The Spotlight's On:
lunasjewels
by Ryan
eBay Staff Member

This month's spotlighted member lunasjewels has been an eBay member since August of 2000. She enjoys buying and selling mostly in the Designer, Artisan Jewelry and Equestrian categories, but proudly lays claim to having bought or sold “a little of everything” since discovering the site. This discovery, she feels, was inevitable, given that she lives and works in high-tech Silicon Valley, California, where eBay's main offices are located.

lunasjewels said she is on eBay for the ride – literally! One of the biggest passions in her life is horse-riding, and her eBay activities play a key role in helping her pursue her equestrian interests. “eBay gave me the opportunity to start my own business! That's huge! eBay affords me the additional financial security outside of my job to ensure that my horse is always completely cared for,” she says.

Another of her interests that finds an outlet on eBay is designer jewelry. “eBay also affords me the opportunity to enjoy and share the wide range and ever changing list of designer jewelry that I love so much. eBay has become an extraordinary and unexpected contributor to the quality of my life!”

lunasjewels says she likes to keep an eye on eBay throughout the day, “starting with my first cup of coffee in the morning to right before I shut down for the night.” Despite such dedication to eBay she still strives for balance in her life. “I'm able to live my life, work full-time, spend all the time I want with my horse, and socialize, but I make sure I'm on top of the items I'm selling, any questions my customers may have, and items I may be interested in bidding on,” she says.

As many members know, dedication alone isn't enough to be a successful eBay seller. An effective strategy is needed, and lunasjewels is no exception. She gave us a glimpse into what makes her an effective seller on eBay.

“First and foremost I make sure that my photographs are interesting and clearly show exactly what the item is. I also make sure my descriptions are accurate and to the point.”

She offer other sellers some simple but very effective advice. “As a seller, be honest, be responsive, go the extra mile, and sell what you know and enjoy – it shows in your item listings and your service.” She is confident that her customers are aware that when they buy one of her items they can count on receiving excellent service along with a quality item.

Her insistence on having clear pictures and concise item descriptions is influenced by her own experience as a buyer on eBay – she ignores listings with blurry pictures or verbose descriptions. “If the photographs aren't clear, I move on. If there's too much detail or verbiage, you've lost me as a buyer.”

By providing thorough, thoughtful service, lunasjewels has grown to expect the same from sellers when she is buying. “Don't ever hesitate to ask the seller as many questions as you have – if they are reputable they'll be glad to answer you.” She also encourages buyers not to shy away from newbie sellers, and to also take responsibility for knowing what they are buying. “Give new sellers a chance, but as with any bid, read the fine print very carefully so that you are fully aware of what you are bidding on.”

lunasjewels also respects the importance of consistently positive feedback as a means of enhancing her reputation on eBay, both as a buyer and a seller. “Potential customers know they can count on me to be honest, reliable and responsive,” she says, and goes on to explain how feedback is important when buying as well. “When I'm a buyer myself, sellers look at my feedback and see right away that I'm an excellent customer. Feedback is everything on eBay!”

Another feature she finds even more helpful and convenient is the ability to send and receive payments using PayPal. “PayPal is probably one of the most important features to me – it allows me to pay for an item instantly with the click of a button and receive payment just as quickly.” Despite accepting other forms of payment, she estimates that 98% of her customers pay with PayPal, regardless of the amount. She feels this is a clear indication of PayPal's convenience. She carries this feeling into her role as a buyer on eBay, choosing to consider only those listings that accept PayPal payments. “I won't even bother bidding on an item if the seller does not accept PayPal. I don't want to wait for my check to clear and I don't have time to spend at the post office or bank getting a check.”

As always, the story is not complete without learning what eBay means to our spotlighted member. When we asked lunasjewels the question she had this to say: “eBay has, quite significantly, given me the opportunity to pursue and enhance the true passion and joy in my life—horse-riding. For the past several years prior to starting my own eBay business, I was teaching in the evenings and weekends in exchange for riding. I was also working a 9-to-5 job. What I really wanted to do was buy a young horse to train and grow. But I also needed to make sure that I had the financial stability to take on that responsibility. I was already very familiar with eBay's extraordinary potential. Well, I took a look around my house and it was clear that I had a tremendous inventory to sell!”

That was three years ago. Today, her business is thriving. It pays in full for her horse's stabling and care. She adds, “It also affords me the opportunity to enjoy the most unique, beautiful, and current designer jewelry any girl could ask for. eBay has made more than a significant contribution to the quality of my life!”

We wish lunasjewels mounting success in her eBay business.

We would like to thank lunasjewels 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.