Hello <$firstname$> and welcome to the issue 32 of UK Auction Line.
The first thing I have to do is thank all those subscribers who took the trouble to answer the survey that I sent out with the last issue. The information that you provided will prove invaluable in producing future issues of the UK Auction Line Newsletter.

I do not know if any subscribers listened to the workshop eBay which ran on Monday evening to answer questions about their upcoming radio and television advertising campaigns. There is no doubt that this will raise the awareness of eBay among the general UK population. So it would not surprise me if October does not turn out to be a very active month on eBay so it might be a good idea to get prepared now with lots of good items ready for listing.

One of the big questions that came from the survey was, “Where can I buy product from to sell at a profit?” Hopefully for those people who asked this in our survey they will have got at least some of the answer from the e-book we sent them as a thank you. If you did not complete the survey and as a result not receive your free copy of “How to turn eBay into your own personal Goldmine” you can purchase a copy for a special subscribers price £4.95. Included in the price are the Master resale rights which mean you can either copy and sell the e-book or give it away as a bonus to one of your items.

Ever since I started UK Auction Line I have been campaigning to get more products and resources for use with eBay.co.uk and I think at last we are winning. In this issue
I am looking at two programs that will help people searching for hot products to sell on eBay which are both designed to work with the UK site. Also there is a brand new e-book from Andre Chapron and Richard Grady UK based internet marketers who tell you exactly how to find wholesalers and the right and wrong ways to approach an deal with them. If you have never had dealings with wholesalers before this could be an invaluable book for you.

I hope you enjoy this issue,

Bets regards
Dave

Way - 1	Use non-descriptive words in your title. i.e. bargain, brilliant, fantastic, @@@WOW LOOK@@@, Cheap.
Way - 2	Give your self a “jokey” user id. i.e slimey ted, ripoffmerchant, loadsofdosh, cheapjack.
Way - 3	State in your listing that you will not ship until after a cheque has cleared. Even if this is true I would not include it in the listing. In fact I have never worried about this and usually send the goods out as soon as I receive the cheque and to date I have had no problems. If it is an expensive item I do not think that the buyer would actually expect you to send the item until the cheque has cleared. Putting it in your listing is like saying you do not trust prospective bidders.
Way - 4	Try and save commission by setting a ridiculously low start price and then charge a large amount for shipping and handling.
Way - 5	Don’t bother to put a picture up with your listing.
Way - 6	Don’t bother to reply to e-mailed queries or questions
Way - 7	Don’t accept PayPal as a method of payment
Way - 8	Never give feedback it is too much trouble. (But do not be surprised if people don’t give you any either)
Way - 9	Put up a notice on your listing that all sales are final and that you do not give refunds.
Way - 10	Explain that you expect to be paid within 3 days, all sales are final and if the buyer does not comply with your conditions you will give negative feedback.

Alright I know that subscribers to UK Auctionline would never be so silly, (or would they?). I have seen all the above examples over the last few months when I have been browsing around eBay, so some people are doing it. Until recently I would have added an 11th which was adding a surcharge for accepting PayPal payments, but now that eBay have outlawed this I don’t expect to see it again.

I was really pleased with the response to the survey and it really is going to be helpful in planning future issues of UK Auction Line. About 75% of the respondents are actually selling on eBay and the remaining 25% are getting ready to. Well don’t wait too long; even if you just sell a few surplus items from around your home you are getting some experience and feedback.

The survey was not an ego trip but it was pleasing to see that all the subscribers who answered were happy with the newsletter, but I shall not be resting on my laurels. Just over 60% felt that the newsletter should come out monthly, around 15% thought weekly and the rest were happy with the current twice a month. I have decided that after the next issue, No 33 I will go to a monthly newsletter but will send out a quick update with the latest news at the end of each month.

One of the biggest problem areas seems to be where to buy suitable products to sell on eBay. Everyone who completed the survey should have received download instructions for my latest e-book, “How to turn eBay into your own personal goldmine” and I hope that will have answered some of their questions.

Concerns with PayPal, general marketing ideas and pricing items also feature high on the list of problem areas and I hope to be addressing these in coming issues.

The Audio Tutorial - Sell thermal underwear not fridges

Owner recovers £10,000 stolen china on eBay," By Tom Peterkin
Telegraph, 9/20/04

"eBay's Customer Service Lacking," By James Derk

This issues e-book download - The Live and Online Auction Dictionary

Resources page

Mark Timberlake has gone over to full time selling with eBay. I am sure that many more will make the same decision in the coming months. A few months ago we published articles from Mark and I am pleased to give him this forum for his latest article.

The GoldenRules –Part 4
By Mark Timberlake

Ed: Marks previous articles appeared in issue 16 and 18 of the Newsletter

This is the Fourth and Final part….

First of all, thanks to Dave for giving me the opportunity to present my views…

A long time ago now, I submitted two articles and promised a third (February and March this year).

Well since that time, I have gone full time on Ebay and have been obviously very busy. So apologies for the delay, but this is the fourth and final instalment.

Two types of customers on Ebay…

I would like to draw your attention now, to the two types of customers on Ebay.

Two types you say?

Yes, just two.

The first we are all familiar with. The “I must have a bargain” buyer.

This buyer will look for the lowest price, will either snipe your auction or “nibble” away at your auctions.

This buyer wants something cheap.

Now there is the second type of buyer.

This is the one I personally target.

This is the “Cost is not the first issue, quality of service and goods is paramount”. This buyer will look at you, look at what exactly you are offering and price, well, will pay what he wants to pay.

Are you hoping for a bidding war for a profit, or are you expecting a profit if it sells on one bid.

Now you have to decide which it is, because whichever it is, means a different customer.

To attract the bargain hunter, a neat description and low start price will do.

To attract the quality buyer, a professional and slick presentation is needed.

To gain a professional look, you must first create a professional shop front / auction template.

I personally recommend Lesley Feeney who auctions her templates on Ebay. Do a search on auction templates and she will pop up. (Tell her Mark from the UK sent you).

If you need an example then just look at some of my auctions (classic-quality-collectables) or my store front (One Stop Collectables Shop). The design theme runs across my business, so that I have an easily identifiable image.

So you have your professional look?

What now?

Well pricing.

First thing about pricing is buying it at the right price. This is the key to Ebay and the selling of hard goods.

Sounds obvious? Well, obvious things get overlooked all the time!

Once you have that, you need a price strategy. What is your purchase price plus fees on a sold item? (Rule of thumb – if you allow 15% for Ebay fees off of the FINAL sale price, you will always be covered, even if they pay by Paypal).

So I purchase it for £100.00, sell it for £200.00 and allow 15% (in this case £30.00), I soon see I have made £70.00 profit.

Now do you start it at 99p and hope it sells for £200.00? Or do you start it at £200.00 and one bid and you are happy?

Well, it comes back to WHOM you are trying to sell to, and how you are selling that item.

If you ask for a high price, you may have to relist it 5 times, and at this particular price range it is going to cost you £12.50, but you still have a large enough profit base to soak that up. So should you wait for the right buyer and ask what you KNOW it is worth, or bang it on at 99p and hope it sells for £200.00

The first is very exciting and may result in lots of short term profit and loss.

The second is a long term strategy where you concentrate on the PRESENTATION of your business and your customer service…

I will leave you with that thought and hope that you can see the point that is being made.

What TYPE of customer are you selling to?

Mark Timberlake

Classic-quality-collectables