The Dos and Don'ts of Auction Selling

I’m an auction girl to the beginning of the millennium. Having had a lot experience (under a variety of names – some personal and some private) , has certainly given me an advantage.

Do’s
Take the time to Read and Re-Read everything you list. Spelling errors and typos can make you cringe. If you are looking to sell as a business, this sends a bad impression of your business. If in doubt type the listing in Word and use the spellchecker. Get someone else to check it for you.

Put pictures into your listing. Some sites only allow you to use their heading image screen unless you have a template. Others let you purchase the space over the first picture. Seriously though, a lot of people I talk to won’t buy the item if there is no pictures. You can purchase cheap templates on most sites for $1 and use an image site such as picasa or photobucket or even your own site. Make sure you have the picture of the actual item. Don’t use someone else’s’ though or there can be copyright issues.

Selling clothing? Include sizes, measurements. Go to the website for the clothing and find a clothing chart. More information is better than too little. It does pay in the long run.

Which site? This is really a financial choice as much as anything. Check the costs of listing, selling fees (fvf) and read the terms and conditions carefully. Some sites impose certain selling restrictions on what can be sold, which payment options you can accept etc., You can try more than 1 site though and that is always strongly recommended.

Tell your customers how much for postage, posting time frames (if you only mail once a week make sure you tell your customers) and whether you only offer registered or regular mail. Be prepared to bend a little if necessary, because this will give you repeat buyers.

Buy a set of very good digital mailing scales. This will save you time and money everytime.

Put your business card into everything you mail out. This can bring you repeat customers.

Don'ts
Change the cost of postage because you made an error in calculation after sending an invoice or sale and a price is listed in the auction is always a bad move. This puts buyers off and they tend to tell everyone. If you make an error, be prepared to wear it and write it off as something to learn from.

Don’t sell items from sites that dropship unless you are prepared to check in frequently to make sure that they have the stock on hand. Not only do you miss out on a sale, but it also leads to a bad reputation. If you dropship, check frequently on stock levels.

Don’t recycle packaging unless you state in your auction that this is what you intend to do or your buyer asks to save money. Buying an item and it arriving in a scrunched up half a postage satchel looks bad. There is no excuse for this. Consider how you will send the item. Always think of your reputation.

Never attack anyone in the feedback. Be calm and be factual but always polite. Bad feedback is always distasteful, but is worse when you call someone a liar or other. Your reputation is too hard to come by to damage in the heat of the moment.

When you receive a question, respond in a timely manner. Lots of auction forums constantly deplore slow or non existent replies to information requests. Get in quickly and be businesslike everytime.

Use your selling id when buying stock. Get a different one or why would anyone buy from you? They will be able to go straight to your source.

What to do when going away. Make sure you tell your buyers in your auction. Put a statement on EACH auction. Dear buyer, I will be away from 1st to 5th December. All items purchased during this time will be shipped after this date... this costs you nothing and will let the buyers know the situation. Certainly if you get a chance, you can respond while away but makes it more business like.

Buying and selling on auction sites if fun, just remember a few things and you will be on the way to being the being the best seller you can.

Happing Selling!