Dear eBay Queen:

I’ve been selling on eBay for few years.  I would like to handle the way I take photos differently.  I think I need to upgrade my camera and maybe see if there is a better, more efficient way for me to take my photos.  Can you help me out with this?

Melanie, Topeka, KS

Dear Melanie:

To be a good eBay photographer, you don’t have to have the most expensive equipment. A basic inexpensive digital camera with macro capabilities is really all you need. Macro is the ability to focus up close on small things.  It’s also handy to have a camera that allows you to disable the flash, so you won’t end up with unattractive reflections and glares on shiny surfaces.  I also like cameras with rechargeable batteries, this way I don’t have to keep replacing them.  It’s also good to have an extra battery on hand just so I can always have one ready to go.

I have an area set up in my basement that is only used to photograph items. Before I had this set up, I used an ironing board with ivory cloth taped to my upper cabinets.  I took thousands of listings this way and no one knew the difference! Here are some of the things I believe you need to take good basic eBay photos:

• Table
• Digital camera with macro function to take detailed close-ups
• A plain white background
• A light source
• Tripod if you have a hard time holding the camera steady.

It’s important to not only have a good description but several photos to back up your description. Here are some things I do to make sure my buyers feel like they are right there examining the item:

• Make sure my lighting is good
• Photograph them from multiple angles. Front, back, side bottom.
• Show buyers important details like patterns, flaws and makers marks.
• Upload large, high-quality images at least 1000 pixels on the longest side. This way, pictures are the best quality.

I hope this helps you on your quest to take better photos.

Dear eBay Queen:

I’ve been selling on eBay since I was laid off from work a year ago.  I wouldn’t say I am the “eBay Expert” but I do know a little something.  I had a buyer email me yesterday berating me because I did not put the tracking in the eBay listing.  What in the name of John Wayne is she talking about? Here is her email:

“Have you sent my quilt top?  Every other item I have purchased from a seller I have received a confirmation email that they have sent my item and when I go to the eBay listing I can see the delivery confirmation number there.  The confirmation number is in blue and when I click on it, it tells me where my item is.  Do you know why it’s not like that with this transaction?”

Any idea what I can do to make this person happy?

Bruce

Dear Bruce:

Buyers have come to expect that a seller will send them an email with the tracking information on it.  It has become an industry standard practice in the online world. I believe you are setting your buyers’ expectations by keeping them in the loop when you provide tracking plus as a bonus, you’ll head off some of the “Where’s my item?” questions. Doing this would give buyers more reason to leave you high DSRs for Communication and Shipping time.

It is pretty easy to send this information.  If you don’t use the eBay label printing or print your labels using PayPal, you can manually upload tracking or Delivery Confirmation numbers by doing the following:

1. Go to “My eBay”.
2. Click “Sold,”
3. Select your item(s), and click the “Add tracking number” button.

I truly believe it is important to make this information available to your buyers.  By doing this, eBay can easily see when you ship the item, if a buyer contacts them with an issue.  If for some reason you don’t have tracking information, you can still mark items as shipped for your buyers in My eBay by clicking “Sold” and choosing “Mark as shipped” from the drop-down menu.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 200489716222 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page): John Deere has been around for a long time.  Check out this Old Original John Deere Porcelain Tractor Dealer Sign. SOLD $3700.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200489716222

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.