Now, are you ready for the REAL TRUTH about selling on eBay?
It’s simple; don’t list too many items for sale using their auction format. Instead, set up one of their stores. The cost starts at just $9.99 per month.
Why is this a good idea?
Let’s do the math:
If you list an item for sale using the auction format, the cost is anywhere from $.35 on up to several dollars PER AUCTION. What’s worse is that the auctions are only good for 3, 5, 7, or 10 days.
BETTER WAY: Sell the item in your eBay store. The listing price is just 2 or 3 cents per item…and get this…They’re good for a FULL 30 days! For example, I recently sold a $500 item that I listed in my eBay store. The listing cost me a whopping 3 cents! The same item, if I’d sold it using the auction format, would have cost me several dollars!
Using eBay’s Auction format to list 500 items at a minimum of $.35 each = $175.00 (and these are only good for 7 days each so you’d have to list them 4 times each per month) $175 x 4 = $700.00
List the same 500 items in your eBay store @ just $.03 each = $15 + the $9.99 monthly store fee = $24.99 and they are listed for a full 30 days each!
You save $675.01 per month! HOLY SMOKES!
I’m sure you can clearly see the benefit here. Of course you will want to sell a few CHEAP items using the auction format to try to generate interest & drive customers to your eBay store where they will buy MORE from you. Make sure every auction listing contains a link to your eBay store & TELL THE CUSTOMER TO VISIT YOUR STORE. Sell 10 or so of your 3 or 4 or 5 dollar items as auctions…just enough to get some traffic to your store.
Now, what is it that the REALLY successful PowerSellers do?
They maximize the “back-end” sale.
What this means to you is that once a customer has bought from you, the hard part is over. Now having done business with you, they TRUST you to deliver the goods. You MUST & I REPEAT, MUST try to get that customer to buy again & again.
Never, ever, send a package to a customer without including a sales flyer, catalog or some other special offer in the package to try to entice them to make another purchase. Email them a special offer every week or so.
You NEED repeat customers. Going after the lone, one-time sale is a losing battle. You will not be successful unless you get them to buy again & again & do this with every person you deal with.
Send a thank-you note via postal mail or eMail to every customer & use that opportunity to SELL THEM SOMETHING ELSE.
Another tip:
Sell CONSUMABLE items. You know, stuff that people need to order fairly often. Like socks, t-shirts, work gloves, food items, towels & linens, printer ink cartridges, sell shipping materials to other eBay sellers. You will get REPEAT orders from these customers for months and even years to come.
Mike Nalbone is the creator of “The Wholesale Detective” http://www.nalbone.org/detective/ which is a complete resource for people seeking to utilize drop shipping to start or expand their own business.
In 2002, the eBay consignments business was born, referred to by eBay as the Trading Assistant Program.
It’s possible that eBay didn’t foresee just how much they would benefit form their eBay consignments program. Designed to unite experienced eBay sellers with people who want heir merchandise sold on eBay without having to do it themselves, the Trading Assistant program has enjoyed enormous success.
As big as eBay had become — larger than all other online auction venues combined — they were still missing out on a large segment of the population; the technophobes. These people would sell goods on eBay if they had access to a computer and a digital camera, and had the time and inclination to learn how to run an auction. But they either don’t have the technology or they lack the desire to become auctioneers, or both. Since they’re not on line, they’re not likely to learn about Trading Assistants who advertise primarily through eBay. And even if they saw the ads, they probably wouldn’t trust them.
You see, people active in the online community are already comfortable with the environment, which has an element of anonymity. But a non-computer person is more likely to want to deal with a real, brick-and-mortar retail business. They may not trust someone who runs auctions out of their home.
How to reach these people? Introducing the concept of the “Trading Post”…
A Trading post is to eBay consignments what the typical consignment shop is to the average community. It’s a drop off location that allows consumers to drop their stuff off and have it sold for them as a service. It’s a retail location that markets itself to consumers as a local, experienced ebay consignments seller — a Trading Assistant with a brick-and-mortar store.
While any ebay trading assistant can establish an ebay consignments service out of a retail location, only a Trading Post can put the eBay brand on their physical storefront.
(A trading assistant can only advertise inside their store). With this privilege comes a higher standard, ie, eBay has “raised the bar” on their requirements.
A Trading Post must meet the following additional requirements:
-Offers a staffed drop-off location or storefront with regular drop-in hours, so that clients can visit the location without calling ahead.
-Has a feedback score of 500 or higher
-Has at least 98% positive feedback
-Has sales of at least $25,000 on eBay each month
Online, clients can search for Trading Posts specifically, and Trading Posts may receive priority placement in search results. (Yes, even some online clients prefer the retail setting). Also, Trading Posts are displayed with a special icon next to their User ID. If you’re a Trading Assistant who also meets the requirements, you automatically qualify as a Trading Post and do not need to take additional steps.
Walt Duflock, Director of the eBay Trading Assistant Program and a real life trading assistant, has announced eBay’s intention of having “secret shoppers” and “customer satisfaction surveys” to see if there are certain Trading Post locations eBay would like to support more than others.
Regardless of your status on ebay, there are tools that everyone can use to build their success as TAs, available on the ebay site. I’ve found many of them quite valuable. For example, among their efficiency tools, they recommend using contact management software. eBay regards this as a great tool for getting “a better understanding of how many prospects it takes to actually create one new client and how long it takes for a client to go from initial contact to hiring you as a TA.”
And as far as support, some of the Trading Posts have become so large that they no longer rely on eBay for help. Some have developed their own proprietary systems for tracking customers and inventory, and managing their auctions. The largest and most successful ebay consignment business will even get you started with your own franchise which includes the use of their proprietary systems. All you need to come up with is $55 K plus operating expenses.
But, never fear. You can start your ebay consignment business on a shoestring, and this is how the majority begin. Since 1998, eBay and similar auction sites have been growing by leaps and bounds. eBay consignments are still in their infancy, but I predict a very bright future!
© Copyright 2004 Carolyn Schweitzer DDS. Dr. Schweitzer was a family dentist for 20 years and is now owner and editor of several websites. You can learn more about where to find specific links to the Trading Assistant and Trading Post programs by visiting her website at http://www.netbrainer.com/site/500041/page/449460.
