eBay is known to be one of the best outlets to buy items for a fraction of the price, find sold out items or just land yourself a great bargain. For sellers, this is great way to easily sell your unwanted goods and get a profit in the process. However, there are certain ways to get the best out of your eBay experience, and here’s how.
For Buyers
Do Your Research
Get a rough idea how much the items you want to buy are selling for, in order to know how much you should be aiming to pay.
Look At Reviews
Check out those seller reviews, they are always from people who have previously bought from them so it’s always good to see other peoples experiences with that seller.
Take Note Of Sellers Location
If an item is madly cheap and will not arrive for another 20 days then there are high chances it is coming from countries such as China, this is fine as long as you know how long you should expect to wait.
Read The Description
Make sure you read the listings descriptions; this is where the seller has a chance to disclose any faults or problems so make sure you do not miss this.
Message The Sellers
If you are unclear on an item due to their description then make sure you message the seller. If you are going to spend money on their items then it is important to know exactly what you are getting.
Get The App
The Ebay app for iOS and Android works really well and means that even if you are out the house when your watched item runs out, you can still place a max bid.
Leave Feedback
When you receive your item, it is important to leave feedback. This will show the seller you received the item and are happy/unhappy with it and will act as reference for their future buyers.
For Sellers
Choose ‘Buy It Now Or Best Offer’
This is a great new feature to Ebay which allows you to set your price but giving the buyer a chance to knock the price slightly and feel they have gained a bargain.
Set Your Price Slightly Higher
If using the ‘Best Offer’ feature, then set your ‘Buy It Now’ price slightly higher in order to let the buyer think they’re getting the best deal but you are also happy with the price.
Don’t Try To Profit From P&P
Everyone knows the real price of postage, so do not be that annoying person that tries to profit a few extra pounds with ridiculous postage costs.
Post Listings At Prime Times
Aim to post your listings when people are most likely to be able to get their bids in, for example a Saturday or Sunday evening when most people don’t have work.
Use Key Words
Use key words in your listing, such as the brand, size, colour and condition of the product. Your item will not be found if you list is as ‘Topshop top’ as there will be thousands of other items that meet this criteria.
Communicate Well
Communicate with your buyer’s well, give them tracking details and ensure they are happy with their purchase. This will make the experience of buying from you a lot better.
Mark Items As Dispatched
Aim to post quickly and mark your items as dispatched on the listing. This keeps the buyer in the loop and gives them reassurance as a buyer.
Be Honest
Always be honest when listing your items, this could save you the long process of sorting an Ebay or Paypal dispute if the buyer finds a fault you had not clearly listed.