Watchers and no bids?

When I am doing eBay seller reviews, sellers often ask, "why do I have watchers but no bids?" Here is why:

1) They may not be ready to buy the item yet, so they are just watching the auction to learn about the process.

2) They are afraid to make a commitment and bid. They might be new to eBay and are hesitant to place a bid yet. They just want to see how it works.

3) They are watching several auctions for the same thing and are waiting to decide which one to bid on. They don't want to bid on several of the same thing at once - because they don't want to end up winning several auctions for the same thing. Kind of like price shopping.

4) They are using an auction sniper program and not placing their bid until the last minute - literally.

5) They are just curious to see how high the price will go. Maybe they are thinking of selling a similar item.

6) They are thinking about buying the product and want to add it to their watch list to check on it again later. Like bookmarking something on the internet.

Don't get frustrated or be impatient - watchers are good. They have saved your listing in their watch list. Maybe they will come back and buy the item, or visit your listing again for something else.

Happy selling!

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Improper Use of Key Words

Keyword spamming occurs when members place brand names or other inappropriate keywords in a title or description for the purpose of gaining attention or diverting members to a listing. Keyword spamming in listings is not permitted on eBay. The searchable text sellers place in listings must be directly relevant to the item being sold. (From eBay help center.)

When doing store critiques, I have seen this tactic used many times. For example, one customer was selling handmade beaded earrings. Her title read:

"iPod Nano Wii Playstation 3 earrings LOOK"

This is a waste of your time and the customer's time. Not only is she driving customers to her listings who aren't even interested in earrings, but she isn't even targeting customers who might actually be interested in buying her product. eBay gives you 55 characters for your title - use them wisely to attract potential buyers to your listings. What good does it do you to have hundreds of page views, if the customers are searching for a product that you don't even offer?

Another example is using inappropriate brand names to describe your item. I see this one often:

"Homemade candle pillar like Yankee Candle gardenia"

This seller is using an established brand name to drive traffic to his counterfeit item. There is nothing wrong with selling homemade candles, but a seller cannot claim they are "like" an established brand name - that description is subjective and the seller's personal opinion. Stick with factual information only. You don't want to manipulate your buyer into purchasing something, and then be dissatisfied and leave you negative feedback.

Abuse of key words can lead to:

Listing cancellation
Limits on account privileges
Account suspension
Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
Loss of PowerSeller status
Spend a few minutes taking eBay's tutorial on Search and Browse Manipulation

Happy selling!

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How do I start on eBay?

One question I get from alot of people is, "How do I even start on eBay?"

First of all, start small. Set up an eBay account and buy a few things to learn the process and get a feel for how eBay works. eBay and working at home is not for everyone. And it is ok if it isn’t right for you. Sell some of your own things before you invest any money in other products to sell. Understand that eBay is more than taking pictures and working on the computer – you need to be familiar with how to edit photos, shipping, customer service, and Paypal. Take your time and learn about these things before you jump in and go for it full-time.

Once you are comfortable with the whole process, don’t be afraid to take a risk every now and then. I am often asked, “But what if you buy an item and it doesn’t sell?” Well, that’s ok. I can always relist it. I can mark it down and sell it for what I paid for it and move on. You don’t want to buy a truckload of 1,000 items without having tested them out first, but you do want to experiment with different products – you may find something profitable to sell on a regular basis.

Make small investments and try new products to test them out and see what kind of results you’ll get. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new products and try new things. eBay is constantly evolving and no trend will last forever. Experience is the best teacher.

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FREE Marketing Techniques

Here is a FREE creative way to drive bidders to your auction:

Always use your store name when leaving feedback for others. For example, one of our automated feedback responses is, “Fast payment, easy transaction. Thanks from Atlanta Golf Shop.” Why should you do this? It is another way to get your store name in front of a potential customer. Let’s say a shopper is scanning through another member’s feedback. She may see the store name on the feedback and think, “Wow, that sounds interesting. I wonder what this place is.” Out of curiosity she clicks over to your store, and maybe she buys something, or adds you to her FAVORITES and visits you later when she has more time. See how that works?

Also, when sending any email to any person for any reason, cutomers or non-customers, put a link to your eBay store or seller page under your name. You can usually add the link to your signature on your email program under OPTIONS. I can't tell you how many customers I have gotten because my child's teacher clicked the link, the PTA president clicked the link, people who I have bought from on eBay clicked the link, etc. Don't waste an opportunity to promote your store!

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What's your refund policy?

You will not even exist as an eBay seller without customers. Everything you do needs to revolve around outstanding customer service. Offering a fair, generous refund policy shows potential buyers that you are an honest seller and will stand by your products. Customers may never even use the refund policy, but you are giving your customers options just in case they don’t like the item for whatever reason. You are empowering them. If you look at large retailers, they will allow returns on any item for just about any reason.

I see a lot of eBay sellers that have return policies like, “store credit only,” or “returns only allowed if item is grossly misrepresented.” I’ll say as a customer, I don’t buy from these sellers (on or off eBay). As a customer, I want options. I want to know that if clothing doesn’t fit, I can return it. Or if an item doesn’t match my home décor, I can return it. I don’t want to feel stuck with a purchase that can’t be returned. I don’t want to waste my money on a product that may not work for me once I have it in my hands.

My refund policy allows returns within 30 days, for any product, for any reason. I even offer a refund for my eBooks if the customer isn’t happy. Having a fair, generous refund policy will attract more customers to your store and you will make more sales. Even if a customer returns an item and you issue a refund, that customer will know that you are a seller with integrity and they will return to your store. You can always relist the item and sell it again once it is returned.

I sell about 300 items a month, and less than 1% of the items are ever returned. You know how it is, you intend to return an item but never get around to it, or it sits in your car for 2 months waiting to be taken to the post office, and you forget about it. Having a generous refund policy is a powerful marketing tool that any seller can use, and it is totally free.

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Build Your Feeback Score - Fast!

You will want to build up your feedback score to gain the trust of potential buyers. An easy way to do this is to buy items on eBay. You can buy inexpensive items that you’ll actually use such as party gifts, children’s clothes, kitchen gadgets, office supplies, and your shipping materials. I make it a habit to buy 2-3 items a month on eBay so that I can check on the competition. I can see how items are packaged, how quickly they are shipped, how professional the seller is, and I even get new ideas for my own store by being a customer in someone else’s store.

Pay attention to shipping charges, even on small items. Some dishonest sellers will post items for 1 cent, or 99 cents, but add exorbitant shipping fees. This is a deceptive practice and is frowned upon on eBay. Just be sure you review the shipping fee, and all details, before making your purchase.

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Handling Negative Feedback

You have done everything right. You found a great item, taken a nice photo of it, written an accurate detailed description, sent professional emails to the buyer, and shipped the item promptly and securely. Then, you log on to check your eBay account, and BOOM! There it is. Someone has left you undeserved negative feedback. You are heartbroken. Now what?

First of all, this is not the end of the world. With negative feedback, it isn’t a matter of IF, it is a matter of WHEN. It probably isn’t your fault. The buyer may have had a bad day, lost his job, or had a fight with his wife. You have no idea what happened in his life that day. He impulsively takes it out on you because you are accessible and you can’t fight back. He takes out his aggressions on the computer, and you are the recipient.

Don’t rush right out and leave negative feedback for the buyer that says, “WHAT A JERK –AVOID THIS BUYER.” This will only make you look bad. If you choose to leave negative feedback for him, keep it unemotional and professional. You can say, “Disappointed that this buyer didn’t contact us first – we always refund!” Shoppers will look at your feedback and wonder what the negatives are all about. Make it clear that you are the bigger person and you will always handle problems professionally and be fair if given the opportunity. Don’t be impulsive and slap a negative feedback on someone without thinking about how it will affect your reputation. Be careful what you say!

When you do get a negative feedback, be sure to leave a reply below it on your feedback profile giving your side of the story. For example, we usually say, “Customer did not contact us regarding problem. We always refund!” Shoppers will see that you were blindsided with this remark and that you are willing do whatever it takes to make the customer happy.

You must be proactive in taking steps to prevent negative feedback. Add a sentence to your listings, your About Me page, all email correspondence, and your packing slip stating, “If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us prior to leaving feedback and we will issue a refund.” You want to imply that if negative feedback is left without giving you the opportunity to correct the problem, that the buyer is not eligible for a refund. Furthermore, you want to satisfy your customer so that he is eager to leave positive feedback for you.

Maybe you did make a mistake. Maybe you sent the wrong size or missed a flaw on the item. In all fairness, a buyer should give you a chance to correct the issue before slamming you with negative feedback. We are all human, we all make mistakes. Unfortunately, a small percentage of eBay members are too quick to leave negative feedback at your expense. This is part of doing business. Be sure to block that member from bidding on any more of your items. You probably don’t want to work with someone who isn’t willing to let you correct a mistake.


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