The Perfect eBay Listing
by Thomas Hunter
Want to increase your sell through rates and get higher bids on your eBay
auction items? Following these simple rules of design will make your auction
listings more profitable and generate a bidding frenzy over your items.
Write a Comprehensive Item Description
The most important part of your listing is your item description. Describe your
merchandise in detail, including the color, size, and condition of the item.
Make sure that you describe the benefits of the item and craft the listing so
that prospective buyers will feel like they can't live without it. A "Perfect
Listing" will describe the item is such detail that a bidder can visualize it in
their mind, and won't even need to look at a picture.
Take Multiple Pictures
While your description plays the most important part in conveying the condition
of your item, there is no substitute for clear, accurate pictures. Make sure the
item is well lighted and take multiple pictures, from multiple angles. Use a
high quality digital camera that allows you to focus closely. The quality of
your pictures will play a large part in the final value you receive for the item.
Provide Full Disclosure
Make sure that you disclose every significant detail about your business
practices in the auction listing. Let the prospective buyer know, up front, what
the final cost of the item will be (including the shipping charges). Many
sellers forget, or choose not to, list a firm shipping charge in the auction
description. This either causes a nightmare of customer service emails with
people asking about the shipping charges, or an unhappy customer when the
auction ends and the final price is disclosed.
Make sure that you also include:
1. The payment methods you accept (Check, Money Order, Credit Card, PayPal, etc.)
2. When the item will be shipped and by what carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc.)
3. Any guarantees that you offer...
4. Your return policy...
The more information you disclose up front, the more comfortable a prospective
buyer will be when dealing with you.
Avoid the Negatives
How many times have you seen statements such as: "Deadbeat bidders not accepted
- If you don't pay within 7 days we'll report you and file negative feedback -
We hold checks for 14 days before shipment - Buyers with feedback less than 10
don't bid on this auction".
These negative statements will turn honest, prospective bidders away from your
auction and into the arms of your competitors. Buyers don't want to deal with a
seller they perceive as a jerk. While crooked buyers are a concern when selling
on eBay, placing negative statements in your listings will end up costing you a
fortune in lost sales.
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