THE PINK FLAMINGO shoppe
eBAYsics
NO MATTER WHAT YOU SELL!
Getting Started Buying/Selling
Free, Online Tutorials are available Learning Center, at the eBay Site .
Take a Class eBay University!
eBay Glossary, to review Terms, Tags and Icons.
eBay Acronyms, to review Abbreviations used.
Fees
eBay Fees are available, for viewing onliine.
Refer to the PayPal web site, to determine applicable fees. There is a fee schedule available, under the 'Help' link, at the top, right-hand corner of the site.
Becoming an eBay Member
Do I want to Choose an ID that relates to Me?, relates to what I would like to Sell?, or, is it one I just Like?
Is it memorable?
Is it easy to work with; is it user-friendly? (Long IDs and special characters, can make extra work and leave room for error, if someone is trying to find you, or contact you.)
Is it available? (This can easily be checked, from the eBay Site Map, using the Find a Member link.)
Remember - for Security Reasons, never relate your ID to your Password!
When you are ready to become an eBay Member, you will need to Register online, by accessing the 'Register' link, from the eBay Home Page. Note - a link to different Global Sites, is available, on the eBay Home Page, on the left-hand Navigation Bar, near the bottom.
Email Address
Do I wish to openly display an Email Address on my Listings?, on a 'me' Page?, on an eBay Storefront?
Will I need a separate Email Address, to manage my eBay Listings?
If yes, do I want that Email Address to match, or resemble, my eBay ID?
If yes, I need to see if that Email Address is available first, before I finalize my choice of eBay ID!
eBay Toolbar
Avoid getting spoofed on a fraudulent web site! Download the eBay Toolbar. It's FREE!
You can customize your buttons and include a button for the PayPal web site. The Account Guard button, on the toolbar, turns GREEN, when you use either the 'My eBay', or 'PayPal' buttons and are directed to the official site. It turns RED and a warning pops up on the screen if/when you may have been directed to a potentially fraudulent (spoof) web site.
The PayPal Connection
PayPal is an user-friendly, eBay owned, Online Payment System for Sending & Receiving Money. Choosing 'PayPal Preferred', as an eBay Listing Option, can ultimately provide additional value (i.e. Buyer/Seller Protection), to both Buyers and Sellers. PayPal offers the ability to Send/Receive Payments QUICKLY, EASILY and SECURELY, using various Methods (i.e. Credit Card, Debit Card, Cash/Bank Account, eCheques/eChecks). There are Radio Buttons (sometimes referred to as Radial Buttons), available on the PayPal web site. These can be added to your listings, providing an easy, point-and-click method, for Buyers to use, to pay for their purchases. Refer to the PayPal web site, for further details.
There is a 'PayPal' button, on the eBay Toolbar, which takes you, securely, to the PayPal web site.
Becoming a Verified PayPal Member, adds to your online credibility; verification instructions are available, online, at the PayPal web site.
If you wish to link your PayPal ID/Email Address to a Bank Account, only one (1) ID, set up on any individual PayPal Account, can be linked to any one (1) Bank Account; this is important to know, should you ever consider utilizing additional/multiple IDs, or, if anyone you share the Bank Account with, wishes to have their own, separate, ID Account. However, you can add, multiple Email IDs, to one account. The distinction is important to note.
PayPal offers an ATM/Debit Card to select members, located in specific Geographic areas; this information is not, immediately, visible on your PayPal screen, when you log in, until you become eligible (a minimum of 60 days enrollment, is required, among other criteria); further details are available on the PayPal web Site.
Finding your Niche
Sometimes, this is trial & error; don't be afraid to try different strategies!
Remain flexible; markets change - you need to be able to adapt!
Selling what you like, what you know and what interests you, may make you more disposed to be better at it.
Watch the *PowerSellers* (see Glossary, above) at work; do your homework; if you can determine patterns to the strategies of other, successful eBay Sellers, migrate their thought process and apply it to your own site; what works well for others, may work well for you too!
Customizing [Listings, Store, 'me' Page]
Creating professional-looking ads and maintaining a consistent over-all, look and feel to your items and/or your Storefront, adds to your online reputation.
PHOTOS! PHOTOS! PHOTOS! If a picture is worth a thousand words, in a virtual world, do not underestimate the value of good, digital photography! Choosing Gallery, as a listing upgrade, heightens the visibility of your items, when an auction search is returned, to a viewer.
Standardizing the background of your photos, not only improves the quality of the photos, but it can complement any theme, or colour scheme, you may want to adopt, particularly if you decide to open a storefront.
Think Beyond the Template - there are a number of HTML aids (eBay and otherwise), available on the Internet, to help you to customize your Listings, Store, or 'me' Page. To access eBay help for HTML, click on the following links: Special HTML Tags , HTML Tips.
Request a Cross-Promotion Connection, with other eBay Sellers, whose listings or business you trust. To learn more about this advertising opportunity, click on this link: Cross-Promotion Overview . To request such a Connection, click on this link: Cross-Promotion Connection . VISIBILITY IS KEY. And, as they say in Hollywood - "there's no such thing as bad publicity". The more exposure your items get, the more opportunity you have, to make a sale!
Andale has 100 Counter types to choose from. Select a Counter Style that complements your online eBay presence. Although there is a limited number of styles available, within Turbo Lister, additional styles may be accessed, directly from the Andale web site. Simply sign into the Andale web site, using your eBay ID, go to Counters, select your items for sale and click on the 'Edit Counter Style' button, at the bottom of the screen. The next screen, at the bottom, will give you the 'Choose Counter Style and Options'. These are easy-to-use, drop-down menus. Simply choose the style and options you prefer, then click on the 'Edit Counters' button.
Turbo Lister
Free Database Listing Software, Turbo Lister is available for downloading, from the eBay web site. This software application resides on your desktop, not online.
Use of this free application, allows you to store your listings, photographs, preferences and specialized information, on file, indefinitely.
Listings may be created at any time, without being connected live, to the Internet. They can be saved, inside the Turbo Lister database, until such time as you are ready to upload them. When ready, simply connect to the Internet, launch Turbo Lister, go to upload the listings and the application will deliver them, independently, to the eBay web site.
Similar or duplicate items, may easily be created, using existing listings, already sitting in the database.
Formatting tools, available within the software, simplify the Listing and Customization processes.
Storefront - Before you Open the Doors
Define your style/appearance (you may want to have a Custom Logo).
What Store Categories would you like to display?
Additional Customized Information and Tools, can be added to your Store Banner, by turning on the 'Full eBay Header' option, under the 'Store Design/Display Settings' links, found on the 'My eBay' screen. Click on THE PINK FLAMINGO shoppe to see an example of a Customized Header.
Do you want eBayers to know something about you? If so, consider creating a 'me' Page, to provide Members a bit of insight, into you, as a reputable Seller: Create 'me' Page .
Keeping up-to-date on the latest eBay Store Owner's News, is easy!
Standardized Maintenance
FEEDBACK is your Reputation!!! For further information, refer to the following Notes on Feedback .
Some Sellers prefer to create a standardized 'Feedback' comment. Having a feedback comment, that defines you, as a Seller, or is eye-catching, is another opportunity to enhance your online presence.
There is a 'Feedback' button, on the eBay Toolbar, which takes you, directly, to that section of 'My eBay'.
Under the 'Sold' items section of 'My eBay' , using the 'Notes' feature, can help you keep track of the status of each sale (i.e. - Has it been Invoiced? What's the Shipping? Has Payment been Remitted?). This is also handy to indicate if an item is ready for Shipping, or has already been Shipped Out.
Inputting Shipping/Tracking Details, on PayPal, under each Paid Item's Detail Page, does a couple of things: (1) it generates an email to the Buyer, with the Shipping Status and/or Tracking Information you input and (2), it retains the information, for your reference, on the screen, should you return to the detail page, at a future time.
Posting Answers, to questions, on the individual Item Description on eBay, indicates to Buyers, that other eBayers have been making inquiries about an item they may be interested in purchasing. This may encourage them to bid or 'Buy it Now'.
Check 'My Messages' on a regular basis; timely response to Customers is key to building a good reputation and encourages the receipt of Positive Feedback.
Housekeeping Items
Educate yourself on the Tools and Services available, within the eBay Community.
Review the Site Map .
To seek, or provide, Support, consider joining eBay Groups, appropriate to your Business and your eBay Interests. To join a Group, go to the Community Link at the top of your screen and click on Groups . Before joining a specific Group, you will be asked to sign into eBay again. This is a secondary security measure.
Keeping up-to-date is easy. You can, if you wish, receive a daily email of eBay's latest Announcements. To sign up, follow the links to the Groups section above. Under the Category 'News & Events', click on Announcements . There is a list of Groups, available to join, based on which, specific Announcements, you would like to receive.
There is an 'Announcements' button, on the eBay Toolbar, which takes you, directly, to the Announcements.
If you enjoy staying current, by listening to Audio, consider joining in on eBay Radio. For more information, visit wsradio.com/ebayradio .
eBay runs free Workshops ; anyone can join! It's another great way to keep up-to-date with the latest events.
If you need HELP , this link is at the top of your eBay screen.
There is a link to LIVE HELP, below the search bar, of the eBay Home Page. Just click on the link. An eBay Live Chat window will pop up. You enter your eBay ID, in the text box and then select the Category you wish to discuss, from the drop-down menu, in the box below. Then, just push the button on the screen labelled 'Send' and you will be put into queue to chat live, online, with an eBay Customer Service Representative. Once your Chat Session is finished and ended, a box will pop up again, to give you an opportunity to have the discussion emailed to you, for future reference.
As your business grows, you will, no doubt discover that, there are many additional tools, products and services, that can be acquired, to help you take your business to the next level. That's all there is to it!
Becoming a PowerSeller
PowerSeller Overview .
PowerSeller Criteria.
HERE'S TO YOUR ENJOYMENT AND SUCCESS, AS AN eBAY SELLER!
This eBay Guide is maintained by babe-in-the-woods 'about me' 'eBay Store'.
email: babeinthewoods @ rogers . com
PLEASE VOTE ! ! !
Orignal From: "eBAYsics! " 漏 - THE PINK FLAMINGO Seller's Guide
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