David Fiske A subtle blend of affiliate marketing and web development

It's not the best blog for this post but nevertheless, it's still blog worthy.

I've been selling on eBay for the last month or so and have developed a short set of best practise rules that I think offers a good buyer experience.
 
Rule 1 - Use Selling Manager

The default eBay seller interface is workable but it's not the best interface ever. Selling Manager is a subscription service that is free, so you would be foolish not to use it. If it costs nowt, you have nothing to lose.

Rule 2 - Set Up Customised Emails

It takes just a minute or so but set up two - 1 that says the item is ready for posting and another that says it has been sent. The default "Despatched" ebay email is acceptable but mine addresses the buyer by name, lists their shipment details and also lists some service expectations for delivery.

Rule 3 - Offer 3 Different Postage Methods

Wherever possible, offer the 3 standard postage speeds: slow, fast, and super fast! For small items, this could be 2nd class, 1st class and Special Delivery. Put the cheapest one first as that's what shows up in the search results. Most bargain hunters will opt for 2nd class but some are prepared to pay more for a faster or guaranteed delivery.

If you are sending via Special Delivery by standard, offer the 1PM service as a default and the 9AM service as a premium extra.

If you are sending via a courier, you can only choose "other courier" so you can't adequately specify more than 1 so this rule need not apply.

Rule 4 - Despatch By The Next Working Day

Basic simple rule but wherever possible, ship the item on the next possible working day. I use a cuttoff of 3PM. Orders before this time will be shipped on the same working day. Outside of this, they are shipped on the next working day.

Rule 5 - Get It Fast

By specifying a 1 working day handling time and a guaranteed next day delivery service, eBay lets you use the Get It Fast Label. Buyers in a hurry use this to identify items they can expect delivery of within a few days. This could help to boost sales.

Rule 6 - Transparent Returns Policy

Offer a 7 day returns policy. If you want to cover some costs, retain the shipping paid by the customer and if you so desire, do not reimburse the customer fr the shipping paid back. So long as you state this from the outset on your auction pages, this shouldn't be a problem. Problems only arise if you don't mention this at the point of sale.

Rule 7 - Good Quality Titles, Descriptions and Photos

Make sure your title is keyworded correctly to maximise visibility. Make sure your description is honest and accurate. If your widget is 10 grams, tell people. If it is in different colours and you cannot guarantee which colour will be shipped, tell people. People tend not to like surprises when they receive their goodies.

Use photos wherever possible but sometimes stock image look s much better. Personally, if the item is cheap, stock photos are OK. if the item is expensive, a photo is better. You wouldn't buy a car or mobile phone on eBay if a stock image was used but you would buy a packet of balloons, for example.

Rule 8 - Be Polite and Helpful

It's easy to get carried away in an argument with a buyer or potential buyer but you have to remember that a buyer can become a repeat customer so impressions count. Be polite and as helpful as you can.