eBay the smart way: selling, buying, and profiting on the Web’s #1 auction site

Joseph T. Sinclair9780814472040, 0814472044

The go-to resource for first-timers and veterans alike

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Table of contents :
eBay the Smart Way
Third Edition……Page 2
eBay the Smart Way
Third Edition……Page 1
eBay the Smart Way……Page 3
Copyright……Page 6
Contents……Page 9
Acknowledgments……Page 19
I Introducing eBay……Page 21
1 Introduction to eBay……Page 23
Markets……Page 25
A Terrific Place to Shop……Page 34
What¡¯s Up?……Page 35
2 Opportunities for Buyers……Page 37
Individuals……Page 38
Risk……Page 40
Transaction Overhead……Page 41
Summary……Page 43
3 Opportunities for Sellers……Page 45
Individuals……Page 46
Retailers……Page 48
Transaction Overhead……Page 52
Summary……Page 55
II Learning to Use eBay……Page 57
4 How eBay Works……Page 59
User Agreement……Page 60
Navigation……Page 62
Preparation……Page 70
Registration……Page 71
Auctions……Page 74
After the Auction……Page 83
Escrow Services……Page 84
Researching Market Values……Page 86
Representing Yourself……Page 88
Security……Page 90
Community……Page 94
eBay Customer Service……Page 96
Summary……Page 99
5 Bidding……Page 101
Bidding……Page 102
After Your Bid……Page 111
Optional eBay Bidding Features……Page 113
Illicit Merchandise……Page 118
Summary……Page 120
6 Selling……Page 121
Sellers ( Auctioneers)……Page 122
Rating the Condition of the Item……Page 126
Entering an Auction……Page 129
Authentication and Other Protections……Page 133
After You List the Auction……Page 137
Summary……Page 140
7 Reputation……Page 143
eBay Feedback System……Page 144
It¡¯s Their Reputation……Page 156
How the System Works……Page 158
Evaluating a Person¡¯s Reputation……Page 161
Conclusion……Page 163
8 Reporting and Recourse……Page 165
Most People Are Honest, But ¡……Page 166
Negotiate……Page 168
Remedies……Page 169
Prevention……Page 181
eBay Offenses……Page 182
Summary……Page 185
III Bidding Strategies……Page 187
Realities……Page 189
Strategies……Page 191
Tactics……Page 198
Summary……Page 215
IV Selling Strategies……Page 217
10 Customer Service……Page 219
The Occasional Seller……Page 220
The Part- Time eBay Business……Page 222
The Full- Time eBay Business……Page 226
A Little Bit More……Page 230
Response Times……Page 231
Shipping and Handling……Page 232
Communication……Page 237
How to Get Organized……Page 238
PowerSellers……Page 240
Amazon. com……Page 241
Benchmarks of Customer Service……Page 242
Where the Gold Is……Page 243
Summary……Page 244
11 Handling Images……Page 245
Photography Tips……Page 246
Digitizing Photographs……Page 248
Tools and Services……Page 253
Making Photographs Available……Page 254
Making It Happen……Page 258
Other People¡¯s Photographs……Page 259
Summary……Page 262
eBay Advertising……Page 263
Unique Products……Page 269
Presenting the Ad……Page 270
Using an eBay Ad Template……Page 287
The One- Line Title……Page 294
Summary……Page 298
13 Conducting Auctions……Page 299
General Auction Techniques……Page 300
Database Techniques……Page 317
Summary……Page 318
14 Handling Multiple Auctions……Page 319
Databases……Page 320
How Many Auctions?……Page 322
Turbo Lister……Page 323
15 Taking Payment……Page 329
Payment Methods……Page 330
Escrow……Page 335
Summary……Page 336
16 PayPal……Page 337
Verification……Page 338
How It Works……Page 340
The Bank……Page 345
And There¡¯s More……Page 346
17 Auction Management Services……Page 347
The eBay Industry……Page 348
What to Do?……Page 349
What Is a Service?……Page 350
Andale……Page 352
eBay¡¯s Management Software……Page 355
Other Software……Page 356
eBay¡¯s Standard Software……Page 359
Summary……Page 360
V Useful Aids to Selling on eBay……Page 361
18 Using Web Authoring Software……Page 363
Multimedia and the Web……Page 364
Composer……Page 365
Summary……Page 370
19 Using Image Software……Page 371
The Digital Darkroom……Page 372
File Formats……Page 378
Summary……Page 379
VI Advanced eBay for Sellers……Page 381
Compared to What?……Page 383
The Plan……Page 384
Professional Services……Page 389
Services Included……Page 392
Speculative……Page 393
Summary……Page 394
21 Building a Website……Page 395
eCommerce……Page 396
A Less Serious Website……Page 408
Marketing……Page 409
Summary……Page 410
22 Sources of Inventory……Page 411
Acquiring Inventory……Page 412
Summary……Page 421
VII Specialty Auctions……Page 423
23 Local Auctions……Page 425
Regional Auctions……Page 426
24 eBay Stores……Page 431
Online Realities……Page 432
Marketing Realities……Page 433
Use the Stores……Page 434
Summary……Page 438
25 eBay Motors……Page 439
Buying a Car Nationally……Page 441
Selling a Car Nationally……Page 453
Summary……Page 457
26 Business Marketplace……Page 459
Basic Considerations……Page 461
Specialty Auctions……Page 464
Summary……Page 469
27 Half. com and Live Auctions……Page 471
Half. com……Page 472
Live Auctions……Page 478
Summary……Page 479
28 Elance……Page 481
Professional Services……Page 482
Seller¡¯s Cost……Page 484
A Buyer¡¯s Opportunity……Page 485
Conclusion……Page 488
29 eBay International……Page 489
Buying Far Away……Page 491
Selling Internationally……Page 493
Resources……Page 496
Summary……Page 497
Appendix I Top 10 Tips……Page 499
Appendix II Top 9 Tips……Page 503
Appendix III Top 8 Tips……Page 507
Appendix IV HTML Tutorial……Page 511
Markups Alphabetically……Page 513
Summary……Page 528
Appendix V Two- System Marketplace……Page 529
Index……Page 535