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Index
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part I: Getting a Feel for eBay
Chapter 1: Why Being on eBay Is So Much Fun
What Is eBay, and How Does It Work?
All About Auctions
eBay auctions
Reserve-price auctions
Restricted-access auctions
Private (shhh-it's-a-secret) listings
“Buy It Now” on eBay
eBay Stores
Buy It Now and fixed-price sales
Want to Make Some Cash?
Get a Deal and Get It Fast!
Research for Fun and Profit
eBay's Role in the Action
Features and Fun Stuff
Extra Apps You're Gonna Want
Chapter 2: Ready, Set, Go! Signing Up on eBay
Registering on eBay
Registering Is Free
Like, what's your sign? Filling in required information
Do you solemnly swear to . . . ?
It must be true if you have it in writing
A Quick Word about Passwords
A Not-So-Quick Word about Choosing a User ID
Your License to Deal (Almost)
Chapter 3: Finding Your Way Around eBay
What Is the Home Page?
Sign In, Please
Follow the Links
Exploring Your Home Page Search Options
Seeking items through the search box
Going where the Advanced Search box takes you
Home Links, the Next Generation
Maneuvering through Categories
Bottoming Out
Chapter 4: Your Very Own, Private eBay
Getting to Your My eBay Page
Keeping Track of Your Personal Business
Checking your account information
Choosing your communication preferences
Your Feedback link
Account links
Understanding Your Seller Dashboard
Using the Resolution Center
Organizing in the Lists Section
Searches you follow
Sellers you follow
Keeping your follows on the “down low”
Sleuthing with your Watch list
Following the Action on Your Buying
Seeing the items you’re buying
Keeping track of your purchased items
Surveying Your Sales on Your My eBay Sell Page
Your Active Selling page
Your Sold page
eBay's Selling Manager/Selling Manager Pro
Keeping Track of Your Transactions
Getting and Giving Feedback
How to get positive feedback
How to get negative feedback
The Feedback page
Reading your feedback
You have the last word — responding to feedback
Leaving feedback with finesse
Part II: Buying Like an Expert
Chapter 5: Deal or No Deal? Buying Advice and Searching Tips
Online Tips for Collectors
The experts speak out
Following an expert on the hunt
Making the grade
Finding More Research Information
Searching sites online
Finding other sources of information
Looking to Find an Item? Start Your eBay Search Engine
Using the Advanced Search page
Finding Sold Items
An international search
Finding a specific seller
A Bidder search
Shortcuts for a quick eBay search
Finding eBay Members: The Gang's All Here
Chapter 6: Get the Deal: Shopping eBay
The Item Listing Page
Beating the Devil in the Details
Read the item description carefully
Get the scoop on the seller
Factoring in the Extras
Payment methods
Using an escrow service
Shipping costs
Placing Your Bid on an Auction
Bidding to the Max: Automatic Bidding
Specialized Categories
eBay Motors
eBay Stores
The Agony (?) of Buyer's Remorse
Retracting your bid
Avoiding deadbeat (unpaid item) status
Chapter 7: Winning eBay Strategies
Make an Offer!
Find Out an Item's Bidding History
Get to Know the Other Bidders
Strategies to Help You Outsmart the Competition
Time Is Money: Auction Strategy by the Clock
Using a laid-back strategy
Using the beat-the-clock strategy
Chapter 8: Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner?
eBay Calling: You're a Winner
Getting Your Paperwork Together
Getting in Contact
Sending the Payment Promptly and Securely
So, What's Your Number?
Checking Out
Communicating with the Seller
Keeping in Touch: Dealing with an AWOL Seller
You Get the Item . . . Uh-Oh What's This?
Filing to Get a Refund
Don't Forget to Leave Feedback
Properly Giving the Seller's Detailed Star Rating (DSRs)
Part III: Making Money the eBay Way
Chapter 9: Selling in Your Bunny Slippers for Fun and Profit
Why Should You Sell Stuff on eBay?
Finding Stuff to Sell
Know When to Sell
Know Thy Stuff
Getting the goods on your goods
Spy versus spy: Comparison selling
Know What You Can (and Can't) Sell
Prohibited items
Infringing items
Restricted items: Know the laws
Forbidden items
Reporting a Problem Listing
Intellectual Property Violations
eBay Fees? What eBay Fees? Oops . . .
Insertion Fees are negligible
Final Value Fees
Optional fees
Keep current on your profits
Uncle Sam Wants You — to Pay Your Taxes
Two wild rumors about federal taxes
State sales tax
State income taxes
Chapter 10: Make It Sell: Completing the Cyber Paperwork
Getting Ready to List Your Item
Examining the Sell Your Item Page
Filling In the Required Blanks
Selecting a category
Creating the perfect item title
Writing your description
Listing the number of items for sale
Setting a starting price — how low can you go?
Buy It Now for auctions
Setting your auction time
Your secret safety net — reserve price
I want to be alone: The private auction
Put me in the Gallery
Filling out the item location
Listing Designer
Listing the payment methods you'll accept
Setting shipping terms
Checking Your Work and Starting the Listing
Midcourse Corrections: Fixing Current Listings
Making changes before bidding begins
Making changes after bidding begins
Chapter 11: Shopping or Selling with an eBay Store
Selling from Your Own Virtual Storefront
Paying the landlord
Running an auction is easy too
Opening your eBay Store
Chapter 12: Closing the Deal and Shipping It Out
Bookkeeping and Staying Organized
Talking to Buyers: The ABCs of Good Communication
Thank you — I mean it
Let's keep e-mailing
Shipping without Going Postal
Shopping for a shipper
Getting the right (packing) stuff
Buying Postage Online
Preparing Postage with Endicia
Shipping directly from eBay
Chapter 13: Troubleshooting Transactions
Dealing with a Buyer Who Doesn't Respond
Requesting immediate payment
Setting buyer requirements
Going into nudge mode
Do a little sleuthing
Blocking a customer
Stepping things up a notch
Other Possible Auction Problems
Buyer back out? Try Second Chance offer
The item you send is busted — and so are you
You have regrets — seller's remorse
Going Badly? Cut Your Losses
Making changes or canceling bids
Blocking bidders
Ending your listing early
Filing an Unpaid Item case
Déjà vu — relisting your item
Chapter 14: Increase Your Profits with Pictures and Other Strategies
Using Images in Your Listings
Choosing a digital camera
Choosing a scanner
Making Your Picture a Thing of Beauty
Get it on camera
Yes, I scan
Software that adds the artist's touch
Making Your Images Web-Friendly
The Image Is Perfect — Now What?
Using your website to store your images
Using image-hosting websites to store images
Using eBay's photo uploader
Putting On the Hits
Tell Your Story on Your About Me Page
Tell the World on Your Profile Page
Part IV: Even More of eBay's Special Features
Chapter 15: Privacy: Protecting Yourself Online
What eBay Knows about You
What you tell eBay
What cookies gather
Your eBay sign-in cookie
Web beacons
What web servers collect
Cookie-removal-ware
eBay's Privacy Policy
What Does eBay Do with Information about Me, Anyway?
What Do Other eBay Members Know about Me?
Spam — Not Just a Hawaiian Delicacy
Sending spam versus eating it
Trashing your junk mail
E-mail spoofing
I Vant to Be Alone — and Vat You Can Do to Stay That Vay
Chapter 16: Staying Safe and Getting Help
Keeping eBay Safe with eBay Security
Buyers Are Safe When Shopping on eBay
Abuses You Should Report
Selling abuses
Bidding abuses
Feedback abuses
Identity abuses
Operational abuses
Miscellaneous abuses
Reporting Abuses to eBay Security
Stuff eBay Won't Do Anything About
Knowing the Deeds That Can Get You Suspended
eBay Motors Vehicle Protection Program
PayPal Purchase Protection
Launching a Report
Getting the Real Deal? Authentication and Appraising
If It's Clearly Fraud
Chapter 17: Social Media and the eBay Community
Joining eBay's Community
News and chat, this and that
Filling in your eBay Profile and creating Collections
Hear ye, hear ye! eBay's Announcements Board
Help! I need somebody
User-to-user discussion boards
eBay groups
Learning and Selling through Social Media
Finding friends and customers on Facebook
Connecting in 140 characters on Twitter
Chapter 18: Mobile eBay Apps and Fun Features
The Loyalty Program for Shoppers: eBay Bucks
The Perfect Gift? An eBay Gift Certificate
Go Mobile — for Buying and Selling
Selling and Buying: Helping Nonprofits
eBay Giving Works
Creative charity auctions
Part V: The Part of Tens
Chapter 19: Ten (or So) Golden Rules for eBay Buyers and Sellers
Buyer: Investigate Your Treasure Before You Buy
Buyer: Check the Seller's Feedback
Buyer: Check the Price Tag and Bid Wisely
Buyer: Leave Positive Feedback for a Good Seller
Buyer: Cover Your Assets
Seller: Really Know Your Stuff
Seller: Polish and Shine
Seller: Picture-Perfect Facts
Seller: Communication Is Key
Seller: Be a Buyer's Dream
Seller: Listen to the Music
Buyers and Sellers: Keep Current, Keep Cool
Chapter 20: Ten (or So) Services to Ease Your Way
Third-Party Management Services
Auctiva
inkFrog
Vendio and Vendio stores
Auction Wizard 2000 on your desktop
Important Tools for Buyers and Sellers
Sniping with BidRobot
eBay fee calculators
Kabbage: Working capital
eBay's Software and Services
eBay's free Turbo Lister
Selling Manager and Selling Manager Pro
eBay PowerSellers
Top Rated Sellers
Appendix: Finding Stuff to Sell
Knowing the Market
Do You Have Talent, Provide a Service?
Catching Trends in the Media
On the web
On television
Catch up with youth culture . . .
Check out eBay
Check out magazines
The Hunt for eBay Inventory
The goods are out there
Tips for the modest investor
About the Author
Cheat Sheet
More Dummies Products
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