The post eBay Feedback Tips first appeared on Tips For Sellers & Buyers.

As you can see, there’s a proper feedback and response for every situation. Just be sure to think twice before leaving any feedback (particularly negative feedback). After you submit your feedback, you can’t retract it.

Don’t get too upset if you receive the occasional negative feedback; it happens to the best of usespecially those that run a lot of auctions. You can’t please everyone all the time, and sometimes you make mistakes that justify a negative feedback response. Just try to work out as many issues with other users as you can, and don’t let the occasional negative feedback get to you.

The post Recommended eBay Feedback first appeared on Tips For Sellers & Buyers.

Tip #31: Be Nice

Remember that you’re dealing with another human being, someone who has feelings that can be hurt. A little bit of common courtesy goes a long way. Say please and thank you, be understanding and tolerant, and treat your trading partner in the same way you’d like to be treated. Follow the golden rule; do unto other auction traders as you would have them do unto you.

Tip #32: 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.

Tip #33: 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; 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.

Tip #34: 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!

Tip #35: Use eBay Second Chance

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.

Tip #36: The Customer Is Always Right…

Although many sellers take a hardball attitude and refuse any discussion of refunds, I recommend a more customer-friendly approach. When I have a dissatisfied buyer, I offer a full refund.

Yeah, some buyers might try to take advantage of you, but most are honest. So if you have a buyer with a complaint, you can generally assume that it’s a legitimate beef. You’ll get better feedbackand sleep easier at nightif you have the customer return the item and refund the purchase price. It’s the right thing to do!

Tip #37: …Or All Sales Are Final

If you choose not to offer a “satisfaction guaranteed” policy, be sure to state that “all sales are final” in your item listing. (Alternatively, you can say that your item is “sold as-is” or that there are “no returns.”)

Tip #38: Accept Credit CardsVia PayPal

One of the easiest ways to increase the number of bids in your auction is to accept payment via credit card. Unless you’re a real business with a merchant bank account, this means signing up for PayPalwhich is extremely easy to do.

Tip #39: Wait for the Check to Clear

The reality is that many buyers 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!

Tip #40: If It’s a Business, You Pay Taxes

This book isn’t meant to offer tax advice (and you’d be foolish to consult me for such!), but larger eBay sellers need to be aware of the tax issue. In general, if you’re an individual who classifies as a casual eBay seller, you probably don’t have to worry about collecting sales taxes or reporting taxable income. However, if you’re a business or an individual at the power seller level, the Internal Revenue Service will want their share. The best advice here is that no matter what level your eBay sales, you should consult your accountant or a similar tax expertand never, never try to fool Uncle Sam.

The post 10 Tips for Closing More Auctions on eBay – Part 4 first appeared on Tips For Sellers & Buyers.

Tip #21: Slow Down in the Summer

For whatever reason, eBay traffic slows way down in the summertime. (Lots of potential buyers are on vacation, and even more are outside enjoying the sunshine.) If you want to maximize your bids, you’ll get a higher price when fall and winter come along.

Tip #22: Promote Your Auctions

Let people outside eBay know about your auction. Mention your auction in relevant newsgroups and mailing lists, feature it on your personal website, and send emails about it to all your friends. Include your item listing’s URL in everything you do so that anyone interested can click the link to view your auction. Do anything you can think of to draw traffic to your listingand thus increase your chances of selling it.

Tip #23: Use My eBay to Track Your Auctions

Don’t let your auction activity get away from you. Use My eBay to look at all your auctions daily, or use auction management software to track your auctions automatically.

You can also use My eBay to track your favorite auction categories, as well as your feedback ratings and account status. Personalize your My eBay page the way you like and then bookmark it; it’s a great home page for the heavy auction trader.

Tip #24: If You Sell a Lot, Use eBay Selling Manager

My eBay is great for tracking your auctions, but when it comes to managing your end-of-auction activities, consider subscribing to eBay Selling Manager. For just $4.99 per month you get assistance in sending emails, printing invoices and packing slips, and leaving feedback. It’s great if you run a lot of auctions simultaneously.

Tip #25: Avoid Premature Cancellation

Know that many bidders wait until the very last minute to place a bid. (It’s called sniping, and it really works.) If you cancel an auction early, you’ll miss out on the bulk of the potential bids. So don’t cancel!

Tip #26: Avoid Deadbeats

You don’t have to sell to just anybody. You can stipulate that you won’t sell to bidders with negative feedback or with feedback ratings below a certain level. If you receive bids from these potential deadbeats, cancel them. If the deadbeats continue to bid (after being warned off via email by you), block their bids. You want to sell to someone who will actually consummate the transaction and send you payment; bidders with negative feedback are more likely to leave you high and dry.

Tip #27: Include All Your Shipping Costs

When figuring your shipping and handling costs, be sure to factor in all your costsnot just the shipping itself, but also the cost of the packaging, the labels, and the packing tape. Don’t gouge your buyer (this isn’t meant to be a profit center), but don’t cheat yourself, either. If actual shipping costs are $3.50, think about charging the buyer $4 to cover your additional costs. And, when you’re figuring the item’s shipping weight, remember that you don’t just ship the itemyou also ship the box and all cushioning materials. These items have weight and must be included when you’re weighing your item for shipment. (Those free Priority Mail boxes are especially heavyand can easily increase your cost of shipping.)

Tip #28: Use a Middleman for Expensive Items

If you’re selling a high-priced item, consider offering the buyer the option of using an escrow service. It’s a good deal for you; the buyer pays for the service (in the neighborhood of 5%, typically), it provides a level of peace of mind for the buyer, and it lets you accept credit card payments that you might otherwise not accept.

Tip #29: Document Everything

In case something goes south, it helps to have good records of all aspects of your transaction. Print copies of the confirmation email, plus all email between you and the buyer. Be sure to write down the buyer’s user ID, email address, and physical address. If the transaction is ever disputed, you’ll have all the backup you need to plead your case.

Tip #30: 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.

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.

The post 10 Tips for Closing More Auctions on eBay – Part 3 first appeared on Tips For Sellers & Buyers.

Tip #1: Make the Buyer Pay

Stipulate in your listing that the buyer pays all shipping and handling costs (and you might even want to detail these costs ahead of time in your listing). Also, make sure that the buyer pays for any “extras” that might be added after the sale. If the buyer wants insurance, the buyer pays for it. If the buyer wants to use an escrow service, the buyer pays for it. If the buyer wants expedited shipping, the buyer pays for it. See the trend?

Tip #2: Go Long…

When it comes time to choose the length for your auction, go for the 7- or 10-day option. The longer your item is up for auction, the more potential bidders who will see itand the more potential bidders, the better your chances of selling the item for a higher price. Don’t cheat yourself out of potential sales by choosing a shorter auction.

Tip #3: …Or Create a Short-Term Frenzy

On the other hand, if you have something really hot, create a bidding frenzy by choosing a very short auction length. If you do this, play it up in your item’s title: 3 Days Only! works pretty well.

Tip #4: There’s No Reason to Reserve

I don’t know of a single bidder who likes reserve price auctions. Why use something that scares some bidders away? (Remember, many beginning users don’t understand reserve price auctions, and thus don’t bid in them.) Set a realistic minimum, and get on with it.

Tip #5: Single Items Are Best…

If you’re looking for the highest total dollar, don’t group items together. Multiple-item lots seldom bring as much money as multiple items sold individually.

Tip #6: …Although You Can Unload Some Dogs in a Pack

On the other hand, if you have a lot of things to sell, selling in lots can reduce your personal overhead, as well as help you unload some less attractive items that you probably couldn’t sell individually. (Plus, you get hit for only a single insertion fee!)

Tip #7: Don’t Compete Against Yourself

If five people are looking to buy footstools today, don’t give them five choices all from one person (you). If you have five footstools to sell, don’t sell them all at once. Sell one this week, one next week, and one the week after that. Spread it out to create an illusion of scarcity, and you’ll generate more total revenue.

Tip #8: Start and End in Prime Time

When you start your auction is importantbecause that affects when your auction ends. If you start a seven-day auction at 6:00 p.m. on a Saturday, it will end exactly seven days later, at 6:00 p.m. the following Saturday.

Why is it important when your auction ends? Because some of the most intense bidding takes place in the final few minutes of your auction, from snipers trying to steal the high bid at the last possible moment. To take advantage of last-minute bidders, your auction needs to end when the most possible bidders are online.

If you end your auction at 3:00 in the morning, everyone will be asleep and you’ll lose out on any last-minute bids. Instead, try to end your auction during early evening hours, when the most users are online.

Remember, though, that you’re dealing with a three-hour time-zone gap between the East and the West coasts. So, if you time your auction to end at 7:00 p.m. EST, you’re ending at 4:00 p.m. PSTwhen most potential bidders are still at work. Conversely, if you choose to end at 9:00 p.m. PST, you just hit midnight in New Yorkand many potential bidders are already fast asleep.

The best times to endand thus to startyour auction are between 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. EST, or between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. PST. (Figure the in-between time zones yourself!) That way you’ll catch the most potential bidders online for the final minutes of your auctionand possibly generate a bidding frenzy that will garner a higher price for your merchandise!

Note, however, that the best time to end an auction can be influenced by the type of item you’re selling. For example, if you’re selling an item that appeals to grade-school or high-school kids, try ending your auction in the late afternoon, after the kids get home from school and before they head off for dinner. Items with appeal to housewives do well with a late morning or early afternoon end time. And business items sell best when they end during normal business hours.

Tip #9: End on a Sunday

When you end your auction on a Sunday, you get one full Saturday and two Sundays (the starting Sunday and the ending one) for a seven-day item listing. Sunday is a great day to end auctions because almost everybody is homeno one is out partying, or stuck at work or in school. End your auction on a Sunday evening, and you’re likely to get more bidsand higher prices.

There are exceptions, however.

As with the time you end your auction, your ending day might also be influenced by the type of item you’re selling. If you’re selling an item of interest to college students, for example, you might be better ending on a night during the week, because a lot of students travel home for the weekend; you’ll catch them in the dorms on a Wednesday or Thursday night. Items targeted at churchgoers might also be better ending during the week so that you don’t catch bidders when they’re at Sunday evening church services.

Tip #10: Don’t End on a Friday or Saturday Night

If Sunday is normally the best night of the week to end your auction, what’s the worst night?

Friday and Saturday are probably the worst nights to end most auctions, because a lot of eBay users are out partying on these non-school nights. End an auction for any item (especially youth-oriented items) on a Friday or Saturday night, and you eliminate a large number of potential buyers.

You should also try not to end your auction right in the middle of a hit television series or any blockbuster sporting events or award showssome potential bidders might find it difficult to tear themselves away from the old boob tube.

The post 10 Tips for Closing More Auctions on eBay – Part 2 first appeared on Tips For Sellers & Buyers.

Tip #1: Research Your Price

Don’t sell without doing your homework first; make sure you know the true value of an item before you put it up for auction. Before you price your item, search for similar items in eBay’s closed auctions. What was the starting bid price? What was the final selling price? You should also research the price of similar items offline; sometimes you can get a feel for relative value if you compare your item to a newer version of the same. Be informed, and you won’t set the price too high or too low; you’ll set it just right.

Tip #2: Make Your Listing Stand Out

Do everything in your power to make your item listings stand out from all the other listings currently online. Work on both the title and the description, and consider using a listing- creation tool (or using HTML formatting) to create a more dynamic ad.

Tip #3: Use Turbo Lister to Create Your Listings

If you list a lot of items for auction, take advantage of eBay’s free bulk-listing tool. Turbo Lister is great for listing multiple items at one time, but also makes it easier to create great-looking listings for just an item or two. Besides, there’s no reason not to use itit’s free!

Tip #4: Get All the Buzzwords in the Title

Make sure you have the right words and phrases in the title of your item listing. If your audience looks for “compact discs,” say compact disc; if they look for “CDs,” say CD. If they look for both, use both. Use all possible words (up to your auction’s character limit) to hit all possible keywords your potential bidders might be searching foreven if some of the words are redundant.

Tip #5: A Picture Says a Thousand Words

Nothing increases your chances of selling an item like including a picture of it in your listing. Take a photo of your item, scan it in, upload it, and include it with your listingeven if it’s just a plain text listing. (And when you take your picture, make sure that it’s a good onethere’s no point in posting a picture if the item is too small and out of focus.)

Tip #6: Be Descriptive

Include as much descriptive text about your item as you can. The better you describe your item, the fewer mid-auction emails you’ll get asking about it and the greater the chance that your ultimate buyer won’t get any unpleasant surprises. In addition, you never know when that single “unimportant” detail is just the thing a specific bidder is looking forso don’t overlook any detail, no matter how small.

Tip #7: Reuse Text That Sells

After you find a winning formula, reuse it! This is especially so if you sell a lot of similar items. Cut and paste descriptive text from your successful listings into additional listings, or use eBay’s Relist Similar Item function so you’re not always starting from scratch. If nothing else, this gives you a head start when creating new item listings!

Tip #8: Include Shipping and Payment Details

Don’t forget to include all the details about shipping and handling (how much and who pays), payment methods, and the like. (That means estimating shipping and handling up front, if you can.) Don’t leave anything open to interpretation.

Tip #9: Be Honest

Be honest in your description of the item. If the item has a few flaws, mention them. If there’s damage or the item is otherwise imperfect, make note of it. Misleading a buyer will only cause you grief.

Tip #10: Promote Yourself with Your About Me Page

eBay’s About Me page is the perfect way to provide more background information about you as a seller, and to drive potential bidders to your other live auctions. Be sure to create an About Me pageand use it to help “sell” yourself and your other items.

The post 10 Tips for Closing More Auctions on eBay – Part 1 first appeared on Tips For Sellers & Buyers.

Should you use Buy It Now? The downside is that Buy It Now adds to an auction’s confusion factor, possibly scaring away some users. (The presence of a high Buy It Now relative to the starting price, in any caseis apt to tell some buyers that you’re asking more for your item than it’s worth, or that similar items are selling for.) The upside is that if you set a high enough Buy It Now price and some chump ponies up, you get your money sooner than if you’d allowed the auction to continue to its natural conclusion.

If you’re going to use Buy It Now, make sure that it’s worth your while. You definitely don’t want to set a Buy It Now price lower than what you think your item will eventually sell for. For example, if you know that similar items have been selling for $20 on eBay, the absolute lowest you want to set your Buy It Now price is $20. If you set the Buy It Now price at $15, for example, some sharp buyer is going to swoop in and pay you $15 for an item that probably would have sold for $20.

In fact, if you use the Buy It Now option, you probably want to set the Buy It Now price at some point higher than the expected high bid price. Taking our $20 example, you might set the Buy It Now at $25. If somebody wants to buy it now, they’ll pay you a $5 premium for the privilege. If not, bidding will proceed as normal until a (presumably lower) high bid is realized.

The post Sell It Now eBay Option first appeared on Tips For Sellers & Buyers.

What if you have a model of an American Airlines jet? Does it go in the “Collectibles: Transportation: Aviation: Airlines: American” category, or the “Toys & Hobbies: Models: Air” category?

Where you put your item should be dictated by where the highest number of potential bidders will look for it. Search the completed auction listings to get an idea of which items are in what categories, and for those categories that have a higher success rate. In the American jet model example, if there are more bidders traipsing through the Collectibles category, put it there; if there are more potential buyers who think of this as a model toy thing, put it in that category. (In reality, you’ll probably find listings for this sort of item in both categories.) Think like your potential buyers, and put it where you would look for it if you were them.

If you really can’t decide if your item really does belong in more than one category eBay lets you list your item in two categories. It costs twice the regular listing fee, but it potentially doubles your exposure. Just scroll down to the Second Category section on the Category page, and enter a second category. Your item listing will show up in both categories, just like that.

The post How to Pick Right Category on eBay first appeared on Tips For Sellers & Buyers.

• Make sure that the item exists and is at hand, and has been cleaned up and spruced up as much as possible. (This includes putting the item in the original box, if you have it.)

• Determine what you think the final selling price will be, and then choose an appropriate minimum bid price.

• Take a picture or a scan of the item and prepare a JPG-format file for uploading.

• If you’re selling a commonly sold item, such as a book, CD, or DVD, write down the item’s UPC number or ISBN numberthis is the product code typically found on the back or bottom of the packaging.

• Determine what listing options you might want to purchasesuch as boldfacing the title or placing the item in the Gallery.

• Think up a catchy yet descriptive headline for the item.

• Write out a detailed description of the item.

• Determine what payment options you’ll accept. (If you haven’t yet signed up with PayPal, now is the time.)

• Determine how you want to ship the item.

• Weigh the item, and then try to determine the actual shipping costs. Use that information to set an up-front shipping and handling charge, if you want.

• If you haven’t yet registered as an eBay user and entered your credit card information, do that now.

• Determine what day of the weekand what time of the dayyou want your auction to end.

The post What to do Before Listing Item for Auction on eBay first appeared on Tips For Sellers & Buyers.

Tip #1: Bid in the Off Season

You already know that the final minute of the auction is the best time to place your bid. But are there specific times of the year that offer better bargains for bidders?

The answer, of course, is yes. Although there is some category-specific seasonality, the best overall time of the year to pick up eBay bargains is during the summer months. Summer is the slowest period on eBay, which means fewer people biddingand lower prices for you.

Tip #2: Look for Off-Peak Auctions

Believe it or not, some auctions are set to end in the wee hours of the morningwhen there aren’t a lot of bidders awake to make last-minute snipes. Look for auctions ending between midnight and 5:00 a.m. Pacific time if you want some competition-free sniping.

Tip #3: Do Your Research

Don’t bid blind; make sure you know the true value of an item before you offer a bid. Look around at auctions of similar items; what prices are they going for? And don’t neglect researching outside of eBay; sometimes, you can find what you’re looking for at a discount store or in a catalog or at another online sitewhere you’ll probably get a real warranty and a better return policy. Shop around, and don’t assume that the price you see at an auction is always the best deal available.

Be informed, and you won’t bid too highor too low.

Tip #4: Don’t Bid on the First Item You See

Probably several other items on the same auction site are similar to the first item you saw. Look at the entire list of items before you choose which one to bid on. Seldom is the first item you see the one you really want or the best deal.

Tip #5: Know When to Say No

Be disciplined. Set a maximum price you’re willing to pay for an item, and don’t exceed it! It’s okay to lose an auction.

Don’t automatically rebid just because you’ve been outbid. It’s too easy to get caught up in the excitement of a fast-paced auction. Learn how to keep your cool; know when to say no.

Tip #6: Don’t Let the Proxy Bid Things Up

If two or more people are bidding on the same item, eBay’s proxy bidding software can automatically (and quickly) rocket up the price until the bidder with the lower maximum bid maxes out. It’s kind of an automated bidding frenzy conducted by two mindless robots.

Some bidders refuse to participate in proxy bidding. If the price is to increase, they want to do it manually. If you want to hold total control over the entire bidding process, how do you defeat the automatic bidding software? Simple: Make sure that your maximum bid is the same price as the next incremental bid and no higher. It might take a bit more workand it’s not the way I like to do things, personallybut it does put you in total control of the bidding process.

Tip #7: There Are Other Fish in the Sea

In 99.9% of eBay’s auctions, that “one of a kind” item really isn’t one of a kind. In fact, some sellers (especially merchant sellers) will have multiple quantities of an item, which they release to auction in dribs and drabs over time. In addition, some collectibles are bought and sold and bought and sold by multiple buyers and sellers over time, continually changing hands via new auctions. If you don’t get this particular item, there’s a good chance you’ll get to bid on something similar soon.

Tip #8: If It Sounds Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is

A rare copy of Action Comics #1 for only $25? A brand-new laptop computer for only $100? There has to be a catch. That Action Comics is probably a facsimile reprint, and the brand-new laptop PC is actually a remanufactured unit missing some key parts. Be suspicious of improbable or impossible deals; always ask questions that confirm or reject your suspicions.

Tip #9: Ask Questions

If you’re unclear about any aspect of an item you’re interested in, ask the seller questions via email. In addition to answering your specific questions, some sellers have additional information or pictures they can send you one-on-one. There’s no excuse for ignorance; if you’re not sure, ask!

Tip #10: Check the Feedback

Check out the seller’s feedback rating. Make sure that the seller of the item you want has a good feedback ratingand avoid any sellers who don’t. You should also click the seller’s numerical feedback rating to display actual comments from other users who have dealt with this user before. The best way to avoid bad sellers is to find out that they’re bad sellers beforehand.

Tip #11: Check the Seller’s Past Auctions

While you’re checking up on the seller, use eBay’s search function to display all the seller’s completed auctions. See whether the seller has sold multiples of this particular item in the past. There’s no need to get into a bidding war if the same item will come up for auction again next week.

Tip #12: Check the Seller’s Other Current Auctions

You’d be surprised how many times a seller has more than one item you’re interested in. Click the View Seller’s Other Auctions link to see everything else the seller has for auctionand bid accordingly!

Tip #13: Search; Don’t Browse

If you know what you’re looking for, don’t go through the time-consuming hassle of clicking and loading and clicking and loading to access a particular item category. Using an auction’s search function will find what you want a lot quicker.

Tip #14: Search Smart

Searching for an item on eBay is easy; finding what you really want is hard. You’re more likely to find what you’re looking for if you can use the auction site’s advanced search capabilities to fine-tune your query. Some specific search tips can help you perform more effectiveand efficientsearches:

• Narrow your search. Some of the more popular categories on eBay will list thousands of items. If you do a search on nba, for example, you’ll be overwhelmed by the results; narrow your search within these large categories (to nba jerseys or nba tickets) to better describe the specific item you’re looking for.

• Make your queries precisebut not too precise. When you’re deciding which keywords to use, pick words that are precise, but not overly restrictive. If you must use a very general word, modify it with a more specific wordor you’re apt to generate a huge number of results that have little relevance to the specific information you’re searching for. As an example, model is a pretty general keyword; Star Wars Death Star model is a much more precise query. On the other hand, if you search for an old Star Wars Death Star model partially assembled without instructions not painted, you probably won’t return any matching results. If you get few if any results, take some of the parameters out of your query to broaden your search.

• Use wildcards. If you’re not sure of spelling, use a wildcard to replace the letters in question. Also, wildcards help you find variations on a keyword. For example, if you want Superman, Supergirl, and Superdog, enter super* to find all “super” words.

• Vary your vocabularyand your spelling. Don’t assume that everyone spells a given word the same wayor knows how to spell it properly. Also, don’t forget about synonyms. What you call pink, someone else might call mauve. What’s big to you might be large to someone else. Think of all the ways the item you’re looking for can be described, and include as many of the words as possible in your query.

• Fine-tune your results. Did eBay’s search engine return an overwhelming number of matching items? If so, you need to fine-tune your search to be more specific. Look at the results generated from your initial search. Think about the good matches and the bad matches and why they ended up in the results list. Then, enter a new query that uses additional or different keywords and modifiers. Your goal is to make the next list of results a higher quality than the last.

• Different day, different results. Remember that new items are constantly added to any given auction site, and closed auctions are constantly removed from the listings. If you didn’t find anything that matched your query today, try again tomorrow; you’ll probably find a different list of items for sale. (Another good reason to save your favorite searches and use eBay’s email notification service.)

Tip #15: Search for Misspellings

Here’s a good way to take advantage of other users’ mistakes. Some eBay sellers aren’t great spellersor are just prone to typing errors. This means you’ll find some items listed for auction under misspelled titles. It’s not hard to find the occasional Dell personal commuter, Apple ipud, or jewel neklace.

The problem for these sellersand the opportunity for youis that when you’re searching for an item (correctly), listings with misspellings won’t appear in the search results. If potential bidders can’t find the listings, they can’t bid on them, eitherleaving these misspelled listings with few if any bidders. If you can locate these misspelled listings, you can often snap up a real deal without competition from other bidders.

The key, of course, is figuring out how an item might be misspelled. Let’s say you’re looking for a bargain on a toaster. Instead of searching for toaster, you might search for toster, toastter, toastor, and toester. Give it a tryyou’ll be surprised what you find!

Tip #16: Search for Last-Minute Bargains

When you search the eBay listings, be sure to display the results with auctions ending today listed first. Scan the list for soon-to-end items with no bids or few bids, and pick off some bargains that have slipped others’ attention.

Tip #17: Don’t Show Your Hand

Part and parcel of the sniping strategy: Don’t place an early bid on an item. That just signals your interest and attracts other bidderswhich results in a higher price.

Tip #18: Watch, Don’t Bid

Expanding on the previous tip, use eBay’s Watch This Item feature to watch auctions in process without first placing a bid. (Just click the Watch This Item link on the item listing page, and then watch the items on your My eBay page.)

Tip #19: Use the eBay Toolbar

eBay offers a neat little add-on for your Web browser that makes it easy to track auctions you’ve bid on, or that are on your watch list. When you install the eBay Toolbar, it appears as part of your Web browser, under all your normal toolbars.

Tip #20: Watch the Finish

Don’t forget the downside to snipingthat you can be sniped, too. Don’t get outbid at the last minute. Because most auction activity occurs at the very end of the auction, track the last hour of your most important auctions, and be prepared to react quickly to last-second snipers.

Tip #21: Get in Sync

Make sure that you’re in sync with eBay’s official clock. If you’re a few seconds slow, you could lose a sniping contest!

Tip #22: Put Your Best Foot Forward

When you do bid, don’t weasel around. Make your bid the maximum amount the item is worth to you, and be done with it.

Tip #23: Bid in Odd Numbers

When you bid, don’t bid an even amount. Instead, bid a few pennies more than an even buck; for example, if you want to bid $10, bid $10.03 instead. That way, your bid will beat any bids at the same approximate amount$10.03 beats $10 any daywithout your having to place a new bid at the next whole bid increment.

Tip #24: Don’t Be a Deadbeat

Don’t bid unless you really intend to buy. Nobody likes a deadbeatand if you do it often enough, you’ll get kicked off the auction site, permanently.

Tip #25: Use My eBay to Track Your Auctions

Don’t let your auction activity get away from you. If you’re a regular eBay user, the best way to track all your auction activity on a single page is by using My eBay. My eBay can also track your favorite auction categories, as well as your account statusand let you access the pages you use most often, without having to click through useless parts of the site. Personalize My eBay the way you like and then bookmark it; it’s a great home page for the heavy auction trader.

Tip #26: Read the Fine Print

What methods of payment can you use? What about shipping? Any other details that might impact your decision to bid? Read the entire item listing before you place your bidso you aren’t surprised by the fine print in any auction.

Tip #27: Don’t Forget Shipping Costs…

When you’re placing your bid, remember that you’ll actually have to pay more than you bid; you have to pay shipping and handling to put the item in your hands. If s&h costs aren’t detailed in the item listing, figure them out yourself, or email the seller to get a reasonable estimate. That ultra-cheap $2 item looks pretty expensive if you have to add $5 shipping and handling to the base price.

Tip #28: …But Don’t Overpay for Shipping

Not only should you not get taken by surprise by shipping costs, but you also shouldn’t be taken advantage of by unrealistic shipping and handling charges. Get a ballpark feel for shipping on a specific item from the seller’s location to where you live. Expect a little overage on the seller’s part (she has to buy packing materials, labels, and such), but not too much. If you know that shipping should be in the $2 range, accept a $3 chargebut question a $5 charge.

Tip #29: Pay Quickly

Don’t delaypay! Look, the seller needs the money, and the sooner you pay, the sooner you’ll get what you paid for.

Tip #30: Pay by Credit Card

Now that most auctions are credit card enabled (via PayPal), use that option. Paying via credit card is relatively safe and leaves a good paper trailand ensures that your item will be shipped quickly.

Tip #31: Money Orders Cost Money

The seller says that money orders or cashier’s checks speed shipment. Depending on your bank, it might cost a few dollars to cut a money order or cashier’s check. Be sure to factor these costs into your total expenditureand question whether you really want to pay to cut a money order for a $5 item.

Tip #32: Provide All the Information Necessary

When you send your payment, be sure to include your name, shipping address, email address, and item name and description. Even better, enclose a copy of the item’s Checkout or listing page, with additional information written on it. (I can’t tell you how many envelopes I’ve opened with only a check or money order inside; you gotta tell ’em who the payment is from and what it’s for!)

Tip #33: Use a Middleman for Expensive Items

If you buy a high-priced item through a person-to-person auction, consider using an escrow service. Although you’ll pay for the service (in the neighborhood of 5%, typically paid by you, the buyer), it’s a good safety net in case the seller doesn’t ship or the item isn’t what was described. In addition, you can use escrow services to accept credit card payments when the seller doesn’t or can’t accept credit cards directly.

Tip #34: Insure It

If you bought a rare or high-priced item, ask the seller to insure the item for shipping. Pay the extra cost; it’s worth it in peace of mind alone.

Tip #35: Document Everything

In case something goes south, it helps to have good records of all aspects of your transaction. Print copies of the confirmation email, plus all email between you and the seller. Be sure to write down the seller’s user ID, email address, and physical address. If the transaction is ever disputed, you’ll have all the backup you need to plead your case.

Tip #36: Keep a Log

Not only should you document all the correspondence for an individual auction, but you also should keep a log of all the auctions you’ve won. If you do a lot of bidding, it’s all too easy to lose track of which items you’ve paid for and which you’ve received. You don’t want to let weeks (or months!) go by before you notice that you haven’t received an item you paid for!

Tip #37: If You Win It, Inspect It

When you receive the item you paid for, open it up and inspect itimmediately! Don’t wait a month before you look at it and then expect the seller to rectify a situation that was long considered closed. Okay the item, and then send the seller an email saying you got it and it’s okay. If you sit on it too long, it’s yoursno matter what.

Tip #38: If You Get Ripped Off, Tell eBay About It

If you have a problem with a seller, first try working it out between the two of you. If things don’t get resolved, contact eBay with your grievance; you can use eBay’s Purchase Protection Program to register your complaint and (hopefully) get reimbursed for your loss. (And don’t forget to leave negative feedback on the snake who did you wrong!)

Tip #39: Communicate!

Don’t assume anything; communicate what you think you know. If you have questions during an auction, ask them. When the auction is over, email the seller. When the seller emails you, email him or her back to confirm. Email the seller when you send payment and again to confirm receipt of the item. The more everyone knows, the fewer surprises there are.

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

Tip #40: Be Nice

You’re dealing with another human being, someone who has feelings that can be hurt. A little bit of common courtesy goes a long way. Say please and thank you, be understanding and tolerant, and treat your trading partner in the same way you’d like to be treated. Follow the golden rule; do unto other auction traders as you would have them do unto you.

The post 40 Tips For Winning Bids on eBay first appeared on Tips For Sellers & Buyers.