that you could include instead.

Most importantly you are given 55 characters for your title, try to use them all. Always ensure everything is spelt correctly to help convey a professional image.

DESCRIPTION

Writing a thorough description can really pay off in the price you receive for your item. Here are some questions you may want to consider when writing your item description:

What is the item?
What material is it made of?
When was it made?
What company/artist/designer/author made it?
What condition is it in?
Is the item new, used, or still under warranty? Be sure to mention any flaws or repairs.
What are its dimensions?
What country/location is it from?
Does it have any notable features or markings?
Does it have a special background or history?

Additionally, many sellers have found that adding a creative, human approach to their descriptions boosts bids and sales. Consider including:

What you especially like about the item.
Who you think it would appeal to and why.
An interesting story about the item (for example, how you acquired it).
How the item might be used.
Payment and shipping: Be clear about payment methods you accept. Also, be as specific as you can about your shipping costs.

When you are finished, spell check your description for accuracy.

ITEM PICTURES

A picture is worth a thousand words and many buyers won’t bid on items without photos. To generate the most bids and the highest selling price, follow these tips:

Clear Images – Ensure your images are in-focus, free of background clutter, and well lit. The best practice is to photograph your item at a close range, at an angle, and using at least two light sources to show more detail.
Photo at Top of Listing – Be sure that the photo is one of the first things that a buyer sees.
Gallery Feature – Entice buyers to click on your listing from search results pages.
Multiple Images/Multi-Dimensional Views – Remember that buyers are not inspecting the item in-person, so you want to provide as much detail as possible, particularly if the item is not new in the box or is damaged. Include the tag, label, or box in the image to prove its authenticity, if appropriate.
Manage your File Size – If you are hosting your own picture, the file size should be under 50 KB (kilobytes) for quick page downloads.

Try to include as many pictures as possible especially if the item is of high value. You don't have to pay to use eBay hosting. Use an online photo hosting service such as photobucket.com and then use HTML in your description and link directly to the images.

PRICE

Be aware of eBay insertion fees when listing your item. Currently to list an item at £0.99 would cost £0.15 and to insert an item at £1.00 would cost £0.20. Although not a lot in itself if you are listing numerous items this all adds up.

A lower start price will generate more interest as some bidders place early bids in the hope of a bargain. When others view the auction, they know they must place a bid to win the item rather than just waiting and watching until near the end.

POSTAGE & PACKAGING

Although tempting to bump up your postage costs to recoup some of your costs and increase your profits, this just leads some buyers to be scared away and view you as an unscrupulous seller. If you charge an honest price then you are viewed as an honest seller.

Research the postage costs for your item thoroughly as there is nothing more annoying than subsidising postage on items.

POLICIES

Include on your 'my eBay' page or in your item description information on your policies for Postage, Refunds, Feedback and Questions.

DURATION

Personally I always list my items for 10 days, covering two weekends, as this gives the most opportunity for potential buyers to browse my auctions and add them to their Watch Lists.

TIMING

When listing for 10 days this also allows for you to place the item up on a Thursday allowing the listing to be viewed over two weekends.

I also ensure the auctions end at a sensible time in the evening (between 18:30 and 20:30) so that if late last bids are to come in then more bidders will be awake early evening rather than very early in the morning or late at night.

SUMMARY

Write an accurate title, using all the 55 characters.
Place your auction in the most appropriate category.
Describe your item well, using all useful information.
Use as many pictures as possible.
Price your item as low as you can, to generate bids.
Don't overcharge on postage.
Have policies in place for Returns, Feedback and Questions.
List for as long as possible.
End at a sensible time of the day.