Ebay - virgin seller needs some advice

[The Purist]

Thanks for the tips folks - I've now taken the plunge, set up a Paypal premier thingy and listed my first item for sale... this time next year I'll be a millionaire

[Narced at sea level]

probably missed the boat here but as a self-confessed know-it-all (and somewhat of an ebay veteran in terms of both selling and buying ) I thought I'd add a few pointers for new sellers.

1. set your auctions to finish at a time when most people will be at thier computers - as most smart bidders bid at the last minute, you want as many as possible to be at home or in front of a pooter to make that bid - personally I look at Sunday at around 8pm - 10pm

2. High starting prices put off bidders and reduce interest - ALWAYS start the bidding at 99 pence - put a reserve on if you really don't want to sell below a certain price - 999 times out of 1000 items find their market value anyway regardless of reserves so don't worry - oddly enough I have often seen items with high starting prices get no bids at all, but the same item on a different auction that started at 99p gets a huge flurry of bids which put the final selling price above that of the item that didn't get a single bid - its strange but true.

3. Check prices for similar completed auctions before listing to get a realistic idea of what you are selling is worth - this way you avoid dissapointment.

4. check unsuccessful bidders (who made realistic bids) from recent auctions for similar items - email them through ebay to let them know you will be listing a similar item ( not sure if this is actually allowed but no-one has ever complained when I have done it).

5. Be honest about item condition etc - you'd be surprised how many people will buy something that is less than A1 provided you are honest.

6. remember to include something in the postage to cover packaging as well

7. don't take the piss on postage - It causes bad feeling and people can feel misled or ripped off - I almost bid on a £20 fishing rod the other day until I saw the seller wanted £18 for postage!!

8. break things up - for example if you have a camera, set of lenses, a case, flash, tripod etc - don't sell as a set - break it up into individual lots - you will get MUCH more for it - trust me on this I have done this and doubled my money