some notes on ebay from an addicted buyer. [View all]

so, i have been bitten soooo hard by the ebay bug. my collection of fp little people has taken over my whole front room.
so i thought i would share some notes from my experience on the other side of the keyboard.

first, do not try to pad your profits w high shipping charges. lots w free shipping will be much more competitive. we are not stupid, we look at the total cost of the auction. $30-40 shipping charges are a huge turnoff.
smart buyers know this, i must admit. i look for these auctions because in the end the price is lower.

second, take good pictures! dont post fuzzy ass pics. dont take a pic of half your living room and your oriental carpets. again, i look for these auctions. i know the product well enough that i dont have to see that well. and i am expecting things in rough condition, because i am only looking for played w condition. i have gotten a few real steals this way.

third, dont.even.use.a.reserve. just start the bidding at your best price. i find there is a quirk in the ebay system here. i bid on an item with a reserve. i bid over 2x the starting bid, and the reserve was still not met. but here is the thing, until someone else came along an hit the reserve, my bid did not even count. it was only about $10 short of the $70 reserve, but it didnt even count. i did win the auction, but i cursed the seller as my bid sat there not counting. turned out the reserve was 4x the starting bid. that is just flat out stupid. it could have ended up unsold, as many auctions w reserves do.

most of these flaws are certainly inexperienced sellers. you dont see them in the more successful sellers.
dont be them.