Synopses & Reviews
It's the undisputed king of Internet auction sites. It's a global bazaar offering a range of goods from Antiques to Zulu Daisies. Cars, clothing, collectibles: you name it, and it's likely that you can find on eBay. But along with the vast selection of goods available, buyers and sellers also encounter all the other elements that markets are known for: tricks and swindlers, overpriced goods, deceptive labeling, small print, recycled items marked as new, and the occasional rare priceless find or undiscovered treasure.Seasoned eBay traders know that to successfully buy and sell within this mega-shopping platform, you need to understand the system. Unfortunately, the secrets of the site are often tightly held by other buyers and sellers seeking a competitive edge. But what if you're a newcomer? Or an experienced trader who wants to make the jump to power buyer or seller? eBay: The Missing Manual gives you the inside information you'll need to become an eBay expert.Buyers will find the most effective ways to find you want and pay prices that are sure to bring a smile to your face. And you'll get authoritative advice on strategic bidding: how to watch for elusive items, time your bids to take the competition by surprise, and--above all--avoid paying more than you ought to.Sellers will get sure-fire tips from eBay veterans who have discovered ways to ramp up their own auctions and sell at the highest possible prices. From the smallest details, such as how to take and post the most effective photos of your goods, to pricing strategies, inventory management, and shipping methods, this user-friendly manual will help you make more money on eBay. Whether you're selling a single item or running fulltime business on the site, you'll find tips to help you do it more effectively.As in any community, problems and disputes arise, and you'll learn how other eBayers resolve such troubles or work around them.eBay: The Missing Manual has gems of wisdom for everyone from total novices to more experienced traders. If you're looking to improve your eBay auction experience, you'll savor the tips and trick revealed in this guided exploration.
Synopsis
Tips & tricks for learning eBay that will make readers look like pros!
About the Author
Nancy Conner is an award-winning writer and freelance editor who specializes intech topics. She has a PhD in English from Brown University and has taught writing,including technical writing, to college students for more than a dozen years. She iscurrently a freelance copyeditor, specializing in technical books covering topicsranging from the MS Office suite to programming languages to advanced networksecurity. Nancy joined eBay in 1998 to hunt for additions to her collection ofmedieval jewelry and immediately became an enthusiastic eBayer. During her yearson eBay, she s learned about the eBay culture and community--how to find bargains,make money, avoid scams, and have fun.
Table of Contents
Copyright; The Missing Credits; About the Author; About the Creative Team; Acknowledgements; The Missing Manual Series; Introduction; A Little eBay History; About This Book; The Very Basics; Part I: Buying on eBay; Chapter 1: Ready, Set, Shop!; 1.1 Get Registered and Get Going; 1.2 How to Find What You're Looking For; 1.3 Deciphering Auction Pages; 1.4 Auction Types; 1.5 My eBay--Your Shopping HQ; Chapter 2: Bidding, Paying, and Following Up; 2.1 Is This Seller Trustworthy? How to Read Feedback; 2.2 Bidding on eBay; 2.3 After the Auction; 2.4 Buyers' Woes and What to Do About Them; Chapter 3: Finding--and Getting--Bargains; 3.1 Tips and Tricks for Serious Searchers; 3.2 What's It Worth?; 3.3 Bid to Win; 3.4 More Ways to Get a Good Deal; Chapter 4: Power Buying Strategies; 4.1 Tools for Power Buyers; 4.2 Hey, Big Spender; 4.3 Avoid Scams; Part II: Selling on eBay; Chapter 5: Sell Stuff, Make Money; 5.1 Get the Lay of the Land; 5.2 What Should You Sell?; 5.3 How Much Is It Going to Cost You?; 5.4 Listing an item; 5.5 During the Auction; 5.6 After the Auction; 5.7 Common Problems; Chapter 6: Honing Your Competitive Edge; 6.1 It's All About You; 6.2 Build a Better Auction; 6.3 Auction Tips and Tricks; 6.4 Big-Time Marketing Strategies; 6.5 Just Say No; 6.6 Protecting Your Auctions; 6.7 Scams to Watch Out For; Chapter 7: Going from Hobby to Business; 7.1 What Should I Sell?; 7.2 Doing the Paperwork; 7.3 Setting Up Shop with an eBay Store; 7.4 Selling Internationally; 7.5 Sell for Others; 7.6 Become a PowerSeller; Chapter 8: Specialty Selling; 8.1 Half.com: Mass Media Mania; 8.2 Selling on eBay Motors; 8.3 Selling Real Estate Online; 8.4 Live Auctions; 8.5 eBay Giving Works; 8.6 eBay B2B; 8.7 Sell Your Services on Elance; Chapter 9: Cool Tools for Sellers; 9.1 eBay Tools; 9.2 Third-Party Software; Part III: Finding Other eBayers and Getting Help; Chapter 10: Connecting with Other eBayers; 10.1 Connect with the Community; 10.2 eBay Affiliates; 10.3 Other Places to Talk About eBay; 10.4 eBay Live!; Chapter 11: Finding Help; 11.1 Learning Center; 11.2 Help Page; 11.3 Help via Email; 11.4 Live Help; 11.5 Site Map; 11.6 eBay Services; 11.7 Help from Other eBayers; Part IV: Appendixes; Appendix A: Where to Learn More; A.1 eBay Updates; A.2 Start Spreading the News(letters); A.3 eBay on the Air; A.4 The Unofficial Scoop; A.5 Further Education; Appendix B: HTML for eBayers; B.1 Getting Started; B.2 Adding Colors and Backgrounds; B.3 Adding Pictures; B.4 Adding Links; B.5 Creating Lists and Tables; Appendix C: Other Auction Sites; C.1 Amazon Auctions and Marketplace; C.2 AuctionAddict.com; C.3 Bid4Assets; C.4 Bidera; C.5 BidMonkey; C.6 Bidville; C.7 Bidz; C.8 Blujay; C.9 iOffer; C.10 Overstock Auctions; C.11 The Auction Man; C.12 uBid; C.13 Yahoo! Auctions; Colophon;