eBay For Dummies

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
	About This Book
	Foolish Assumptions
	Icons Used in This Book
	Beyond the Book
	Where to Go from Here
Part 1 Getting a Feel for eBay
	Chapter 1 Why Being on eBay Is Fun on So Many Levels
		What Is eBay, and How Does It Work?
		All About Auctions
			eBay auctions
			Reserve-price auctions
			Restricted-access adult auctions
			Private (shhh-it’s-a-secret) listings
		“Buy It Now” on eBay
			eBay Stores
			Buy It Now and fixed-price sales
		Want to Make Some Cash?
		Get a Deal and Get It Fast!
		Research for Fun and Profit
		eBay’s Role in the Action
		Features and Fun Stuff
		Extra Apps You’re Gonna Want
	Chapter 2 Let’s Do It! Signing Up on eBay
		Registering on eBay
		Registering Is Free
			Filling in required information
			Do you solemnly swear to . . . ?
			It must be true if you have it in writing
			Uh-oh, you made a mistake?
		A Quick Word about Passwords
		A Not-So-Quick Word about Choosing a User ID
		Your License to Deal (Almost)
	Chapter 3 Finding Your Way Around eBay
		What Is the Home Page?
		Sign In, Please
		Follow the Links
		Exploring Your Home Page Search Options
			Seeking items through the search box
			Going where the Advanced Search box takes you
		Home Links, the Next Generation
		Maneuvering through Categories
		Bottoming Out
	Chapter 4 Ground Central, Your Private, My eBay
		Getting to Your My eBay Pages
		Keeping Track of Your Personal eBay Business
			Checking your account information
			Choosing your communication preferences
			Your Feedback link
			Account links
		Understanding Your Seller Dashboard
		Using the Resolution Center
		Organizing Saved Sellers/Searches
			Searches you follow
			Sellers you follow
			Keeping your follows on the “down low”
			Sleuthing with your Watching list
		Following the Action on Your Buying
			Seeing the items you’re buying
			Keeping track of your purchased items
		Surveying Your Sales on Your My eBay Selling Overview
			Your Selling page
			Your Sold page
		Keeping Track of Your Transactions
		Getting and Giving Feedback
			How to get positive feedback
			How to get negative feedback
			The Feedback page
			Reading your feedback
			You have the last word — responding to feedback
			Leaving feedback with finesse
Part 2 Buying Like an Expert
	Chapter 5 Deal or No Deal? Buying Hacks and Searching Tips
		Online Tips for Vintage Enthusiasts
			The experts speak out
			Following an expert on the hunt
			Grading vintage items
		Finding More Research Information
			Searching sites online
			Finding other sources of information
		Looking to Find an Item? Start Your eBay Search
			Using the Advanced Search page
			Finding Sold Items
			An international search
			Finding a specific seller
			Finding items by keywords for multiple sellers
			Shortcuts for a quick eBay search
	Chapter 6 Get a Deal: The Art of Shopping eBay
		The Item Listing Page
		Beating the Devil in the Details
			Read the item description carefully
			Get the scoop on the seller
		Factoring In the Extras
			Payment methods
			Using an escrow service
			Shipping costs
		Placing Your Bid on an Auction
		Bidding to the Max: Automatic Bidding
		Specialized Categories
		The Agony (?) of Buyer’s Remorse
			Retracting your bid
			Avoiding deadbeat (unpaid item) status
	Chapter 7 Winning eBay Shopping Strategies
		Make an Offer!
		Find Out an Item’s Bidding History
		Get to Know the Other Bidders
		Strategies to Help You Outsmart the Competition
		Time Is Money: Auction Strategy by the Clock
			Using a laid-back strategy
			Using the beat-the-clock strategy
	Chapter 8 Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner?
		eBay Calling: You’re a Winner
		Getting Your Paperwork Together
		Getting in Contact
		Sending the Payment Promptly and Securely
		Checking Out
		Communicating with the Seller
		Keeping in Touch: Dealing with an AWOL Seller
		You Get the Item . . . Uh-Oh, What’s This?
		Don’t Forget to Leave Feedback
		Properly Giving the Detailed Seller Ratings (DSRs)
Part 3 Making Money the eBay Way
	Chapter 9 Selling Online for Fun and Profit
		Why Should You Sell Stuff on eBay?
		Finding Stuff to Sell
		Know When to Sell
		Know Thy Stuff
			Getting the goods on your goods
			Spy versus spy: Comparison selling
		Know What You Can (And Can’t) Sell
			Prohibited items
			Infringing items
			Restricted items: Know the laws
			Forbidden tactics
		Reporting a Problem Listing
		Intellectual Property Violations
		eBay Fees? What eBay Fees? Oops . . .
			Final value fees
			Managed Payments and PayPal fees
			Keep calculating your profits
		Uncle Sam Wants You — to Pay Your Taxes
			Two wild rumors about federal taxes
			State sales tax
			State income taxes
	Chapter 10 Time to Sell: Making Irresistible Listings
		Getting Ready to List Your Item
		Examining the Create Listing Page
		Filling In the Required Blanks
			Selecting a category
			Creating the perfect item title
			Adding item specifics
			Writing your description
			Listing the number of items for sale
			Setting a starting price — how low can you go?
			Buy It Now for auctions
			Setting your auction time
			Your secret safety net — reserve price
			I want to be alone: The private listing
			Filling out the item location
			Setting shipping terms
		Checking Your Work and Starting the Listing
		Midcourse Corrections: Fixing Current Listings
			Making changes before bidding begins
			Making changes after bidding begins
	Chapter 11 Find Merchandise to Sell and the eBay Store Decision
		Knowing the Market
		Do You Have Talent, Provide a Service?
		Catching Trends in the Media
			Trending on the web
			What’s on television
			Catch up with youth culture . . .
			Check out pop-culture websites
			Follow the trends on social media
		The Hunt for eBay Inventory
			The goods are out there
		Salvage: Liquidation Items, Unclaimed Freight, and Returns
			Items by the pallet
			Job lots
			Drop-shipping to your customers
			Tips for the modest investor
		Making the eBay Store Decision
		Selling from Your Own Virtual Storefront
			Paying the landlord
			Opening your eBay Store
	Chapter 12 Take the Pain out of Closing the Deal and Shipping
		Bookkeeping and Staying Organized
		Talking to Buyers: The ABCs of Good Communication
			Thank you — mean it
			Keep communication open
		Shipping without Going Postal
			Shopping for a shipper
			Getting the right (packing) stuff
		Buying and Printing Postage Online
			Preparing postage with Endicia
			Shipping with Stamps.com
			Ahoy matey! Print labels free from Pirate Ship
			Shipping directly from eBay
	Chapter 13 Saving and Troubleshooting Sales
		Dealing with a Buyer Who Doesn’t Respond
			Requesting immediate payment
			Setting buyer requirements
			Going into nudge mode
			Do a little sleuthing
			Blocking a customer
		Other Possible Problems
			Buyer backout? Try Second Chance Offer
			The item you send is busted — and so are you
			You have regrets — seller’s remorse
		Going Badly? Cut Your Losses
			Making changes or canceling bids
			Editing your Fixed Price listing
			Ending your listing early
			Opening an Unpaid Item case
	Chapter 14 Increase Profits with Photography and Other Strategies
		Using Images in Your Listings
			Choosing your camera
			Choosing a scanner
		Making Your Picture a Thing of Beauty
			Get it on camera
			Yes, I scan
			Software that adds the artist’s touch
		Making Your Images Web-Friendly
		The Image Is Perfect — Now What?
		Getting Pictures from Your Smartphone to eBay
		Using Your Website to Store Images
		Using the Photo Uploader
		Tell Your Story on Your Profile Page
Part 4 Even More of eBay’s Special Features
	Chapter 15 Security: Protect Yourself Online and on eBay
		What eBay Knows about You
			What you tell eBay
			What cookies gather
			Your eBay sign-in cookie
			Web beacons
			What web servers collect
		What Does eBay Do with Information about Me, Anyway?
		What Do Other eBay Members Know about Me?
		Hack-proof Your Account with Two-Factor Authentication
		Spam — Not Just a Hawaiian Delicacy
			Sending spam versus eating it
			Trashing your junk mail
			Email spoofing
		I Vant to Be Alone — and Vat You Can Do to Stay That Vay
	Chapter 16 Rules, Policies, and Etiquette (and How to Get Help)
		Keeping eBay Safe with eBay Security
		Buyers Are Safe When Shopping on eBay
		Abuses You Should Look Out For
			Selling abuses
			Bidding abuses
			Feedback abuses
			Identity abuses
			Operational abuses
			Miscellaneous abuses
		Reporting Abuses to eBay Security
		Stuff eBay Won’t Do Anything About
		Knowing the Deeds That Can Get You Suspended
			eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection
			PayPal Purchase Protection
		Launching a Report or a Return
		Returning an item for a refund
		Getting the Real Deal? Authentication and Appraising
		If It’s Clearly Fraud
	Chapter 17 Marketing Sales with Social Media and the Community
		Joining the eBay Community
			News and chat, this and that
			Joining in the social media conversation
			Filling in your eBay profile
			Hear ye, hear ye! eBay’s Announcements Board
			Help! I need somebody
			User-to-user discussion boards
			Category-specific groups
		Learning and Selling through Social Media
			Finding friends and customers on Facebook
			Connecting with other sellers on Twitter
	Chapter 18 eBay Bucks Rewards, Charitable Buying and Selling, and Going Mobile
		Rewards Program for Shoppers: eBay Bucks
		Selling and Buying: Helping Nonprofits
			eBay for Charity
			Creative charity auctions
		Go Mobile — for Buying and Selling
Part 5 The Parts of Tens
	Chapter 19 Ten (Or So) Golden Rules to Succeed on eBay
		Buyer: Research Your Treasure Before You Buy
		Buyer: Check the Seller’s Feedback
		Buyer: Check the Price Tag and Bid Wisely
		Buyer: Leave Positive Feedback for a Good Seller
		Buyer: Protect Your Privacy
		Seller: Really Know Your Stuff
		Seller: Polish and Shine
		Seller: Picture-Perfect Facts
		Seller: Communication Is Key
		Seller: Be a Buyer’s Dream
		Seller: Listen to the Music
		Buyers and Sellers: Keep Current, Keep Cool
	Chapter 20 Ten (Or So) Services to Make Life Easy
		Seller Tools and Services
			inkFrog
			Sizely
		Important Tools for Buyers and Sellers
			Sniping with BidRobot
			Find out what it’s worth at Worthpoint
			Buying a warranty through SquareTrade
			eBay fee calculator: Salecalc
			Kabbage: Working capital
		eBay’s Software and Services
			Selling Manager, Selling Manager Pro, and Seller Hub
			eBay PowerSellers
			Top Rated Sellers
Index
EULA