The Spotlight's On:
abprules
by Randall
eBay Staff Member

This month's spotlighted member, abprules, has been an eBay member since July of 2000. Though primarily a busy seller in the Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories category, she does find time to do some buying “here and there” on the site.

After starting selling on a modest scale more than four years ago, she is now a PowerSeller and operates her own eBay Store. As a self-employed entrepreneur, abprules not only feels that eBay gives her even more reasons to shop, but also enables her to pass along some of the bargains available in local retail stores to people who might not otherwise have the same opportunities.

Years ago, responding to her father's urgings that the Internet could help her become a self-made millionaire, abprules began searching for the right online concept that would help prove her father's theory. With hopes of selling some used dishware she was turned on to eBay by some friends.

“I had heard the chatter from friends about a new Web site called eBay and I thought, ‘Why not? I'll give it a try.' When my items sold for $350, I was hooked!!”

While not quite as successful as her father envisioned, she still feels great about her achievements. “Although I haven't made a million, I have certainly brought in the extra cash that allows me to live like a millionaire (in my opinion, perhaps). With my eBay income I was able to take trips to England, and open up a new halfway house, for women in the early stages of recovery from addiction.”

She told us that she typically spends three to four hours a day on eBay. Much of that time is spent browsing through Want It Now postings, or researching products. Like many other successful sellers, abprules believes in preparing carefully before she lists items for sale. “Research, research, research. I probably spend more time researching items than I do selling,” she says, adding “the more you know about your product, the better the salesperson you will be.”

She also focuses on responding to buyers' inquiries as quickly as possible and making occasional stops on the discussion and chat boards. “I have often asked questions and received good answers from those who use the boards. I believe that people who are more experienced about eBay can teach other members better than any book!”

In addition to visiting the forums for guidance, abprules has other suggestions for sellers who want to grow their sales. “Keep your shipping and handling costs down as much as possible. Customers have a good idea of shipping costs, so if you overstate those, you are sure to lose the sale!”

She also emphasizes the importance of shipping promptly and keeping customers informed of shipping status. “If I need to get to the Post Office two times a day to ship items to customers, I will! I try to send a personalized email letting customers know when their items have shipped or when they will ship. Customers always appreciate an open line of communication.”

abprules' emphasis on customer satisfaction is evident in her 100% positive feedback rating. As she approaches a score of nearly 700, she talks with pride about the importance of feedback. “I believe that buyers look at a seller's feedback score (I know I do, when I'm buying!) and assess whether or not the seller is legitimate, reliable, and can deliver on time. I have many repeat buyers who say that my feedback score is what led them to my listings in the first place. I try hard to maintain my 100% positive feedback score, always keeping the customer's interest first and trying to resolve any issues that may cause customer dissatisfaction.”

As always, the story is not complete without learning what eBay means to our spotlighted member. When we asked abprules the question she had this to say: “eBay has given me an opportunity to do things I never thought possible. With the freedom of selling on eBay, I can indulge my other passions – for example, travelling to Europe, and devoting time for my other businesses and interests. I'm also a software consultant and am involved with helping women recover from addiction. eBay is a way of life for me now. One of my dreams has been to own and operate a retail store and now, eBay has made that dream come true!!”

We would like to thank abprules for sharing her thoughts and comments with us! If you would like to be considered for the Community Spotlight Program check out our Community Profile page and follow the instructions near the bottom of that page.