You will find everything from collectibles to livestock to homes
listed there. People have become addicted to the auction
excitement, and many who came to dispose of their cast offs have
stayed around...and made big money.
Folks who love to frequent garage sales, junk shops, and second
hand stores have found a ready market at online auctions. If you
have a discerning eye and know how to pick up treasurers for
pennies, forget the flea market scene--become a virtual
dealer instead and take weekends off.
- Start small. Sell your own unwanted items and use the
proceeds to buy other items for resale.
- Buy from smaller, lesser know auctions for pennies and
resell on eBay for profit.
- Use the search capability on eBay to see what's being
auctioned and what your competition is doing. Lots of
bidding = desirable product. No bidding = dud. Keep this in
mind when you're looking for things to resell. Remember:
research is the key to any successful business.
How to be a successful Auctioneer -
1. A picture sells better than words words - People
like to see things before they buy. For successful auction, make
sure any products you list on auction are accompanied by
photographs.
2. Do your research - When selling on a auction
site, before you list a particular product, spend some time
researching other similar products and following the bidding
process. This will help you gauge the interest for your product
and help you determine how much your product might be worth.
3. Learn all about shipping - Shipping is under the
control of the seller, but some methods of shipping are better
than others when you're selling thru a auction. You want to find
the best method of shipping for your product in terms of expense
and reliability and then specify that shipping method in your
eBay listing. (And don’t forget to include the shipping cost in
your shipping information for potential buyers.)
4. Pay as much attention to the writing of your eBay listing
as to your picture- For selling on a auction site, you need
a powerful auction listing. And the trick to writing a strong
auction listing is to combine search engine friendly phrasing
with concrete details about the product in a way that will
entice people to bid on your product. Take the time to craft
your auction listing just as you would any ad.
5. Offer a full slate of payment options, including credit
cards - The more payment options should be made available to
prospective bidders, the more bidders your product will attract
and the more successful your selling will be.
6. Focus on getting positive feedback first. Feedback really
matters when you're selling on eBay - If you have a
consistent record of positive feedback, prospective buyers will
both bid more often and be willing to pay higher prices. So you
may want to hold back on placing higher priced products until
you have a successful track record.
7. Be business-like - Act professionally, provide
the kind of superior customer service that will build your
reputation, and make sure that you’re following all the business
rules that apply, such as registering your business and properly
charging and remitting taxes. Selling on a auction site is just
like any other business; to become an auction success, you need
to follow the rules and provide the kind of customer
satisfaction that will translate into increased sales.
Our resources on auctions. |
