Internet/Hobbies/Online Shopping and Selling sier!™ a E g in th ry e v E g Makin Get the most out of eBay with this definitive guide to buying and selling • My eBay — discover how to view and edit your account details at any time in the centralized My eBay page • Get the deals — find bargains online like never before with winning bid strategies for a universe of products • Sell like a pro — explore taking and posting photographs, communicating with bidders, shipping items, collecting payments, listing multiple items, and much more • How to set up your My eBay and Profile page • How to use eBay to buy like an expert • Details on eBay search tools and tricks • Information on auction-winning strategies • An overview of listing items on eBay • How an eBay store can open new doors • Details on using social media to sell • Ten golden rules for eBay buyers and sellers Cover Image: âiStockphoto.com/mbortolino Learn to: Go social — take things to the next level by attracting customers through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter Marsha Collier is one of eBay’s original Powersellers and remains a Top-Rated seller Her eBay books have combined to sell over one million copies She’s also a social commerce and marketing expert and has been named to the “Top 20 Women Social Media Influences” list at Forbes.com y a B e ® • Sign up and go — find out how to sign up and get started with one of the top e-commerce auction sites in the world Open the book and find: eBay eBay is one of the largest e-commerce sites on the planet and continues to grow each year With eBay For Dummies, you can discover everything you need to know to get up and running with eBay Explore more in-depth topics to become a power user by using social media to sell, crafting bidding strategies, communicating with customers, and much more 8th Edition • Use eBay to save money and make money • Find deals on everyday items and place winning bids Go to Dummies.comđ Create successful listings and build your income for videos, step-by-step photos, how-to articles, or to shop! $24.99 USA / $29.99 CAN / £17.99 UK ISBN:978-1-118-74886-2 52499 Marsha Collier 781118 748862 Collier Author of Starting an eBay Business For Dummies www.it-ebooks.info 8th Edition ® Get More and Do More at Dummies.com® Start with FREE Cheat Sheets Cheat Sheets include • Checklists • Charts • Common Instructions • And Other Good Stuff! To access the Cheat Sheet created specifically for this book, go to www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/ebay Get Smart at Dummies.com Dummies.com makes your life easier with 1,000s of answers on everything from removing wallpaper to using the latest version of Windows Check out our • Videos • Illustrated Articles • Step-by-Step Instructions Plus, each month you can win valuable prizes by entering our Dummies.com sweepstakes * Want a weekly dose of Dummies? Sign up for Newsletters on • Digital Photography • Microsoft Windows & Office • Personal Finance & Investing • Health & Wellness • Computing, iPods & Cell Phones • eBay • Internet • Food, Home & Garden Find out “HOW” at Dummies.com *Sweepstakes not currently available in all countries; visit Dummies.com for official rules www.it-ebooks.info eBay ® 8th Edition www.it-ebooks.info www.it-ebooks.info eBay ® 8th Edition by Marsha Collier www.it-ebooks.info eBay ® For Dummies®, 8th Edition Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com Copyright © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions Trademarks: Wiley, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, Dummies.com, Making Everything Easier, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc and may not be used without written permission eBay is a registered trademark of eBay, Inc All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners John Wiley & Sons, Inc is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY SITUATION THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IF PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, THE SERVICES OF A COMPETENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S at 877-762-2974, outside the U.S at 317-572-3993, or fax 317-572-4002 For technical support, please visit www.wiley.com/techsupport Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand Some material included with standard print versions of this book may not be included in e-books or in print-on-demand If this book refers to media such as a CD or DVD that is not included in the version you purchased, you may download this material at http://booksupport.wiley.com For more information about Wiley products, visit www.wiley.com Library of Congress Control Number: 2013954171 ISBN: 978-1-118-74886-2 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-74890-9 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-74875-6 (ebk) Manufactured in the United States of America 10 www.it-ebooks.info About the Author Marsha Collier is the top-selling eBay author Her name crops up a lot in the same breath as e-commerce and customer service No surprise there She’s the author of the For Dummies series on eBay (eBay For Dummies, Starting an eBay Business For Dummies, eBay Business All-In-One For Dummies), plus many other related, best-selling titles She is one of the foremost e-commerce experts and educators in the world Her books are published worldwide (special editions for the U.K., Germany, India, France, Canada, Australia, Russia, China — and an edition in Spanish As of 2007, there were a million books of her books in print, her first was published in 1997 and has been on the many top Best Seller lists Marsha intermixes her writing about eBay with her role as experienced spokesperson While traveling across the United States and around the world, she makes regular appearances on television, radio, and in print to discuss online commerce and customer service Marsha earned her eBay stripes as a longtime seller on the site She began her eBay selling career in 1996 to earn extra money for her daughter’s education (and eventually paid for university with her eBay earnings) She grew her business to a full-time venture and was one of the first eBay PowerSellers Nowadays, you can find everything from autographed copies of her books to photography tools, pet toys, and DVDs in her eBay Store (“Marsha Collier’s Fabulous Finds” at http://stores.ebay.com/Marsha-ColliersFabulous-Finds) and on her website (http://www.coolebaytools com) Marsha also co-hosts Computer and Technology Radio on WSradio at http://wsradio.com/wsradio/show_details/52 In 2004, Marsha began a blog, Marsha Collier’s Musings (http://mcollier blogspot.com) to talk about timely topics she thinks her readers will enjoy An early innovator in social media, Marsha penned several books, two of her favorites are The Ultimate Online Customer Service Guide and Social Media Commerce For Dummies Her online brand has grown as she shares thoughts on how businesses can make the most of the Internet She has recently been awarded several honors: ✓ 2013 Huffington Post #2 of the Top 100 Customer Service Pros on Twitter ✓ 2013 Forbes Top 20 Women Social Media Influencers ✓ 2013 Forbes Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers ✓ Edelman Tweetlevel: Top Media 100 Users by Influence ✓ 2012 Forbes Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers ✓ 2012 Small Business Book Awards: Startup Book Category, Starting an eBay Business For Dummies ✓ 2012 The 100 Most Powerful Women On Twitter ✓ 2011 Forbes Top 10 Women Social Media Influencers Marsha currently resides in Los Angeles, CA You can contact Marsha via her website, coolebaytools.com www.it-ebooks.info Publisher’s Acknowledgments Executive Editor: Steven Hayes Project Coordinator: Rebekah Brownson Senior Project Editor: Nicole Sholly Cover Image: ©iStockphoto.com/mbortolino Senior Copy Editor: Barry Childs-Helton Technical Editor: Patti Louise Ruby Editorial Assistant: Anne Sullivan Sr Editorial Assistant: Cherie Case www.it-ebooks.info Contents at a Glance Introduction Part I: Getting a Feel for eBay Chapter 1: Why Being on eBay Is So Much Fun Chapter 2: Ready, Set, Go! Signing Up on eBay 19 Chapter 3: Finding Your Way Around eBay 31 Chapter 4: Your Very Own, Private eBay 45 Part II: Buying Like an Expert 73 Chapter 5: Deal or No Deal? Buying Advice and Searching Tips 75 Chapter 6: Get the Deal: Shopping eBay 97 Chapter 7: Winning eBay Strategies 121 Chapter 8: Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner? 133 Part III: Making Money the eBay Way 147 Chapter 9: Selling in Your Bunny Slippers for Fun and Profit 149 Chapter 10: Make It Sell: Completing the Cyber Paperwork 175 Chapter 11: Shopping or Selling with an eBay Store 203 Chapter 12: Closing the Deal and Shipping It Out 209 Chapter 13: Troubleshooting Transactions 235 Chapter 14: Increase Your Profits with Pictures and Other Strategies 255 Part IV: Even More of eBay’s Special Features 277 Chapter 15: Privacy: Protecting Yourself Online 279 Chapter 16: Staying Safe and Getting Help 295 Chapter 17: Social Media and the eBay Community 315 Chapter 18: Mobile eBay Apps and Fun Features 331 Part V: The Part of Tens 339 Chapter 19: Ten (Or So) Golden Rules for eBay Buyers and Sellers 341 Chapter 20: Ten (Or So) Services to Ease Your Way 349 Appendix: Finding Stuff to Sell 363 Index 371 www.it-ebooks.info www.it-ebooks.info Index •M• keywords, 85, 94, 176, 344 Klout, 330 knock-offs, 161–162 Kumpolt charity auction, 337 •L• Label field, About Me pages, 273 label printers, thermal, 229–230 land, listing fees for, 166 last bid strategies, 132 law enforcement agencies, contacting about fraud, 313 law-enforcement badges/ID, selling, 159 layout, About Me pages, 273 Leave Comment button, Feedback Forum page, 69 Legal & more tab, home page, 43–44, 204 libel, 69 libraries, as source of information for collectors, 83–84 license plates, selling current, 159 lighter fluid, for removing residue, 229 lighting, photo, 261 links, navigation See also specific navigation links by name categories, 34–36 home page, 31 overview, 33–34 Listing Designer, 196 Listing End e-mail, 210 listings fees, 166, 205 items in two categories, 169, 179 preparation for selling, 176–177 private, 14–15 reporting problems, 164 Sell an Item Page, 178–180 titles, 183–186, 344 Lists link, My eBay page, 47 Live Help, 26 Location Search option, Advanced Search page, 90 lockpicking devices, 159 loyalty program, eBay, 331–332 LunaPic website, 268 Mail or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule, 171 mailing items See shipping MailWasher anti-spam software, 291 Main Street Member Program, 44 Make an Offer option, 178 Make Offer button, 122 malicious feedback, 300 malware protection software, 285 management services, third-party Auction Wizard 2000, 354–355 Auctiva, 350–351 inkFrog, 352 overview, 350 Vendio, 352–353 manipulation, bid, 299 manufactured homes, listing fees for, 166 manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), 81 markers, for packing, 230 ME icon, 272 Media Mail, 110, 221 megapixels, 258 membership information, Feedback page, 66 Mentoring Groups, 323 Messages link, 291 Messages page, 35 MIB (Mint in Box), 185 Microsoft Bing, 81, 155 Microsoft website, 285 military weapons, selling, 158–159 MIMB (Mint in Mint Box), 218 minimum bid (starting price), 190–191 mint grade items, 79 Mint in Box (MIB), 185 Mint in Mint Box (MIMB), 218 Mint on Card (MOC), 185 minus sign (–) in searches, 94 misleading contact information, 300 MissionFish, 336–337 Mobile apps link, Tools & apps page, 43 MOC (Mint on Card), 185 www.it-ebooks.info 379 380 eBay For Dummies, 8th Edition Model Supplies, 326 Motor Vehicle Purchase Protection, 307 movies, selling, 161 Mozilla, 267 MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price), 81 Multiple Items listing, 190 music, 161 My eBay Buy Summary page, 47 My eBay Lists, 55–56 My eBay page accessing, 46–47 account information, 49 Accounts pages, 51–53 bookmarking, 51 Buying area, 58–59 communications preferences, 49–51 feedback, leaving, 70 Feedback area, 51 Feedback Forum link, 68 links, 47–48 Lists Section, 55–58 My Account option, 51 overview, 34–36 past history, 40 payment steps, 138 personal feedback profile page, 64–65 Purchase History, 138 Resolution Center, 54–55, 308–310 Sell page, 59–61 Seller Dashboard, 53–54 sending shortcuts to desktop, 51 tracking bidding, 112 tracking business, 48–50 Watch list, 35, 57–58, 102, 112 Watch This Item link, 126 watching, 129 Won area, 134 My eBay Saved Searches area, 84 •N• nadaguides website, 83 NARU (Not A Registered User), 119 National Fraud Information Center (NFIC), 313 National Security Agency (NSA), 279 navigation links See also specific navigation links by name categories, 34–36 home page, 31 overview, 33–34 near mint grade items, 79 negative feedback, 64, 65–66, 71, 144 negotiable securities, 159 Nelson, Anita, 326, 328 Network Solutions, 267 neutral feedback, 65, 71, 144 Never Removed from Box (NRFB), 185 News & Events group, 323 newspaper, for packing, 227 NFIC (National Fraud Information Center), 313 NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation), 311 Nimbus Dome, 259 No Reserve Price (NR), 185 noise words, in searches, 95 non-paying bidders, 117, 119, 299, 306 Not A Registered User (NARU), 119 notice fees, 168 Notification Bell page, My eBay, 36 Notification Delivery, My eBay, 50 notifications preferences, My eBay, 50–51 winning, Android mobile app, 134 NR (No Reserve Price), 185 NRFB (Never Removed from Box), 185 NSA (National Security Agency), 279 Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), 311 •O• odor elimination, 225 OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), 185 Official Time link, 58, 128 Official Time page, 127 Olbe, Ryan, 357 Omidyar, Pierre, 11, 29 One of a Kind (OOAK), 185 www.it-ebooks.info Index one-page listing tool, Auctiva, 351 OOP (Out of Print), 185 operational abuses, 301 optical zoom, 258 optional fees, 166, 168–169 Order Confirmation, printing, 210 orientation, rotating in images, 263 Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), 185 Other Transactions and Notices preferences, My eBay, 50–51 Out of Print (OOP), 185 Outlook e-mail program, 304 •P• Pacific time, 100, 128, 192 packing materials box void-filler materials, 226–228 boxes, 226 charges related to, 110 essential items, 228–230 finding, 230–231 overview, 225 storing, 226 tips regarding, 346 Page Title, About Me page, 273 paper trail, 62 paperwork, 209–212 parentheses (()) in searches, 94 passwords changing, 27, 46, 49, 293 privacy concerns, 62–63, 292–293 tips, 27 past history, 40 Pay Now button, 138, 140 Pay On Pickup option, 109 payment See also PayPal automatic, 52–53 credit cards, 52, 108, 137, 294, 308 eCheck, 137 instant transfers, 138 interception, 298 listing options, 196–197 methods of, 108–109, 137–138 My eBay page links for, 52–53 Payment details area, Item Listing page, 104 Payment Instructions, Sell an Item Page, 180 PayPal benefits of, 137 overview, 24, 108–109 payments through, 53, 137–138 printing payment notices, 210 Purchase Protection, 307–308 saving statements, 61 Sell an Item Page, 180 PayPal Account link, My eBay page, 52 PayPal Premier, 211 PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service), 311 permanent markers, for packing, 230 persistent cookies, 282 personal exposure, 300 pets, selling, 160 PhotoBucket, 268 photos See pictures pickup, package, 221 Picture field, About Me pages, 273 Picture Services, eBay, 178, 266, 268–271 Picture URL box, Sell an Item form, 267 pictures camera, choosing, 257–259 composites, creating, 261–262 cover photo, 275 digital SLRs, 256 eBay Picture Services, 178, 266, 268–271 importance of, 256, 345 inserting additional, 190 LunaPic editing, 268 multiple, 270 originals, storing on website, 266, 267 posting, 269–270 profile page, 275 scanner, choosing, 259–260 scanning, 262–263 smartphone images, 256 storing on image-hosting website, 266, 267–268 taking, 260–262 Twitter, 328 www.it-ebooks.info 381 382 eBay For Dummies, 8th Edition pictures (continued) watermarking, 262 web friendly, 264–265 piracy, 160, 161–162 Pixby Fast Photos editing program, 264 pixel tags, 282–283 pixels, 258, 265, 269 plastic bags protecting packed items in, 228 storing packing supplies in, 226 police badges/ID, selling, 159 policies About eBay page, 44 autographs, 152 eBay, 44, 157, 183, 197, 295 eBay stores, 208 excessive shipping charges, 305 privacy, 24–25, 285–287 returns, 104, 180 Policies link, 157, 296 poor grade items, 80 positive feedback, 64–65, 71, 102, 144 postage See also shipping buying online, 232 Endicia, 232–234 Postal Service See U.S Postal Service Postal Store website, 219 PowerSellers, 322, 360 Premium eBay Store, 205 presale items, 77, 190 prescriptions, medical, 159 Preview Your Listing page, 198–200 price checking, 344 guides, 77 range, searching, 86 researching, 81 Price + Shipping: Highest First sorting, 89 Price + Shipping: Lowest First sorting, 89 Price: Highest First searching, 86, 176 Price: Lowest First searching, 86 Print area, Item Listing page, 102 printers, thermal label, 229–230 printing item page, 210–211 paperwork, 135 Priority Mail, USPS, 110, 217, 219–220, 231 privacy See also passwords; security cookie removal, 284–285 cookies, general discussion of, 281–282 eBay policy, 285–287 e-mail spoofing, 291–292 Incognito browsing, 284 information made available to members, 288–289 personal information, 280, 287–288 precautions, 292–294, 344 setting on Profile page, 56–57 spam, 289–291 TRUSTe policy, 285–286 web beacons, 282–283 web servers, 283–284 Privacy Center, eBay, 284 Privacy Policies, 24–25, 285–287 private auctions, 179, 194–195 private browsing, 284 private listings, 14–15 prizes, 163 Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), 311 Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA), 312 profile, Auctiva, 351 Profile page accessing, 56 collections, 317–318 guides, 319 privacy settings, 56–57 reviews, 318 user interaction, 274–276 Profit or Loss From Business (1040-C) form, 170 Prohibited and Restricted items link, 157 prohibited items, 158–161 proxy, bidding by, 112–114 PSA (Professional Sports Authenticators), 312 Purchase History link, 47, 59 Purchase History page, 35, 138 •Q• Quantity field, Item Listing page, 100, 179 Questions and answers about this item box, 107 www.it-ebooks.info Index Quick Cost Calculator, UPS.com, 222 quotes (" ") in searches, 94 •R• raffles, 163 Rate Calculator, 222 ratings, feedback, 17, 63–64, 77 Real Estate category, 164 real estate, selling, 166 receipts, 61, 211, 212 Recent Feedback Ratings, 66 Recent searches, 40 Recently Viewed items, 40 Red Laser app, 335 RedLaser scanner, 334 Refine Search, 87 Refresh button, browser, 128 refunds filing for, 143–144 lost or damaged items, 218 printing, 211 saving requests, 61 Regional groups, 323 Register link, home page, 36 registering accessing forms, 20–21 activation notice, 25 claims, with Resolution Center, 309–310 confirmation code, 25–26 forms, 21–24 passwords, 27, 46, 49, 62–63, 292–293 Privacy Policy, 24–25, 285–287 process, 21–24 user ID, 22–23, 27–29, 49, 292 registration forms, 21–24, 294 relisting items, 252–254 Reload button, browser, 128 replicas, of official government items, 159 Report a Problem link, Security Center page, 302 Report Item link, 164, 301–302 reporting abuses, 301–305 listing problems, 164 researching bidders, 124 collectibles, 81–84 competition, 124–126 item bidding history, 123–124 overview, 17 Reserve not met statement, Item Listing page, 100 reserve price, 13, 100, 179, 191, 193–194 residential real estate, listing fees for, 166 resolution images, 258, 265 scanner, 260 Resolution Center, 54–55, 296, 308–310 resolution process, 297 Resolve a Problem option, My eBay page, 142 restricted items, 157–158, 162–163 restricted-access auctions, 13–14 restrictions, selling infringement violations, 161–162 overview, 157–158 Policies link, 157 prohibited items, 158–161 restricted items, 162–163 tactics, 163–164 Retract bid button, 118 retracting bids, 66–67, 117–118, 299 Return policy, Sell an Item Page, 180 Reveal incandescent bulbs, GE, 261 Review Bid page, 111 risk reserve, 218 Royal Mailers eBay store, 231 rubber stamps/stickers, for packing, 229 Ruby, Patti Louise, 183 •S• sales tax number, 172 Salescalc, 356–357 Save My Page button, About Me pages, 274 scanners, 259–260 scanning images, 262–264 scissors, for packing, 229 screen grab, 135 scrolling galleries, 351, 353 search box, 31, 36–38, 84 www.it-ebooks.info 383 384 eBay For Dummies, 8th Edition Search button, 87 search engines, 81 Searches You Follow lists, My eBay Lists, 55–56 searching See also Advanced Search page Advanced link, 36–37 bidders, 92 by categories, 86, 95 Favorites list, adding to, 55 Internet, 81–83 by item numbers, 39 by items in stores, 39 listing on My eBay page, 55–56 Location Search option, 90 narrowing fields, 95 options, 36–37 for people, 95–96 quickly, 93–95 results, 88–89 search box, 31, 36–38, 84 by seller, 39, 86, 90–92, 212 Sold Items Only, 89 Seat Geek website, 163 Second Chance feature advice regarding, 77–78 general discussion, 120 making offer, 240–242 overview, 61, 127 secondary market price, 81 Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection, 21, 266, 294 security See also passwords; privacy appraisals, 311–312 authentication, 310–311 bidding abuses, 299 feedback abuses, 299–300 fraud, 223, 251, 312–313 identity abuses, 300–301 miscellaneous abuses, 301 Motor Vehicle Purchase Protection, 307 operational abuses, 301 PayPal Purchase Protection, 307–308 reporting abuses, 301–305 Resolution Center, 308–310 resolution process, 297 selling abuses, 298 SSL connection, 21, 286, 294 suspension, 306–307 Security Center, 18, 43, 295–296, 303 self insurance, 218 Sell an Item page accessing, 178 auction time, setting, 192–193 Buy It Now, 191–192 categories, determining, 181–182 Confirmation page, 199 item descriptions, writing, 187–190 item location, 195–196 Listing Designer, using, 196 listing information, 178–180 number of items, indicating, 190 payment methods, listing, 196–197 photos, 195 Picture URL box, 267 previewing listing, 198–200 private auctions, 194–195 reserve price, 100, 191, 193–194 return policy, 180 revising after bidding starts, 201–202 revising before bidding starts, 200–201 selling options, 177–178 shipping terms, 197–198 starting price, setting, 190–191 titles, creating, 183–186, 344 Sell link, 47 Sell page, 36, 59, 60 Seller Account link, My eBay page, 52 Seller Dashboard, 53–54 Seller Groups, 323 Seller Information area, Item Listing page, 102–103 Seller Ratings, Feedback page, 66 Seller search, 84 sellers auctions, 12 AWOL, 142 Best Offer option, 122 blocking bidders, 239 buyers, contacting, 212–213, 236–240 buyers, handling difficult, 236–240 buyers, setting requirements for, 236 communicating with, 136, 139, 141, 345 www.it-ebooks.info Index considerations, 105–107 contacting, 136, 139 Detailed Star Ratings, leaving, 53–54, 145–146, 361 feedback ratings, checking, 77 following, on My eBay page, 55–56 keeping current, 347 multiple, 92 PowerSellers, 322, 360 product search, running, 344 questioning, 107 return policy, 104, 180 searching by, 39, 86, 90–92, 212 Second Chance offers, 61, 77–78, 120, 127, 240–242 tips for, 344–347 Top Rated Sellers, 361–362 Sellers, John, 162 seller’s remorse, 244 Sellers You Follow lists, My eBay page, 56 selling abuses, 298 buyers, communicating with, 212–215, 236–240 comparison, 155–156 fees, 165–169 forbidden items, 163–164 infringement violations, 161–162 inventory, finding, 151–152 overview, 16 paperwork, keeping, 209–212 positive feedback, obtaining, 65 problem listings, 164 profits, tracking, 169–170 prohibited items, 158–161 researching, 153–156, 344 restricted items, 157–158, 162–163 taxes, 170–173 timing, 153 Selling Manager, 359–360 Selling Manager Pro, 211, 359–360 Selling Notifications, My e Bay, 50 Selling page, My eBay, 35 selling price, eBay, 81 Selling Price field, Sell an Item Page, 179 servers defined, 81 eBay, 284 web, 283–284 session cookies, 282 SGC (Sportscard Guaranty), 312 shielding, bid, 299, 306 shill bidding, 298, 307 shipping See also packing materials buying postage online, 232 carriers, 217–225 costs of, 110 directly from eBay, 234 Endicia Internet Postage service, 232–234 Excessive Shipping policy, 305 FedEx, 224–225 handling problems, 242–244 insurance, 61, 218 internationally, 223–224 overview, 215 process, 215–217, 346 Signature Confirmation, 297 terms, setting, 197–198 UPS, 222–224 U.S Postal Service, 218–222 Shipping and handling charges, Sell an Item Page, 179–180 Shipping and Payments tab, Item Listing page, 103–104 Shipping area, Item Listing page, 101 shipping calculators, 169, 206, 216, 356–357 shipping tape, 229 Ship-to locations, Sell an Item Page, 179 shopping See also bidding; shipping asking questions, 107 buyer’s remorse, 117, 118 eBay Motors, 115–116 eBay Stores, 116 escrow service, 109–110 item description, 105–106, 187–190, 344–345 Item Listing page, 97–104 non-paying bidders, 119, 299, 306 payment options, 108–109 retracting bids, 66–67, 117–118 www.it-ebooks.info 385 386 eBay For Dummies, 8th Edition shopping (continued) seller, researching, 106–107 side deals, 77–78, 120, 139, 194 Shopzilla website, 81 Show Only heading, search results page, 37, 88 side deals, 77–78, 120, 194 Sign In page, 32–33, 36 Signature Confirmation, 297 sign-in cookies, 282 siphoning, bid, 299 Site Map link, Tools & apps page, 43 size, adjusting in images, 263, 265 smart cameras, 257 Smart Lister, 352 sniping with BidRobot, 355–356 general discussion, 130–132 overview, 101, 124, 126 social media announcement boards, 319–320 Community page, 316–317 discussion boards, 320–322 eBay Groups, 323 Facebook, 325–327 Profile Page, 56–57, 317–319 selling via, 323–325 Twitter, 327–330 Social Sharing area, Item Listing page, 102 software Auction Wizard 2000, 354–355 Auctiva, 350–351 inkFrog, 352 Turbo Lister, 359 Vendio, 352–353 Sold Items Only search, 89 Sold Listings option, Advanced Search page, 88–89, 176 spam, 289–291, 301, 306 Spam canned meat, 289, 290 SpareDollar, 352 Special Discussion Boards, 322 Special Interest Groups, 323 specialized auction areas, 115–116 Specialized search, eBay Motors, 115 spell check, 107, 125 Sportscard Guaranty (SGC), 312 spyware protection software, 285 SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), 21, 286, 294 Stamps.com, 219, 232 Star ratings, feedback, 63–64 Start Over button, About Me pages, 274 Starting an eBay Business For Dummies (Collier), 150 Starting bid area, Item Listing page, 99–100 starting price (minimum bid), 190–191 Starting Price, Sell an Item Page, 179 state income taxes, 172–173 state sales tax, 172 Stay Signed In box, 32–33 Stay Signed In page, 33 stocks, selling, 159 stolen items, 160 storage options, camera, 259 Store Information: Store Policies, eBay Store page, 208 Stores, eBay opening, 207–208 overview, 116 rent, 205–206 requirements for opening, 203–204 running auctions, 206 types, 205 strategies, bidding See also sniping beat-the-clock, 130–132 early and high bids, avoiding, 126 last bid, 132 making offers, 122 researching bidding history, 123–124, 126 researching competition, 124–125, 126 routine bid, adding to, 125 synchronizing clock, 127–128 token bid, making, 128–130 waiting and watching, 126 styrofoam peanuts, for packing, 227 subcategories, 182 Submit button, 199 Subtitle fees, 169 subtitles, 186 Summary page, My eBay, 34–35 www.it-ebooks.info Index sunrise icon, 200 suspension, reasons for, 306–307 Switch to Advanced Tool link, 180 Swoger, Bill, 76, 77–79 symbols, in searches, 94 synchronizing clocks, 128 •T• tape, shipping, 229 tapes, selling, 161 taxes, 170–173, 211, 212 10-day auction fees, 169 1040-C (Profit or Loss From Business) form, 170 1099-K form, 170 Terapeak Research, 82, 352 Text field, About Me pages, 273 thermal label printers, 229–230 third-party management services Auction Wizard 2000, 354–355 Auctiva, 350–351 inkFrog, 352 overview, 350 Vendio, 352–353 threats, physical, 307 time conversions, 192 Time: Ending Soonest searching, 86 Time Left area, Item Listing page, 100 Time:Newly Listed searching, 86 timeshares, listing fees for, 166 timing importance of, 77 post office visits, 217–218 sales, 153, 193 Title field, Sell an Item Page, 178 Title Keywords search, 84 titles, item, 183–186, 344 token bids, 128–130 Tools & apps page, 43 Top Rated Plus, 87 Top Rated Sellers, 361–362 Totals: Buying Totals box, My eBay page, 59 tracking bugs, 282–283 tracking cookies, 282 tracking numbers, 211, 221–222, 345 trading offenses, 301 transactions See also buying; payment; selling essential documents, 61 tracking, importance of, 62 transit map, UPS website, 224 trending, defined, 40 TRUSTe privacy policy, 285–286 Turbo Lister, 359 TV shows, 161 TweetFind, 329 tweets, 327 Twitter, 327–330 •U• Uline eBay store, 231 under age users, 300 underbidders, 242 Un-Du, for removing residue, 229 UNICEF, 338 Uniform Resource Locator (URL), 177, 273 United States law, 158 Unpaid Item Alert, 250 Unpaid Item Assistant, 249–250 Unpaid Item Cases, 54 Unpaid Item report, 64 unwelcome bidders, 299, 306 U-PIC insurer, 218, 223, 234, 244 UPS, 222–224, 231 URL (Uniform Resource Locator), 177, 273 U.S Postal Service (USPS) add-ons from, 221–222 Express Mail, 221, 231 First-Class Mail, 110, 221 free packing supplies from, 231 insurance, 218 Media Mail, 110, 221 overview, 217–218 pickup, arranging, 218 Priority Mail, 110, 217, 219–220, 231 rules for orders, 231 tracking numbers, 221–222 User Agreements, 24–25, 295 www.it-ebooks.info 387 388 eBay For Dummies, 8th Edition user IDs availability, 22–23 changing, 28–29, 49 choosing, 27–29, 292 Feedback page, 66 icons, 49 •V• Value Pack fees, 169 Vehicle Buyer Services, 115 Vehicle History reports, eBay Motors, 116 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), 116 vehicle license plates, selling current, 159 Vehicle Purchase Protection, 297 Vehicle shipping, eBay Motors, 115 Vendio, 352–353 VeRO (Verified Rights Owner) program, 162, 165 very good grade items, 80 VHS movie cassettes, selling, 161 The View, 338 View Invoices link, 52 View Items for Sale link, 103 VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), 116 virus protection software, 291 Visit Store link, 15 void-filler materials, for boxes, 226–228 •W• Walters, Barbara, 338 wars, bidding See sniping Watch list, 35, 57–58, 102, 112 Watch This Item link, 84, 126 watermarking, 262 WD-40, for removing residue, 229 weapons, selling, 158–159 web beacons, 282–283 web servers, 283–284 wide shots, 261 wildlife, selling, 160 Windows Defender, 285 wine, selling, 163 Wine Institute page, 163 Winfrey, Oprah, 338 winning bids checking out, 140–141 contacting seller, 136, 139, 141, 345 Detailed Star Ratings, leaving, 53–54, 145–146, 361 feedback, leaving, 68–71, 346 filing refunds, 143–144 following up, 142 paperwork, 135 paying, 137–138 problems with, 142–143 Won area, My eBay page, 134 within category, searching, 86 Won area, My eBay page, 134 writing item descriptions, 187–190 •Y• Yahoo! website, 81 •Z• Zebra thermal printers, 230 zoom, digital, 258 www.it-ebooks.info www.it-ebooks.info www.it-ebooks.info www.it-ebooks.info www.it-ebooks.info At home, at work, or on the go, Dummies is here to help you go digital! From eLearning to e-books, test prep to test banks, language learning to video training, mobile apps, and more, Dummies makes learning easier www.facebook.com/fordummies www.twitter.com/fordummies www.it-ebooks.info ... Dummies.com for official rules www.it-ebooks.info eBay ® 8th Edition www.it-ebooks.info www.it-ebooks.info eBay ® 8th Edition by Marsha Collier www.it-ebooks.info eBay ® For Dummies®, 8th Edition. .. you for buying this book Please let me know about your eBay ­ successes www.it-ebooks.info eBay For Dummies, 8th Edition www.it-ebooks.info Part I Getting a Feel for eBay Visit www.dummies.com for. .. money on eBay When you see this shortcut or timesaver come your way, read the information and think about all the greenbacks you just saved www.it-ebooks.info eBay For Dummies, 8th Edition Think