The Spotlight's On:
playerlots4u
by Ryan
eBay Staff Member

This month's spotlighted member playerlots4u has been registered on eBay since January of 1999. Though he's been active on the site for more than six and a half years, he has spent the last three years primarily as a seller in the Sports Memorabilia, Cards & Fan Shop category.

He first heard about eBay at a local baseball card show in Michigan, and after visiting the site himself it was only a short time before he was hooked. He now checks eBay anywhere from 5-10 times a day. “Possibly more if I have listings running.”

Building up inventory on eBay
In his first year on eBay, playerlots4u used the site primarily as an investment source, focusing primarily on acquiring sports cards for his collection. “When I started out on eBay in 1999, my collection was probably worth around $1,000. Now, I have an extensive collection worth more than one hundred times that, and a great reputation with hundreds of return and repeat customers!”

Like many smart sellers, playerlots4u is constantly refining his selling strategy on eBay. “Not doing much research really killed me when I was starting out,” he recounts from his early experiences. Now he constantly monitors current market conditions to decide what he will sell. “And I always try to research the price that items similar to mine have sold for in the past.”

Good feedback is an asset
playerlots4u is positive that his strong feedback score instills confidence among his buyers. As a seller, he's aware that a good feedback score is one of the most valuable assets on eBay, and as a result he works hard to keep the positives high and the negatives low. He now has a feedback score of more than 800 and a solid 99.9% positive rating. He makes light of the misunderstanding that led to his one and only negative feedback comment. “I had a buyer who assumed I was leaving the country with his $7. I guess the money didn't last me long, so I returned….LOL.” He doesn't look on this sole negative comment as a blemish on his record. “Bidders see the volume I sell in and appreciate the kind of comments I receive.” One of the ways he tries to preserve his high score is to provide detailed descriptions on his listings. He also does his best to keep shipping and handling low. “High shipping charges will always shy bidders away.”

Advice to buyers
playerlots4u believes that no other place gives buyers as vast a selection of items and as diverse a range of choices as eBay. “eBay is by far and away the biggest store you will ever see.” He also praises the importance of being persistent. “Be patient, and be firm. If you are outbid, usually there will be more chances in the near future.”

playerlots4u feels that there has been one feature that stands out for its usefulness in both his buying and selling activity on the site. “Without a doubt, it's PayPal. It enables buyers to pay instantly with credit cards and receive their items fast.”

Memorable transaction
Over the years, playerlots4u has participated in many transactions on eBay. However there was one item that he listed that particularly stands out in his memory.

While selling a 500 count lot of trading cards featuring former NHL star Pat Lafontaine, playerlots4u learned that the winner was purchasing them as part of a charity autograph session for sick children. Upon learning this he too wanted to contribute in some way. “I felt honored to mail the buyer a full refund (along with the lot of cards), just to have the chance to help out. Turns out, I got a nice letter about a month later, and three cards were sent back to me autographed. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had on eBay. Not to mention, one of the most fulfilling.”

eBay equals Opportunity
playerlots4u has no doubts that eBay has dramatically changed his life. He describes his success on eBay as one of the greatest experiences of his life. Considering the ways in which playerlots4u has been able to use his eBay income, it is not hard to see why he feels that way. What started out as casual buying has now blossomed into productive selling and a steady source of income that has helped enrich his life in many ways. “Once I started selling in volume, I managed to use my eBay funds to pay for my wedding, in August 2004, and to put a down payment on my first house. eBay is truly amazing and I don't know what my life would be like without it!”

When asked what eBay means to him, playerlots4u went the succinct route by summarizing it simply in one word – “Opportunity.”

We would like to thank playerlots4u for sharing his 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.