Errors in Judgment
Certain mistakes are common among eBay sellers, even those with
experience. But avoiding them can result in higher close rates
and better final prices. Lynn Dralle, of
TheQueenOfAuctions.com, shares the five top mistakes she sees eBay sellers make:
1. Writing a Bad Title. Look at the keywords other sellers are
using for similar items, and use every relevant keyword you
can—make the most of your 55 characters! Avoid wasting
characters on punctuation, and using come-ons like L@@K to get
people’s attention.
2. Setting the Wrong Starting Price. Look at lots of Completed
Items listings and see what your item is going for. If you
start too high, you may lose buyers’ interest.
3. Posting an Inaccurate or Incomplete Description. Failure to
include the details of your product, such as size, condition,
markings, age, or history, will result in numerous questions
and emails. And shoppers will feel less confident bidding
without having all the information. Make sure to note any
damages or defects as well, to avoid many unnecessary returns.
People will be more likely to trust you if they see you’re
honest and up-front right away.
4. Putting Up Bad Photos or No Photos At All. Use a background
or shoot outside in indirect sunlight—no one wants to see your
living room or your messy desk in the background. If you sell
clothes, don’t attempt to model them yourself, or put them on
your children—buy a mannequin. Advises Dralle, “Keep your
environment out of it. It makes your auctions look more
professional.”
5. Putting Up an Auction at the Wrong Time. Both time of year
and time of day affect the success of your auction. You won’t
get a lot of bids for a toboggan if you decide to sell it in
August. While if you sell video games, you might find that
ending an auction at twelve noon results in a lot fewer of your
potential buyers being online than ending it at twelve in the
morning.
Sufficient Knowledge
“At the base of all these mistakes is research,” explains
Dralle. “You’ve got to do your research.” Look at eBay’s
Completed Items listings, and use their Marketplace Research.
Or try a third-party tool like Terapeak.com or
HammerTapNow.com, which can help you figure out the best
way to list your items. An informed seller is always going to
see more success, more closed auctions and higher profit
margins.
Copyright © 2006 Chris Malta & Robin Cowie
About The Authors: Chris Malta and Robin Cowie of
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