Brian McGregor's eBay Auction Newsletter
The Newsletter for buyers and sellers on eBay


Issue 1208 - August 24, 2007
 
 IN THIS ISSUE
 
 
 Welcome from Brian McGregor
 

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Welcome to the latest edition of the eBay Auction Newsletter. I have produced it for over 4 years, and I hope you have found value from it. Remember all the previous issues are freely available in the Newsletter Archive.

In this edition there's a mix of serious and not so serious items.

I trust you'll find something helpful to you in your auction business.

In particular I would recommend you check out the item called Money For Nothing. This is something I've never seen before. The way I've applied this to my eBay auctions makes the potential very interesting indeed.

Speak to your soon.

 
 Thought for the Day
 
"Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."

Casey Kasem
 
 If You're Selling on eBay, Here's Why You Should open an eBay Store/Shop
 

If you're already selling on eBay, and you have a steady supply of items to sell, you're missing out if you don't have an eBay Store/Shop. (I'll use the term eBay Store from now, but this applies to UK eBayers where it's called an eBay Shop).

Here's why...

1. More opportunities to sell

Just because you're thinking about opening an eBay Store, you don't to stop putting your items up for auction! An eBay Store simply allows you to get your products in front of people in another way.

I would suggest you list 80% of your items in your Store with 20% as auctions, from which you can drive drive more visitors to your Store.

2. Better automation means more free time for you

It's much easier to automate daily eBay chores with a Store. There is far less effort involved in relisting unsold items, asking for feedback, and keeping track of your stock. The result of more effective automation is that you have more time to grow your eBay business.

3. Additional communications channel with buyers

When you have a Store, you can create your own store newsletter which eBay will send out on your behalf. This makes it very easy for you to stay in touch with your bidders and customers, and make additional offers to them or inform them of your new items etc.

All you do is add a link at the top right corner of your Store page that says, "Sign up for Store newsletter" -- and then eBay will automatically send people notices about your latest specials and products for sale.

4. More exposure = more traffic

Unlike your regular auction listings, your eBay Store effectively has a constant presence on the internet. Your Store home page and your Store category pages stay on there.

The benefit to you is that these pages can get indexed by the search engines! And this can bring you additional traffic, from outside of eBay.

5. Low Store fees equals more profits for you

Once you've invested in the modest monthly charge to own a Store, $15.95 (£6), all other eBay fees are far lower than auction style listings.

For example, if you run a regular auction listing for an item that is priced at $24.99 (£12.50), the normal listing fee is 60 cents (35p).

That same item in your Store will cost only 5 cents (7p) to list. Also, the Final Value Fee (FVF) is lower. Instead of the 10% FVF rate eBay charge for a traditional auction sale, the equivalent is only 5.25% when you sell the same item from your Store.

Is it worth investing in an eBay Store. Well, you'll have to do sums yourself. What I can tell you is that if you sell 20 or more products per month, it's definitely worth doing the calculation.

 
 How to Keep Bidders Glued to Your Auction Listing
 

I was in the check-in queue for my flight to Mexico, when I felt a hand clamp down on my shoulder. That moment was to change my life forever.

Did that get your attention?

There's nothing better than a story to pull the reader in, and keep them reading right up to the end.

A recent phenomena on eBay is the increasing use of story style listings. These are proving to be highly successful for sellers.

How much would you guess an opened pack of Pokemon cards costing $4 would fetch on an eBay auction? Two, maybe three dollars?

Well, thanks to using the storytelling methodology, this seller made $142.51 from the sale of that Pokemon pack of cards.

This eBay auction became so well known, that it was seen by 179,257 visitors. Thanks to the entertaining story created by the seller, the auction became a story in itself.

Now, I know we can't all be brilliant story tellers. And I know too that many sellers use automated re-listing devices once they have an auction that runs successfully. But it seems to me that we can all learn something from this.

For selected items, if we spend a little time to create a personal story around what we're selling, it could be that we can make much more by the end of the auction.

Who knows, you could be the next Pokemon card author!

By the way, here's THAT Pokemon auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130144061675

Could you do better?

 
 News & Views
 
Instant Display of Your eBay Auctions on Your Website or Blog

Here is an excellent new facility from eBay. It's called eBay To Go.

eBay To Go enables you to create a "widget" which you incorporate into your website or blog. The widget displays your auction in real time on your website or blog.

It's much easier to use than it is to explain! eBay To Go works with USA and UK based auction listings. And it's good fun.

http://togo.ebay.com/


Talking About Fun - Could You Fly a Helicopter?

Here's a game you can play. Watch out, it can become addictive!

See if you can beat me. My top score is 2539.

http://www.hurtwood.demon.co.uk/Fun/copter.swf


Cutting Out the High Shipping Cost Game

One practice which really annoys me is where sellers offer items at low prices but massively inflate the shipping costs which are often hidden in their auction somewhere.

Pretty soon they won't be able to get away with this as eBay rolls out its new "Price & Shipping Sort" search option in September.

This new option sorts search results according to the total cost of the item, including all shipping and handling charges.

Also, according to eBay, items listed without shipping costs stated in the Shipping Cost field will show up at the bottom of search results pages.

Keep your eyes open for this sometime in September.


Money for Nothing? And I've Proved It

Here's something I've never seen before in all my years on the internet.

If you have a blog or website, here's a way in which you make money from EVERY visitor to your page. They don't have to buy anything, or click anywhere.

You get paid every single time you get a visitor to your website or blog. It's extremely easy to use.

And here's a neat twist. I've installed this on some of my eBay auctions which get high numbers of viewers. This means I get paid for every visitor to my auction page, whether or not they buy or bid!

Like I said, Money for Nothing.

http://www.workwinners.com/moneyfornothing/



Finally - So That's How It's Done!

Have you ever wondered how the pointer on your screen repositions itself when you move your mouse?

Here's how.

It takes a little time to load...be patient. It's worth it.

http://www.1-click.jp/

 
 Someone's Auctioning What???
 

Nothing surprises me when it comes to internet auctions. Amuse yourself with some of these beauties in our monthly trawl through eBay's auctions.

Get your order in early...

But will it go through the letterbox?

Could be useful for the canine Olympics

But what's your wife for? (just kidding ladies!)

A levels? Just look at the auction title!

Disclaimer - I have no association with any of the sellers of the above items.

 
 Newsletter Archive
 
My eBay Auction Newsletter archive has always been a no cost resource available to subscribers. You don’t need to buy any products from me to get access to over four years of the valuable newsletter archive.

Do your friends, family and colleagues a favor, and share this eBay newsletter with them - simply pass on to them the address of my Newsletter Archive:-
http://www.workwinners.com/Newsletter_archive.htm

Did a friend send you this newsletter? If so, you need to send a blank email to:
subscribe-ebaynewsletter@v2.listbox.com
That way you can get your own copy next time!

Increasingly, email filters are preventing genuine email communications from reaching their recipients. If you use any method of checking on your email, and you wish to continue receiving notification of the newsletter you may need to include my email address in your safe list, whitelist or address book.

Thank you for continuing to take my newsletter - I hope it gives you as much enjoyment to read, as it does me to write.

Regards
Brian McGregor
Editor - eBay Auction Newsletter
 
 My Products Catalogue
 

You can check out my portfolio of products and services here:

"The eBay Formula"
My best selling ebook on eBay selling - time, after time, after time.
www.workwinners.com/rd01.htm

Make sure the color scheme on your website, blog or eBay auction description page isn't LOSING you business!
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How the power of Microsoft helps you in your marketing in this home based computer business.
www.workwinners.com/videobusiness

Your own eBay digital product sales business
A superb offer to have your own digital product sales business on eBay, from Platinum PowerSeller Justin Ormerod.
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Keyword Pro
Put the most popular keywords on eBay into your titles and watch your auctions explode! Special Offer for Newsletter Readers!!!
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Easy Niche Products
The ultimate niche product membership. At least 3 brand new digital products to sell every month.
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Article Park
For loads of free articles on all aspects of buying and selling on eBay.
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How to grow your own beautiful rose garden.
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How to start an investment club for fun and for profit.
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"UK Dropshipping Sources"
Twenty six genuine UK dropship companies.
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Get your own website selling information and sources of dropshipping.
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"Sourcing DVDs, CDs and Videos at Trade Prices"
Where and how to buy DVDs, CDs and Videos at trade prices, and how to sell for profit.
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"Sourcing and Selling Electrical Products for Big Profits"
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"Sourcing Maternity Clothing and Baby Needs at Trade Prices"
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"Sourcing Mobile Phone Accessories at Trade Prices"
Where and how to buy mobile phone accessories at trade prices, and how to sell for profit.
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"The Streetwise Buyer's Guide to Radar Detectors"
Don't buy a Radar Detector system until you read this.
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Get your own ecommerce website selling watches, fully stocked, with items dropshipped by suppliers direct to your customer. Special Price offer to newsletter readers.
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Do you trade stocks and options online? Here is a new software system which is aimed at helping if you're interested in utilising the principles of swing trading.
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Finally, a book well worth reading. In 'The eBay Book', long time eBay user David Belbin, explains how eBay.co.uk works and how to get the most out of it, whether you are a buyer or seller. Step-by-step, he takes you through the key features of the site, advises on bidding and selling tactics, explains how to minimise the fees you pay and why feedback is so important. He explores the best ways to pay for goods, and what to do if your transactions go wrong. This hugely readable book also contains a
wealth of case studies covering a wide variety of eBay users. It's available at Amazon here:
www.workwinners.com/nlr809.htm

You can see my websites here:

www.workwinners.com
www.cash-colors.com
www.keyword-pro.com
www.article-park.com
www.more-auction-sales.com
www.first-page-on-google.com
www.adsense-images.com
www.internet-dialup.com
www.bird-flu-outbreak.com
www.voip-phone-telephony.com
www.beds-and-mattress.com
www.leasing-a-car.com
www.garden-rose.com
www.start-investment-club.com
www.web-conference-calls.com
www.duplicate-and-copy.com

www.uk-dropship.co.uk
www.radar-detector-guide.co.uk

www.free-sky-tv.co.uk

 
 
 
Copyright © 2007 Brian McGregor. All rights reserved.

No part of this newsletter may be copied or published without prior permission, but do please forward it to your friends and colleagues as long as you keep it in its entirety. Brian McGregor, as publisher, disclaims any liability for the use of any information contained herein. We further claim no responsibility for the legality or accuracy of any advertisements or articles. It is the reader's responsibility to practice due diligence in any product or service acquired based on information
contained in this newsletter.