I bought on ebay and soon time to learn to sell.

[Huffa]

I know they have all the info on ebay but would someone with vast selling knowledge, fill me in on all the details?

I thought somewhere I read it cost to post pictures, is that true?

What about pay-pal?

I know nothing about selling so don't be afraid to write a loooong post on the subject.

I have one ? that bugs me. Why don't alot put a reserve on things? I got a few items that should have fetched a lot more $$. Do they feel a reserve will slow down the bidding once it hits that or what?

What happens if the item doesn't sell - you pay a small fee?

I could go on and on and ON with ?s. I'll just leave you describe the selling I guess then ask :confused: ?'s.

Thanks!! :beer

[chris200x]

I believe they charge a little extra for a reserve price and for pics. the price also varies for the amount of time the auction is. 5 day 7 day etc. they have alot of diffrent ways to get a peice of your pie. You really got to read the fine print. I've personallly never sold anything but my freinds have. there are also some ways around certian terms. Like selling a complete bike listed as parts bike so you don't have to pay certan fees. I'm sure alot of guys on here can add to this.

[Trackburger]

The best way for you to learn how to sell is to click on the sell button....follow the steps, it's really easy. The reason I say this is because there are so many different things you can do while setting up to sell an item that there is no single way of doing it. As far as pics go, the first one is free, each additional one is 15 cents (unless its changed in the last month or two) a reserve fee is a little more and so is a buy it now ( 5 cents) Reserves can be good and bad, depends on the item. Timing is everything, usually best to let an auction run the normal 7 days, try to have it end on a sat or sun night, however if someone wants it bad enough, they will be up at 2am on a wed if need be...LOL :p Try a starter auction....just list something you domnt really care about from around the house just to see how things go. If you want a certain amount for something, either start the auction at that or set a reserve. If you add the option of a buy it now, with no reserve and somone places a bid your buy it now will automaticly go away.
Every option you add to your auction, for example , a border, or a highlighted listing costs a little more, however, most of these things are not nessicary (SP?) but if you do want them the free is minimal. you can usually sell an item for a few bucks, if that. A complete bike is another story. Some people like to only look at the pics at the front of an auction, Its worth the 25 cents in my opinion to add the gallery pic. what ever the first picture you download is will be the gallery picture.
Like I said, your best bet is to click on "sell an item" and go from there. It will walk you through step by step and show you how much evetyyhing costs to add in, and at the end it will tell you how much it will cost you,....If you dont like the price, dont submit the auction. I promise you it is very easy, and I wish I started selling sooner. There is ALOT of money to be made out there. :D
Hope this helps and I hope I didnt make things worse!!! Good luck with your first auction!!! :Bounce

[Orangecnty250r]

The following is just my opinion -People have other views.

I think the Gallery picture in front of the item is very worth it also. Just make it a good picture and clean your items if you want to maximize what your getting. I ve seen to many junky looking things that would probably clean up nice. Make them look good but Be VERY honest about flaws if you want to maintain good feedback. Add a couple of other pictures also. I dont use all that other crap (borders etc) I do use the little phrases under the item title if its something rare or unique im selling.

Also if your selling parts is easier to just do it while your their and list a bunch of things at once. Save your boxes and packing materials or newpapers.

I personally dont like reserves- Yes they can faciltate bids but I think they are annoying for the buyer- who wants to bid knowing it may not count- plus you wonder what the hidden high reserve may be- I just believe its a turn off. On the up it could give you an idea on what the market will pay without having to sell it

I like to start the bidding at the lowest price I will take for an item-(what its worth to me to leave my shop) no reserve. That way I dont have to play the ebay game of shill bidding--(wrong) having buddys bid my stuff up so I dont have to let it go to cheap.
This way I list it and dont have to worry about it or what it goes for.

Really these guys who list their ATVs/Bikes for a buck or 100 bucks . Are they really going to sell it for a dollar if there is only one bidder- The answer there is NO. I think it may facilitate bids which may peak interest but I believe that a person sometimes puts their own worth on things on youll see them at the end of the auction if they really want your item.

I only start really low if I just want to get it out of my shop to make room and dont care what I get for it.

Buy it Nows is a gamble for the seller- You can sometimes get a good dollar for a rare part because people may feel they should buy it before someone else does -They could lose the opportunity for the part hence they may click buy it now for an amount that is good for you-- The downside for a part that is more rare - if you let the bidding go to the end you may be shocked what you get for it. A tough decision sometimes.

If you have no buyers try again after a couple of weeks but if you get no bites the price may be to high and the market has spoken.

You still get charged a small fee(listing fee) if you dont sell-If you sell ebay also gets a little piece of that pie. If you allow the buyer to use paypal they also get a little piece of that pie unless you list in in your auction "buyer is responsible for paypal fees".

I do recommend paypal though- I Love it for buying and selling.

I make sure my auctions end on a Saturday or Sunday to maximize how many people may be sitting home at their computers (I usually pick evening hours to end so its a good time for east coast and west coast buyers to bid.

Shipping - I ve done this for a while now so I do have good estimating skills but have been burned before. I first looked at what other people auctions were charging for similar items. Rear wheels and tires are the worst to ship $$$ wise. I list the estimate in my auction. I've never used the Shipping calculator (this may be good -Dont know). One person I just bought two items off of said buyer to pay actual shipping and handling. Get this one::

I bought a Tri Z seat and Tri Z front wheel/tire and he invoiced me a 75.00 charge to ship from PA to NY. I was shocked and he wasnt budging in negotiations. His auction just said buyer to pay shipping charges. After several emails I come to find out the he is taking it to a shipping place that charges $20.00 per package for the box, packing, and tape-- then you pay the shipping on top of that. He was a new seller and told him I could allow a couple of bucks for "handling"" but its an unspoken rule in ebay that people do not expect to pay for that kind of service for ATV parts. Maybe tiffany lamps would be different for the wealthly. I told he should word his ads differently to avoid problems. Ultimately in the end I got the shippings costs down.

If I have a bunch of auctions going I box the item as soon as I get the first bid- that way I dont have to box a bunch of stuff in the end at once because I hate that.

Thats all I can think of for now

Thats just the way I do it --other people do it differently.
Good Luck

[Huffa]

Thanks you guys! :beer

That's a whole lot of good info there!

I'll be sure and let you know how it goes and I would have freaked out too over that seat and wheel.