A joint study by eBay and ACNielsen recently concluded that the
number-one barrier to increasing sales on eBay was finding products
to sell on the site.
Although selling items found at garage sales and secondhand
stores can be profitable, many PowerSellers would rather sell
products they can purchase from consistent suppliers. Instead of
taking one picture, creating one listing, shipping the item in a
single box, then starting over again, a PowerSeller would rather
purchase 500 of the same item, take one picture, create one
listing, use the same size box over and over again, and hit
"relist" for the additional inventory.
It's difficult to find legitimate and thorough sourcing
information. Many PowerSellers have come to trust two companies,
What Do I Sell and Worldwide Brands Inc.
Content Continues Below
What Do I
Sell is an eBay Certified Provider that teaches eBay sellers
creative, professional strategies and techniques for selecting
products to sell on eBay, locating legitimate suppliers and
effectively selling in the eBay Marketplace.
WorldwideBrands , a Certified Solution Provider, is
the only directory publisher of drop-ship and wholesale product
sourcing information on the internet.
Find a unique wholesale buying opportunity through eBay's
wholesale listing portal.
Streamlining Shipping
Though shipping is one of the more time-consuming processes of
selling online, it can be automated easily in two ways. First, make
sure your shipping area is organized and accessible. Next, reduce
or eliminate the time you spend waiting in line at the post office
by printing your postage online and having the U.S. Postal Service
pick up your packages at your house. "One of my best business
decisions was to start using Endicia for my postage needs," explains
Charlene Anderson, director of online sales for Main Event in
Jackson, Wyoming (eBay Store). "It's fast and easy to use--a
great timesaver."
eBay's integrated shipping solutions allow you to print
labels, pay for postage through PayPal, and set up a time when USPS
picks up your packages. Learn more at www.ebay.com/shipping.
Customer Service That Sells
Successful sellers on eBay realize the importance of gold-level
customer service. This service starts with your listing and
continues all the way through the post-sales process. We have all
seen the eBay listings that assume guilt--"MUST hear from you
in three days. Payment MUST be received in seven days. NEGATIVE
feedback WILL BE LEFT!" Customers can't click off those
listings fast enough. Instead, offer what your competition does
not: a pleasant buying experience.
Don't make your buyers assume anything; tell them what you
are willing to do for them. This could include gift wrapping,
shipping the gift to Aunt Martha in Oregon, gift notification and
faster delivery options. Your customer service should continue
through the communications after the purchase. Your buyers had
their choice of millions of others sellers, and they chose you.
Thank them for buying from you.
"First and foremost, I am a success because my wife and I
work hard and long hours, and our customers are our most important
business asset," says PowerSeller Bob Lippman, 61, who owns
Lippman Enterprises in Palenville, New York (eBay Store).
"If you take care of your customers, they will take care of
you."
Staying on Top
"What really helped me take my business to the next level
are the continuing education classes. I originally went to eBay
University and learned a ton," explains Tom Hergert, a
25-year-old PowerSeller and owner of Bellevue, Washington-based
Tallzag Auctions. "eBay is an
ever-changing environment, and if you lock yourself up and keep
your same habits every time, you will fall behind your
competition."
eBay University tours the United States with experts who teach
eBay sellers how to sell more effectively with classes on
photography, selling tools, eBay Stores and more. Sellers can also
take classes online in the comfort of their own home.
PowerSeller Carol Hearn (eBay Store) believes applying common sense to Hearn
Estate Jewelry and Collectibles, her Bothell, Washington-based
business, is the most important factor in keeping it on track and
growing. "If you believe everything you hear and try every
product you find in the marketplace, you'll never get your
merchandise sold. A certain amount of focus is an absolute
requirement in operating any single-person enterprise, but
especially one requiring the amount of time that selling on eBay
does," says Hearn, 59.
"The truth is that just about anyone can sell on eBay, but
a much smaller percentage have the self-discipline to do so
successfully," Hearn explains. "Even though it feels like
a game at times, it's a serious business."
Janelle
Elms is a PowerSeller, bestselling author and eBay University
instructor.
Page
1 | 2