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How to Market Your eBay Items & Custom Orders Can be a Pain Sometimes

January 26th, 2007 |

Author: admin

Dear eBay Queen

I’m interested in learning how to market my eBay business. How can I draw more attention to my auctions and my eBay store?

Wendy

Dear Wendy;

The best and easiest way to draw attention to yourself as a seller, is to use relevant keywords in your store, auction, or website. If you use relevant keywords, you can get free search engine traffic. Google and Yahoo type search engines will pick up your keywords and show your eBay listings when a buyer searches for those items. eBay store owners should make sure their store title, description and category names include keywords that will draw buyers in to their auction, or store listing.

eBay has created several ways to bring attention to auctions and stores. They are:

1. eBay Blogs. An eBay Blog (Web log) gives you an online publishing tool to share your opinions with the rest of the eBay Community. Blogs can be used for a variety of purposes: to enhance an eBay store, share personal experiences, or talk about collectibles you like to win on eBay. http://pages.ebay.com/help/account/blogs-ov.html

2. Store Newsletter: A store newsletter is a way to keep in contact with previous and prospective buyers. By sending out a newsletter you can keep already interested buyers up to date on your specials, new merchandise and current listings. http://pages.ebay.com/help/specialtysites/email-marketing-mailing-lists-subscribers.html

3. eBay Reviews & Guides: Why not share with the rest of the world your area of expertise? Do you sell vintage fishing lures? Write a guide about them, and draw people to your vintage fishing listings. http://pages.ebay.com/help/specialtysites/questions/rev-guide.html

There is always word of mouth or email. Make sure there is a link to your eBay auctions on your business cards, and in your signature line on your email.

Dear eBay Queen;

I make rosaries and sell them on eBay. I had a buyer place a custom order for one from my eBay store about a month ago. She needed it in under a week for a birthday party. I went nuts getting it made and mailed out to her. I had not heard anything from her in over a month. She emailed me a couple of days ago telling me it didn’t work out, and she’s mailing it back to me. I don’t understand why she did this.

When I get the item back, can I put it back on eBay? How do I get my Final Value Fees back? Can I get my original listing fee back? I’m pretty ticked that I worked so hard to make her happy, and she’s sending the item back.

Mary

Dear Mary;

I’d be upset too! I can’t believe she ordered a custom item, demanded it be made and sent in under a week, and then waited 30 days to return it. That is pretty inconsiderate on the buyers part. There are a few ways to protect your business from this in the future. I would consider having a refund policy that has a time limit on returns, and consider not offering returns on custom items.

You will be able to put the item back on eBay, and receive your final value fees back. Your listing fees will not be refunded. Once you receive the rosary, refund your buyer s money and immediately file for your fees back. To file for your Final Value Fees go to: http://rebulk.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?CreateDispute Remember you have only 45 days from the end of the auction to report and file for your fees back.

This time of year it seems people have over spent at the holidays, and have buyers remorse. I’m sure this is what your buyer’s problem is. I looked at your rosaries, and they are beautiful.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 270076897952 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page). Did you ever wonder what your old baseball cards might be worth? Check out this 1968 Topps Mickey Mantle Card. SOLD $9888.90 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270076897952

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 .