Ultimate Guide to eBay for Business

by Christopher Matthew Spencer

Overview

Maximize Your Sales and Go Global with eBay Store

In your hands is the blueprint for anyone looking to start and run a successful eBay business. Ultimate Guide to eBay for Business takes you through the entire process of setting up your store and increasing your sales reach. You’ll learn proven tips and techniques for planning, starting, and executing a successful, profitable eBay business. You’ll get:

Ideas for researching just the right products to list

Clear direction on how to launch and manage your items

Recommendations for safe and secure packing and reliable shipping

Master tips for sourcing profitable items

Step-by-step, screenshot-accompanied instructions for launching an eBay Store

A wellspring of ideas for selecting great employees when you need them

Recommended routines to streamline day-to-day operations

A roadmap for going from little to big without growing pains

Cautionary advice on avoiding trouble along the journey

Proven methods for elevating your eBay sales by networking with other eBayers So have a seat, whether at your kitchen table or the desk in your 4,000-square-foot warehouse and read on. It’s all here!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781642011449
Publisher:	Entrepreneur Press
Publication date:	10/19/2021
Series:	Ultimate Guide
Pages:	306
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Christopher Matthew Spencer is businessperson, author, and public speaker. He owns wholesale, retail, hospitality, real estate, and publishing companies. Experienced in the field of consulting, he has worked for and advised businesses of different sizes, from startups to companies listed in The Fortune 100 and is an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Table of Contents

Preface: What's Under the Hood? ix

This Book Has Lots of RAM x

What's in This Book x

Silly Suppositions xi

Chapter 1 Why eBay Is the Most Powerful Global Marketplace 1

Online Is the New Normal 2

eBay's Offerings for Buyers and Sellers 3

A Culture of Entrepreneurship 7

eBay Invests for the Future 8

Buyer and Seller Protections 9

Chapter 2 The Essentials of eBay Trading 11

It's Time for Assimilation 12

Exploring eBay's Homepage: The Never-Ending Journey 13

Becoming an eBayer 19

Learning the Rules 21

Connecting with the eBay Community 25

Chapter 3 Buying Like an eBay MVP 29

Browsing Categories 30

Searching for Deals 34

Things You Must Do Before You Buy 41

Completing the Sale 48

Keeping Track of Purchases 50

Avoiding (and Resolving) Buying Issues 52

Foreign Sourcing-Your Responsibilities and Liabilities (and a Warning for Duty Dodgers) 56

Chapter 4 On the Prowl for Epic Merchandise 59

Start with What You Have 60

Consign for Big Profits 61

Drop-Shipping for Hassle-Free Selling 68

Second-Quality Goods for First-Rate Returns 70

Handling Customer Returns 72

Mending Broken Stuff 72

The Roads Less Traveled 75

Chapter 5 Boosting Opportunity-Advanced Techniques and Tips 79

Two Quick Tips 80

When eBay Goes on a Date with Google 81

Advanced Search 83

Leveraging Google Images 98

Power Buyer Tips 99

Chapter 6 Partnering with eBay (Make Money Selling Nothing!) 103

How eBay Partners Profit 104

How Much Does eBay Pay? 105

The Gadgets and Gizmos That Generate Affiliate Money 108

Getting Paid 115

Snapshots 116

Using Reports to Track Your Profits 117

To Shorten, or Not to Shorten: That Is the Question 120

Next Steps-Making Big Money 122

Chapter 7 Become an Incredible eBay Seller 125

The Key Points of eBay Selling 125

Make Sure It's Legal and Allowed 126

Carving Out Your Niche 129

Recommendations and Personalization 134

Chapter 8 Get Down to Selling Brass Tacks 137

Researching Products and Pricing 137

Preparing Your Products Before Listing 145

Using Images to Make Your Listings Pop 154

Which Format Should You Choose? 160

Listing an Item 170

Seller Hub: Your eBay Nerve Center 194

Chapter 9 Stunning and Stimulating Buyers with Visual Merchandising 199

Visual Interest Is Easier Done Than Imagined 200

Working with Displays 202

Using Contrast and Color 203

Embedding Videos 206

Collection-Based Merchandising 210

Promotion by Occasion 211

Celebrating the Season 211

Chapter 10 Masterful Customer Service 213

Communicating on eBay 214

The Art of Cross Selling 218

Handling Customers Who Haven't Paid 221

Handling Buyers with Urgent Questions 221

Handling Buyers Who Want to Renegotiate 223

The Fundamentals of Feedback 225

Chapter 11 The Art of Promotion 229

The Power of Promoted Listings 230

Making Offers to Watchers 234

Other Ways to Turn Lurkers into Buyers 234

Handling Offers on Auctions 238

Setting Your Prices to Signify Quality 239

Pimp Your Pride 241

Quid Pro Quo 243

Running a Branded eBay Store 244

Chapter 12 Organizing and Storing 255

Keeping Out Critters and Dust Bunnies 258

Abating the Elements 259

Security and Inventory Control 259

Chapter 13 Pick, Pack, and Ship 261

Sourcing Shipping Supplies 262

Selecting the Right Shipping Service 263

The Big Deal with Media Mail 264

Insuring Your Shipments 265

Rushing Your Delivery Options 265

Handling Fragile or Delicate Items 266

Coping with Loss and Damage 266

Protecting Yourself from Buyer Disputes 268

Preventing Shipping Errors and Mishaps 269

Chapter 14 The Back Office 271

Selecting Your Legal Structure 272

Managing the Paperwork 272

Preparing for Tax Day 273

Paying State Taxes 275

Chapter 15 Scaling It Up 277

Growing Beyond the Bedroom or Basement 277

Expanding Your Team as Your Business Grows 279

Creating a Dream Team 280

What to Delegate 281

Independence Day 283

About the Author 285

Index 287