As a TA, it is important that you first qualify the new client leads that you receive.  One of the biggest keys to a successful TA business is to ensure you are working with TA clients who will ultimately be profitable for you. Your time is valuable, so make sure you use it wisely! As you get new client leads, you will want to invest the up-front time to “screen” or “qualify” your leads in addition to your normal sales pitch – it will save you time, money and peace of mind in the long run.

Ultimately, you need to understand whether the prospective client is a good match for your services. Will their items sell for prices that will be acceptable to both them and you?  If the business opportunity is good, then quickly follow-up and close the deal!

• Qualify new client leads
  • Respond quickly to prospective client leads (e.g., within 24 hours or next business day)
  • Understand client needs, expectations and requirements
  • Research products for the potential revenue opportunity - you want to sell items that will ultimately be profitable for you

• Seek new product opportunities
  • Proactively ask the client if they have other items for you to sell
  • Prompt clients with examples of items that sell well on eBay, such as computers, consumer electronics, high-end sporting goods, musical instruments, video game consoles, etc.
    • eBay & Rethink Initiative - TAs can help clients to reduce e-waste by reselling retired computers and consumer electronics on eBay.  Learn more at www.ebay.com/rethink
  • Learn more about hot eBay categories and products in Seller Central
  • Be extremely conscious of accepting items that may infringe upon intellectual property rights, such as counterfeit or illegal merchandise.  To learn more about how this specifically impacts TAs, please read about the Verified Rights Owner Program (VeRO)
    • View or download VeRO Overview for TAs (PDF)
    • Security Center - VeRO

• Close the deal
  • Set the client's expecations on the approximate value they can expect to achieve for their items on eBay
    • Search completed eBay listings
    • PC Selling Zone
  • Let the client know the approximate time it will take you to complete the entire sales process (e.g., obtaining client items to giving client proceeds from sale)
  • Discuss your TA fees
  • Provide references from past TA clients
  • Consider providing an incentive to trial your services (e.g., coupon, discount on fees or first item sold, etc.)
  • Example contracts

• View past workshops on qualifying and closing leads
  • Qualifying & Closing Leads

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