New to eBay?

by Steve Sinclair on June 26, 2009

Many people buy on eBay, but a lot fewer people sell.  It’s fun an lucrative and you should try it!

Selling can be really complicated… you can use scripting and complicated HTML… or it can be as simple as placing a classified ad.  You should start off easy.  When the money comes in, you’ll be more motivated!

If you’re new, the first thing you should do is buy a few things on eBay. You should know a lot about the buying process before becoming a seller. Buying helps you to establish your feedback (reputation) rating, and your reputation is especially important to your potential buyers when you become a seller.

Note that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to build up your feedback as a buyer. You can shop for 99-cent items, and also look for items with low or zero shipping costs (such as e-books and other items delivered by e-mail).

Don’t forget to ask your trading partners to post your feedback – asap.

Update: My posts are now private as my blog has gone private. Thanks for looking.

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Will eBay selling make a comeback?

by Steve Sinclair on September 22, 2010

I’m normally an optimist about making money selling online, but I lost my mojo over the summer. Sales have been very slow, and I gave up for a while. But now I’m seeing things pick up a bit.

I have some steady sellers that are always on Amazon, and they just didn’t move over the past couple of months. These books are my online business barometer. Sales have picked up recently.

We’re entering the holiday sales season – which is always the best for us sellers! I’m getting my merchandise back online now, for October and November.

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I’ve been outsmarted! (again)

September 12, 2009

So, I just bought Mad Men, Season One (DVD series) from some eBay seller.  It was new in shrink wrap, and with free shipping.  But it came from Amazon… what’s up?  Did I order this twice??
NO.  I have been outsmarted!!  eBay seller g*sales [link: http://myworld.ebay.com/g*sales&ssPageName=STRK:MEFSX:SELLERID ] is offering tons of items – a lot of [...]

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$1000 in a weekend?

September 3, 2009

I think the average person can sell unwanted items that are lying around the house and make $1000 in a weekend with eBay.  Obviously, not every single weekend, but occasionally.
Why not put my money where my mouth is and try it?  Stay tuned – I’ll append this article with my results.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Update: My [...]

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PayPal Complaints

September 1, 2009

I receive e-mails from time to time saying that people hate PayPal and I should write about that.
PayPal is highly intrusive when you register or try to recover a lost password.  They are nearly impossible to deal with if you have a dispute.  It can be confusing – if you use a bank account to [...]

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Consignment Auction Management

September 1, 2009

If you sell for other people, and even if you just sell for yourself, it’s easy to get behind.  You need to keep up with collecting payments for your listings, shipping the items, and paying your consignors (if you have them), among other things.
I’ve used AuctionWorks (now MarketWorks) for years, but now I don’t.  Systems [...]

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“Junk” Silver Coins

July 31, 2009

I read about “junk” silver in Peter Schiff’s excellent 2008 book, The Little Book of Bull Moves in Bear Markets.  He incorrectly identified junk silver coins at pre-1968.  However, the correct date is really 1964 and before.
What are “junk” silver coins?  Well, this term describes US coins minted in 1964 and before (and certain ones [...]

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eBay to make sellers pay for buyer insurance

July 31, 2009

eBay recently announced a change that I think will be quite controversial.  The checkout option for buyers to pay for insurance will no longer be available.
Optional buyer charges for shipping insurance removed: The insurance option creates the perception that buyers need to purchase shipping insurance as a protection on eBay, an experience they’re not accustomed to [...]

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Underpriced BIN

July 10, 2009

So, what about scripting?  Here are some possibilities for you.
What about making a search robot, to monitor eBay for underpriced Buy-It-Now items?  Some items, and I’ll have a bunch more to say about these, almost bring close to full retail – even on eBay.  Really desirable items, like Apple accessories.  Try to find a deal [...]

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Taking Good Pictures

July 9, 2009

When it comes to photography, I am a total hack.
That’s because photography is largely art.  Most engineers (like me) have little talent.  Good photographers have a sense of perspective, color, presentation… the ability to see things.  Sure, much of that can be learned, but some people have more talent for it than others.  Engineers just [...]

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Amazon adds “Charge When Ship”

July 8, 2009

Amazon’s new “Charge When Ship” requirement (July, 2009) shows just how innovative Amazon can be.  Is it good or bad for sellers?  I don’t really know yet.  Basically, independent sellers on Amazon are now required to confirm shipment (with tracking numbers as OPTIONAL) before buyers are charged… and before the seller’s account is credited.
At first, [...]

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