Archive for September, 2006
How to take Great Photos
September 29th, 2006 | 
Author:
Dear eBay Queen;
I’ve been selling a few things here and there on eBay, but I am struggling with taking photos. I really want them to look professional. Do you have any tips for me when I take photos for my auctions? What kind of background should I use?
PJG, Ottawa
Dear PJG;
Good photos are easy to achieve with if you keep a few things in mind.
- Focus Make sure your photos are in focus. I like to use my auto focus. Practice with your camera, and see which one you take better pictures with. If you have a hard time holding the camera steady when shooting the pictures, invest in a tripod.
- Lighting. Sunlight or direct light from a bulb or a flash can create hot spots and reflections in your photos. If you are shooting outside, you want to shoot in bright shade or on a cloudy day. You can also purchase or make a photo cube. http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/19002.html
- Avoid clutter. Make sure the object your selling is the only thing in the photo. If you are shooting a car, drive the car to a park where you can shoot it with only trees in the background, instead of your garage or driveway. If you are shooting apparel, you should invest in a dress form or mannequin. Then place the mannequin against a wall draped with cloth to contrast the color and diffuse any shadows.
- Get close. When I photograph my items I try to fit the item in the screen or viewfinder with just a little bit of background framing the item.
- Background. I have 2 different backgrounds I use, black and white. But if you want a more professional look when you are shooting colorful objects, place a piece of colored cloth or craft paper behind the object. Pick a color that matches one of the minor colors –not the main color. For example if you were shooting a blue teapot that had other colors in the trim such as red or yellow, you would pick a red or yellow background paper. This is a trick used by professional photographers that will give your photo an image of more depth and help the main color pop (stand out) in the image.
Good photos are very important when it comes to listing your ebay items. A few years ago I purchased a quilt top for $43.00. The seller only had 2 photos, one of those was very dark, and the other was so far away from the quilt top, I wasn’t sure if they were selling the quilt top, chair, shoes, cat or toys that were in the photo. When the quilt top arrived at my house, it was beautiful. I took 8 photos of it, and put it on ebay. The same quilt top I paid $43.00 for, sold for $189.00.
Dear eBay Queen;
I was bidding on an item, and accidentally put the wrong bid amount in. I meant to put in $60.00, and I put in $600.00. Is there anything I can do?
Bill T
Dear Bill;
eBay does allow for bid retractions in some cases. The reasons for a retraction need to be one of the following:
- You accidentally enter a wrong bid amount
- The description of an item you have bid on has changed significantly.
- You cannot reach the seller. This means that you have tried calling the seller and the seller’s phone number doesn’t work, or you have tried emailing the seller and it comes back undeliverable.
To make the retraction you’ll need the eBay auction number and follow this link:
Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 150030140999 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page) Remember when your mom packed your lunchbox with your favorite sandwich? Do you think it would taste better in this lunch box? 1963 Jetsons Vintage Dome Metal Lunch box SOLD $2225.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150030140999
Do you want to learn more about selling and buying on eBay? Come to an eBay Class given by the eBay Queen. Saturday October 7 from 9-11AM at the Ottawa Community Arts Council. Cost is 20.00. For more information call 242-8478.
Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? E-mail: questions@asktheebayqueen.com .
Posted in General eBay Help, Product Help | 
Tags: background, focus, take great ebay photos, tripod | 
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Should I Refund this Buyer? and Shipping International
Dear eBay Queen;
We sold a 1940’s Paper Mache Cat Jack-o-Lantern this past week. The buyer received it, and said it had a hole cut out of the bottom. In my research on e-bay, I saw others the same way. I didn’t realize I should have mentioned it. I disclosed the wear to the item, and I had 2 pictures of it front and back in the description.
The bidder says he wants me to refund his purchase price, shipping and insurance both ways. Based on his emails, he will no doubt give negative feedback whatever I decide to do. Our feedback is 100% since 1997. What should we do? Should I give him back his money? What will happen if I tell him I am not going to refund his money?
CLS; Lane, KS
Dear CLS;
I love old Halloween collectibles. I took a look at your auction. What a great piece of 1940’s Halloween décor! While looking at your listing, I noticed you do not have a refund policy. While a refund policy will not help you out now with this auction problem, it will definitely help you out the next time you get in a jam with a bidder. Browse some other seller’s listings; check out their return policy. When you find one you like, modify it to match your business practices.
Should you refund his money? I probably would, if only just to save myself the hassle of a negative and a possible Paypal “Not as Described” Complaint. I would apologize for the error, and require him to return it within 4 –5 business days; as long as it is in the condition it left your house in. I would bet you could re-list this item (with photos of the hole) on eBay in the first week of October and it will bring just as much or more than it brought the first time around.
If you don’t want to refund the money to him, the worst thing that could happen is a negative feedback from your buyer and a Paypal Dispute. If he files a Paypal “Not As Described” Dispute, be prepared for a 2-3 month period of waiting for Paypal to decide which side to take in the dispute. Paypal will take into account the buyers opinion about the item, and your listing, photos; refund policy, and your account of the transaction. If Paypal weighs in on the buyer’s side, they will be required to send the item back to you. If they find in your favor, nothing will be done. The buyer could still leave you a negative feedback, no matter what Paypal decides.
Dear eBay Queen;
I have in my listings that I sell only to the United States, but I get questions all the time if I will ship overseas. I had one this morning for my Franklin Mint Kings and Queens coin set. The buyer wants to know if I will ship to Singapore. I haven’t shipped anything overseas before. What do I need to look out for?
John
Dear John;
I don’t like to ship out of the USA either. I am always worried about the item getting to its destination in the time promised, and breakage.
Before you consider shipping an item to Singapore, or any other country, check out the mailing regulations. http://pe.usps.gov/text/Imm/Immctry.html Each country has different rules. When I looked up Singapore’s regulations, I found that that countries postal system only allows, “Coins for purposes of ornament”. Your Franklin Mint Coins would be ok to send, but if you were to send money or coins that could be put into circulation, you would be in violation of Singapore’s mailing rules.
Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 120026471951 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page) How much are 3 old guitars worth? 1967 Mosrite Guitars Vintage Strawberry Alarm Clock SOLD $ 52,099.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120026471951
Do you want to learn more about selling and buying on eBay? Come to an eBay Class given by the eBay Queen. Saturday October 7 from 9-11AM at the Ottawa Community Arts Council. Cost is 20.00. For more information call 242-8478.
Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? E-mail: questions@asktheebayqueen.com .
Seller Doesn’t Accept PayPal? and Shipping to Italy
Dear eBay Queen;
I recently bought a lot of playing cards from a seller on eBay . I was shocked the seller did not accept Paypal. He only took money orders. When I asked him why he didn’t accept Paypal, he said it was because of the fees.
I thought all sellers were required to accept Paypal. What do you think of sellers not accepting Paypal? Do you think that discourages people from bidding on a their auctions?
Beth; Ottawa
Dear Beth;
Paypal is owned by eBay, but eBay does not require a seller to use them. It is completely up to the seller, whether or not they will accept it. Many times a seller will not accept PayPal due to the fees, or due to a bad experience in the past.
As a buyer, I will not buy from a seller, unless they accept PayPal. I like to pay for my items immediately; and there is no waiting for the mail to deliver my money order or check. Paypal also has a great buyer protection policy.
As a seller, I think PayPal is a necessary evil. I don’t always agree with their policies or fee structure, but I would guess that 90% of my transactions are paid for through PayPal. I believe it would hurt my business if I didn’t accept them as one of my payment options.
If you run across a seller that does not accept your preferred method of payment, it never hurts to ask. If they say no, you can always move on to the next one, who probably will be happy to take your money, Paypal fees and all!
Dear eBay Queen;
I bought an unusual sculpture at Goodwill for a dollar. It sold last night for $1590.00. I was so excited, I could hardly stand it. I sent out my invoice last night, including shipping, and insurance. The buyer emailed me back this morning to let me know she wanted the sculpture shipped to her in France. She also asked me to only declare $100.00 of the value of the sculpture on the customs form, and requested no insurance on the box. I am very uncomfortable lying on the customs form. What do you think I should do?
Nancy Moore
Dear Nancy;
Congratulations on the EXCELLENT SALE! Not a bad profit for one day’s work! I would be very concerned to send a $1590.00 breakable item to another country without insurance. I also would be upset if an international bidder asked me to lie on a customs form.
The worst-case scenario for this vase going to France, would be if your buyer paid with Paypal, and you shipped it out without a traceable method of shipping, with no insurance. If the vase breaks, or the buyer says it never arrived, they can file for their funds back under the “buyer protection policy”. Without a tracking number and signature confirmation (on items over $200.00), the buyer will be given back the money they paid you.
Lying on a customs form can get you and your buyer in big trouble. The correct value of each item is required on customs forms. The value of the item helps determine how much duty and taxes should be paid. Some countries will start fining the addressee when the declared value is not correct. http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200608221359082.html
If this were my sale, I would send your bidder the link above, and a new invoice. Make sure your shipping quote only comes from providers that use tracking and signature confirmation. UPS and FEDEX will always have tracking and signature confirmation. USPS (United States Postal Service) only offers signature and tracking overseas when you select Global Express Guaranteed. All of these services cost a bit more, but will protect you and the buyer in the long run. If your buyer still insists on “paying” by her rules, I would offer your vase to the second highest bidder.
Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 320024392899 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page) Halloween is coming. How about a unique costume? Star Wars Boba Fett Fan Made Costume Sold 305.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320024392899
Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? E-mail: questions@asktheebayqueen.com .
Posted in Auction, General eBay Help, Shipping, unhappy buyer |
Tags: help with eBay problem, italy, seller doesn't take paypal, shipping international |
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