June 2012

Long-time buyer and new eBay seller, Camille Marcojos (user ID: dabbey.m) listed a pair of heels she no longer wore. She was pleasantly surprised to turn a $30 profit. But listing her four-inch pumps would prove to be even more lucrative—by listing when she did, she won $5,000 in eBay's List-to-Win Sweepstakes.

Camille majors in biology and interns at the Latino Family Literacy Project, a program that helps Latino parents advance their children's language skills. A full-time student, she's also a collector: "I love shoes, and my collection is growing all the time." That's what led her to eBay. Read more.

Celebrate classy Dads and the class of 2012! Father's Day is June 17, and here are some items that make great gifts for Dads and new graduates:

• Digital cameras and GPS devices
• Laptops and smartphones, universal remote controls
• Tablets and eReaders
• Men’s clothing and shoes: Casual shirts, shorts and sandals
• Women’s clothing: dresses, tops and blouses, and shorts
• Get more ideas from our Dads Hotlist and Grads Hotlist.

If you have any of these items, list them to earn cash for your own Dads and Grads gifts. And right now you can donate a portion of your sale to the servicemen, women, and veterans through the eBay Giving Works “Honoring Our Heroes” campaign. Remember, it’s free to list.

List by midnight PT on June 5 for your chance to win! Ten lucky winners will receive a free 30-minute Listing Optimization phone session with an eBay Selling Consultant. Get personalized recommendations on your listings and tips for selling. (All eligible listings are automatic entries. You will not receive a separate confirmation). Don't wait—list your items now. See full sweepstakes details.

Now when you view items—yours or items you're shopping for—on eBay, you can pin them to your Pinterest Board. Find the Pinterest button on the right side of the View Item page. It's just one more way to spread the word about your listings. Share items via email, Facebook, Twitter, or pin them today!

The eBay for iPad app Version 2.0 is even easier to use. Now you can:

• View a new, colorful design with big pictures and flick-able photos
• Revise your current listing without ending and relisting
• Have saved searches automatically added to your Home screen
• Refine your search by criteria

Upgrade your app and list for free today.

This July, photos are free—up to 12 per listing! Here are some tips on making the most of all 12:

• For any fashion item, take a main or 'hero' shot to show off the item in good lighting against an uncluttered, white background. Avoid photos of items on the floor or a patterned bedspread.
• Clothing: If possible, use a model, dress form, or mannequin. Take photos of the front and the back. If there is a pattern or special detail (trim, hardware, texture), take close-up photos of those.
• Shoes: Take photos of the front, top, sides, back and bottom/soles. A photo of the inside size number is helpful, especially if it is a foreign measuring system. Photograph any special design or detail or signature.
• Handbags: Take photos of the interior and exterior: front, back, bottom, inside lining, tags or labels. Think about showing it on a mannequin shoulder to give the buyer a sense of scale.
• If your item is still in the box, or has original price tags on it, take shots of that as well.

Remember to take at least one or two photographs of flaws or wear and tear to prevent surprises for the buyer and protect yourself. Mention in your description that there are photos of the flaw included. Check out the Photo Center and Fashion Selling Guide for even more tips on taking great photos.

eBay items are the new water cooler. Engage with friends and other eBay members around an item on the new Social Item page. Get there from Facebook—just click on an eBay item shared by a friend to dish about it, share it, comment on it, tweet about it, pin it, and vote on it.

The USPS Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope is a great low-cost option for mailing your small fragile items like jewelry, DVDs, electronics or tech gadgets. Save money on packaging costs, and ship your item anywhere in the US for only $5.10—with FREE Delivery Confirmation! Purchase postage through eBay Labels and tracking information is automatically uploaded for you. USPS recently awarded eBay with the U.S. Postal Service Partnership for Progress Award. Whatever USPS service you choose, order your shipping supplies online through USPS for free.

List one or more motorcycle parts and accessories using eBay Motors parts compatibility by midnight PST, June 24, and you'll be entered for a chance to win $10,000. Plus, every part you list is an entry in the weekly drawing for three $500 eBay Gift Certificates. See full details.

Join eBay from early June through mid-July for the mobile "eBay Selling Style Studio" tour—a pop-up selling experience that will touch down in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles (7/13 & 7/14), and San Francisco (Union Square 7/20 & 7/21). The "Chic Squad"—celebrity stylists and a host of top eBay Fashion sellers will share their selling savvy, provide expert trend tips, and most importantly, help you sell your stuff! Learn how to pick, photograph, and price your items right. Get stylish and get selling today! Learn more details.

Answer: There are two free, fast and easy ways right on eBay. See what similar items sold for and the prices of items that didn't sell, by searching Completed listings. Our Research demo guides you through the process. You'll also see which listing category, title keywords, photos and descriptions were used to make the sale. Another option is to do a quick search in What's it worth?. For the best results, be very specific—for example, type in, women's shift dress, size M, as opposed to women's dress.

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