Auction Information

Four Huge Mistakes Ebay Sellers Make (Even Some Moderately Successful Ones)


No matter how many times I see it happening, I'm
constantly amazed at the number of people who are
literally throwing money away by making incredibly
simple mistakes when they sell items in an online
auction.

Over the last seven years, I've been making a great
living buying and selling products on eBay and other
online auction sites, and I've perfected a technique
that pretty much guarantees anyone can start making a
profit right away. That technique starts with avoiding
mistakes like these -- mistakes I've seen people make
every day for those same seven years.

If you're doing any of these four things, you're
leaving money on the table with every single item you
sell.

* Listing an item at the wrong time. It's a proven fact
more buyers browse Internet auction sites on Sunday
evenings than any other time during the week. If your
auction is scheduled to end at any other time than
Sunday evenings (specifically between 9 p.m. and 11
p.m. Eastern time), you're not getting the maximum
exposure for your auction at a time when people are
most eager to buy.

* Not giving your photos the attention they deserve.
There are two common mistakes people make with the
photos they use to entice buyers on eBay. One is not
having enough pictures to accompany your item's
description. Over the years, I've learned pictures of
your item are one of the most important components of
your sales page. (There are many reasons for this, but
I don't have the space to go into much detail here.)
Multiple pictures from various angles will ALWAYS help
you get higher bids for your products. The second
mistake is not making sure the pictures are up and
running on whatever server you're using BEFORE you list
your item. How many times have you been browsing an
auction site and seen a blank box where a picture of
the item should have been? That's a seller who's losing
money because of a very simple, and very common,
oversight.

* Using "Las Vegas style" listings. I'm sure you know
what I'm talking about here. A Las Vegas listing is one
that uses all kinds of flashing animation, multicolored
text and other bells and whistles in an attempt to
entice bidders. In fact, it does just the opposite.
Listings like these are distracting, hard to read, and
will always discourage people from bidding, resulting
in a lower final sales price. The descriptions that you
give of your item on your sales page ARE NOT designed
to get a buyer's attention (you already have that if
they've clicked on your listing in the first place).
They should be designed to get someone to actually
place a bid.

* Using a reserve. Using a reserve to guarantee that
you'll get a minimum price for an item will absolutely
kill your auction. Trust me, I've seen it happen too
many times to not accept this as a given. In fact, I
often use other seller's auctions that have a reserve
as a way to pick up items at ridiculously low prices
that I can sell "the right way" for a huge profit a few
days later -- but that's a different article
altogether. For now, just realize that nothing scares
away potential bidders better than seeing the "Reserve
Not Yet Met" tag. If you're truly concerned about a
minimum price, simply set your starting price a little
higher.

John Reese has been actively involved with online
auctions and eBay since 1996. Mr. Reese has written
several articles on the subject and has recently
created the "Internet Auction Secrets" Video for
teaching others how to start, run, and manage a
successful online auction business from home.

His 2-Hour Step-By-Step Video comes with access to
a "Student's Only" web site where his students can
keep up with the latest tips, tricks, and techniques.
You can learn about how *you* can become one of his
students at: http://www.auctionsecrets.com

NOTE to Editors:  Feel free to join our affiliate program
and substitute your own affiliate link for our URL in bio box.
Go to http://www.auctionsecrets.com/affiliateprogram.html

NOTE2: You may run this article provided you run it with the bio
box intact. Please email a copy of your publication with article
in it to the author's publicist at ArticleDeptBill@rtir.com


MORE RESOURCES:

MutualArt.com

Top auction houses to put art market rally to test
Reuters
By Mike Collett-White | LONDON (Reuters) - Auction houses pinching themselves after bumper 2011 sales are now turning their attention to 2012, amid cautious optimism that the two-year bull run for top works of art will continue.
Surreal Art positioned to steal the show at $265 million London auctionsMutualArt.com
Final portion of Elizabeth Taylor Collection to go on salePanARMENIAN.Net

all 23 news articles »


Fewer buffalo, higher prices from past years mark stock show auction
Rapid City Journal
He travels to auctions in Custer, Denver and Rapid City looking for animals, he said. "People tend to bring their better bulls to these things," White Thunder said. "They say if you go to a ranch, it's kind of like a feed lot so you don't really know ...

and more »


Wayne Co. offers homes in Detroit for cheap
The Detroit News
In a stark sign that paying property taxes is optional for some in Detroit, Wayne County Treasury officials decided last week its workers will go door-to-door to some of the 6500 city properties unsold at last fall's tax auctions and offer to make a ...

and more »


Belfast Newsletter

Bargain homes bagged at auction
Belfast Newsletter
BARGAIN hunters were celebrating this weekend after seizing on the collapse in property prices to snap up super-cheap houses at auction. Twenty-four residential lots, starting from ÂŁ10000, were sold in little more than an hour at the major sale in ...

and more »


Spain Renewable-Energy Future May Center on Auctions, Cinco Says
Bloomberg
Spanish renewable-energy projects may be awarded in the future through auctions, Cinco Dias reported, citing language in the January royal decree that eliminated guaranteed subsidies. The law champions “a new model for retribution” in which “resources ...

and more »


Treasury Yield Is 3 Basis Points From One-Week High Before Debt Auctions
Bloomberg
Ten-year Treasuries yielded more than German bunds for the first time in four days as the US prepared to sell $72 billion of notes and bonds this week, starting with an auction of three-year securities tomorrow. “What's going on in Greece underlines ...

and more »


Treasury Auctions Set for This Week
New York Times
The Treasury's schedule of financing this week includes Monday's regular weekly auction of new three- and six-month bills and an auction of four-week bills on Tuesday. At the close of the New York cash market on Friday, the rate on the outstanding ...



The Hindu

Uninor to bid for 2G spectrum: CEO
NDTV
Uninor, a 67 per cent subsidiary of Norway's Telenor, plans to look at all options including fresh auctions of second generation spectrum by India to protect its investments. Sigve Brekke, CEO, Uninor said that the company was ready to participate in ...
Telenor readies legal, diplomatic fight to save investmentTimes of India
Norway's Telenor says 'not dead yet' in India marketEconomic Times

all 92 news articles »


USA TODAY

Tom Brady Game Jersey Sells for Thousands at Super Bowl Auction
Patch.com
The 2011 game jersey was purchased at The Super Bowl XLVI Live Auction in Indianapolis on Saturday, tripling the item's presale estimated value, Hunt Auctions reports. Brady wore the jersey during the Oct. 16 game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Tom Brady Jersey Auctions For $46KWRTV Indianapolis
Tom Brady Jersey Sells For $46K At Auction Before Super BowlHuffington Post
Super Bowl 2012 Buzz:Indianapolis Star
WLKY Louisville
all 503 news articles »


CAPS auction brings record haul
Salina.com
By CHRIS HUNTER As the bids poured in from the crowd on a Bud Light speaker at the 23rd Annual Celebrity Benefit Auction for Child Advocacy & Parenting Services, Dr. Merle "Boo" Hodges was hoping to get a crack at the speaker if it stayed lower than ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006