Ethics and the eBay Seller
Contrary to popular belief, the average eBay seller really is a decent, ethical person. The truly bad apples get much of the press, and we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that the site attracts its share of scam artists and counterfeiters, but most people sell on eBay do so because they have a product they don’t need or want and want to make a little money out of it, or they simply want to make an honest living.
Of course, folks new to eBay or who don’t sell on the site very often sometimes don’t understand what makes a compelling eBay listing. What makes people click on your item and want to buy it? What makes them decide to hand over their hard-earned money to you in exchange for a product they have yet to see?
The simple answer: trust.
Trust drives eBay’s success. Trust underscores every one of the millions of transactions that the online auction service processes every day of the year. To succeed as an eBay seller — whether you’re a Power Seller, aspire to be one, or simply want to get rid of some unneeded items — you must do all you can to earn the buyer’s trust and keep it.
Here are some tips on establishing your reputation as a trustworthy eBay seller:
Start out as a buyer. eBay’s feedback system gets a lot of grief and generates its share of controversy, but it remains the most common way that peopl
e can evaluate a user’s reputation. If you want to sell something on eBay, buy a few things first and rack up those glowing, positive reviews.
Sell something worth buying. Don’t sell counterfeit products. Despite what many believe, just because a seller is forthright in their listing that their $20 “Louis Vuitton” bag is a knockoff, doesn’t make their sale any less illegal. Selling knockoffs is against the law, so stick with the real thing.
It’s all in the details. Provide lots of detail about the item you’re selling. If it’s scratched or beat up, say so. Don’t use euphemisms or hype; if the product is worth buying (and chances are, it will be), it should stand on its own merit without the multiple exclamation marks and over-the-top claims. Use persuasive language and colorful description, but don’t overdo it. Ebay buyers are a savvy bunch and will resist the annoying hard sell.
Take lots of pictures. Don’t use stock photos, unless you’re selling a brand new, still-in-the-box item. Buyers will want to know the condition of the item before buying, and they’ll want to see it for themselves. Barring an in-person visit, they’ll want focused close-ups, so make sure you have the equipment and/or software to give them just that.
Communicate! Respond to buyers’ questions promptly. Don’t be vague in your answers, either. Be friendly but professional. When the auction is over, send a brief email congratulating the buyer on winning the auction (or buying a Buy It Now item) and let them know that their item is on its way.
Ship immediately. Especially with the holidays just around the corner, there’ll be a flood of new and returning eBay fans who’ll be flocking to the site in the coming weeks to do their Christmas shopping. They want their gift items fast, so be the eBay seller they can rely on to deliver on their promise of “fast, easy shipping.” Don’t wait a week or even a day, if you can.
Once you’ve achieved a solid 99%+ feedback rating, do everything you can to maintain it. Repeat all the above steps ad nauseam. It can be hard work, but the results will be worth all the effort.
If this sounds like too much work for you but you still want to sell on eBay, give us a call at Easysale, your local eBay consignment service right here in Dallas. We work around the clock to keep our eBay store’s prized 99%+ rating and will do the same for your listing.
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