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No matter what you might have to sell, doing it through an eBay auction can be a fun, fairly easy, and profitable way to sell merchandise once or for a "second job". Online auctions have become a popular way for people to find unique merchandise, such as old books and toys, or hard to find clothing and furniture. You can buy just about anything through an eBay auction! Instead of trying to hassle with a garage sale, try selling your merchandise on eBay. You might find that you can earn quite a good living at it!

Though it is an easy way to unload your stuff, there are a few techniques involved with having a successful eBay auction. Simply posting a picture and a price will not bring the bidders to you. Make sure the merchandise you are selling is in excellent condition, and if it is not, say so in the description. Honesty is by far the number one rule of thumb to follow, because deceiving customers can get you negative ratings, which will spell doom for you if you intend to auction a lot of merchandise on eBay. It is also important to be knowledgeable of what your are selling, not only so that you can create a thorough description of your product, but so that you can answer any questions that potential customers might have quickly.

In addition to being forthright regarding the condition of your merchandise, you must be up-front when you explain your sales and shipping policy on your eBay auction. Providing complete information about your shipping rates, as well as your refund policy, will help make sales go smoothly, and customers appreciate that. Gaining repeat customers is important if you want to have continued success with your eBay auctions. So, on top of offering complete information, you will want to provide excellent customer service to your customers. Respond to questions quickly, and with a friendly tone.

Once you have made a sale on your eBay auction, it is important to maintain the same friendly and professional rapport with your customers. Remember that repeat customers and good reviews can make your eBay career successful! It is important that you inform your customers of the progress of their purchases every step of the way. First, contact them to thank them for making the purchase, including any payment information. Then contact them to let them know that you have shipped the merchandise, how it shipped, and when you expect it you arrive to them. You might also want to include any tracking numbers so that your customers can see when their packages are due to arrive to them.

It is vital that you conduct your eBay auctions and business transactions with the utmost professionalism. In addition to honesty and communication, that means that you should wrap and ship any merchandise that you sell in a way that it will not be damaged, and that it will show that care was taken in the preparation for shipment. Include a "receipt" that shows what the customer purchased, the price paid, and even include a thank you note, which is always a nice touch. Again, customer satisfaction and feedback can make or break your eBay auction experience and seller reputation.

Customer feedback and ratings on an eBay auction can mean that either you will be a highly sought after seller, or that no one will want your stuff at all. Take those ratings seriously, because the buyers on eBay certainly do! That is why it is so important to work to satisfy every customer, even the difficult or demanding ones. If that means negotiating the price of certain merchandise, or doing something else a little extra for a customer, then you need to do it. If you want to turn your eBay auction into a successful business endeavor, your pride might have to take a back seat. Try to remember that the buyer is taking just as big (if not bigger) of a chance as you are in shopping for merchandise on an eBay auction. Therefore, the easier you make it for them, the more often they are likely to be your customer.