Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Bandgt;HAPPY HUNTINGand#153; ON eBayandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; Aunt Fannie's cameo pin collection...the cartoon-character lunch boxes you had in third grade...that cast-iron doorstop you bought for $2 but is really worth $200....Whether you're a busy buyer, an avid seller, or just a fun-loving browser, you'll find countless collectibles like these on eBay, the world's largest person-to-person online trading community. andlt;BRandgt; Now -- in this official primer from the popular Internet site that has revolutionized the collecting world -- the experts at eBay unlock the secrets of successful online buying and selling, for everyone from the enthusiastic beginner to the seasoned pro. Featuring an introduction by Pierre Omidyar, eBay's founder and chairman, and packed with tips and stories from "eBaysians" all over the country, andlt;Iandgt;The Official eBayand#153; Guideandlt;/Iandgt; is the only authorized book that shows you how to andlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;* BUY SMARTandlt;/Bandgt; -- unraveling the mystery of value, bidding to win, and learning how to spot the really good stuffandlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;* BE A SAVVY SELLERandlt;/Bandgt; -- from writing the perfect item listing to collecting payments from your happy customersandlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;* LEARN FROM THE EXPERTSandlt;/Bandgt; -- top eBaysians, Ambassadors, Power Sellers, and eBay employees lend advice and share secrets for successandlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;* FIND THE GREAT STUFFandlt;/Bandgt; -- how to work garage sales, flea markets, tag sales, estate sales, and even the andlt;Iandgt;otherandlt;/Iandgt; kind of auction andlt;BRandgt; Packed with invaluable resources, information, and practical tips, andlt;Iandgt;The Official eBayand#153; Guideandlt;/Iandgt; also features entertaining stories about the millions of people who make up the eBay community. It's your must-have companion for mastering the art of buying and selling an astounding range of collectibles and items, from the practical to the whimsical.
Synopsis
HAPPY HUNTING(TM) ON eBay
Aunt Fannie's cameo pin collection...the cartoon-character lunch boxes you had in third grade...that cast-iron doorstop you bought for $2 but is really worth $200....Whether you're a busy buyer, an avid seller, or just a fun-loving browser, you'll find countless collectibles like these on eBay, the world's largest person-to-person online trading community.
Now -- in this official primer from the popular Internet site that has revolutionized the collecting world -- the experts at eBay unlock the secrets of successful online buying and selling, for everyone from the enthusiastic beginner to the seasoned pro. Featuring an introduction by Pierre Omidyar, eBay's founder and chairman, and packed with tips and stories from "eBaysians" all over the country, The Official eBay(TM) Guide is the only authorized book that shows you how to
* BUY SMART -- unraveling the mystery of value, bidding to win, and learning how to spot the really good stuff
* BE A SAVVY SELLER -- from writing the perfect item listing to collecting payments from your happy customers
* LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS -- top eBaysians, Ambassadors, Power Sellers, and eBay employees lend advice and share secrets for success
* FIND THE GREAT STUFF -- how to work garage sales, flea markets, tag sales, estate sales, and even the other kind of auction
Packed with invaluable resources, information, and practical tips, The Official eBay(TM) Guide also features entertaining stories about the millions of people who make up the eBay community. It's your must-have companion for mastering the art of buying and selling an astounding range of collectibles and items, from the practical to the whimsical.
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;Laura Fisher Kaiser andamp;amp; Michael Kaiserandlt;/Bandgt; are collectors, writers, and longtime eBaysians. Laura is Deputy Editor at andlt;Iandgt;This Old Houseandlt;/Iandgt; magazine. For fifteen years, Michael was an executive at a nonprofit organization. A former art glass dealer, he is now a consultant and writer. The Kaisers live in Manhattan.
Table of Contents
andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Contentsandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Acknowledgmentsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Introduction by Pierre Omidyar, Founder and Chairman of eBay Inc.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;How to Use This Bookandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part Iandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Thrill of the Huntandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 1andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Welcome to the World's Largest Person-to-Person Online Trading Communityandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The eBay Revolution: The Mouse That Roaredandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Four Pillars of eBayandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Who Makes Up the eBay Community?andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Before eBay/After eBayandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Meet Our Extended Familyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Mastering the eBay Way in Five Easy Stepsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Why Buying on eBay is Safeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Nickel Tour of the Siteandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;What Makes eBay Auctions Unique?andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Traditional Auction vs. eBay Auctionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 2andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Perfect Setupandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;You Gotta Be in It to Win It: Technical Stuffandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Need for Speed: Bits and Bandwidthandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Registering to Become Part of the eBay Communityandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;What's in a Name?andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;What eBay Charges Per Itemandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Going Dutchandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Who You Are: Picking a Handle and Passwordandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;How eBay Keeps You in the Loopandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Community Customsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Why Spam Ain't Kosherandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 3andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Quest for Amazing Stuffandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Homing In, Category by Categoryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Big List at a Glanceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;What You Won't Findandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Finding What You're Looking Forandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The No-Frills Searchandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Follow the Leader: Tracking Like-minded Bidders and Sellersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Personal Shopperandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Gallery Hopping and Shoppingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Beyond Collectibles: Everyday Wondersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Real Estate Reality Checkandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The "Great Collections" Connectionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Kruse Controlandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 4andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Let the Bidding Beginandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Demystifying the Bidding Processandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;What It Means to Bidandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Retracting a Bidandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;You Absolutely Positively Have to Have It: Bidding to Winandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Capitalism for the Rest of Usandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Up and Up: Bidding Incrementsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Cracking the Bid Codeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Understanding Reservesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Dutch Auctionsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Do Your Due Diligenceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Good Questions to Askandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part IIandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrowandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 5andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Putting It on the Blockandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Details, Please: Listing Your Item for Saleandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Key to Winning Titlesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Some Like Plain Vanillaandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Great Listing Checklistandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Files with Style: Using HTMLandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Say It with Picturesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Host of Optionsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Off-the-Shelf Softwareandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 6andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Taking Care of Bidnessandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Name Your Priceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Is It Really What You Think It Is?andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;To Reserve or Not to Reserve?andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Establishing Payment Methods and Termsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Perfect Timingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Payments Made Easyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Sorry, You Can't Bid on Your Own Auctionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Getting the Shipping Straightandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Happy Returnsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Final Touchesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Forget Something?andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Sellers, Please Stand Byandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Knocking Off Earlyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Canceling Bidsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Your Item Didn't Sellandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Building a Business on eBayandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part IIIandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Making Contactandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 7andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Bidding Is Closed -- Now What?andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Buyer Meet Seller, Seller Meet Buyerandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;You've Got Mailandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Tracking Down Email Addressesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;I Want a Cookieandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Temporary Parking: Escrow Servicesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Shipping News: Getting Out the Goodsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Ordering Supplies on the Netandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Stamp Me -- I Must Be Dreamingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Closing the Loop: Leaving Feedbackandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 8andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;SafeHarborandlt;/Iandgt; and Happy Tradingandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Heading for SafeHarborandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Suspicious Minds: Identifying and Reporting Bad Behaviorandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Stake Your Claim: Insurance Against Fraudandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Violations eBay Responds to Automaticallyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;It's the Law: Prohibited, Questionable, and Infringing Itemsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Protecting Your Privacyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;eBay's Privacy Policyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Making Your Experience More Positiveandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;When a Deal Goes Southandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Best Remedy Preventionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Escrow Servicesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Who Was That Masked Man? Reaching Out to People Beyond Emailandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 9andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;When You Need a Friendandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;For Do-It-Yourselfersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;By the Boardsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;eBay Customer Service Boardsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Peer-to-Peer Support Boardsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Talk the Talkandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Giving Backandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part IVandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;You Are What You Collectandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 10andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Collecting Your Thoughtsandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Why Do People Collect?andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Collecting vs. Accumulatingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;When Does a Collection Start? When Does It End?andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Kids' Kollectionsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Getting Picky: Building and Upgradingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 11andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Mystery of Valueandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Separated at Birth: No Two Collectibles Are Exactly Alikeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Eight Is Enough: The Collectibles Checklistandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Mint to Beandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Consult Before You Cleanandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Distinguishing Price from Valueandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Car Collecting Caveatsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Where Passion Meets Price: Collecting as an Investmentandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Ready, "Set," Go: Collectors' Seriesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;How Limited Is a Limited Edition?andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 12andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Becoming an Expertandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Mastering the Detailsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Training Your Eye -- and Ear, Nose, and Fingersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Immersing Yourself in the Marketandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Research, Research, Researchandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 13andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Where the Action Isandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Making the Roundsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Collector Connections on the Webandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Special Sources for Established Dealersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 14andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Out In the Fieldandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Marketplace 101andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Dealing with Dealersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Haggling with the Best of Themandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Price Check, Aisle Sixandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Everything's Negotiableandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Tax Break for Dealersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Mood Breakersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Maximizing Your Auction Actionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Beyond Negotiating: The Law of Averagesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Finders Keepers: Shopping Etiquetteandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Tricks of Tradingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;It Happens to Everyone: Buying Mistakesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part Vandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Putting It All Togetherandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 15andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;My eBayandlt;/Iandgt; and Other Ways to Keep Track of It Allandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;My eBayandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Simple Spreadsheets You Can Createandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Chapter 16andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Documenting the Goodsandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Creating an Inventoryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Insuranceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appraisalsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Questions for the Appraiserandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Collector, Appraise Thyselfandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Coming to Your Town: The andlt;Iandgt;Antiques Road Show andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;You Can't Take It With Youandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Going Public: Donating to an Institutionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Trailblazing a Libraryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Appendicesandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;eBay Site Mapandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;eBay Category Overview andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Indexandlt;/Bandgt;