Hello <$firstname$>
Welcome to the 57 issue of UK Auctionline. I would like to take this opportunity of welcoming the many new subscribers.
If like me you do any significant business in the USA you will be acutely aware of the fall in the value of the US dollar. At the moment the exchange rate is getting perilously close to the $2 to the £1 rate. Of course it is to an extent swings and roundabouts because although I get less in real terms for my sales any purchases made in dollars are costing me less. Because I sell more to the US than I buy at the moment I am losing money due to the weak dollar. Of course the other problem is that less US buyers are visiting ebay.co.uk because items priced in GBP are that more expensive to American customers than they were a couple of months ago.
In the run up to Christmas there is no doubt that shoppers are being tempted away from the High Streets and on to the Internet. Early reports suggest that this is going to be the best year ever for Holiday Internet sales and this certain to give all the online auction sites a boost.
There have been some interesting developments recently outside of the world of eBay. The UK based auction site CQout has just announced it now has 250,000 items listed on its site.
Also a new online auction site Tazbar.com has started with a bang and has already launched a TV advertising campaign. (eBay took over 5 years to do this in the UK). Unlike many new online auction sites it is obvious that Tazbar has done its research well and is offering a service that will appeal to many. In their press release they describe Tazbar a UK based online person-to-person selling venue. It is different because it listens to its users and reacts quickly to comments with the aim of making online buying and selling an enjoyable and profitable experience. It is interesting to note that they will not allow e-books or software to be sold through their site, which should save them a lot of problems.
I have included more information about this site later in the newsletter and you can also visit their site at http://www.tazbar.co.uk.
EBay have increased the number of categories that can add Skype to their listing. This allows potential buyers and sellers to link up using voice and /or video to talk directly.For full details of the new categories go to http://www2.ebay.com/aw/uk/200612.shtml .
This month I am pleased to welcome Trevor Ginn, Head of Consulting at Auctioning4u (www.auctioning4u.co.uk ) as a contributor to UK Auctionline.Trevor also ran the drop off shop Auction partner and currently authors one of the best eBay blogs, “eBay, ecommerce life” which can be found at www.trevorginn.com
I have to thank subscriber Lynda Hill for this piece of useful information. Maplins the electrical company have a portable lighting studio on special offer at the moment. It is quite small and ideal for all those smaller items that you want to photograph for eBay.It is definitely better than the lined cut away cardboard box that I have used in the past and at £12.99 is a real bargain. To find out more visit http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=38260. I should not wait too long as I believe this is a special price and they normally sell for £19.99.
Auction News: CQout hits the Quarter Million mark
A couple of years ago I had a very pleasant lunch with Siamak Bashi and Tony Newton who along with Mike Rees founded the UK based online auction site CQout (pronounced “Seek You Out”). So I was very pleased to receive the news that company had reached the milestone of having over a quarter of a million items listed for sale.Established in 1999 by the 3 London Business School graduates CQout initially struggled to establish itself as the prime UK online auction site. However, in recent years it has shown steady growth both in the UK and overseas. Currently 12% of its registered users are based outside the UK.
Unlike most of the competition CQout charges a one off registration fee of £2, ($3.50USD). This helps to ensure the “bona fida” of all registered members. Another unique aspect of the Cqout operation is that it is a case of “3 strike and out” as regard to feedback. Any person receiving 3 negative feedbacks is banned for lifre from CQout.
Another very acceptable feature is that there is no fee for standard listings which means “no sale, no fee”. ... CQout runs its own payment system called Easy Pay but users are free to use whichever payment system they prefer. NoChex has also been integrated into CQout’s structure to enable immediate payment to be made for goods purchased on CQout quickly, easily and seamlessly. It also operates its own Escrow service.
I cannot ever see CQout being a serious rival to ebay and its International operation But why should you consider using CQout rather than one of the many 'free' sites? New online auction sites pop up all the time as part time ventures by hobbyists using 'out of the box' auction sites with limited 'back end' management capabilities that serious sellers require. Most last a few months with a few hundred items listed, then vanish once the operator realises the huge amount of 'behind the scenes' work necessary to regulate and manage a live online marketplace.
The strategy of others seems to be either to offer a loss leading 'free' service to build up their user-base with the intention either of introducing selling fees once they have achieved critical mass (at which point, the users vanish because all they really wanted was that free service) or to offer that free service in the hope of being bought out (unlikely in the post-dot.com era): both of these models are unsustainable.
Any responsible online marketplace has to take hour by hour care of its security, its customer service and its connectivity: all these need a real person at the helm, and that has to be paid for. CQout's nominal registration fee pays for the verification work needed to identify and deter fraudsters and scammers. CQout’s free listing and 'no sale, no fee' policy means that customers only reward us for success. There really is no such thing as a free lunch.
Even the most dedicated eBay user could benefit from registering with CQout to use as an additional or alternative market place to both buy and sell. To discover more visit www.CQout.comArticle: Buying Strategies for eBay
There are buying strategies for buying if that is your end goal, but we’re assuming you’re here to learn how to buy to sell at a profit.Obviously, in order to sell, you need to have things to sell – which in general you will have bought not too long ago. It is important to purchase early (ahead of your planned sales) and wait for the right time to auction merchandise. For example, don’t purchase an item and put it up on auction before it reaches you, for obvious reasons. For another example, unless it was a one-time deal, don’t put items up on eBay that you just bought. Your potential buyers can see what you paid, and that will disadvantage your pricing strategy.
You need to decide what kinds of items to sell, before you can buy them. Fundamentally, whatever you choose should meet these requirements:
Once you start thinking about the categories of items you want to sell – and there are more or less unlimited categories on eBay – you’ll have a good idea of what you should look at buying for your “inventory.”
If you are looking for a good online wholesaler I recommend you take a look at
Think carefully before jumping into large volume purchases, even if the price seems good. Also research the specific type of item by searching past auctions. For example, we know one woman who had started a successful clothing business on eBay. She scoured the auction sites for odd lot deals on brand name merchandise in bulk, then she would sell them one at a time for a nice profit, in some cases 300% or more per item. One time she purchased an “amazing” deal on LaCoste (alligator) polo-style shirts, acquiring 144 – a gross – of them at a low price, around £4 each. Considering her local high-end retailer sold similar shirts for £25+, this seemed too good to be true.
And it was. First, the lot was mixed colors and sizes. For example, the gross included 12 size smalls in bright yellow, and 12 size XXL in pink. These would be very hard to move. Second, these particular La Coste shirts, while the genuine article, were made under license in Peru, not at the La Coste factories in Europe. Some additional research showed that web discount shops sold these same shirts for about £10 all the time. So right there the profit was shrinking fast. And then you factor in the shipping on the 144 shirts, which was a couple hundred dollars, and the whole thing was basically a break-even pain in the rear.
The point is, first, know the market for your product and to the extent possible what you’re actually getting, and second, test the market with a few items to see how they do. Don’t buy 144 of anything unless you really know what you’re doing!
This is an extract from "The eBay.co.uk Primer (details below)
The eBay.co.uk Primer
It is a fact that e-books about eBay sell very well on eBay. Therefore I expect my latest e-book "The eBay.co.uk Primer to do well. It is brand new and has not been offered for sale anywhere before. The book covers buying and selling on eBay and is designed for those fairly new to online auctions.
It comes with Master Resale Rights which means that you can sell it and allow others to sell it as well. At only $9.95 (around £5) it is attractively priced and should prove a good seller. You can also use the web page and just alter it to include your details .
Books that are offered with Master Resale Rights usually have a short but profitable life before they start appearing at knockdown prices and as bonuses. So it pay to get in early and this is as early as it gets.
To find out more visit www.ezeeweb.co.uk/ebaygold/index.html
Article - Tazbar - the new kid on the block
Online auctions are becoming an increasingly popular way to buy and sell goods. To most people this activity is synonymous with one name – eBay - but there are a number of other sites that can provide an easier and cheaper service.
Recently launched Tazbar.com is chief amongst these. Based in the UK, the site is already beginning to attract strong positive feedback from both buyers and sellers.
Background
Tazbar.com has been set up by people who are experienced in the day-to-day use of online auction sites. They have spent years using and studying the business methods of other online sites (both as a buyer and a seller) and know where their individual strengths and weaknesses lie.
Such in-depth knowledge has been key in the design and development of Tazbar.com. After 2 years in the planning, the site was launched on August 1 2006 and attracted enough interest in the first month of operation to propel it into the top 20 of online auction sites.
Philosophy
Over the last few years the directors of Tazbar.com had noticed that the costs associated with online auctions had been increasing, leading to reducing profit margins for sellers and higher prices for buyers. Coupled with this they were concerned about the lack of communication between the online sites and their customers.
This lack of communication is important because it is destroying the community spirit that is necessary for ensuring the ongoing success of all the parties – buyers, sellers and the site itself.
As a result of this Tazbar.com was set up to ensure that it will always listen closely and respond quickly to its customers. In addition, by providing a cheaper and simpler service it aims to offer the best customer experience around.
The future
Although the site was launched with a number of unique features, such as the Wanted and People sections (see further details below), Tazbar.com does not believe in standing still. There are already a number of new and exciting features planned to be added to the site over the coming months. These will be further enhanced by analysing feedback and building customer wishes into future modifications.
Community spirit
Businesses, such as online auctions, that operate over the Internet are in a unique position. Because of the capability for users to interact via devices like forums and e-mail, they can express their feelings to the site owners very quickly and in most cases in a forthright manner!
How the site owners respond to these comments says a lot about their business philosophy and ultimately the way they treat their customers. It also is central in developing a good working relationship between the site and its customers. There is nothing worse than dealing with a large faceless organisation that does not listen to its customers, but sadly that is what is happening with a number of online sites.
Tazbar.com was set up to ensure that customer feedback is at the centre of every decision and site enhancement. The aim is to build a strong community spirit where customers will feel part of the ongoing success and so will help to promote the site to others.
Auctions
The auction section of Tazbar.com is obviously the key part of the site. But rather than just copy its main rivals it has set out to be different in a number of ways:
Wanted
This unique part of the site operates in a similar fashion to the wanted sections found in newspapers and automatically puts buyers in touch with sellers.
It allows anyone to list an item they are looking for. With Tazbar's powerful key word alert system all they need to do is type in a few basic words and then Tazbar's system watches out for them. As soon as an item that matches their request is placed for sale on the site an automatic e-mail is sent out informing them.
People
The final piece of the Tazbar jigsaw is the People Programme. Again, taking a good idea from a newspaper, this part of the site adds a free service and contact section which allows members to get in touch with other members for specific services, contact, advice or even friendship and social needs.
With over 1000 categories there are plenty of options to choose from.
Importantly, the feedback system also follows through to this section.
What our customers say
“From a buyers point of view, much more user friendly. From a sellers point of view, cheaper, easier and faster!”
“Started using the site this week, can’t recommend it enough”
“Customer service is second to none”
“It is the most refreshing site I have seen, very easy to use and the customer service is good”
“It certainly has the best look and feel/navigation ease out of all of them”
“What a well thought out site, user friendly, modern, clean and crisp”
“Everybody on there is very friendly and helpful”
The Complete eBay Marketing System - UK Version
In last months issue of UK Auction Line I told you about Skip McGraths "The Complete eBay Marketing System". I am pleased to say that many subscribers have taken the opportunity to get this really well written and researched program. It is now being shipped directly from a UK fulfilment house so if you want to learn how you can follow in the footsteps of hundreds of pewople before you and build your own profitable eBay business go to http://www.skipmcgrath.co.uk
Guest Article: Writing a Good eBay Listing
By Trevor Ginn
An eBay listing is an advert for your item and so should be clear and comprehensive. In general the more information that you give to buyers, the less questions you will be asked and the more bids you will receive. Quality listings reassure buyers that they are dealing with a reputable seller, and lead to higher prices.
Most eBay items are found by a title only search. It is therefore important to have a title which sells your items, and also contains the search terms which potential buyers will use to look for products. The eBay title is only 55 characters long, so do not waste a single character. Include the following information in your item titles (in order of importance):Never use words such as WOW or L@@K as users never search on these terms.
Item specificsAlways fill in item specifics for your listings as these help browsers to find your products. Item specifics are particularly useful for electronic items such as mobile phones and computers.
PhotosAs buyers cannot touch your items, include multiple photos in your listing. These photos should paint a full picture of the features and condition of the item. Here are some guidelines:
Photo the item only . Do not confuse the buyer by including other items in the photo
Photo against a plain background.
Focus . Good photos are in focus and steady
Good lighting conditions . Try not to use flash as this creates shadows.
Do not just use stock photos, or photos from the manufacturer as this can make buyers question whether you actually own the item.
DescriptionThe item description is your opportunity to sell your item. Be careful to include all the information which a buyer will require to make a purchase. Detailed description will cut down on questions and limit the number of item not as described disputes: A good description should include the following information:
Never just include a link to the description as you cannot assume that a buyer will bother to click. They may just go onto the next listing.
Finally, make your description readable, dividing the text into paragraphs and bulleted lists.
Terms and conditionsAs well as information about your item, include details of the service which you are offering. Once again, this will cut down on questions and customer service issues.
When writing your terms and conditions, do not include any negative statements e.g. NEGATIVE FEEDBACK WILL BE GIVEN FOR NON PAYING BIDDERS or DO NOT BID ON THIS ITEM IF YOU DO NOT INTEND TO BUY. This gives a bad impression and users who are going to buy and then not pay will not take any notice of these messages!
PaymentDetail all the payment methods which you offer your customers. Remember that some buyers prefer particular payment types, for example most buyers like PayPal but some hate it. By offering a range of options you are making it easy to buy your item.
DeliveryState your delivery costs and conditions clearly. In particular you will want to give a delivery timescale.
Return PolicyState a clear return policy. If you are a business seller you have certain obligations in this area. Check the trading standards website (www.tradingstandards.gov.uk) for more details.
About youGive the buyer some brief information about you as a seller. This will help make the experience more personal and encourage them to visit your listings in the future.
BrandingIf you are a business, include your branding in the eBay listing. Use HTML to build a listing which reflects your company identity. This will help users recognise your listing and make return visits to your listings. It will also help promote your business away from eBay, for example encouraging visits to your website.
LinksInclude links in your listing to the following pages:
These will promote your other listings and give buyers more information about you as a seller.
If you are a Powerseller include your eBay Powerseller logo to help build trust in your products.
Trevor Ginn is Head of Consulting at Auctioning4u (www.auctioning4u.co.uk ) the UK’s leading eBay service provider. Previous to working at Auctioning4u, Trevor ran the eBay drop-off shop Auction Partner. Trevor’s eBay blog, eBay, ecommerce, life can be found at www.trevorginn.com
ChannelAdvisor opens for business in Ireland with online auction support for eBay.ie
The Auction Profit Machine review
Making It Big on eBay," By Michael Tuft, BBC Money Programme
eBay's VeRO is no substitute for litigation, UK judges rule," The Register
New Articles
I have posted 5 new articles onto the web site at http://www.ukauctionline.co.uk
UK based Tazbar.com is making eBay take notice
Making Money Selling Silver Jewellery On Ebay
When You Need Extra Cash, Ebay Fits The Bill
Can You Really Make Money Selling New Release CD's & DVD's On
Don’t Get Lost In The Jungle Called Ebay.com
A few months ago I attended a seminar and met a very interesting young man called Alex Jeffreys. At the time he was working on what he called an “eBay related site”. He would not say exactly what it was about but promised to let me have a look at it when itwas available.
Well it is available now and to be quite honest I am shocked. No disrespect to Alex but I had no idea that it was going to be so good. Perhaps it is because we have got used to all the so called experts being larger than life extroverts not a quietly spoken, unassuming young Welshman.
But make no mistake Alex’s “Easy Profit Auctions” ranks up there with the best eBay information products available today. Whether you are completely new to eBay or are a old hand this site could seriously improve you income. But please do not take my word for it go to
and make your own mind up.
Normally December is a bit of a quiet month for news but as you can see we have ben a bit pushed this month to fit it all in. This makes me realise wehat a lively and healthy market place we are working in. This all bodes very well for 2007 and all our online auction businesses.
Hopefully we will all have a Happy and Peaceful holiday and b erefreshed for all the challenges that will face us in the coming 12 months.
That just leaves me to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year.
I’ll talk to you again in 2007.
Dave
You can send your feedback to feedback@ukauctionline.co.uk.
Post licensing queries to license@ezeeweb.co.uk.
Copyright © 2006 Ezeeweb Solutions Ltd. All Rights Reserved.