EBay for Dummies (71 page)

To get to eBay’s online store, start at the home page. Scroll down to the very bottom and click The eBay Shop link (find it directly at
www.theebayshop.com
). Just choose what you like, add it to your shopping cart, and then check out when you’re finished. The store will ask you for billing information, so keep your credit card handy.

eBay’s Saved Searches e-mail service

If you’re too busy to explore the nooks and crannies of eBay on a daily basis (or you’re the type who wants to cut to the chase), sign up for eBay’s personal shopper through your My eBay Saved Searches.

This service is one of eBay’s better ideas. It enables you to find what you’re looking for and still have a life, because it sifts through the new listings for you 24 hours a day, looking for the items that meet your description. eBay sniffs ’em out like a bloodhound, and then sends you an e-mail containing a list of items that you may want to bid on, complete with links that take you right to those items. Hey, best of all, the service is free!

To register for the personal shopper e-mail service, begin on the navigation bar, which is at the top of most eBay pages, and follow these steps:

1. Type keywords and perform a search using the Search box on the top-right side of any eBay page.

The results of your search appear.

2. Click the Save This Search link next to the total number of results.

A box pops up, as shown in Figure 18-2.

3. Using the drop-down menu, choose how long you want to receive a daily e-mail about the availability of new items that match your search.

Select the period of time (from 7 days to 12 months) you’d like to receive the e-mails when new items are listed.

4. Click the Save box.

5. The search is now added to your My eBay Saved Searches page.

Go there to see a list of your current searches. You may save up to 100 searches to be notified by e-mail. Yikes, don’t do 100! All you’ll get is e-mail from eBay!

Getting Free Calls over the Internet with Skype

eBay has purchased a new Internet-based communication service called Skype that enables you to call other Skype users long distance for free. You can bet that in the near future, eBay will be integrating Skype technology with its other services. (Imagine the possibilities!) You need to have a broadband Internet connection to use Skype.

Skype is controlled by software that you download to your computer. It allows you to communicate with the rest of the world at no additional cost (over the expense of your high-speed internet connection). To download the software for PC, Mac, or Linux, just go to
www.skype.com
and click the Download Skype link.

After you download the software, you can install the program with a click of your mouse. Skype allows you to use your computer (along with a microphone and your regular computer speakers) as a telephone. You can contact anyone who is a member of Skype at no charge — wherever in the world they reside or do business. (You can call regular phone numbers for a low, discounted per-minute fee.) All Skype-to-Skype calls are free. As wonderful (and simple) as that is, Skype has other revolutionary features that can really expand your business:

SkypeIn:
I love this feature. With SkypeIn, you can purchase a special phone number for your Skype computer so that people not set up with Skype can contact you on your Skype account. The super part is that if you live in, say, Atlanta but do a lot of business in London, you can get a local number in London so your London customers only have to make a local call (without incurring long-distance charges) to reach you. Unfortunately, SkypeIn doesn’t do anything about the time difference, so you’ll still get calls from your British customers in the middle of the night, but this feature does make your business look pretty big time — you have a remote office across the Atlantic! You can get up to ten different SkypeIn numbers.

Skype voicemail:
If you’re not at your computer when another user attempts to call you, your account can receive and store voicemail. Voicemail is free when you purchase a SkypeIn telephone number. If you purchase it separately, the annual cost is minimal.

SkypeOut:
You can call any number in the United States and Canada (mobile or land line) for $2.95 a month. Skype has reasonable charges for calls made to foreign countries through SkypeOut. For example: London, UK is $.021, Japan $.023, France $.021 per minute. For a complete listing of international per-minute rates go to
www.skype.com/price/callrates
.

At home I use a Netgear Skype dual-mode phone so that my buyers can reach me with questions whenever they want. The phone carries my office land line as well as my Skype line wirelessly to anywhere I carry the phone. It plugs into my router to pick up my Skype calls, and a phone line wire plugs into the wall jack to access the land line. It also uses a new technology that expands the strength and range of the wireless phone.

My home was built after the Northridge, California, earthquake and it has a good deal of steel in its structure to prevent it from collapsing. This structural element had precluded my using a wireless phone from one end of the house to the other — until I got the Skype phone. Now I can access Skype and get free long distance from anywhere in my home or office. (For more information, check the Web site at
www.netgear.com
.)

Skype is adding interesting features all the time. The Skype software even allows for free video calls on your computer (assuming you have a Web cam). You can also add a Skype button to your e-mails, allowing your contacts to just click to call you.

Part V

The Part of Tens

In this part . . .

In keeping with a long-standing tradition, this part gives you the short version of the facts, somewhat like downloadable class notes. Check here for the golden rules every eBay user needs to know, whether you buy or sell (or, like most eBay members, do both).

You also get information on a few of the software programs available to help simplify your auction experience — from creating a catchy auction item page to helping you snipe the final bid while you’re sleeping, walking Fido, washing your hair, or otherwise occupied. The best thing about some of these programs is that the price is right — you can get started for free.

Following the Part of Tens chapters, you get an appendix that gives eBay fanatics exactly what they’ve been looking for — tips to help them acquire stock and take their auction habit to the next level by thinking strategically.

Chapter 19

Ten (or So) Golden Rules for eBay Buyers and Sellers

In This Chapter

Investigating your treasure

Checking feedback

Understanding charges and payment methods

Researching an item’s value

Covering your assets

Building your Detailed Seller Ratingss

Keeping current, keeping cool

No matter how much experience airplane pilots may have, they always keep multiple checklists to go over. The same is true on eBay (although the only crashing that you need to worry about is on your computer). No matter how many times you buy or sell, the advice in this chapter can help you survive and thrive at eBay.

Although conducting business on eBay is relatively smooth overall, any venture is bound to have a few bumps here and there. A certain etiquette goes along with everything we do in life. If you follow these simple rules, your time on the site will be a whole lot more pleasant for everyone. That said, here are ten (or so) easy, important golden rules for eBay. I note which tips are geared toward buyers or sellers. Happy hunting and gathering!

After a while, posting listings and bidding become rote. You can all too easily forget the basics, so look at this chapter every now and again and remember that, as a successful eBay member, you’re part of a very special person-to-person community.

Buyer: Investigate Your Treasure Before You Buy

In the excitement of finding just what you want, you may develop a tendency to leap before you look. Even if the item is closing soon, carefully read the item description. Does the item have any flaws? Can you live with it? Is something missing from the description that should be there? Did you read the terms of payment and shipping?

You can also communicate with the seller of the item that you’re longing for. Don’t be too shy or embarrassed. If you have any questions, send an e-mail! You’re better off covering your bases before you place a bid than facing disappointment after making a purchase. Remember that when you click the Bid or Buy button, you are
legally and morally obligated
to go through with the transaction if you win. Make sure that everything is as you want it and check for a warranty or return policy. Clarify everything upfront. If the seller doesn’t answer back, consider that nonresponse an
early warning
that dealing with this person may be a mistake!

Buyer: Check the Seller’s Feedback

Never
bid without checking the seller’s feedback. You need to be able to trust the person you’re buying from. Don’t just evaluate the Feedback percentage: Investigate the seller’s feedback by clicking the number next to his or her user ID. Be sure to read the comments left by other users. Checking some of the seller’s other listings, past and present, to get an idea of the seller’s history also can’t hurt. As badly as you may want something, sending a payment to someone with a high feedback rating but who recently got a bunch of negatives could be risky business.

Buyer: Understand Post-Auction Charges and Payment Methods

Before you bid on an item, make sure that you and the seller have similar ideas on the shipping and handling, insurance, and escrow fees (if applicable — see Chapter 6). Buying a $10 item and finding out that shipping and handling are going to cost more than your winning bid is way bad. Don’t forget to look for any “handling charges.”

Also, make sure that you and the seller can agree on the form of payment before the deal closes. If you want to pay with a check, is the seller willing to accept one? (You’ll have to e-mail them ahead of time to find out.) Are you willing to wait to receive your purchase until a check clears? Is credit card payment available? Stay safe and use a secure method of paying with credit cards like PayPal.

Buyer: Check the Price Tag and Bid Wisely

Before you bid, make sure that you have some knowledge of the item, even if you limit your search to completed auctions to get an idea of how much the item went for in the past.

If a deal sounds too good to be true, it may well be.

I love eBay — but not for every single thing that I buy (okay, almost). Make sure that you can’t get the item cheaper at the store or from another online seller.

Beware of getting caught up in the frenzy of last-minute bidding: It’s an easy thing to do. Whether you choose proxy bidding or sniping (see Chapter 7 for my discussion on sniping), decide how much you’re willing to pay before bidding. If you set a limit, you won’t be overcome with the urge to spend more than an item is worth — or, worse, more than you have in your bank account.

Although eBay is lots of fun, it’s also serious business. Bidding is a legal and binding contract. Don’t get a bad reputation by retracting bids or becoming a deadbeat.

Buyer: Be a Good Buyer Bee

Always leave feedback after you put the finishing touches on a transaction. Leaving feedback, and thereby helping other members, is your responsibility. Remember your manners when making your payment. You like to be paid on time, right? And, speaking practically, the sooner you send the money, the sooner you get your stuff.

Keep in mind that the transaction isn’t complete until the buyer receives the merchandise and is happy with the purchase. Don’t automatically expect positive feedback because you paid for your item in a timely manner.

Buyer: Cover Your Assets

Remember that just because you’re conducting transactions from the privacy of your home doesn’t mean that you’re doing everything you can to protect your privacy. Legitimate buyers and sellers
never
need to know your password or Social Security number. Do not respond to this sort of e-mail. See Chapter 15 about how to handle this sort of e-mail.

Seller: Know Your Stuff

Do some homework. Know the value of your item. At the very least, get an idea of your item’s value by searching completed listings for similar items. If it’s a new item, check out other online sites and see what your item is selling for by running a Google/Froogle search at
www.google.com/products
. Knowing your product also means that you can accurately describe what you have and never, ever pass off a fake as the real McCoy. Make sure that your item isn’t prohibited, illegal, questionable, or infringing. It’s your responsibility!

Before posting your listing, you should take the following actions:

Write an honest description.

Take a good, clear photo.

Work out your shipping and handling charges.

Add each of the preceding pieces of info to your item’s description to avoid any unnecessary disputes later.

Seller: Polish and Shine

Make sure that your title is descriptive enough to catch the eye of someone browsing a category and detailed enough for eBay’s search engine to identify. Don’t just write
1960s Board Game.
Instead, give some details:
Tiny Tim Vintage’60s Board Game MIB.
That gets ’em tiptoeing to your auction.

Play editor and scrutinize your text for grammar mistakes and misspellings. Typos in either your title or description can cost you money. For example, a search engine will keep skipping over your
Mikky Mouce Choklit Cokie Jare.
Spelling counts — and pays. Double-check your work!

Seller: Picture-Perfect Facts

Photos can be a boon or a bust on eBay. Double-check the photo of your item before you post it. Is the lighting okay? Does the photo paint a flattering image of the item? Crop out unnecessary backgrounds. Would
you
buy this item?

Take your picture as if you didn’t have a description; be sure it totally illustrates the item. Also, write your description as if you didn’t have a photo. That way if the photo server crashes, the prospective buyer will have a good idea of what you’re selling.

Be factual and honest. On eBay, all you have is your reputation, so don’t jeopardize it by lying about your item or terms. Tell potential buyers about any flaws. Give as complete a description as possible, with all the facts about the item that you can include.

Seller: Communication Is Key

Respond quickly and honestly to all questions sent via the My eBay Messages page and use the contact to establish a good relationship. Don’t let more than 24 hours pass without sending a response. If a bidder makes a reasonable request about payment or shipping, going along with that request is usually worth it to make a sale.
Note:
The customer is always right! (Well, some of the time, anyway.)

Be upfront and fair when charging for sending merchandise to your buyer. You can’t make much money by overcharging for shipping and handling. Besides, charging outrageous handling fees will penalize you in eBay search and is a violation of eBay’s policies. You could get yourself suspended from the site. After the item arrives, the buyer may realize what it costs to ship. Unreasonable charges inevitably lead to bad feelings, negative feedback, and low DSRs.

Seller: Be a Buyer’s Dream

Just because you’re transacting through the computer doesn’t mean that you can forget your manners. Live by the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Contact the buyer the day they make their purchase — immediately is even better. (Better yet, why not ship the item that quickly? I try to.) And keep all your correspondence polite.

Ship the goods as soon as you can (in accordance with the shipping terms you outline in the item description, of course). An e-mail stating that the item is on its way is always a nice touch, too. That way, buyers can eagerly anticipate the arrival of their goods.

And, when shipping your items, use quality packing materials and sturdy boxes to prevent disaster. Broken or damaged items can lead to reputation-damaging, negative feedback. Pack as if someone’s out to destroy your package (or as if
you
had made this purchase). Your buyers are sure to appreciate the effort.

Seller: Listen to the Music

As I state in the golden rules for buyers, don’t underestimate the power of positive feedback. Your reputation is at stake. Always generously dole out feedback when you complete a transaction. Your buyers will appreciate it and should return the favor. What should you do if you get slammed unfairly with negative feedback? Don’t freak out! Do, however, post a response to the feedback by using the Respond to Feedback link on your My eBay page. Those who read your feedback can often see past a single disgruntled message.

Keep in mind that many negative feedback reports result from misunderstandings. Contact the buyer the moment you smell a problem arising and see if you can work things out to your satisfaction. Always work to keep your eBay reputation pristine.

Buyers and Sellers: Keep Current, Keep Cool

You’d be surprised at the number of users who get suspended even though they have automatic credit card payments. Maybe they move. Or their e-mail address changes because they change Internet service providers. Regardless, if you don’t update your contact and credit card information, and eBay and other users can’t contact you as a result, you can be suspended.

If you make any major moves (home address, billing address, ISP), let eBay know this new contact information. Click My eBay on the main navigation bar, scroll down the links on the left side of the page to My eBay Account Preferences, and update the appropriate information.