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What am I doing wrong and why aren’t my listings getting any bids or getting sold?  I have been asked this question time and again and it never ceases to amaze me that the smallest little things on eBay can make all the difference.  The first thing that I am going to tell you that I have noticed made a lot of difference to the people that I have spoken to is when you are writing a listing, pretend you are looking at an auction for the same item.  If you can imagine what you would want to see in a good auction then it makes it so much easier to write a successful listing.

There are plenty of little things that I could go through and tell you but I am going to focus on the ones that I see most often.

1. The Picture

The Picture is more often then not, the first thing people look at.  For example, I was recently looking for a used cell phone for my brother on eBay and came across a few listings that I liked for the specific phone that I was looking for.  I opened up most of these listings for the used phones and saw either one or two dark and unclear photos or I saw a ”stock” photo from the manufacturer.  Now when you think about it, If I am buying a used phone, why would I buy one that I cant see?  My brother doesn’t want one that is totally beat up and nasty so I will be honest and say that I passed right over them before even reading the description.  I know when I am looking at a listing that the first thing I go to is the picture.  If you are really getting into selling on eBay and would like to start making some good money, the first thing I would suggest is to invest in a nice digital camera that can take clear, vibrant photos, this will make a big difference for you and your auction success.

2. Payment Options

This one is simple. I see alot of people on ebay using only Paypal.  While there is absolutely nothing wrong with Paypal, I actually prefer it., but as a seller you will attract many more prospective buyers if you offer other payment methods such as check, money order, credit card, ETC.

3. Customer Service

If you plan on staying in the eBay game for awhile you will benefit greatly from great customer service.  I can not stress enough at how much being business-like and professional is a must.  Work this eBay business like any other and treat your customers like you would like to be treated!  Dont be afraid to give a refund here and there.  Return policies are one of the best ways to make someone feel at ease with a transaction.  More people will buy and turn into repeat customers if they feel at ease with you and if they know they can trust you and someone will return something eventually but it is not going to kill you. Selling 5 things and getting one returned is better than selling 1 and not having a return policy.  Feedback is also a thing often overlooked on eBay.  Remember to always give positive feedback!  Having positive feedback is another great way to make your customers feel at ease.

4. Shipping

There is alot to be said about shipping with eBay.  I’ve noticed that not alot of people take advantage of the free shipping option.  I was looking a video game recently for about 5 dollars less than brand new so I know the person had most likely just bought it and was selling it because they didnt like it or needed the cash but either way, its doubtful that they were making a profit.  I got to skimming the listing and noticed the shipping was 8 dollars!  You will see this from time to time and in my mind, I dont know anyone who would fall for that scam and its also a good way to not sell your item!  Now I am not saying that charging for shipping and with certain items even a handling charge is a bad thing, but be fair!  Dont be the person that is out there trying to make a profit off of shipping.  It is better to be honest and fair with shipping, you will get much further in the game if you are.  Offer multiple shipping options and use multiple carriers.  I use fed-ex, UPS and the USPS, this gives your buyers options and believe it or not may help you get that sale.

So there are a few tips that you can use to enhance your auctions on eBay.  There are many other tips for the eBay seller that I will continue to write about in the future.  Try these suggestions if you are not already and I bet you will see an improvement on the number of views, bids and sales.  Good luck out there fellow eBayers!