Starting an eBay? Business For Dummies? by Collier, Marsha;

Short description:

The top-selling eBay business book is now completely revised and updated with more than forty percent new material. Bestselling author Marsha Collier discusses changes to the eBay interface and eBay policies, as well as the latest strategies to help beginning eBay entrepreneurs succeed.

Long description:

Want to pick up extra cash? Explore opening an eBay store? Unload your dusty disco albums or the collection of antlers in the basement? Hey, those poor, dead deer could lead to a rich, lively career. Whether you want to build an eBay business from scratch or just want to make sure you're up on eBay's policy changes and taking advantage of new automation tools, this guide will have you selling successfully on eBay faster than you can say, ?going?going??Starting an eBay Business For Dummies 2^nd Edition gets you organized and in virtual business fast with step-by-step guidance on:

• Setting up basic auctions
  
  
• Pricing items or setting minimums strategically
  
  
• Using the About Me page to begin creating a professional identity
  
  
• Finding sources of merchandise (once you exhaust your basement, attic, and relatives)
  
  
• Managing your business with online auction management services and software, including a list of 16 popular sites with their prices
  
  
• Writing tempting descriptions and taking good photographs of merchandise
  
  
• Selecting payment systems (and why shipping C.O.D. is a no-no)
  
  
• Handling inventory and keeping records
  

Written by Marsha Collier, author of eBay For Dummies and eBay Bargain Shopping For Dummies, an eBay PowerSeller, columnist, and teacher at eBay University, this book is packed with time-saving, money-saving tips plus secret eBay hints to help you compete with the pros from the get go. It gives you inside information on:

• eBay motors, real estate, and other unusual areas
  
  
• Dutch auctions, reserve price auctions, and private auctions
  
  
• Using an eBay fee calculator to check your final value fees
  
  
• Shipping and insuring merchandise efficiently and economically
  
  
• Printing shipping labels and postage
  

Complete with a glossary and index, Starting an eBay Business For Dummies 2^nd Edition is just what you need to get started selling on eBay, to graduate from occasional seller to PowerSeller, or to become a genuine eBay entrepreneur like the ten whose success stories are featured in this book!

Build your own successful eBay business

Discover how to get started, sell with the best, and run a smooth operation!

If the lure of picking up extra cash ? or becoming your own boss and eliminating your commute ? is tempting you, give in and buy this book! Marsha Collier has done it all. She?s helped hundreds of thousands of readers set up auctions, market their stuff, plan eBay stores, ship economically, and keep their customers happy. She will help you as well.

The Dummies Way

• Explanations in plain English


• "Get in, get out" information


• Icons and other navigational aids


• Tear-out cheat sheet


• Top ten lists


• A dash of humor and fun

Discover how to:

• Choose profitable items to sell


• Price your merchandise to move


• Create descriptions and photos that lure buyers


• Be customer friendly


• Select a payment system


• Keep the necessary records

Table of Contents:

Introduction.

Part I: Getting Serious about eBay.

Chapter 1: Using eBay to Launch Your Business.

Chapter 2: The Finer Points of eBay Selling.

Chapter 3: Cool eBay Tools.

Chapter 4: Practicing Safe Selling.

Chapter 5: Your Very Own eBay Store.

Part II: Setting Up Shop.

Chapter 6: Stocking the Store.

Chapter 7: Knowing the Value of What You're Selling.

Chapter 8: Establishing a Base of Operations: Your Web Site.

Part III: Business Is Business ? No Foolin' Around!

Chapter 9: Software Built for Online Auctions.

Chapter 10: Dollars and Sense: Budgeting and Marketing Your Auctions.

Chapter 11: Jazzing Up Your Auctions.

Chapter 12: Providing Excellent Customer Service.

Chapter 13: When the Money Comes Rolling In.

Chapter 14: Getting It from Your Place to Theirs.

Part IV: Your eBay Back Office.

Chapter 15: Going Legit.

Chapter 16: Practicing Safe and Smart Record-Keeping.

Chapter 17: Building an eBay Back Office.

Part V: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 18: Ten Successful eBay Sellers and Their Stories.

Chapter 19: Ten Other Places to Move Merchandise.

Part VI: Appendixes.

Appendix A: Glossary.

Appendix B: The Hows and Whys of a Home Network.

Index.