Seven Ways To Outsell Other EBook Resellers On EBay.

This article will teach you seven tried and true tactics that will allow RESELLERS to sell ebooks and software for up to TEN times the PRICE of their COMPETITION on Ebay.

How would you like to have your car payment or mortgage paid for ? Or perhaps you would like to quit your job and work part - time from the comfort of your home ?

Whatever your dreams are, selling ebooks and software with RESELL or MASTER RESELL RIGHTS can help make them a reality !

But what if you are NOT YET a SAVVY internet marketer ?

Well, eBay is an EASY and GREAT place to start.

It is also a great source of SUPPLEMENTAL income, even for SEASONED resell rights marketers.

But, with INCREASED competition on eBay among ebook resellers, an EFFECTIVE strategy is a must - have to continue to GROW your ebook business effectively.

Don’t ever let the SEEMINGLY low prices and the thought of resell rights saturation discourage you from reaping large financial rewards.

I have been selling ebooks and software on eBay for three years now and have developed and refined SEVEN tried and true tactics that will allow you to resell ebooks for up to TEN times the price of your competition ! :-)

The secret is in the LISTING TITLE !

Below are seven ways to MAXIMIZE your traffic, conversion and profit using SMART listing strategies.

1. Keyword Rich Listing Title :

This tip is not unknown but is still RARELY used.

Most people who sell ebooks with resell rights simply LIST their item on eBay using the “actual name” of the product for the LISTING TITLE.

For example, “James Jackson's Giveaway Gold” is listed by many sellers by its TITLE.

In reality, this is an ebook on how to BUILD your EMAIL LIST.

If YOU were looking for a guide on how to build your mailing list, would you type in “James Jackson’s Giveaway Gold?“

NOT if you have NEVER heard of such an ebook !

It SHOULD be listed as “Build Create Make Your Mailing Email List”.

This would be a WISE use of RELEVANT keywords and phrases which will bring in the greatest amount of TRAFFIC to that listing.

You can find these targeted keywords with a FREE keyword search tool.

2. Understand What You Are Selling :

If YOU don’t know what you are selling, how can you give it a PROPER listing title ?

Be sure to READ the SALES PAGE that it comes with.

Often times, you can find USEFUL keywords and phrases in the sales page that will HELP you list it CORRECTLY.

3. Check Out Your Competitor’s Listing Titles :

Do this BEFORE you pick YOUR listing title.

As you start writing down possible keywords and phrases to use in your title, cross check them on eBay to see if any other of the SAME products pull up.

Be SURE to choose the keywords and phrases that give YOU the FEWEST competitors. :-)

4. Use Misspellings To Your Advantage :

Some people’s inability to SPELL means money for you ! For example, a product that has to do with “Google Adsense” can also be written as “Google Ad Sense,” or even Goggle Adsense.”

5. Cross Positioning :

A great example of this would be having an ebook on coin collecting but LISTING it as coin collecting with a metal detector.

There may be NOTHING in your ebook on metal detectors, but no doubt anyone who pulls up metal detectors will SEE YOUR ebook on coins.

And Bingo !, you just created a NICHE LISTING with NO competitors ! :-)

6. Name Recognition Tie In :

This is a GREAT way to pull in BRAND NAME recognition traffic, even though you aren’t selling the product with the name.

An example of this would be if you were selling an ebook on how to create a pay - per - click search engine.

You could LIST the TITLE as something like “Make A Pay Per Click Search Engine Like Google Adwords.”

Another benefit to using ALL six of these techniques is that often times the resellers won’t find you very easily.

RESELLERS will be looking at OTHER RESELLERS and trying to COPY their titles, while UNDERCUTTING their listing price.

Because MOST of them are looking for the ACTUAL NAME of the product, you will be virtually invisible to them. :-)

7. Put Your Ebook On CD :

Now that you have positioned yourself on eBay AWAY from the rest, BURN your ebooks to CD.

Why on a CD ?

Because you can INCREASE the PRICE as well as charge SHIPPING and HANDLING. :-)

You can EASILY charge $4.99 for shipping, when in fact it costs LESS than HALF that to pay for the CD AND shipping materials !

There you have it.

NOW you can be the EBOOK RESELLER you have always WANTED to be and start pulling in easy cash - the SMART way !

Copyright 2006 Philip Ritchie

Seven Tips For Selling Expensive Collectibles On EBay.

Selling EXPENSIVE COLLECTIBLES on eBay requires more information and effort than inexpensive items.

Recently, a friend asked me to help her brother sell his collection on Lladro glass figurines on eBay.

These are expensive glass collectibles and I knew nothing about them - but I don't have to.

The principles for selling expensive collectibles on eBay are the same, regardless of what is being sold.

Obviously, like any eBay auction, the seller must have a powerful listing with great pictures.

This is always true regardless of what the merchandise is.

Expensive collectibles offer splendid opportunities, but also need special precautions.

1. Price :

Decide the LOWEST amount you will accept for EACH figurine and set that price as a RESERVE.

Then make your OPENING bid ABSURDLY LOW - yes, ABSURDLY.

Example : if you will accept $1,000 - make your opening bid $25. There is no risk in this, because you don't HAVE to sell unless the bidding reaches $1000, but the LOW PRICE attracts buyers, (assuming there is DEMAND, of course).

Looking at completed eBay auctions allows us to TRACK PRICES. Again and again, we learn that STARTING the price where the SELLER hopes it will END is NOT a wise tactic.

For instance, a SELLER wants to get $750 for his figurine.

An OPENING BID of $750 won't attract nearly as many buyers as an opening bid of $25 and - surprisingly - the lower bid almost always gets HIGHER PRICES.

There is some psychology at work with the CHEAP PRICE.

It may not make logical sense, but it's the reality of life on eBay ! :-)

2. Devote space in your auction listing explaining how you will pack your item to ensure safe transit :

This is CRITICALLY IMPORTANT because, in the back of every buyer's mind, is the DREAD of receiving a package that RATTLES !

A collectibles buyer will inevitably be thinking of the hassle she will have to go through - and the possible LOSS of purchase price - if her item is BROKEN.

She NEEDS to know that the SELLER has carefully considered this issue and has a SOLUTION.

3. For the protection of BOTH of you, insist that the buyer pay for appropriate insurance :

Don't allow this to be an OPTION. You definitely DO NOT want the LIABILITY of a broken collectible that costs hundreds of dollars.

In fact, if a customer OBJECTS to paying for insurance, this might possibly be a RED FLAG.

A GENUINE collector is very eager to add to her collection and wants her figurine to be PROTECTED.

4. We can safely assume that every Internet buyer has heard stories of fraud on eBay and elsewhere on the Net :

Therefore, anything you can do to PROVE the authenticity of your collectible is WELL worth your time.

Is there a marking on the bottom ?

Do you have the original box or other container ?

Does it have a label ?

Is there a certificate of authenticity or an appraisal by a respected organization ?

If the answer to any of these is "yes", then be certain to EMPHASIZE your authenticity in your auction.

Taking PICTURES of your proof is ESPECIALLY effective.

5. I don't suggest offering a GUARANTEE except in the most general way - that is, you, the seller, are telling the TRUTH about the product :

Anyone bidding on a collectible is knowledgeable and, therefore, they KNOW what they're buying - so there should be NO REASON for a return.

If someone expresses dissatisfaction and mails your merchandise back, there is EVERY likelihood of it being broken.

You do not want the HASSLE of trying to collect on BROKEN merchandise or putting yourself into a LITIGIOUS situation with someone who refuses to believe that the collectible was broken via return shipping.

Also, you don't want to take a LOSS on your eBay FEES, which might be substantial if the price is HIGH.

6. With a really expensive item, always offer the option of an ESCROW service - at the BUYER'S expense, of course :

They may not take / want this service, but make CERTAIN they have the OPTION.

You, of course, know that your merchandise is LEGITIMATE, but the BUYER isn't so certain.

eBay recommends an escrow service that is available to all members.

7. If you're willing to ship worldwide, you need to take special steps to protect yourself.

In the US we have AVS (Address Verification System) which offers some protection.

A very large portion of the FRAUD suffered by buyers occurs OUTSIDE the United States and you are justified in PROTECTING yourself.

Losing the purchase price on a $5 item isn't such a big deal - but a $1,000 collectible absolutely DOES matter !

Your BANK can advise you on the time it will take to VERIFY foreign funds.

Be certain to let any prospective buyer KNOW, in your auction, that there will be a DELAY if they are OUTSIDE of your country.

Do NOT let your merchandise out of your hands UNTIL you are sure !

If you follow these 'rules', the chances of selling your expensive collectibles at the HIGHEST POSSIBLE PRICES will be GREATLY increased ! :-)

Five Tips To Buying Cars On EBay Motors.

There are MANY terrific benefits to buying CARS on eBay Motors, including a PRICE that YOU get to determine, lower insurance and the absence of a car payment every month if you pay in FULL.

If you plan on buying USED cars on eBay Motors in the near future, here are several tips to make sure that the road to your new ride is a smooth one ! :-)

1. Check with your local automobile insurance agent before deciding on a specific used car :

If the COST of auto insurance is an important DECIDING factor, you should be aware that SUVs will be more expensive than a car.

Regardless, however, a USED car will carry more AFFORDABLE insurance than a NEW one of the same model and make.

2. Request a CarFax report :

This information is available for a reasonable fee and includes information regarding the car’s history, including whether or not it has been flooded or if it has ever been involved in any type of accident.

In addition, the number of previous owners and whether or not the title is clear should also be included in a CarFax report.

3. Check out the car’s value with Kelly Blue Book :

This source is one of the MOST TRUSTED when it comes to providing NEW or USED car values.

By entering certain information into the website, car shoppers can learn what that particular automobile should be sold for. This can help potential buyers realize whether or not they are getting a GOOD deal.

4. Consider gas mileage :

An SUV will typically use MORE gasoline than a compact car, which is important if the COST of FUEL is a major DECIDING factor in your purchase.

5. Select a used car with as little mileage as possible :

This should mean that the car has a LONGER life and hasn’t been USED excessively.

And finally, when buying cars on eBay Motors, make sure that the automobile you choose is one that fits your LIFESTYLE.

For example, a FAMILY would likely be more comfortable in a van or SUV, while a SINGLE person or a COUPLE may be perfectly happy with a compact car.

The DESIGN of an automobile that you may consider buying on eBay Motors will ultimately DEPEND on your intended use and HOW MANY are in your family that will be riding along at the SAME TIME. :-)

Four Special Rules For Selling Software On EBay.

Computer software is one of the BIGGEST sellers on eBay - after all, everyone using eBay has a computer, don't they ? :-)

There can be PROBLEMS, however, if you try to sell certain kinds of software that eBay doesn't ALLOW.

USED software is a MINEFIELD and you could end up buying something DODGY to resell without even realising it !

Here are the various kinds of software that you're NOT allowed to sell on eBay and how to SPOT them.

You should ALWAYS try installing used software BEFORE you sell it, as this might give you a few clues.

1. Pirate Software :

This one is reasonably obvious, but PIRATE SOFTWARE can be HARD to spot.

The biggest things to look out for are auctions that DON'T have PICTURES or only have pictures from catalogues, unrealistically LOW prices and come with NO MANUALS or DOCUMENTATION.

MICROSOFT software comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, which you should CHECK.

Software that is on RECORDABLE MEDIA such as CD-RWs is USUALLY pirated.

If you see software that is offered for DOWNLOAD ONLY, it is OFTEN pirated - but not ALWAYS.

Some small software developers allow download licenses for their software to be RESOLD on sites like eBay. Type the NAME of the software into a SEARCH ENGINE and go to the manufacturer's site to CHECK.

Remember that software you DOWNLOAD is very UNLIKELY to come with RESALE RIGHTS, though.

2. Beta Software :

BETA SOFTWARE is PRE - RELEASE software, issued by companies for TESTING purposes.

Companies generally DO NOT give permission for their beta software to be SOLD or REDISTRIBUTED, as it won't be as GOOD as the FINAL product.

Do NOT buy ANYTHING that says it is BETA and RETURN anything you receive that says beta or not for resale or distribution ANTWHERE on the CD or during the install.

3. Academic Software :

Some companies sell special educational edition's or student license's for their software, which are designed to make it AFFORDABLE to students and teachers.

You can ONLY sell this software if you are a LICENSED educational reseller for the company and your BUYERS are EDUCATIONAL users.

Academic software will usually saY, somewhere on its CD or in its installation, what it is.

4. OEM Software :

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer - this is software that is ONLY supposed to be distributed with a NEW computer, as it came PRE - INSTALLED on the computer.

The LICENSES for this software usually STOP you from selling it without ALSO selling any hardware.

Look out for the message for sale with a new computer only, or similar.

Note, though, that it's USUALLY fine to BUNDLE any OEM software you come across with COMPUTERS that you sell on eBay.

If you sell ANY kind of software that IS NOT allowed, then eBay might shut down your auction, or your SELLERS might realise what they've bought and leave you BAD FEEDBACK.

It's really NOT worth the risk ! :-)

Three Tools For Product Sourcing On EBay - Using Seller Central.

You may have already discovered that selling on eBay can be fun and profitable. But after you’ve cleared out your garage and attic and auctioned off everything your husband owns, where can you go to get NEW product ideas ?

Tapping into EBay’s Resources :

Most people don’t realize that eBAY ITSELF is actually a TERRIFIC place to find product sourcing ideas ! :-)

Besides being an easy selling venue with built - in traffic, it also contains a GOLDMINE of useful data about what that traffic WANTS to buy.

One of eBay’s best - kept SECRETS is their SELLER CENTRAL page - (http://www.EBay.com/SellerCentral).

Very FEW people, even PowerSellers, are aware of this valuable resource. Consequently, very FEW people are taking ADVANTAGE of the tools available there :

1. The MERCHANDISING CALENDAR — this is a great spot to get sourcing LEADS because it shows you SPECIFICALLY what products eBay will be PROMOTING over the next few months.

It gives you DATES and tells you which ITEM CATEGORIES you need to list YOUR product in for it to be displayed on eBay’s HOMEPAGE.

When a user CLICKS on that item, YOUR auction will pop right up ! :-)

2. The HOT ITEMS section — this is basically a monthly TREND - WATCHING report.

It tells you what items are moving, producing more bids and getting HIGHER final prices. It lets you get a feel for where the DEMAND is.

Whether you’re searching for products at a tradeshow or a rummage sale, Janelle Elms (http://JanelleElms.com), of eBay University, recommends : “Print this report and keep it with you at all times.”

She explains, “If you don’t know what to look for, this will help direct and keep your mind focused to what’s moving on eBay.”

3. The HOT CATEGORIES section — this resource takes the TOP CATEGORIES and gives you tips on how to SELL in those categories, INSIDER SECRETS about your BUYERS and TRENDING information.

For each category, there’s a section called ‘In Demand’ that tells you not only the TOP - SELLING ITEMS in that category, but also the TOP KEYWORDS that buyers are using to FIND these items !

USE those keywords in your LISTING titles. If you have any left over, put them in your DESCRIPTION.

Essentially, eBay TELLS you what to SELL and then TELLS you how BEST to LIST it! :-)

Catering To Your Customers :

“Don’t EVER try to sell to the buyer what YOU THINK they NEED to own.” ( Janelle Elms)

Users are already TELLING YOU what they WANT to buy — YOU just have to LISTEN.

These tools show you what consumers are saying they WANT and how they’re saying they want to FIND it.

EBay users are READY to SPEND money with you — all YOU need to do is GIVE them what they’re LOOKING for ! :-)

Five Simple Steps To Posting Your First EBay Auction.

It’s surprisingly SIMPLE to get started posting your very FIRST auction on eBay !

Here’s what you need to do.

Step 1 :

OPEN an eBay seller’s account.

If you’ve BOUGHT things on eBay, then you already have an account – just log in with it and click ‘Sell’ in the toolbar at the top of the page, then click ‘Create a seller’s account’.

If you’ve NEVER used eBay before, then you’ll need to open an account first, using the ‘register’ link underneath the toolbar, then click ‘Sell’ and ‘Create a seller’s account’.

The eBay site will then GUIDE you through the process.

For SECURITY, this may involve giving CARD details and BANK information.

Step 2 :

Decide what to SELL.

For your first little experiment with eBay, it doesn’t really matter what you sell.

Take a look around the ROOM you’re in – I’m sure there’s something in there that you’re not all that attached to and could put in the POST.

Small books and CDs are IDEAL first items.

Step 3 :

SUBMIT your item.

Click ‘Sell’ and you’re on your way to LISTING your item.

The first thing you need to do is choose a CATEGORY – it’s best to just type in what the item is and let eBay choose for you.

Next, write a TITLE and DESCRIPTION -

Include KEY WORDS you think people will SEARCH for in the TITLE BOX and all the INFORMATION you have about the item in the DESCRIPTION BOX.

Now set a STARTING price -

$0.01 is the BEST starting price, as it draws people in to bid who otherwise wouldn’t and items will almost never FINISH at such a LOW price.

The next thing to set is the DURATION of the auction: 3, 5, 7 or 10 days.

This is up to you : LONGER sales will usually get MORE bids, but will also seem to drag on forever.

If you’ve taken a PICTURE, add it NOW – items with pictures ALWAYS SELL FOR MORE ! :-)

Finally, tick the PAYMENT METHODS you will accept ( just PAYPAL is best for now ) and where you will POST TO (limit yourself to your OWN country to begin with).

SUBMIT and you’re done ! :-)

Step 4 :

WAIT for it to sell.

This is just a matter of sitting back and letting eBay do its thing – buyers will FIND your item and leave bids on it.

Some bidders might email you with QUESTIONS about the item and you should do your best to answer these questions as QUICKLY as you can.

Remember that if your item doesn’t sell, then you can LIST it again for FREE.

Step 5 :

COLLECT payment and post it.

EBay will send your buyer emails, guiding them through the process of sending you PAYMENT for the item.

Make sure you have the money BEFORE you SEND anything.

Once you’ve got the payment, all you need to do is PACK the item for POSTING (make sure to use some bubble wrap), take the buyer’s ADDRESS from the CONFIRMATION EMAIL eBay sent you and WRITE it on the parcel.

Put some stamps on, post it and you’re done ! :-)

I hope you ENJOY selling your FIRST item ! :-))

Now that you’re starting to get into it, a later post will give you a CHECKLIST of things you need to do to be a successful seller.

A Beginner's Guide To The Different EBay Auction Types.

Over the years, eBay has introduced all sorts of different auction types, in an effort to give people more options when they buy and sell their things on eBay.

For every seller who doesn’t like the idea that their item might sell for a far lower price than they intend, there’s another who wants to shift hundreds of the same item quickly.

eBay tries to cater to all tastes.

This post gives you an overview of the different kinds of auctions and their advantages for you.

1. Normal Auctions :

These are the bread - and - butter of eBay, the auctions everyone knows:

Buyers bid, others outbid them, they bid again and the winner gets the item !

Simple. :-)

2. Reserve Auctions :

Reserve auctions are for sellers who don’t want their items to sell for LESS than a certain price – a concept you’ll know about if you’re familiar with REAL auctions.

They work just like normal auctions on eBay, except that the BUYER will be told if their bid does NOT meet the RESERVE price you set and they’ll need to BID AGAIN if they want the item.

If no - one is willing to MEET your price, then the auction is CANCELLED - and you keep the item.

3. Fixed Price ( ‘ Buy it Now ’ ) Auctions :

BUY IT NOW auctions can work in one of TWO ways.

You can add a BUY IT NOW button to a NORMAL auction, meaning that buyers can choose EITHER to bid normally OR to simply pay the asking price and AVOID the whole bidding process.

Some sellers, though, now CUT OUT the auction process altogether and simply LIST all their items at FIXED PRICE.

This lets you AVOID all the complications of the auction format and simply LIST your items for how much you want them to SELL for.

Recently, eBay added a TWIST to fixed price auctions : the BEST OFFER.

This means that buyers can contact you to NEGOTIATE a price, which could be a good way to sell some EXTRA stock at a small discount. The only DOWNSIDE to RESERVE and FIXED PRICE auctions is that you pay a small extra fee to use these formats.

In general, it is worth using RESERVE auctions for HIGHER - PRICED items and FIXED PRICE auctions for LOWER - PRICED ones – but remember that you can COMBINE the two formats.

4. Multiple Item ( ‘ Dutch ’ ) Auctions :

These are auctions where you can sell MORE than ONE of a certain item.

Dutch auctions can be done by BIDDING.

Buyers bid a price and say how many items they want and then EVERYONE pays the LOWEST PRICE that was bid by ONE of the WINNING bidders.

If you have trouble getting your head around that, then don’t worry – everyone else does too ! :-))

These auctions are RARE.

What is more COMMON is when a seller has a LOT of ONE item and LISTS it using a COMBINATION of TWO auction types:

a multiple - item fixed price auction !

This just means that you can say HOW MANY of the item you have and offer them at a FIXED PRICE per unit.

Buyers can enter HOW MANY they want and then simply click BUY IT NOW to get them.

Now that you know about the different TYPES of auctions, you should make sure that the ITEMS you plan to sell don’t VIOLATE eBay’s LISTING POLICIES.

A later post will let you know what’s ALLOWED and what is a big no - no. :-)

Are You Required To Report Your EBay Earnings ?

Many people ask me if they are REQUIRED to report the PROFITS they earn on items they sell on eBay on their income tax return.

In short, YES. :-)

If you sell items on eBay for a profit, then you should report your eBay sales on your income tax return and you may owe income taxes on any profits.

It doesn't matter if it's just a HOBBY or if you are trying to build a BUSINESS - if you earned a PROFIT, it's taxable income.

Generally, ANY income you receive from ALL sources is subject to income tax unless it is specifically EXEMPT by law ( hint: eBay PROFITS are NOT EXEMPT ).

You MUST file a TAX RETURN if your net earnings from SELF EMPLOYMENT are $400 or more.

You are SELF EMPLOYED if you carry on a trade or business for PROFIT.

If you are selling on eBay with the INTENT of making a PROFIT, then you are SELF EMPLOYED.

To report your eBay earnings, you should file Form 1040 and attach Schedule C or C-EZ.

Schedule C is used to calculate your net profit or loss from your business, which is then reported on your Form 1040.

This is assuming you are a SOLE PROPRIETOR.

If you are INCORPORATED, you have to file a SEPARATE business return.

You will file Form 1120 or Form 1120s ( for S Corporations ).

If you are a PARTNERSHIP, you will file Form 1065.

At this point, you may be thinking “ I don’t run a business ; I just sell on eBay as a hobby.”

Unfortunately, income from HOBBIES is taxable AS WELL.

Even WORSE, you can only deduct EXPENSES up to your HOBBY INCOME, which means losses are NOT deductible.

Finally, there is a common misconception that if you did not receive a 1099 or W-2, you are not required to report your income.

This is NOT true.

ALL income is reportable, REGARDLESS of whether you receive a form or not.

EBay is only a FACILITATOR of the auction; therefore, you will NOT receive a 1099 from eBay reporting your sales.

To your financial success. :-)

Are There Any EBay Secrets That Are Worth Buying ?

,If you look around a little on the web, you’ll no doubt come across people trying to sell you EBOOKS about eBay’s ‘secrets’ for as much as $20.

Here’s a sample :
,
“ Along with 400,000 other excited eBay fanatics, I now make a living using the Internet and eBay. I can go days without ever speaking to a single customer, but I have a world - wide customer base. My online business runs like a well - oiled machine with a part - time effort ! ”

You too can get such VALUABLE tips as :

“ All you need to do is write a list of questions other people would PAY to get the answers to, give that list to a friend, have the friend call you on the phone and ASK you those questions, RECORD the call, have the recording TRANSCRIBED and EDIT the transcription ! PRESTO - you've just created a ‘meaty’ ebook fast ! ”

So What Do These Books Contain ? :

Don’t be deceived by the SLICK sales copy and promises of ‘automatic sales machines’ and unique sales strategies.

Most of these ‘winning money - making strategies’ boil down to the same thing.

Follow their advice and you’ll be writing long, old - fashioned sales copy in an effort to sell shoddily - written downloadable ebooks to gullible souls, either DIRECTLY through eBay or by trying to REDIRECT people through your About Me page to your WEBSITE.

The theory is that the rubbish ebooks will sell themselves - and you won’t have to do a thing.

Here’s a question to ask yourself :

If these ‘secrets’ work so WELL, then why aren’t the ebooks' authors spending every hour they have putting them into practice, instead of trying to SELL YOU ebooks?

If these secrets were so VALUABLE, then why would they give them away for THAT price, or ANY price ?

Out of charity ? Yeah, right ! :-)

Here’s the reality :

Trying to sell ebooks on eBay or anywhere else is very likely to get you nowhere - and fast. The bottom fell out of the ebook market a long time ago – in fact, it’s doubtful whether it ever had a bottom to begin with.

The ebooks are an effort to get to you SIGN UP for all sorts of services, making money for the ebooks’ writers each time.

In short, the ONLY way to profit from ‘secrets of eBay’ ebooks is to be SELLING them, NOT buying them – and do you REALLY want to become a con artist ?

If you’d like to take a look at one of these ebooks, try SEARCHING for the name and picking through the results.

The chances are you’ll find an EXCERPT or REVIEW – and if it’s NOT by someone trying to SELL you the ebook, then it won’t be a favourable view.

The fact that most ebooks you buy for $20 come with UNLIMITED RESALE RIGHTS should tip you off, if nothing else does.

It’s ALL out there for FREE ! :-)

You can almost always find ANY information, that someone might be trying to SELL you in an ebook, for FREE using a search engine.... if you take the time.

Ebooks aren’t worth the paper they’re NOT printed on !

If you’d like a REAL way to make more money, look out for a later post : I'll show you HOW and WHEN to use eBay’s powerful ‘Second Chance Offer’ feature.

Ten Sure - Fire Ways To Kill Your EBay Business.

It’s surprisingly EASY to KILL your eBay business, if you’re not careful – sure, you can start over from scratch without it costing you anything, but do you REALLY want to?

Still, if you want your business to end up DEAD in the water, here are some SIMPLE ways to do it.

1. Lie about an item :

Say it WORKS fine when it sometimes doesn’t work. Say it’s in PERFECT condition when it has a scratch.

Your CUSTOMERS will HATE you !

2. Post whenever you feel like it :

Make sure to leave your customers HANGING around, wondering when their item is going to turn up.

This makes SURE they buy from someone else next time.

3. Let items end anytime :

Few people will be around to CARE about your auction if it ENDS in the middle of the night.

Why go to the trouble of working out whether auctions will END at a GOOD time ?

4. Don’t bother with email :

Customers are just TIMEWASTERS anyway. EBay businesses are supposed to run themselves !

NEVER give informed responses to QUESTIONS about your item.

5. Sell rubbish :

Really, it’s just eBay. You can just sell any old tat from the market for a 200% profit.

Let QUALITY be someone else’s concern – I mean, really, what do they expect for THAT price ?

6. Refuse to give discounts :

You know what your items cost, you know what your profit margin is going to be and you’re NOT going to negotiate.
Remember that giving customers SPECIAL DEALS might make them feel GOOD and come BACK to you again.

7. Make your listings ugly :

As many COLOURS, flashing LIGHTS and ANIMATIONS as possible will REALLY give those customers a HEADACHE.

Write as much in CAPITALS!!!! as you can. Preferably BIG, RED capitals.

Be sure to use the FONTS Impact and Comic Sans.

For an extra SPECIAL touch, see if you can figure out a way to add some MUSIC.

8. Don’t take photos :

It’s such TROUBLE, after all.

If buyers are PICKY enough to actually want to SEE items BEFORE they bid on them, then SCREW ‘em, that’s what I say.

9. Write short descriptions :

Be as BRIEF as possible and use LOTS of mysterious abbreviations. This obviously makes you look very COOL.

You can even just write the TITLE again in the DESCRIPTION BOX.

Think of the EFFORT you’ll save !

10. Use reserve auctions :

Now, this is a fairly controversial final choice, but it really IS one of the BEST ways to SCARE away your customers.

They’ll see " reserve not yet met " and click that " back " button before you know it !

Luckily, they can always bid in a NORMAL auction for the item, somewhere else.

Now that you know the TEN ways to KILL your eBay business, how about we explore what to do if you want to do the OPPOSITE and make a SUCCESS of it ?

A later post will give you TEN steps to SUCCESSFUL selling on eBay. :-)

Four Secret Keys To Dominating EBay.

There is no doubt that eBay is packed with competition. Each day there are millions of dollars passing through that website into many accounts. If you follow these FOUR tips, you will easily succeed and dominate the competition on eBay.

1. Try to get excellent feedback :

When you first sign up with eBay, you will have ZERO feedback. Most buyers will stay away from an eBay newbie with zero or very low feedback.

Start BUILDING your feedback rating by selling personal items from around the house that you no longer want. This is a good way to get the feel of using eBay and to build POSITIVE FEEDBACK ! :-)

You should invest in a GOOD DIGITAL CAMERA. Good clear pictures are an important selling feature on eBay.

Remember to DESCRIBE your items accurately and honestly. Do NOT try to trick or deceive buyers in any way.

You really cannot afford to receive NEGATIVE FEEDBACK this early in the game.

2. Do not lie about your auctions :

Do not EVER use DECEPTION in your auctions or try to make money with SHIPPING COSTS.

If you treat your customers the way YOU expect to be treated you will NEVER go wrong. :-)

You will certainly be WELL on your way to building a REPUTATION as an honest future POWER SELLER.

3. Stay away from negative feedback :

If you happen to get a few bidders that do not pay, just simply RESIST the temptation to leave negative feedback for them.

Leaving negative feedback will only result in possible retaliation by the non - paying bidder and negative feedback for you.

Keep in mind that you do not want ANY negative feedback RIGHT NOW.

BUYING items off eBay is another great way to build POSITIVE FEEDBACK. When you WIN an auction, pay for the item IMMEDIATELY.

The result will be POSITIVE FEEDBACK for you ! :-)

Most buyers will not care whether your feedback came as a result of buying or selling, just as long as it is POSITIVE.

4. Do some research before making wholesale purchases :

After you have built a SIGNIFICANT feedback rating, you should be ready to start purchasing WHOLESALE MERCHANDISE to sell on eBay.

If you have your eye on a particular item you think might sell on eBay, first do a search of that item to find out what people are bidding. If it looks great then it is probably a good deal for you. If it does not appear to be getting many bids, you should stay far from it.

You can also do an advanced search for auctions that have already ENDED. This is a great way to find out the final bid price for a particular item.

A few extra minutes of research can save you from a giant headache down the road.

It can also mean the difference between MAKING MONEY or NOT.

Remember that eBay is the LARGEST auction site in the WORLD !

There are people who make a LIVING selling and buying items. They will FIGHT the competition in order to stay dominant.

After following these simple tips, you too will easily DOMINATE the competition. :-)

Five Easy Ways To Make Money On EBay.

“Please tell me an easy way to make money on eBay.”

I suppose the answer to this question really revolves around how you define the term EASY.

It is my belief that there is no easier way to make money on the Internet than by selling items through eBay.

What could be simpler, a straightforward FIVE step process.

1. Get something to sell.

2. Photograph it, and write a description.

3. Upload your listing to eBay.

4. Collect your money.

5. Dispatch the item.

What could be simpler than that ? :-)

But I suspect what people are REALLY asking is - how can I EASILY get products to sell ?

From my experience this is what both newcomers and some experienced eBayers find DIFFICULT.

So in this post I just want to highlight FIVE very simple ways that you can get products to sell without even leaving your computer.

I hope that this will be easy enough for everyone. :-)

1. What, no photograph ? :

It is my belief that there is hardly an item listed on eBay or any of the other online auctions that does NOT benefit from having a photograph or image included in the listing.

In fact, most items that are listed WITHOUT a photograph that actually sell tend to fetch 20% LESS than those WITH.

In some categories the figures are even HIGHER.

For instance, CLOTHING items offered WITHOUT a photograph average a 78% LOWER selling price than those WITH.

So it would seem to be pretty easy to browse eBay looking for these “photo - less” items, buying them and then relisting WITH a photograph.

Money for old rope really ! :-)

2. Finding the poorly listed item :

There are many reasons why someone’s listing fails to attract any worthwhile bids.

Bad title, short or poor description, wrong category, poor spelling and so on.

You can find these by browsing around the auction site, but I would suggest an EASIER method.

Select the categories that you are interested in and look down the SEARCH feature for items finishing within the next HOUR. Here is where you will find the BARGAINS that have failed to attract ANY bids for the reasons we have mentioned.

3. Unsocial hours :

In any book about eBay you will find tips on when is the BEST TIME for auctions to finish. The most suggested times for most items are SUNDAY AFTERNOON and EVENING and WEDNESDAY EVENINGS.

Some experts suggest that for business related items MONDAY or TUESDAY during OFFICE HOURS are best.

If you accept that there are times when you will get increased bids for your items, then there must also be times when, if your auction ends, you will not do so well.

I would think if you have an auction that finishes between say 5 am and 8 am on a Monday morning you will not have too many people lurking to place last minute bids to push the price up ! ;-)

Again, BUY and then RELIST, with your auction set to finish at a more SOCIABLE time and you could easily make a 20% or more profit for very little effort.

4. Buy Collections :

One of the EASIEST ways to make money on eBay is to cash in on other peoples LAZINESS !

If someone has, let's say, a COLLECTION of TEN china dogs, it is a fact that if they put all ten in one listing as a collection, they will get LESS than if they had listed each item SEPARATELY.

But it is AMAZING how many sellers cannot be bothered to do this !

I have in the past bought such a collection and actually made MORE from ONE of the items than I had paid for the WHOLE collection.

5. Other online auctions :

Over 95% of ALL online auction sales are on eBay.

They have the largest number of registered buyers and items listed for sale. For this reason, items offered for sale on eBay get the BEST prices.

So why not search around some of the SMALLER online auctions, because in many cases items listed with them will not attract such GOOD prices as could be achieved on eBay.

Then all you have to do is BUY from them and RELIST on eBay.

So, there are FIVE easy ideas for you to consider.

Why not give some or all of them a try ! :-)

Profit From Words And Products Misspelled On EBay.

Easily the world's largest internet marketplace, eBay offers a huge selection of items to choose from and from a wide variety of categories.

Whether you want antiques, clothing, handbags, kitchen gadgets or anything else in between, you're sure to find something you love each time you return to eBay.

However, how do you score the bargains that eBay is famous for ?

If you're relatively NEW to eBay, you may be unclear how to search for certain items you're currently coveting.

One trick is NOT to search for what you're looking for, but look for a BAD SPELLING of the auction listing.

Why does this work ?

If an item is MISSPELLED, people are more than likely NOT going to be able to find those BARGAIN DEALS, because they'll be searching for the product / brand name spelled correctly.

As a matter of fact, HUNDREDS of items on eBay are misspelled on a DAILY basis, meaning less people are going to run into that item.

What's more, these items are usually sold for next to nothing ! :-)

You can snap up a great deal on eBay searching for MISSPELLED PRODUCTS you're interested in, or you can take the easy way out and rely on certain internet searches to do the work for you.

For example, the popular eBay SEARCH ENGINE BargainChecker offers eBay buyers the chance to type in the CORRECT SPELLING of the product they're searching for and BargainChecker will return PRODUCT MATCHES for various misspellings of the search term you entered.

It's definitely a lot EASIER than tediously coming up with all the possible misspellings people could have used for that hot Gucci handbag you've wanted, just to name an example.

This handy tool does all the legwork for you and allows you to search misspelled listings for ANY item you desire. It's quite invaluable to the eBay buyer who is always looking for a bargain and works great.

From shoes to clothing and everything in between, you'd be surprised at HOW MANY items are MISSPELLED on eBay EACH DAY ! :-)

You can find awesome ANTIQUES and DESIGNER CLOTHING at fractions of the price you'd pay normally if you search for common misspellings of your favourite items.

This type of bargain hunting will prove especially useful for any holiday season, when you're searching for the perfect gift for somebody but you want a GOOD DEAL on whatever you buy.

Regardless of what you're looking for, you're almost guaranteed to find it at a bargain price if you search for misspelled terms.

Bargain hunting is always a great way to snatch up deals on popular items and eBay is a PRIME web site to bargain hunt.

Whether you want a designer dress for your next big event or a gift item for a friend or family member, search for MISSPELLINGS of these items and you may be surprised at the great deals you manage to snag ! :-)

An Introduction To Bidding And Buying On EBay.

Have you noticed that whenever you open a newspaper, watch the TV or have a conversation, people seem to be talking about eBay ?

If you’ve never used it and you’ve no idea what it’s all about, then the chances are that you’re starting to feel a little left out.

But don’t worry ! :-)

This post contains everything you need to know about the BASICS of BIDDING and BUYING on eBay.

1. So What is eBay ? :

eBay is an online AUCTION website – and not just any auction site, but the BIGGEST one in the world. If you know how an auction works, then you already know how eBay works. Someone adds something they want to sell to the site and then buyers come along and place bids on it.

The HIGHEST bid wins the item !

It’s that simple. :-)

eBay being an ONLINE auction makes a big difference, though. Buying and selling are not reserved for any elite. eBay accept almost any item, no matter how small and will then advertise it on their sites all over the world.

It’s a POWERFUL combination of an auction and a slightly chaotic marketplace.

2. What is Bidding ? :

BIDDING is when you say how much YOU will PAY for an item in an auction.

Bidding on eBay, however, doesn’t work in EXACTLY the same way as a normal auction, at least in theory.

On eBay, you tell the site what the MAXIMUM you are willing to pay for each item is and then eBay places the bids on your behalf.

That means you could say you were willing to pay up to $100 for something and ONLY have to pay $50, if that was the highest maximum bid anyone else placed.

It’s not as complicated as it sounds – the BEST way to get used to it is to give it a try.

First, the best thing to do is to go to the eBay website designed for your COUNTRY. If you don’t know the address for it, just go to http://www.ebay.com and it will tell you there.

Now, on the front page you should see a big box marked ‘search’ : just type in anything that you’d like to buy there.

Now, you should have a LIST of items for sale in front of you, along with how much people are currently bidding for them and the time when bidding ends for each item.

If you click one of these, you can read the description and then – if you’re happy with the item and happy to pay MORE than the current highest bidder is – you can bid ! :-)

3. How Do I Bid ? :

Go ahead and scroll down to the bottom of an item’s description page and type the MAXIMUM you are willing to pay (YOUR maximum bid) into the box.

Then simply press the ‘place bid’ button – you will need to SIGN IN once you press the button, or go through a quick REGISTRATION process if you don’t have an eBay username).

If someone else’s MAXIMUM bid on that item is HIGHER than yours, then eBay will tell you and give you the opportunity to bid again. Otherwise, you’re now the new highest bidder ! :-)

All you need to do now is WAIT until the end of the auction – if someone else OUTBIDS you, then eBay will email you and you can bid again.

All sounds great, doesn’t it ?

But by now, you might be wondering whether a site as seemingly chaotic as eBay can really be all that SAFE to buy from.

That’s why a LATER post on my blog will be about YOUR RIGHTS when you buy from eBay.

So, please remember to keep visiting my blog EVERY DAY.

Make your visit here part and parcel of your DAILY online routine !

That way, you will never miss out on the MANY pearls of eBay WISDOM to be discovered on my blog ! :-)

Ten Steps To Successful Selling On EBay.

So you want to be a successful seller with YOUR OWN eBay business, do you ?

Here’s a simple, ten - step path to eBay enlightenment. :-)

1. Identify your market :

Take a while to sit and watch for what sells and what doesn’t out of the items you’re interested in. Any market research data you can collect will be VERY useful to you later on.

You’ll probably see the ‘sweet spots’ quite quickly – those one or two items that always seem to sell for a good price.

2. Watch the competition :

Before you invest ANY money, see what the other sellers in your category are up to and what their strategies are. Pay special attention to any FLAWS their auctions might have, because THIS is where you can move in and beat them at their own game.

3. Find a product :

Get hold of a supplier for whatever it is you want to sell and see what the best rates you can get are – don’t be afraid to ring round quite a few to get the best deal. If the eBay prices you’ve seen are higher than the supplier’s, then you’re set.

4. Start small :

Don’t throw thousands at your idea straight away – get started SLOWLY, see what works and what doesn’t and learn as you go. Remember that it’s very cheap to try out even the CRAZIEST ideas on eBay - and who knows, they might just work !

5. Test and repeat :

Keep trying different strategies until you find something that works and then don’t be ashamed to KEEP doing it, again and again. The chances are that you’ve just found a good NICHE.

6. Work out a business plan :

A business plan doesn’t need to be anything formal, just a few pages that outline the market opportunity you’ve spotted, your strategy, strengths and weaknesses of the plan and a brief budget. This is more for YOU than it is for anyone else.

7. Invest and expand :

This IS the time to throw money at the problem. :-)

Buy inventory. Start spending more time on your business. Set a goal number of sales each week, increasing it each time.

8. Make it official :

Once you’ve made a few thousand dollars worth of sales, you should really REGISTER yourself as a business.

Don’t worry, it’s not expensive or hard to do – a lawyer is the best person to help you through the process.

9. Automate :

You’ll probably find that you’re writing the same things again and again in emails or item descriptions.

This is the time to give up on the MANUAL method and turn to AUTOMATED SOFTWARE that can create listings for you and respond to completed auctions and payments with whatever message you provide.

10. NEVER GIVE UP :

Even when it looks like it’s all going wrong, don’t stop trying UNTIL you succeed.

If you keep working at it then you’ll almost always find that you make a real breakthrough just when things are starting to look desperate.

Once you get into the swing of things, you might start thinking that you should quit your job and take up eBay selling part - time.

But it’s not always as EASY as that – there are all sorts of factors that you need to consider.

A LATER post will weigh up the case for and against taking up eBay full - time.

So please KEEP VISITING my blog EVERY DAY - you don't want to miss any potential pearls of wisdom now, do you ? ;-)

An EBay Seller's Checklist.

Being a SELLER is a lot of responsibility and sometimes you might feel like you’re not doing everything you should be.

This simple checklist will help you keep on top of things.

1. Have you found out everything you possibly could about your items ? :

Try typing their names into a search engine – you might find out something you didn’t know.

If someone else is selling the same thing as you, then always try to provide MORE information about it than they do.

2. Do you monitor the competition ? :

Always keep an eye on how much other items the same as or similar to yours are selling for and what prices they’re being offered at.

There’s usually little point in starting a fixed price auction for $100 when someone else is selling the item for $90.

3. Have you got pictures of the items ? :

It’s worth taking the time to photograph your items, especially if you have a digital camera. If you get serious about eBay but don’t have a camera, then you will probably want to invest in one at some point.

4. Are you emailing your buyers ? :

It’s worth sending a brief email when transactions go through : something like a simple “Thank you for buying my item, please let me know when you have sent the payment”.

Follow this up with “Thanks for your payment, I have posted your [item name] today”. You will be surprised how many problems you will AVOID just by communicating this way.

5. Are you checking your emails ? :

Remember that potential buyers can send you email about anything at any time and not answering these emails will just make them go somewhere else instead of buying from you.

6. Do your item description pages have everything that buyers need to know ? :

If you’re planning to offer international delivery, then it’s good to make a list of the charges to different countries and display it on each auction.

If you have any special terms and conditions (for example, if you will give a refund on ANY item as long as it hasn’t been opened), then you should make sure these are displayed too.

7. Have you been wrapping your items correctly ? :

Your wrapping should be professional for the BEST impression : use appropriately sized envelopes or parcels, wrap the item in bubble wrap to stop it from getting damaged and print labels instead of hand - writing addresses.

Oh, and always use first class post – don’t be cheap. :-)

8. Do you follow up ? :

It is worth sending out an email a few days AFTER you post an item, saying “Is everything alright with your purchase? I hope you received it and it was as you expected.”

This might sound like giving the customer an opportunity to complain, but you should be trying to HELP your customers, not take their money and run.

Being a really good eBay seller, more than anything else, is about providing GENUINELY good and honest customer service.

That’s the ONLY foolproof way to protect your REPUTATION.

Of course, you might be wondering by now whether it’s really worth all the hassle to GET a good reputation on eBay.

It is ! :-)

A Toolkit To Get Started On EBay.

If you want to sell SERIOUSLY on eBay (or another online auction site), i.e. do more than get rid of the junk cluttering up your garage or attic, you will find that the following items can really help your business, no matter what you are selling.

It is assumed that you own a computer with an internet connection and have already started your account with the online auction venue.

This beginner’s toolkit will not magically turn you into an eBay millionaire overnight (and you should beware of anyone making such claims), but it will IMPROVE your competitive position.

1. A digital camera :

Yes, eBay offers STOCK photos of items, such as books or DVDs. However, that does not help you if you are selling homemade crafts, for instance, and even if there is a stock photo, you might want to show the item from a different angle, or use a close - up.

You do not have to spend a fortune on a high - megapixel model, though an optical zoom, a macro setting and the ability to adjust white balance are essential.

Some good information on selecting a camera and photographing auction items can be found at http://www.search.reviews.ebay.com/ members/camerajim/

2. A tripod :

No matter how firmly you grip your camera, holding it in your hand can easily introduce some blurring - and auctions with blurry photos are less LIKELY to receive bids. A tripod will improve your photos considerably.

3. A photo - editing programme :

You will want to crop your image, remove irrelevant elements, adjust brightness and contrast, maybe add text or a border.

You do not need an expensive programme for this and the FREEWARE Irfanview (http://www.irfanview.com/) may cover your needs. Also, look at older versions of programmes such as Microsoft Digital Image, which can be purchased quite cheaply.

4. A digital postal scale :

As you will mail out your items to the winning bidders, it is important that you invest in a postal scale, so that you do not over- or underpay on postage.

5. Business cards :

Even if you are only starting out to sell online, you want to project a PROFESSIONAL image.

Have some business cards printed up at an office supply store or one of the many online suppliers (such as www.vistaprint.com) and include your e-mail address and website on them.

Slip in a business card with EVERY shipment and always take some with you, in case your online venture comes up in conversation.

6. Lots of Research :

Don’t sell things that you know LITTLE or NOTHING about.

Research your articles online and at your local library.

Research current prices by checking completed auctions on eBay (do a search for the item, then click on the check box “COMPLETED LISTINGS” and search again).

You can also use Auction Shark (http://www.auctionshark.com/) to check prices on RUNNING AUCTIONS at eBay, Amazon, Yahoo and Overstock.com.

Five EBay Selling Tips For Newbies.

Want to make sure you actually come ahead selling on eBay ? These five tips will help you KEEP your eBay profits.

I’m directing this article to those who are just starting their eBay selling venture.

Whether you’re selling books, DVDs, CDs, collectibles or clothing, all things (with the exception of eBooks and services) need to be MAILED.

And it’s the postage, handling fees and mailing that seems to cause a great deal of ANGST among new sellers.

You’ve heard the advice – don’t OVERCHARGE for shipping.

That is very good advice, indeed, as nothing turns off potential buyers like sellers who GOUGE you on the shipping costs.

It’s also a practice that can rack up bad feedback.

However, I’m going to play Devil’s Advocate here and suggest that you don’t go OVERBOARD and give so much of a break on shipping that you’re chipping away at your profits.

It’s good to remember the “hidden costs” of shipping : bubble wrap to secure your breakables, tape, shipping envelopes, boxes, etc.

Then there’s the gas you put in your car to take all those trips to the post office !

You might think I’m being cheap, but, if you added up all your eBay expenses for the year (as some did for their recent taxes), you might be shocked to see how all the PACKING MATERIALS and GAS for your car added up and took a little chunk out of your eBay profits.

And, believe me, they do add up.

Some people are even more surprised to find they underestimated the weight of their packages, causing their profits to shrink even further.

How can you be fair to both you and your buyers ?

1. Buy a scale :

It may sound simple, but purchasing a SCALE can save you a bundle in shipping. If you’re just eyeballing the WEIGHT of the package, you can often times guess too low and be in for quite a shock when you go to the post office and see the package is going to cost twice what you thought to ship.

2. Know the dimensions of your packaging before listing the item :

Some packages cost more to ship because of their DIMENSIONS. Knowing the WEIGHT alone isn’t enough.

3. Offer the buyer a variety of shipping methods :

Some prefer speedy delivery with Express mailing, while some prefer to save money with parcel post even though the wait is longer. It’s always a good idea when using parcel post or other slower ground shipping to ALERT the buyer by email that it can take anywhere from 8 to 10 days.

4. Save yourself money whenever possible by using boxes that have been used :

Most stores are more than happy to let you rummage through their old boxes and take some home with you. But, do remember to choose boxes that are presentable, secure and strong enough for your items. And, if you have breakables, don’t SKIMP on the bubble wrap.

5. Give yourself a small handling fee that will cover your expenses :

Some sellers add on an additional $1 or $2 to the shipping fees for their HANDLING FEES (depending on the cost of the item and how much packaging you have to use).

I really advocate doing this because your expenses WILL add up if you do a lot of selling on eBay.

Be sure to be UPFRONT with your buyers that you have a small handling fee, so they can’t complain about it later.

Being fair to both yourself and your buyer will keep you BOTH happy AND keep more of your profit in your pocket !

An Introduction To EBay Auction HTML Software.

The internet, and eBay world, have many different kinds of eBay online auction software developed by eBay programmers and eBay software developers to help create the best eBay auction sites.

Of the many great selling tools eBay offers, the eBay auction html software is considered to be one of their best software products.

In the eBay auction html software, you find a great solution for your eBay auctions, and at a great price. With the help of eBay auction html software, you can design an auction that is sure to sell and thus help you take your eBay selling to its next level.

This is eBay auction software that is excellent, easy to use and offers many useful features with it. Its main feature lies in building great auction templates for your auction needs.

An advantage of the eBay auction html software is that there is no need of having any prior HTML knowledge to create powerful auctions on the internet.

All that is needed is a simple word processor - style interface, wherein novice users too will be able to do their editing. To help you get started in creating great auctions, the eBay auction html software offers numerous PRE - DESIGNED templates for you to choose from.

All that is needed to create an auction site using eBay auction html software is to copy, paste and customize whatever layout you need from the net - and your site is ready.

If you are well versed with html, you can also DIRECTLY modify your auction template using html. In addition to all these features, this eBay auction software also offers features like Spell Checker and save function.

To make your auction site look more interesting, eBay auction html software also offers you unlimited font sizes, styles and COLOURS, in a colour palate of over a thousand.

There are also unlimited GRAPHICS for you to choose from to make your auction site as interesting and colourful as possible. So, it can be seen that the eBay auction html software is indeed a boon in the eBay internet world.

Avoiding The Pitfalls Of EBay.

EBay has opened up a whole new world in terms of monetary gain and the elimination of household clutter!

Time was that if you found that your house was simply getting too crowded, the day when the attic door just refused to open over your head or the garage was just too stuffed to fit your vehicle, you had no choice but to make a trip to the dump or await the summer garage sale season in order to get rid of some of the clutter.

The advent of eBay changed all of that, however.

Now you can eliminate the clutter around your house without the waste involved in a trip to the dump or the iffy prospects of selling at a garage sale. All you need is an Internet connection and your junk could turn into someone else’s treasure.

EBay works on the old adage that if the customer base is big enough, a seller will always be able to sell any item, no matter how obscure. This has certainly proved true so far in the short history of eBay, where three million auctions close every single day, in every conceivable area.

You might find it hard to believe, but the auction environment is such that that pile of old National Geographic magazines that you have might fetch close to their original value or even higher on the site.

There are so many opportunities that some people have made a business out of becoming eBay Power Selling professionals, with some stores netting $1,000 a day!

In order to make eBay work for you, you have to use the right approach both in your marketing and in avoiding common eBay pitfalls.

One great way to ensure sales is to purchase or borrow a digital camera to take pictures of your goods - items that have accompanying pictures are MUCH more likely to sell, and at a higher price, than are ones that are placed without a visual aid. Buyers can SEE what the product is like, including the condition it is in, and thus the chance they are taking is much lower.

In terms of pitfalls, most of the deals that go bad on eBay are avoidable if you have a good heads up.

The first issue, of course, is one of NON - PAYMENT.

If you have sold an item on eBay to a buyer who just refuses to pay, a simple task can become an arduous exercise in collections and might even end up costing you money. In order to AVOID a non-payment scenario, it is crucial to set up a payment option before you ship the goods.

If the buyer refuses to pay you, all you have to do is relist the item and start another auction.

Other eBay pitfalls mostly revolve around bad payments. Bad checks, credit card fraud, international fraud and credit card charge backs are all part of the Internet selling process.

All of these situations can now be avoided, however, by requesting payment through the eBay - developed PayPal.

PayPal is a great way to receive money from the sale of goods IMMEDIATELY and also incorporates a dispute resolution system in the event that the buyer or seller is unhappy with the outcome of the sale.

Avoiding EBay Buying Pitfalls With These Friendly Tips.

As with any market, trading on eBay is not without its hassles and snags.

First of all, it should be duly noted that eBay is an online market / transaction facilitator. It merely becomes a means for the buyer and the seller to meet.

Because of its online nature, eBay’s auction listing provides the buyers with a wide selection of goods. The buyers are also able to review the seller through the seller’s FEEDBACK RATING. This helps the buyer decide whether or not to pursue the trade.

The sellers, on the other hand, benefit from a wider audience due to the popularity of the Internet and eBay. EBay enables them to post easily, quickly and extensively.

When eBay CONNECTS buyer and seller, the transactions truly begin - as well as the headaches.

Even with the automated nature of most of today’s transactions, eBay is still built on the basic foundation of trading: TRUST.

A good deal of TRUST is involved in eBay trading.

The BUYER has to trust that the seller is listing a legitimate item and that he or she will deliver that item when paid.

The SELLER, on the other hand, has to trust the buyer to pay fully and without any hidden catches.

Here are a few of the problems one may encounter when using eBay :

1. The Seller does not deliver the product :

This is a buyer’s biggest fear. However, it is also one of the most common snags buyers encounter.

Usually, when closing a deal, the seller will email purchase instructions to the buyer. This will usually include instructions for payment. The seller will then promise to have the item delivered upon receipt of payment.

If the buyer, after fulfilling his or her part, does not receive the item within the agreed upon date, he or she should immediately try contacting the seller.

If this proves to be fruitless, he or she should then file a COMPLAINT with eBay for assistance regarding the transaction.

2. The Seller delivers a different / defective product :

Sometimes the trading is smooth. Everything goes according to schedule.

However, upon receipt of the item, the buyer finds out that the item is SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT from its description on eBay.

What should the buyer do about this?

GOOD COMMUNICATION between the buyer and seller usually brings about a speedy and satisfying end to any trading dispute. This should ALWAYS be the FIRST step when handling a dispute.

3. The Seller cannot be contacted for questions when closing the deal :

Most disputes come about due to MISCOMMUNICATION between seller and buyer.

But if the seller can't be contacted, that presents a bigger problem for the buyer, especially if that person has already fulfilled payment of the item.

Contacting eBay may help to resolve this problem and they are sometimes willing to supply further information about the seller.

Thirteen Ways To Stay Safe On EBay.

EBay is a very large website with millions of visitors each week. Some people just want to browse through and buy items, while others take this opportunity to prey upon them. Here are the thirteen ways to stay safe on eBay.

1. Beware of invitations to trade on another site :

This is a classic tactic of fraudsters. Once they make some kind of contact with you, they will invite you to purchase or sell OFF eBay. The attraction here to the scammer is that they can drive the transaction along with any lines they prefer. They will try to milk every cent out of your pocket and laugh about it.

Another reason why trading OFF eBay is not a good idea is that you have to keep your own records of the transaction. Keep in mind that you forfeit any cover from eBay buyer protection and Pay Pal buyer protection. Another thing is that you will NOT be able to leave feedback to WARN others.

2. Keep an eye on brand new sellers :

Although the vast majority of NEW sellers are genuine and honest, be very cautious of buying from people selling high priced items too early. This pattern is just not normal. Would you start out by selling high priced items on eBay? A new seller fitting this description may be someone who has been previously suspended and registered with another ID.

3. Protect your eBay ID :

Never use your email address as your eBay ID. Scammers have software that monitors internet traffic looking for information like this. If your eBay ID and email address are the same, it is simple for a fraudster to communicate with other eBay members in YOUR name. Soon enough, you might even be banned from eBay because of their illegal activities.

4. Be cautious of one day listings :

Even though one day listings are used by expert sellers with authentic items, scammers will use this method to trick you. For instance they will sometimes use one day auctions to gain a quick sale before their actions can be reported. You must be very careful with these listings.

5. You should make sure the payment methods are legitimate :

Scammers prefer to choose payment methods in which the buyer has no protection. These include wire transfers where the buyer has no way of tracing where their own money is heading. Western Union Money Transfers and Bid Pay are easily manipulated by scammers. You should AVOID them at all costs.

Postal orders are similar, although they are the popular payment method among the super star sellers. Bank transfers and personal checks can only provide the possibility of your bank investigating the details of the account the money was transferred into. For the best protection use Pay Pal and add credit with a credit card.

6. False stock photographs and descriptions :

Due to the fact that scammers do not have the physical items, they will use stock photographs. There is also a great chance that they will probably use the manufacturer's product description too. Do some research and search for other auctions by the same seller.

7. Beware of the too good to be true prices :

Scammers want your money as quickly as possible. You may find they offer to close their auction early with you as the winner having bid a price which you know to be somewhat of a bargain. If this ever occurs, you should ask yourself some serious questions. Check to see how many bids were placed before yours.

8. The language they write in has distinct grammatical errors :

A high percentage of scammers tend to operate from other continents. Due to the fact that they are not fully familiar with English, they will use a translation tool to create their emails to you. Keep a serious eye out for emails that are not in proper English. There are many legitimate sellers that cannot speak or write in English that well, but this is just another precaution you must take.

9. Be sure to know the location of the person :

Many lazy scammers will tend to mess up their locations. Their auction will state that the product is in the United Kingdom, but their ID shows their location to be in China. There is a high chance that when you contact these sellers you will receive an excuse as to why the item is not located properly and therefore cannot be collected in person. If this ever happens to you, check with Pay Pal to see where the seller is located BEFORE making a purchase.

10. Ask many questions for your own sake :

Make it a habit to ask your seller a question. Their response will help you judge how genuine they are. If the "ask a seller a question" button is NOT there, do not trust them. This could be an account hijacker trying to prevent buyers from asking any questions. The reason they want to stop this from happening is because questions can easily be routed to the real account owner.

11. Keep changing your passwords :

Try not to have the same password on your eBay and Pay Pal accounts. Make sure you change your passwords every month on both eBay and Pay Pal. This will also keep scammers and hijackers away.

12. Credit card payment :

For high value items, or for amounts of money you cannot afford to lose, make sure you pay by credit card which has online fraud protection. This will give you some recourse if the seller is fraudulent. In this context, paying via Pay Pal is not the same. Pay Pal does have a buyer protection scheme, but there are criteria which the eBay auction has to satisfy in order to qualify. Keep in mind that Pay Pal only protects to a certain amount.

13. Check the address and telephone number for safety :

Use the seller question link and ask them to send you an email with their address and telephone number. Any HONEST seller will give you their address and telephone number. When you get the number give them a call and see if you get the genuine seller themselves.

If you can follow these tips, you will easily succeed on eBay. Keep in mind that each day SCAMMERS surf through eBay looking for an easy target.

As long as you are armed with the knowledge to keep you safe, everything will be just fine.

Ten Ways To Avoid Being Ripped Off On EBay.

It is important to remember that eBay is a lot like a marketplace. There will always be a dodgy guy in the corner, selling things that most people wouldn’t touch. The trouble is that, on the Internet, these people can be a little harder to spot.

Here are ten tips to help you keep an eye out for the rip-off merchants.

1. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is ; this holds true for everything in life, but especially for eBay. Things that seem too cheap are usually too cheap for a reason – it might be a complete scam, or the items might just be of extremely poor quality. INVESTIGATE before you go further.

2. Know the value of what you want to buy : there are people on eBay who regularly bid such high prices for used cameras that they might as well have gone out and bought them brand new. Check around for prices first.

3. Only bid on real things : eBay has plenty of people who are trying to sell all sorts of schemes and scams. It is NEVER worth bidding for these, no matter how cheap they might be.

4. Don’t do anything outside eBay : occasionally people will ask you to send them money outside eBay, to avoid the fees eBay charges sellers. Any money you send this way is entirely insecure – DON'T DO IT.

5. Be careful where you send payment : people may hack into others’ accounts and ask you to send payment to addresses that eBay has not confirmed as belonging to that account – you might send your money and receive nothing in return.

6. Look out for sellers who suddenly change what they sell : sellers can look like they’ve made lots of transactions, when really they’ve never sold anything of worth. If they suddenly start selling $1,000 televisions, steer clear – the chances are they’re planning to run off with the money.

7. Beware the shill bidder : if someone who doesn’t seem to have bought anything before is constantly outbidding you on a certain item, be suspicious. It might be a seller ‘shill bidding’ to force up his item’s price.

8. Don’t use the seller’s escrow service : if an escrow service is recommended to you by a seller, it could well be owned and run by them – and they’re quite likely to keep your money and send you nothing.

9. Pay electronically : you are more likely to be able to recover any losses if you pay using a credit card instead of sending out cheques and money orders – these low-tech payment methods can’t be tracked as easily.

10. Buy from reputable sellers : each seller has a number next to their name, which is their feedback rating. The higher this rating, the more you can trust them.

On that last point, feedback ratings are the most important way that buyers and sellers can protect themselves on eBay – and you, as a buyer, have a rating too!

Five Tips To Protect Yourself From EBay Scammers.

Ebay is the world’s largest marketplace with millions of dollars of transactions taking place every day. As such, it also attracts a fair number of unwanted personnel - ebay SCAMMERS.

Here are a few tips you should note when buying and selling on ebay to avoid falling into the TRAPS set by ebay scammers.

1. Payment Terms :

Whether you are selling or buying anything on ebay, NEVER agree to use Western Union or Money Gram for your transaction. It has been proven unsafe by numerous ebay users and it is also against ebay’s safe payment policy.

2. Beware of Phishing :

PHISHING is when someone sends you a spoofed email asking for your personal details - usually from a recognized company or authority. Usually, they will have a link asking you to submit your details on that webpage.

DO NOT submit any personal information regarding your ebay login account through it. If you are not sure whether it is authentic, call ebay and ask whether an email was sent to you. In all my years with ebay, they have never sent me an email asking to verify my ebay account login or credit card details or ANYTHING of that sort. This also applies for PayPal.

3. Monitor Your Ebay Account :

You need to monitor your ebay account closely for any suspicious activity. Examples may be any feedback left, transactions closed, auctions you have listed Without your knowledge. Inform ebay the moment you suspect your ebay account is being compromised.

4. Second Chance Offers :

This seems to be the NEW favourite scam with ebay scammers and I’ve seen a couple of them. If you receive a second chance offer for an item you recently bid, check it is from your ebay Messages inbox with the title “ebay Second Chance Offer for …” If it is, it is authentic. If the email is NOT in your ebay message inbox or the email title is different, then chances are it is from an ebay scammer. If you are not sure, contact ebay and ask them to verify it.

5. Ebay Toolbar and PayPal SafetyBar :

Ebay provides a toolbar which can determine whether you are on a legitimate ebay or paypal site. My advice is to install it as it’s free. Paypal SafetyBar can also detect scam emails in your inbox.

By following the five points above, you will REDUCE your chances of being scammed by an ebay CON ARTIST !

Avoid The eBay Snipers !

Sniping often occurs when a bid is about to end.Sniping is against the rules at eBay, but in most cases, even if you report it, the sniper will get away with it. In order to avoid losing the items you want to snipers at eBay, you have to take on the sniper way of thinking.

You also need to snipe in a way that will NOT violate eBay's rules.

Sniping can be done in one of two ways.

The first way is the safest, but not necessarily the easiest. Simply keep up with the item you are bidding on.

Make certain that you are in front of your computer and logged into the auction WELL BEFORE that exact time. The idea is to either bid higher than the highest bid during the last few seconds - which is what snipers do - or to just make sure that you are not outbid by a sniper.

Keep in mind that sniping is AGAINST the rules, so you should log in about thirty or forty-five minutes before the bidding ends and get your bid up until it is the highest bid. If you've been logged in for a while, this cannot be considered sniping.

Unfortunately it is very hard to bid against people who use bidding software.

So here is the second method.

Sniping services are easy to find online and they are fairly cheap. You can also buy your own sniping software. If you want to become a sniper, purchasing your own software is usually the best way to go if you bid on a lot of items.

But remember that it is against the rules and, while eBay hardly ever enforces this rule, you will be running the risk of getting banned from eBay.

Outbidding somebody is one thing ; sniping is something altogether different.

An Easy Guide To Making Money On EBay.

One way to make money on eBay that a lot of sellers UNDERESTIMATE is by making money on RETURNS.

Items get returned to almost every seller eventually as it’s impossible to satisfy ALL of the buyers ALL of the time.

By turning your RETURNS into PROFITS, you can make money on eBay without simply SELLING your items.

If you are going to make money on eBay from your returns then it is important not to refund SHIPPING CHARGES.

You will probably make money on eBay from your shipping charges anyway if you are using cheaper materials and have a standard shipping cost for items, regardless of their weight.

If you just refund the charge of the returned items but NOT the shipping, then you are going to make money on eBay because you will be able to charge the same shipping cost to another buyer who bids on the returned item when you RELIST it.

As you have already made a profit from the shipping charge the first time, you are going to double that profit the second time you ship the item and be able to make money on eBay from your returns from your original listing.

To help you make even more money on your returned items, you can charge a RESTOCKING FEE.

This is not something that buyers particularly like and it may lead to negative feedback, but you ARE within your rights to charge a restocking fee and it is a SUREFIRE way to make money on eBay from your returns.

It would be advisable to only charge a restocking fee on more expensive or bulky items to LESSEN the chance of receiving bad feedback which will have a negative impact on your chances to make money from eBay by reducing your sales.

If you have an item returned, then the best way to make money on eBay is, of course, to list it in another auction.

However, it is important to take note of the REASON for the return to ensure that it does NOT happen the second time and make it impossible for you to make money on eBay from selling the item as it keeps getting returned.

If the item was returned because it was not what the buyer expected, then you have to make sure that you write your description MORE CLEARLY the second time around.

This will MAXIMISE your chances of having a satisfied buyer AND being able to make money on eBay that you intended to do in the first place.