Contents
What’s eBay?
eBay Feedback
How to Use My eBay
How to Find Items on eBay
How to Look at eBay Listings
How to Bid and Win on eBay
After the Auction Ends
How to Sell on eBay
How to Decide What to Sell on eBay
How to List Items to Sell on eBay
What to Do After Your Item Sells
How to Ship What You Sell on eBay
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- Understand the online auction process and eBay’s feedback system
- Search for, bid on, and win items at bargain-basement prices
- Create effective eBay listings to sell your own items quickly and at a profit
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What’s eBay?
The first and largest auction website, eBay is known as the “world’s online marketplace.” By eliminating the middleman it has revolutionized the way people can buy and sell almost anything. eBay has more than 275 million registered users and offers millions of items at any given time—over two billion auction listings per year. These auctions offer:
- New and used everyday products (from garage sale-type items to brand new HDTVs)
- Services (expert advice, graphic design, printing, and contract work of all kinds)
- Real estate, boats, cars, and trucks
You can browse any of these listings for free anytime on eBay’s website, www.ebay.com. Though eBay organizes items by category, most buyers use eBay’s powerful search tools to scan the site’s inventory quickly. eBay never touches any of the auction merchandise; sellers ship items directly to buyers.
What’s an Online Auction?
An auction is a public sale in which merchandise is sold to the highest bidder. Online auctions are auctions in which buyers and sellers are connected “virtually” via the internet. Once an auctioned item is sold, the seller delivers it via mail to the highest bidder. A typical online auction works as follows:
- The seller posts a listing of the item that includes a description and, often, photos.
- Bidding opens at a price that the seller sets and continues for 1–10 days.
- Buyers view the listing and either bid or contact the seller via email if they have questions about the item before bidding.
- When the listing ends, the buyer with the highest bid wins the item.
- Once payment is received, the seller ships the item to the winning bidder.
Types of eBay Listings and Auctions
Though eBay allows its users to buy and sell using standard auctions, it also provides a number of variations beyond the traditional auction-style listing. Some of these options are variations on a typical auction; others aren’t auctions at all. The following table lists common ways to buy and sell on eBay.
Type of Listing |
Description |
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Online Auction |
A sellers lists an item, and buyers make bids on it. Seller decides how long the auction will run. When the auction ends, the highest bidder wins. Seller may choose to add Buy It Now, a feature that allows him or her to name a price at which a buyer may purchase the item without having to bid. A buyer can end the auction early by paying the Buy It Now price. |
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Fixed Price |
In Fixed Price listings, the seller names the price, which allows a buyer to purchase the product immediately. The buyer doesn’t bid; rather, he or she buys the item at the price named by the seller. Sellers can also add a Best Offer option so that buyers may make them an offer. |
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Best Offer |
This feature allows a seller to solicit offers from buyers and accept or reject them at his or her choosing. Sellers may choose to include the Best Offer option in Fixed Price or Store Inventory listings. |
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Store Inventory |
Store Inventory is similar to Fixed Price. A seller who chooses this option sells his or her item at a certain price. Buyers don’t bid: they buy by paying the fixed price. Store Inventory listings are less
visible than Online Auction and Fixed Price listings. They also last for longer: either 30 days or indefinitely, with automatic fees charged every month until the seller takes down the listing. |
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Classified Ad |
A seller lists an item and may respond to any potential buyers he or she likes. Buyers may talk to sellers without being required to buy the item listed. Classified Ad listings last either for 30 days or indefinitely. |
eBay Membership
To buy or sell on eBay, you need to register (it’s free). To register, look for the Register link at the top of every eBay web page. When you register, eBay asks for the following:
- Contact information: eBay will ask for your address, email address, and so on.
- User ID: You’ll be asked to choose a User ID for yourself. When selecting an ID, it’s a good idea to use words related to your hobbies or the items you intend to buy or sell on eBay. Avoid using your full name in order to protect your privacy. If you decide later to change your user ID, eBay will let you do so, but will impose some restrictions to prevent fraud that could result from frequent user ID modifications.
- Password: Choose a password to ensure no one but you uses your account.
- Credit card number: Depending on the type of email address you use to register, you may be asked to place a credit card number on file. Your card won’t be charged.
When you finish registering, eBay will email you instructions for confirming your registration. Once you’re a member, you’ll have to log in to your eBay account to buy and sell.
eBay Costs
Registering, browsing, bidding, and buying are all free on eBay. Buyers pay sellers directly for the items they win, as well as for shipping charges. Sellers, in turn, pay eBay a variety of fees for the opportunity to offer and sell their wares on eBay (see Seller Fees).
eBay Help
If you need help while using eBay, the best place to look for the information you need is the eBay help page, located at http://pages.ebay.com/help/index.html. Just click the Help link in the top right corner of any eBay page.
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