Secrets for After the Auction

Once the auction is concluded, the real work beginssending emails, packing and shipping, leaving feedback, and the like. Here are some secrets to make the post-auction process quicker and easier.

Secret #29: Communicate QuicklyAnd Clearly

When your auction ends, get in touch with the high bidder immediately. Don't wait until the next day; send your post-auction email within minutes of the auction close. Remember, the faster you notify the high bidder, the faster you'll get paid.

Note

Learn more about Selling Manager in Chapter 22, "Managing Your Sales with eBay Selling Manager."

And here's something the best sellers do. Email the buyer again when you receive payment and once more when you're ready to ship the item. The more everyone knows, the fewer surprises there are.

Also, remember that not everyone reads his or her email daily, so don't expect an immediate response. Still, if you don't receive a response, send another email. If you're at all concerned at any point, get the buyer's phone number or physical address from the auction site and call or write him. A good phone conversation can clear up a wealth of misunderstandings.

Secret #30: Wait for the Check to Clear

The reality is that many buyers still prefer to pay by check. That's okay, as long as you wait a good 10 business days for the check to clear. Don't be stupid and ship an item before the check proves goodyou're bound to get burned!

Secret #31: Ship Promptly

Ship promptly after you've received payment (and after the check has cleared). Nobody likes to wait too long for something they've paid forand you don't want to gain a reputation as a slow shipper.

Secret #32: If Nobody Buys, RelistWith a Different Description

If you didn't sell your item the first time, try it again. eBay lets you relist unsold items at no additional listing charge (though listing it a third and subsequent times will result in additional listing fees); even if you have to pay again, you still want to sell the item, right? But remember that if it didn't sell the first time, there was probably a reason why. Was your asking price too high? Was your description too vague? Was the title too boring? Should you have included a picture or used HTML to spice up the listing? Whatever you change, change something to increase your chances of selling your item the second time around.

Secret #33: If You Get Stiffed, Ask for a Refund

When your high bidder does a vanishing act, file an Unpaid Item Dispute and request a refund of the auction's final value fee. There's no sense paying eBay for something you didn't get paid for!

Secret #34: Don't Forget About Number Two

If you run up against a nonpaying bidder, you can try to sell the now-unsold item to the next highest bidder, if he or she is still interested. It never hurts to ask, in any case; just use eBay's Second Chance Offer feature and see whether the bidder bites.