What are the ingredients to customize one as an excellent/Successful eBay seller?

[smaltaxse_0]

I like to learn what are the best ways to market my products successfully on eBay to grow my business into an empire. I like to learn how to list an item on eBay and have customer attract to my product and have a constant demand for it.

[chapeau-noir]

Start here:  https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/get-started/selling-basics.html

[evry1nositswindy]

If we knew that we would BE eBay, not sell on eBay!  Find a niche market that you know well and go for it!

[mtgraves7984]

I scrolled through your listings and they would intrigue me, if I was looking for that kind of stuff.

While I scrolled through your listings, I may see an accident waiting to happen. You have two Limoges covered bowls advertised... one round (spelled Limoges), and one oval (spelled Limogrs)... but both listings have photos of the same round bowl. I'm thinking either some photos need to be revised, or the oval Limogrs needs to come off the grid... a duplicate, maybe? Anyway, good luck to you! 

[rebell45]

A couple of things I notice that would stop me personally from buying from you. 1st. Make sure you are listing in the correct category, the wine set should not be in the J.G Durand & Cristal d'Arques category. And 2nd. I assume that you are listing some with the app, the lack of a complete detailed description turns me off. You have it on some but others just say "used". Used can mean a lot of things to different people.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@smaltaxse_0 

     I sure hope you have a shipping plan in place to deliver 128 pieces of fine China without breaking?

     I wish you the best but unless your packing skills are that of a seasoned ebayer, your "empire" will strike back. Please have a packing plan in place before items are sold. 

     Good luck to you.

[reallynicestamps]

You can be a hobby seller, throwing things up and seeing what sticks, or you can approach selling as a job.

For the latter, you need to sell what you know and know what you sell.

You need excellent pictures. Nothing wrong with using the occasional stock picture, but mix those with your own to show the buyer that YOU are the merchant, not someone in Guangdong.

You need to proofread for spelling and grammar. Mistakes make you look either careless or ignorant, and both of those traits attract scammers. 

You need friendly Terms of Sale. No complaints about past transactions in descriptions or in Feedback.

You need to leave feedback. Personally I leave it when I ship, others disagree. Leaving FB encourages customers to reciprocate.

When you find a category that sells well, stick to it. But don't be afraid to stop when the well runs dry. There are fads.
Keep those deadstock descriptions and pictures handy though. Use them when you get a Free Listings promotion.

Use capital letters as well as small letters. Easier to read.

[kosmosattik]

The first thing is a complete and accurate description of the item, including good pictures.

Looking at one of your listings pulled at random, "Noritake Greata 5 Coupe Soup Bowls", I can see a couple of issues.

• You don't specifically state how many are in the lot.  While it looks like five total in one picture, that needs to be stated in the title or the description.  Better in the title and leave something else out if necessary.  It would be easy for a potential buyer to think you are pulling a scam and selling one at time.  You are selling all five as a lot, right?
• Your pictures are not the best.  These items are highly condition-sensitive.  You've got the camera out--take a picture of the front and back of each and post them after the picture of the stack to show condition, along with a close-up of a bottom stamp.  That's gets you the max 12 pics.  If there are any chips or cracks or flaws that cannot be pictured, that should be stated.  If they are pristine, you should say that for sure, otherwise somebody wonders.  Long and short--I would not buy having an incomplete idea of condition nor an explicit statement of the number of items.

I see you're selling other items that are a lot more expensive.  I have not looked at them, but you should especially apply the same principles in these cases--the bigger the price tag the more a buyer wants to know and be assured they get what they think they are getting.

[timesgoneby2018]

I am just here to reiterate what has been said.  Accurate description and use all 12 photo availability. If you skimp on one area you will end up paying in the end. One of my very first sales on Ebay was a baby rattle, I mistakenly wrote in description 4" and never took a picture of it with a measuring ruler. Needless to say I had to partial refund as it was 3". (Thank goodness the error was a minor cost, but I have always learned from my errors) Take your time and spend the time and know your product as best you can (or at least state only what you know to be true and right) as your reputation comes around you will reap the benefits. Treat it like a business. If not be prepared for the the vultures  and dissatisfied buyers and the angst. Package well!

Good Luck

[kosmosattik]

After I posted my first response, I noticed the "5" in your listing title.  My first take was that's part of the model description, not the quantity.  I don't know about anybody else but a "Lot of 5" note in either in the title or the description would make this obvious.

If you need room in the title, the color probably doesn't need to be there since you have pictures and can spell it out in the description for verification since pictures can be a little off.

[kosmosattik]

@reallynicestamps

There's a third option:  You can be a hobby seller but behave like a businessman (or woman).

That means not just throwing stuff out there.  In fact, it's the businesses that sell commodity items in quantity that often do a bad job of describing their item.

There is a point to made for the benefit of the OP about the one non-businesslike practice I do not employ:  I do not accept returns.

I'm a hobby seller of trading cards and recently some CDs.  There are condition sensitive items where it would be too easy for someone to return a card of lesser condition or a damaged CD and it would be very hard to prove otherwise.  I also don't want the hassle of returns regardless of scams.

The downside is that not accepting returns requires some compromise on price.  There is a $ value in being able to return for an honest buyer.  To offset that, it is incumbent to focus on presentation--representative pictures and descriptive detail where it is called for to inspire confidence.

On the flip side, given scammers who will show one version and ship a lesser one, I'm sometimes moved to state in the description that the item pictured is the actual item being sold.  Sometimes I don't do that as the spirit moves because that note brings to the buyer's mind that such scams exist, which could have the subliminal turn-off affect.  I'm starting to lean toward brevity without sacrificing accuracy as the best way to go, leaving that note out.

[101dolphns]

A good business plan and the willingness/ability to persist.

[m_pthisandthat]

 First, I agree with the majority of what has been stated. Your listings must be accurate. No misspelled words. Quality photos,show all views of the item. Show any defects. A good business plan is critical to success. The real key is what you include in that businss plan. This is ebay not a brick and motar store most buyers are looking for a bargin they are not interested in paying retail prices. I feel a real key to success starts with how you buy your items you really need to pay as little as possible to insure a good return on your investment. Try to diversify at least a little. I sell collectibles it is very important to know first what it isyour buying.  Of equal importance is the fact that you know what it is you are selling misrepresenting an item can not only cost you money but also get you in some real trouble.  I looked at your listings in todays market china can be a tough commodity to turn over.