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Pros: Great bargains, Good visibility for selling
Cons: Handful of Dishonest Members
The bottom line: For purchasing or selling, I highly recommend eBay for your auction needs!
eBay is my auction of choice for items such as discontinued Pfaltzgraf dinnerware patterns, collectibles such as ENESCO My Blushing Bunnies, designer brand second-hand or discounted childrens clothing, and a variety of other items. When venturing into online auctions, I highly recommend eBay for you purchasing and selling needs! This active site offers over 4,000 categories to list items and to search for your desired buy. I have been an active member of this website marketplace since March of 1999. I have partaken in more than 500 successful transactions, both purchasing and selling. My feedback is currently 342 positives strong (not all members follow through with feedback), and growing.

What I will share with you today is based on my experiences as eBay member lisajsplace. While the majority of these transactions have been within the girls clothing category, I have also purchased clothing for myself, toys, and a wonderfully divine angel bunny from the lovely wife of fellow Epinion member Grouch. Additionally we succesfully sold unique items: a batting cage and a pitching machine.

The Good
My first venture into this site happened upon recommendation from a dear friend. She knew that I adore coordinating my children and that I have no qualms about second hand. Terri had experienced many positive purchasing experiences and was delighted to recommend her… um… addiction! What a mixed blessing this proved to be!

Positive attributes of this online site include such benefits as clothing your children (in nice clothing, high quality, and good pricing), acquiring discontinued toys, locating hard to find items, and reselling those items you no longer desire to own.

The Bad
The most profound negative can be the dishonest seller and/or buyer. Fortunately this has only occurred approximately three times with me. While there has been a handful of other instances, those all worked out well.

Another downfall is that the bidder may become addicted to the bidding process, thus purchasing items they don’t really need. Or the buyer may engage in bidding wars and end paying much more than what a sensible purchase price would be. I highly recommend that you firmly decide the top dollar you are willing to pay and stick to it.

I sold a Gymboree hat last Easter for $45. My initial purchase price, two years ago, was $10. While the profit margin was nice, I must confess that I nearly felt guilty. But, demand spoke, I supplied, and buyer & seller were pleased. Is this bad???? Perhaps, but not really. After all, the buyer was ecstatic that they acquired a very hard to find hat in excellent condition.

Buying
You will need to follow a clear path for registration. The steps are explained and easy to achieve. Once registered, you will be able to bid and make purchases. It is highly recommended that you check the seller’s feedback prior to bidding. Don’t be discouraged by one or two negatives on a member with 50 or more positives. Trust me when I tell you, that these are sometimes a retaliating negative from a buyer who didn’t follow through with the bid. Do be certain to look for signs of fraud, misrepresentation, and mean-spiritedness. I avoid these sellers.

When placing a bid, decide if you need to insert the highest price you are willing to pay – or if you will return later to check the status, and then insert your highest willing purchase price. There is often an advantage to bookmaking a preferred purchase and returning closer to auction end for bidding purpose. Utilizing this ‘wait’ process will sometimes allow you to close the purchase at a lower price. Sometimes I put in a really low bid, and return 15 minutes prior to auction closing. This sways the interest of some, or relaxes them into believing there will not be a returned bidder.

Use care when entering a purchase amount! There have been many times I have won an auction at the last moment by a few pennies (see those measly IS pennies are good for something * wink *). Say, I want to pay no more than 10.00…… I will bid 10.07, and win by 7 cents. This is just an example. Most members will only be bidding in 25 cent, 50 cent, or 1-dollar increments.

~*~ I investigate the probable interest by other bidding parties. Example:
I want a muffler system for my vintage car.
I find an auction matching my need.
I see that Huey8 has placed a bid.
I place a search of what Huey8 has purchased.
~this allows me to assess what his buying pattern is,
if he is a one bid per interest item kinda guy,
if he has purchased other car/make/model parts,
if he is shill bidding (usually the seller with a second account or a friend bidding to inflate price – against TOS, however…)
~*~ I investigate the seller
feedback credentials
availability (perhaps the item being auctioned is common and I will be able to email the seller if I lose the auction, and purchase directly from him/her)

Sign up for email alerts for your favorite items. For example, I currently am alerted to Limited Too 12 slim pants. The email alerts system at eBay works! * smile *

Selling
Currently, I have numerous Women’s and Children’s designer clothing listed, this is frequently what I sell at the site. There are attributes to know about increasing closing price, and receiving ultimate success.

Your add needs to look good (I highly recommend eBay Seller's Assistant Basic previously was Blackthorne Auction Assistant Classic). This allows you to create quick ads without repetitive html language and such. We have a Ricoh digital camera and Arcsoft software. eBay offers picture hosting now, so the procedures for creating a classy ad are simple, inexpensive and profitable.

Be sure to include a picture, or several. The buyer will pay more for an item they can visually drool over! And, make sure sure sure sure sure that your title is appropriate. You want the search capability to work for you!!!!
Examples:
Gymboree 97 Spring Bloom 8pc LARGE jacket + L
This allows the consumer to know that I am selling a 8 piece ensemble that includes a jacket, size large, Gymboree and from the hard to find spring bloom line. Thus, bringing in more traffic and higher probability for success. Too often sellers don’t mention the size or misspell a name. This prohibits buyers from readily finding your listing. It also peaks the interest of professional eBay bidders who will scoop up your low closing item and resell it at a much higher price. Witness this by doing a search of just Gymboree, you will see items closing at a low final price because they lack detail.
Gymboree L 4pc Sunflower Brights w/hat-socks
Liz Star Sweater + M/Medium NEW NICE lizsport
Liz Jumper/Jacket/Shirt Petite Medium PM
This item is listed at Petite Medium and PM because the buyer will vary in how they ask for a search.

There are many tools and hints available at the eBay site. Research before you dive in, and you will reap monetary benefit. Stagger your auctions listings in such a manner that you always have a designer item listed. The other attribute to staggering is that buyers will often engage in a purchase war if they fail to win a much desired auction. I have witnessed items close at 4 times the price because a bidder was… ummmm… peeved.

Season is important! Try to list back to school items in August, Christmas items in late October – early November, Easter items in February, Spring items in February, Summer items in April/May.

Final Thoughts
This site is easy to navigate, user-friendly, and truly an attribute if you use caution. I have saved hundreds of dollars by purchasing gently used items at eBay. Further, I have made hundreds by selling at the site. I speak to you mostly from experience with regard to clothing and toys. So apply the information as applicable.

Happy Shopping!!!!
© 2001 Lisa_J