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Zeke McAlister
Dealing in Fine Collectibles

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Tips for Ebay Sellers

.Special Thanks to the Seller Central Board Regulars
for their Contributions to this Page!

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Table of Contents

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Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketAlso see: Selling Guide for Ebay.co.UK Sellers

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Sell Items that People will Buy

This sounds obvious, but look at the thousands of auctions
with no bids.

Every day, Ebay may have 300 Million items for sale in auctions and in stores…

How will your auction stand out in the middle of that many auctions?

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Saturated Markets

The market for DVD's, Clothing, and Jewelry is Saturated.
Do your research before trying to sell those items.

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Price it Right

Ask too much, get no bids.
Ask too little, and you may have to sell it for less than you wanted.

To find out what your item is worth,
search Ebay for similar items,
and Search the Internet.

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Know the Entire Ebay Website

You need to be familiar with Ebay before you list any auctions.

Click Site Map at the top of any page and surf every topic.

Learn the entire User Agreement .

General Announcements and System Announcements should be checked daily.

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My Ebay

You must be completely familiar with My Ebay.

This is the “Control Panel” for setting your
Bank Account and Credit Card information,
your Email Address, Mailing Address, Telephone Number,
and Your Buying and Selling Preferences.

Click on each Link on the Left Side, learn this page!

Especially go to
My Account and click each of the Sub-Headings.

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Getting Help from Ebay.

Click the Help link at the top of any page.

Use the A to Z Index that you see on the left side of the Help Page.

You can Contact Ebay by Email using the link on the left side of the Help Page.

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Unless you are a Power Seller , there is No Telephone Number for Ebay that you can call. .

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For Live Help, click the Home Page Button at the top of any page,
then click Live Help which is toward the top right corner.

Be Patient! This is "Live Chat" - the waiting time can be lengthy,
and the service often goes down during peak hours.

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Getting Help from the Ebay Discussion Boards

The Ebay Discussion Boards can be a good place to get advice.
However some advice may be bad advice, and
you may encounter "Trolls" who will be rude to you (ignore them).

If you are new to the Discussion Boards, you may want to
spend a few days surfing the Board before you post a question, so that
you have a general feel for a Board and the "Regulars" who post there.

Before posting a question, SEARCH the Boards (top left) for your topic or question.
Your question may already be answered on another "Thread".

Be sure to get several answers to your question before acting on advice from the Boards..

If you ask the following questions on the Discussion Boards,
the Answer will always be “No”

Should I end my auction early?

Should I ship to Nigeria?

Do you know a good Drop Shipper?

Is this Email real?

Can you tell me a good source to buy products to sell on Ebay?

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Payment Methods

Payment Methods that you accept must be Clearly Stated
Do NOT rely on the Ebay "pre-fill", and
make sure that what you say at the top of the page matches
what you say on the rest of the page!

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Online Payments - PayPal

The once secure PayPal website has become a Playground for Scammers.

Never accept PayPal for more money than you want to lose.

Never ship to an Unconfirmed Address.

If you need Advice on accepting PayPal for
Expensive Items, International Bidders (outside of USA), or other help,
Consult the PayPal Discussion Board or the Seller Central Discussion Board .

Always use Delivery Confirmation with PayPal.

Beware of Phony Emails "from" PayPal.
Do not click the link in the email... instead, log onto your PayPal account and check the Status there.

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Use Extreme Caution when accepting PayPal for Electronic Items

You may get burned if you accept PayPal for
Computers, Ipods, Cell Phones, and Blackberries.
For those kinds of items, consider accepting only US Postal Service Money Orders .

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Checks and Cashier's Checks

Fake Cashier's Checks can bounce weeks after they are deposited.
Personal checks get bounced for not sufficient funds.
Your bank account is debited for the bad check amount, PLUS you pay the NSF Fees.
The odds of chasing down a bad check from another state are slim to none.
Wait for Checks to clear before sending the item!
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Money Orders

insist on
US Postal Service Money Orders Only
Take the Money Orders to your Post Office and cash them there... if they are fake,
you will not risk "bouncing them" from your bank account.
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Bank to Bank Wire Transfers

                  For Expensive Items, especially

                  International Bidders,

                  consider accepting Bank to Bank Money Transfers.

If you are new to this concept,
Walk into YOUR Bank, talk face to face with your Banker,
have them explain the process to you.

Ask your Banker:

  • What Information should you give the Buyer?

  • What Information should you NOT give the Buyer?

  • What FEE will YOU be charged for receiving the Money?

  • Are any Banks or Countries Prohibited?

  • What is your Routing Number and Account Number?

  • Make certain you receive the funds in YOUR CURRENCY:
    For example, if you live in the USA, you want US Dollars, or
    if you live in Europe, you want Euros...
    Ask your Bank how this Currency Exchange will occur,
    and is there a FEE that your Buyer should bear?

  • Are there any potential risks?

  • International Bank Transfers may involve Transfer Codes such as
    IBAN Codes, Sort Codes, and ISO 9362 or BIC or SWIFT Codes.
    Ask your Banker to explain these Codes to you.

  • If you have Security Concerns, set up a
    Separate Bank Account for Transfers,
    and keep only the Minimum Required Balance in it.

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                  Scams

Emails and Email Scams

Never Click on a Link in an Email

Emails that you receive “from Ebay” or “from PayPal” are almost always Scams.

The Scammer wants you to click the link, which
takes you to a phony site that looks exactly like Ebay. You type in
your User ID and Password thinking that it is Ebay, and
that places you in serious trouble.

You probably have seen similar phishing emails “from Banks” or “from Credit Cards”.

Remember, no legitimate company will put a link in an email.

So how to tell if the email is real?
Go to your My Ebay page and click My Messages on the left.
If Ebay was really contacting you, it will be there.

Remember, Never Click on a Link in an Email*.
*A rare exception to this would be a Confirmation Email that
you were Expecting if for example, you changed a Password.

And if you get a phony email, Delete It, then clear your Browser.

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Nigerian Scams

Any Email with the Word "Nigeria" in it is CRIMINAL. Do NOT Reply!

Any correspondence from Nigeria is an attempt to rip you off.

The United States of America State Department has a Web Page devoted to Nigerian Scams.

Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast are just as bad.

If you get any request of any kind from Nigeria,
or if they win your Buy it Now Auction,
do not correspond with them in any manner.

If you sell Laptop Computers, you can fully expect
to be scammed by someone from Nigeria.

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Confusing Bidder Stories and Long, Windy Emails

Beware of International Bidders with long confusing stories:

“Greetings honored friend, I am Dr. Reverend Ambassador Utumpki of
the International London Hong Kong Banking Syndicate Office in Sierra Leone,
my daughter is working on her PhD. At New York State University and
Thursday is her 24th Birthday, and
I need your Laptop shipped to her Boston address.
Can you end the auction early?
I will pay you $$$ more than your list price and
I will pay using an International Money Order and send a courier
to pick it up at my expense.”

Don't deal with these people - you will get burned!

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Item Not Received Scam

Delivery Confirmation or Tracking shows that the
Item was Delivered to the Buyer's Address.

But, Buyer claims "The Item was never Received".

Send them the following email:

Dear Buyer:
Re: Package Not Received

Since the Delivery Confirmation shows that the package was delivered
to your address,
I am required to complete a Lost Mail Form with
the United States Postal Service.

The Postal Form that I am submitting includes
your Name, Address, and Telephone Number.
You will be contacted by a Postal Inspector, probably within the next few days.

If you should find the package,
please contact me immediately,
and I will notify the Post Office that the package has been located.

Should the package not turn up, the Post Office will consider it to be stolen mail,
and will investigate accordingly.

Sorry for the inconvenience (to both of us).
Please be prepared to speak with the Postal Inspector when they call upon you,
so that we can resolve this matter quickly.

Sincerely,

Seller

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Click the Image Below for the Report Form:

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Switcheroo Scams on Expensive Items

Record the Serial Number of Your Item and Keep it on File:
On your Auction Page, List the last Four Digits (like with a Credit Card), and
State in the Auction that you have a record of the entire Serial Number.

Post Multiple Photos of the item in your auction,
also add photos of
boxes, paperwork, warranty cards, packaging, and accessories..

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------------------USPS Mail Fraud Report Form.

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------------------ Internet Fraud Report Form

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Hijacked Account

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Go to Ebay's Secure Your Account Page Immediately

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Go to Vrane dot com, click Bomb All Auctions

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You should also Clear Your Browser
and

Run a Complete Scan for Spyware, Keystroke Loggers, Viruses and Malware

If your Computer "Remembers Passwords" or "Saves Passwords",
go into your Browser and Remove all Remembered Passwords.

Then, change Your Passwords for Ebay and PayPal, and

Consider changing ALL Passwords in your Computer (Emails, Banks, etc.)

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What Kind of Auction Should You List?

Ebay Offers a number of different Auction Formats including
Fixed Price Auctions, Half.com, Ebay Motors, Buy It Now, Reserve Auctions,
and the
Standard Online Auction Format.

Unless you are selling Automobiles, Real Estate, or other specialty items,
the Standard Online Auction Format is probably your best bet.

Be careful with Buy it Now and Reserve Auctions. These programs are not for beginners!

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How long should the Auction run?

Run a Seven Day Auction
Three days is too short, and Ten days is too long.

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What is the Best Time to End the Auction?

The type of item that you are selling may influence this decision.
One thing to keep in mind, is that most people are home on the weekends.
End the Auction on Saturday Night or Sunday Night at 11:00PM Eastern Time.

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My Auction is Not Showing Up!
It may take several HOURS before the auction appears on the Ebay site...
Ebay has a "Disclaimer" explaining this on their Website

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Preparing your Auction Description

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"Write your Description as though there were no pictures, and
Photograph your item as though there were no description."

Present a Clean, Neat Auction Page that is
Easy to View and Easy to Read.

You need Clear Photographs and a Complete Description.

Avoid Distractions such as Music, Moving Icons, and Plaid Backgrounds.

Are you using "Auctiva Slide Show" or a Similar Presentation?
If so, place it toward the Bottom of your Auction Page...
people want to see the description of the item that they "clicked on" first.

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Spelling and Grammar

Nothing says “Amateur” louder than misspelled words and poor grammar.

Write out your description in a program that contains a Spell Check and a Grammar Check,
such as Microsoft Word.

You can compose, edit, and tweak your Text BEFORE it gets placed on the Listing Form.

When you are happy with your Item Description and Terms of Sale,
cut and paste it from MS Word onto the Ebay listing form.

Be sure to perform the same Spelling and Grammar checks on your Auction Title.

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How to Create Professional and Attractive Auction Pages

Colors and Bolds and Fancy Fonts and Links and Such

Use HTML (HyperText Markup Language) to make your auction pages look
Professional and Attractive.

*** HTML is not difficult to learn ***

Ebay has an HTML Tips Page that will get you started.

For more detailed HTML instruction visit Web Monkey and
World Wide Web Consortium .
You should also refer to a Good HTML Color Chart

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In the Spring of 2007, Ebay is launching a New Sell Your Item Form

Many Ebayers recommend using the
Old Sell Your Item Form while it is still available.

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         Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Manual for the New Sell Your Item Form

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T O S

“Terms of Sale” includes Shipping, Payment Methods, Refund Policies, and more.

Keep your TOS Clear and Simple, but Provide all Necessary Information.

Remember, your TOS must comply with Ebay Policies.
If you accept PayPal, it must comply with those Policies as well.

Consistent Charges

Make sure that Shipping Charges, Insurance, and Payment Methods are the same everywhere on your page!

Your TOS should have a Positive, Encouraging Tone.
Avoid threatening remarks such as,
“Deadbeat Bidders will receive Negative Feedback and a Strike and get Kicked off of Ebay!”

Don’t make your stated Return Policy too easy:
“100% Satisfaction Guaranteed, Return it for no questions asked, I will
refund shipping both ways if you are not happy with your purchase.”
Liberal Return Policies may draw the attention of Scammers,
and this can quickly put you out of business
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Photos for your Auction Page

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A picture is worth a thousand words!

Auction Photos must be Perfect, with Good Lighting, Proper Contrast, Correct Color, and Crystal Clear


Poor Photos bring Poor Results!

Buyers will have no interest if your Photos are Dark, Fuzzy, or Confusing.

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Invest in a good Digital Camera.

Before you buy a Digital Camera, you should
Educate yourself using websites like
CNET dot com and Digicam Help dot com.
Read books like “Digital Cameras for Dummies”.
Inspect different cameras at “Best Buy” or “CompUSA” or your local Camera Store.

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You must use Clear, Realistic Photos in your auction listing.

Adobe Photoshop and Irfanview are wonderful programs,
but using this kind of software to remove blemishes and
enhance defective items will get you in trouble.

Make sure that your photos accurately portray the item you are selling.


Photography Tips dot com and similar sites can help you get that perfect shot.

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Images from a Scanner may not look good enough for auction photos (with the exception of printed material).

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Use outside Photo Hosting Sites such as
Photobucket and Village Photos
to add extra pictures to your auction page.

For help with Photobucket visit the Photobucket Tutorial

You may wish to use photos from two different photo sites,
so that if one site goes down or offline, you don’t lose all of the pictures
on your auction page.

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Do not Copy Pictures from other people’s auctions, without their express written permission.
Doing so will get you in trouble with Ebay,
plus possible Copyright Violations.

Likewise, Do not Copy Images from Websites or manufacturer’s sites…
people expect to see a photo of the Actual Item that you are selling,
not some professional trade photograph of a mint condition item.

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            Customer Service

You are running a Business,
so conduct yourself in a Business-like manner.

Contact your Bidders Immediately, and Stay in Touch
until the transaction is complete.
Many problems are caused by Poor Communication.

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Cigarette Smoke

Do you Smoke?

Cigarette Smoke is offensive to many people.
Make certain that your items are clean and odor-free.
”Febreeze” and other Odor-Maskers
may not be sufficient to kill off
powerful Nicotine and Tobacco Tar residue.

If you smoke (millions of people do),
you must disclose to bidders that your items come from a smoking home.

If you buy items at Estate Sales, Yard Sales, and Thrift Stores,
those items may have smoke odor on them.

If you are a smoker,
you may want to ask the opinion of a non-smoker friend
(“Does this smell like smoke to you?”),
before listing the auction.

Beware, emotions run very high on this issue!

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Animal Hair from Cats and Dogs

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The Pet Hair and Odors from your lovable pet may be offensive to many Buyers.
It may also trigger allergies in some people.

Just like cigarette smoke, emotions run high when it comes to pets and pet odors.

If your items are exposed to animals or animal hair,
you should disclose this in your auction description.

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Tricking People to Open Your Auctions using Deceptive Methods

Keyword Spamming , Font Color Equals White, Cloaked Text and other Tricks
are used by some Sellers to deceive people into opening their Auction Pages

1. This Annoys Buyers... they will NOT bid on your Auctions

2. Ebay frowns on this activity; they will Cancel your Auctions and possibly Suspend you from Ebay

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What about Insurance and Delivery Confirmation on Inexpensive Items?

Of course we will insure costly or irreplaceable items...
but what about items that cost less than $100.00?
Should we insure those inexpensive items?

Example: do some math with me…
we will use “ballpark estimates” to keep this simple:

Say that you sell 1000 items this year, each item costs less than $100.00
Postal Insurance is $1.35 to $2.30 per item.
Delivery Confirmation is fifty or sixty cents per item.
So you spend maybe $2.00 to $3.00 per item for insurance and / or delivery confirmation
for each of the 1000 items.
That comes out to
$2000 - $3000 per year spent on Insurance and DC.
Maybe you collect it from Buyer, maybe you roll it into your total shipping and handling charge.

Now, how many of the items you ship each year get lost or damaged?
An average Seller may have 2 or 3 items lost or damaged per year.

Does it make sense to spend $2000 to $3000 to recover
the wholesale cost of a couple of inexpensive items? No!

Not to mention the time you spent filling out online insurance and DC forms.

Exceptions:

  • Take advantage of Free Delivery Confirmation with Priority Mail
  • Always use Delivery Confirmation when Buyer pays with PayPal

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Packing

Keep on hand, Packing Supplies including Bubble Wrap, Boxes, Tape, and Packing Peanuts.

Also keep a supply of Priority Mail and Federal Express Boxes and Labels.

Don't wrap items in Newspaper! The ink comes off and makes a mess.

Use Clean Boxes and Clean Packing Materials
Recycling is great, but nobody wants their pricey item packed in a dirty, worn-out box.

Pack your Items to survive a Nuclear Blast!
It is Your Responsibility to get the Item to your Buyer safe and sound.

Go to the Packing and Shipping Discussion Board for advice.

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Shipping.

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Shipping Charges Clearly Stated,
not just in the Ebay “pre-fill”, but in the Auction Description.
Make sure the Shipping Charges stated at the top of the page are
the same as the Shipping Charges stated on the rest of the page.

Do you Combine Shipping Charges
on Multiple Purchases from the same bidder?
State Yes or No in your auction description.

Do you Ship Internationally?
State clearly where you will or will not ship.
If you Go International, be sure and look at the section below titled

International Bidders

You may wish to add a Shipping Calculator to your Auction Page,
depending on the type of Item you are selling.

Search the Internet for Free Auction Calculator.

Invest in a Postal Scale to calculate shipping costs.
Buy a scale from an Office Supply Store, or off the Internet

Insure expensive or Fragile items.
You will be the person who has to file Postal Insurance Claims.

Ship the Item as soon as you receive payment. Wait for checks to clear!

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Excessive Shipping and Handling Charges

Some Sellers try to make a profit from Shipping and Handling Charges.
Don’t overcharge for shipping!
People know what it costs to mail a box.
If you charge $14.00 to ship,
and the item arrives with $2.85 postage marked on it,
you will get negative feedback and lose customers.

If you are Reported for Excessive Shipping and Handling Charges ,
you may face Suspension from Ebay .

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Handling Fees and Packing Fees

If you are shipping fragile or expensive items such as antiques, precious gems, glass or china,
it is okay to charge Handling Fees.
But if you charge "Packing Fees" for easy to pack items like Books or DVD’s
most Bidders will see this as gouging.

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Local Pick-Up

There are many reasons for offering or accepting Local Pick-Up of an Item:

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In the case of the Large or Bulky Item,
you probably offered "Local Pick-Up Only" in your TOS.

But what about the Winner of an Item who emails and says,
“Hey, I live in the same town, can I come and pick it up?”

If you decide to meet the Winning Bidder for a Local Pick-Up,
have them meet you at a United States Post Office
during regular business hours.

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For Local Pick-Up, accept Cash or USPS Money Orders only.

If you accept PayPal, and the Buyer files a SNAD,
or if you accept a Credit Card, and the Buyer does a Chargeback,
you may not be able to Prove Delivery.
And trying to Recover a Bounced Check can be a formidable task.

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                  Important!
                   Ebay Sellers based in the United States of America
                   MUST READ and COMPLY with the

                  US Federal Trade Commission 30 Day Rule

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        International Bidders

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International Bidders (outside of USA):

Please Email for Shipping Rates before Bidding.

International Bidders will pay the Shipping Rate determined by Seller.

Winning Bids will be Paid in United States Dollars.

The Payment Method will be determined by Seller.

International Bidders will pay
all Duties, Customs Fees, Taxes, and Tariffs
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This Seller will not Break the Law by making
False Statements about "Gifts" on Customs Forms

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Be Extremely Cautious when selling
Laptops, Electronics, Cell Phones, or iPods
to International Bidders

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If you accept PayPal for International Sales,
check the PayPal Website to make sure that
you have Seller Protection (Confirmed Address, etc.)

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                  For Expensive Items sold to International Bidders,
                  Consider Using
                  Bank to Bank Transfers

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Here are Canadian Customs and Canadian Import Taxes Links:

Canadian Border Services Postal Program

Canada Duty-Free and Tax-Exempt Importations

Commercial Imports Under $1600 Canadian

Commercial Imports Over $1600 Canadian

Canada Goods and Services Tax & Harmonized Sales Tax

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Federal Express and United Parcel Service

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Establish accounts with Federal Express and United Parcel Service.
Know where their Local Offices are located.
Know where Local Drop-Boxes are.

If you ever need to send something in a hurry, use Federal Express.

Know how to use Tracking Numbers for USPS, UPS, and FedEx.

Be familiar with shipping and shipping rates.

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Review the Websites for

Federal Express

United Parcel Service

United States Postal Service

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Your Auction is Getting Bids!

When you receive Bids,
Check the Bidder’s Feedback (time permitting)
If their Feedback is bad,
Block the Bidder , and then Cancel their Bid .

You can view their Feedback summary at Toolhaus dot org

While you are on the Toolhaus Website,
be sure to check the Feedback that your Bidder left for others.

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      Canceling Bids

You can Cancel Bids before the auction ends.
If you have a problem bidder (bad Feedback, nasty emails, etc.),
you should Cancel their Bid.

To Cancel a Bid click Help at the top of any page, then
click A to Z Index on the left side, then
click Letter C and
scroll down to Cancel Bids

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       Blocking Bidders

You can Block Bidders from bidding on your auctions.

To Block Bidders click Help at the top of any page, then
click A to Z Index on the left side, then
click Letter B and
scroll down to Block Bidders

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      Ending your Auction Early

If you have Trouble in an auction,
End the Auction

To End the Auction, use the Help Index
If there are Bids on the auction, you will have to Cancel the Bids
before you can End the Auction.

If you End your Listing Early ,
you probably will NOT be refunded the Insertion Fee,
unless Fraud or Unauthorized Activity was involved.

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Is Dial-Up Hurting Your Business?

It is very difficult to run a Business using Dial-Up internet service.
The Internet is too fast, and graphics and media files are too large, for such slow communication.
High Speed or Satellite service is available to over 85% of the United States.

Unless you live in a remote area,
you should have access to High Speed Internet.

Make the Investment - Your Business Deserves High Speed Internet!

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Is AOL Holding You Back?

In May 2006,

PC Magazine proclaimed America Online as the Worst Tech Product of All Time

No serious Business would consider using AOL.

AOL is designed for children, not Business.

AOL is a highly censored and highly filtered Proxy Service.

Users of AOL are not seeing "The Real Internet".

Cancel AOL today and get serious about your Ebay Business!

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Drop Shippers

Some Drop Shippers are legitimate, honest businesses.

But an increasing number of “Drop Shippers” are scammers and thieves.

If you choose to work with a Drop Shipper,
Do your homework:
Find out who owns the Domain Name at
Who Is dot Net
Verify the Street Address with Google, Yahoo, and the US Postal Service.
Verify the Telephone number with switchboard.com and with Google.com
Call the telephone number.
Ask for References. Call the references.

Call the Chamber of Commerce, the City Hall (Business Licensing), and
the Better Business Bureau in the town they are located in.
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Should I ask about Drop Shipping on the Discussion Boards?

This question is asked several times per day
on the Discussion Boards.
You will probably get "Flamed" if you ask the question there!

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Never Ever use Western Union, BidPay, or PayPal to pay a Drop Shipper

Pay with a Credit Card so that you have some protection.

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      A True Worst Case Scenario:

A Seller received several thousand dollars from Buyers for computers
that she was selling through a Drop Shipper.
She deposited the thousands of dollars into the bank, then used PayPal to pay the "Drop Shipper".
The Drop Shipper was a Scammer who took the money, and never shipped any computers.
The Seller's Bank Account was empty. She had no computers to send the customers,
and she was now Personally Liable to the Buyers for their money.

Watch out!

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       July 2007 Seller Testimony of a Bad Drop Shipper

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           Record Keeping

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Keep Copies of:

Make Copies on a Regular Basis

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Use a good Screen Capture Program to make your copies.

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Doesn’t Ebay keep that information for me?

Ebay keeps the information for a while, but
you should not count on it being available ("Murphy's Law").
Even if the raw data is there, the photos and images may become irretrievable.

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It is good business practice to keep good records!
Keep the records on your Hard Drive, and backed up on Disk.

Use Microsoft Excel or a similar program to Graph your Income and Expenses

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Check with your CPA or Bookkeeper for what Records You should Keep .

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         Personal Security and Privacy

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Credit Card and Checking Account

Establish a Separate Checking Account and a Separate Credit Card for Ebay / PayPal.

Keep a Minimum Balance in the Checking Account
Keep a Low Credit Limit on the Credit Card

  • This makes business accounting and record keeping easier.

  • It provides security if Ebay or PayPal overcharges your account.

  • If your Ebay or PayPal Account is hacked by phishers or compromised,
    you can cancel the credit card and close the bank account.

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Business Telephone and Business Mail Box

Many Sellers are surprised to learn that their Telephone Number can be available to Buyers.

Consider getting a Separate Cell Phone with Voice Mail just for Ebay.

Buyers can also obtain your Address on File if they are involved in a transaction with you.

Rent a US Postal Service Mail Box at the Post Office to use as your Ebay Address.

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Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket.

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Ebay Sells Your Private Information to Anybody,
Unless you Change Your Preferences in My Ebay

Beginning in July 2007, this will
Include Third Party Advertisers

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Ebay's Announcement on Selling YOUR PERSONAL INFO to Third Party Advertisers

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Ebay's Right to Sell Your Bank Account, Credit Card Numbers, SSN
and other
Personal Information to Third Parties

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Security Center: Privacy Overview

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Security and Resolution - Privacy Central

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Feedback

Do whatever it takes to maintain Good Feedback!

You need a strong Feedback History before you start Selling... a Seller with Zero Feedback may not get any bids.

To build up your Feedback, buy some inexpensive items, pay promptly.

When should a Seller leave Feedback?
This question is argued on the Discussion Boards all the time.
Some say, leave it as soon as you receive payment.
Others say, wait until the Buyer leaves Feedback for you.

You should Wait until the Buyer Receives the Item before leaving Feedback.
That way you can address any problems or complaints before you leave FB.

Remember, once you leave Feedback, You Cannot Retract the Words.
Yes, you and the other party can do a "Mutual Cancellation",
but that does not remove the words, only the score.

Think long and hard before leaving Neutral or Negative Feedback.

How should a Seller respond when they have been "Negged" by a Buyer?
Respond Calmly and Professionally.
Offering Excuses like "my computer was down" or "I was sick" makes you look unprofessional.
Calling people names like Thief, Liar, Cheater will also make you look bad.

In addition to whatever Feedback you leave for the Buyer,
consider posting a Reply on your own Feedback Page.

For advice, go to the Feedback Discussion Board

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Seller's Mark

Putting a “Secret Mark” on an item
is used by some sellers to protect against
fraudulent refunds (“the old switcheroo”).

Many Sellers use a Black Light Pen for their Mark.

Be careful here – if you make that statement, there better be a mark.
And if you list the item as
New with Tags, or Mint, you cannot mark on it.

Caution! You could wreck the value of a rare book,
priceless antique, leather purse, or other expensive item by marking on it.

Instead of intentionally marking a rare item,
look for a flaw or existing mark and photograph it.

Many Sellers Record Serial Numbers for security.

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Title of Your Auction on the Search Page

You have two objectives:
1. Get your Title to appear in as many Search Results as possible.
2. Make your Title so appealing that Buyers will click on the Link and open your page.

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Optimize your Title

People are searching by Keywords in the search box.
The more searchable Keywords you put into your Title, the more hits your auction will get.

Your title needs to be informative enough to make people want to open it.

Don’t waste optimizable space on words like “beautiful” or “l@@k!”
Nobody searches for these words.

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Ebay Listing Enhancement Features

Gallery, Gift Icons, Highlighting, and other Upgrades are Expensive.
Ask yourself, ”Will this help me make more money?”
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Photobucket - Video and Image HostingPhotobucket - Video and Image HostingPhotobucket - Video and Image Hosting .....Click Here for Ebay's Selling Page..... Photobucket - Video and Image HostingPhotobucket - Video and Image HostingPhotobucket - Video and Image Hosting

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What about Taxes?

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Disclaimer:
The following is provided for General Information,
and should not be construed as Tax Advice or Legal Advice.
For Tax Advice or Legal Advice,
consult a Certified Public Accountant or Tax Attorney.

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All Income is Subject to Taxation.

You may owe both Federal and State Taxes on income that you receive from Ebay.

The penalties and interest for not paying taxes can be severe.

When it comes to Tax Advice, do not assume anything,
and do not rely on advice from friends or acquaintances.

For Tax Advice, consult a Certified Public Accountant or Tax Attorney.

A CPA can instruct you in what taxes you owe,
they can assist you with proper record keeping,
they can help you meet tax deadlines.
Find a CPA who will be aggressive in keeping your tax liability minimized.

Retain a Tax Attorney if you face Tax Evasion Charges, Audits, or other Legal Problems.

Once you get a basic understanding of tax laws,
a Bookkeeper may be sufficient to help you complete the required forms.

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Federal Income Tax

Ebay does not send you Form 1099, W2, W4
or any other Internal Revenue Service form.

Update: IRS may soon require Ebay to provide Form 1099
for Sellers earning $5000, or Sellers having more than 100 transactions.
The final determination has not been made.

However, IRS will have no trouble determining your income by
reviewing your Ebay and PayPal accounts, Credit Card statements, and Bank Accounts.

Be familiar with the The Internal Revenue Service Website

Learn these forms and publications
(be sure you are using the correct year):

Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Businesses

Form 1040 Schedule C

Form 1040 Schedule C-EZ

Form 1040 SE

Form 1040 ES

Cost of Goods Sold

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                        Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Good IRS Article on Online Auction Sellers

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State Taxes

Your state may require you to pay State Income Tax

Your state may require you to collect and remit State Sales Tax.

see your State Department of Revenue/Taxation Website.

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Remember, you must be
Registered with Your State
before you can collect Sales Tax.

Collecting the Tax and not sending it in is a serious crime.

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What about Sales Tax from other States? Do I have to collect that?
This is an area of great confusion... it is generally believed that
you only collect sales taxes from people in your own state...
if in doubt, consult your CPA or Tax Attorney.
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Coming Soon: Tips For Buyers

Coming Soon: Computer Tips

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                  Table of Contents

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                  Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

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                  A to Z Index

                  Announcements

                  AOL

                  Bank to Bank Transfers

                  Bids are Appearing

                  Blocking Bidders

                  Canceling Bids

                  Checks and Cashier's Checks

                  Cigarette Smoke

                  Contact Ebay

                  Confusing Bidder Emails

                  Customer Service

                  Dial-Up Internet

                  Digital Cameras

                  Discussion Boards

                  Drop Shippers

                  Email Scams

                  Feedback

                  Fraud Reporting

                  FTC 30 Day Rule

                  General Announcements

                  Help from Ebay

                  Hijacked Account

                  HTML

                  International Bidders

                  Item not Received Scam

                  Live Help

                  Local Pick-Up

                  Money Orders

                  My Ebay

                  Nigerian Scams

                  Pet Hair

                  Photos

                  Pricing your Item

                  Privacy - Ebay's Right to Sell your Personal Information

                  Record Keeping

                  Sales Tax

                  Saturated Markets

                  Scams

                  Seller's Mark

                  Serial Numbers

                  Site Map

                  State Taxes

                  Switcheroo Scams

                  System Announcements

                  Taxes

                  Telephone Number for Ebay

                  Terms of Sale

                  User Agreement

                  What to Sell

                  Back to Top

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Updated July 2007

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