June 2011

In summertime and throughout the year, savvy buyers know that eBay is the place to go for golf gifts and gear. Sporting goods seller Dave Madsen (user ID retiredmadsens) lives for golf and loves buying and selling on eBay because it's such an easy way for him to fund his passion for the links.

Madsen used to chase bad guys. Today he chases his golf handicap. The retired police officer now works part time at a golf course, where he keeps his game sharp and his eye on the latest golf gear in the pro shop. He keeps his clubs and gear up to date by buying and, when he's ready for an upgrade, selling on eBay. Read more.

Summer is well under way, but swimwear and beach attire are still popular sellers. Warm weather lends itself to camping, so dig out that hiking or fishing gear you didn't use last summer and list it. Don't forget those staycationers who prefer to chill and grill in their own backyards. Check your home for these hot-selling summer items:

• Men's and women's swimwear
• Women's tops and blouses
• Children's summer clothing
• BBQ grills
• Backyard patio furniture
• Pool toys and accessories

Make some cool cash this summer – start listing today!

• Low prices. This doesn't mean you have to list your items for a song, just price them competitively so buyers feels like they're getting a good value for their purchase.
• FREE shipping. Many buyers only search for items with free shipping, so offer it to appear in searches other sellers won't. Free shipping can keep buyers coming back to you. If you price your item right, you can cover some or all of the shipping costs in the selling price.
• A fair return policy. Offer a fair and reasonable return policy to your buyer. Buyers seldom return items, but not accepting returns can actually prevent you from making the sale.
• Easy buying experience. Be as descriptive as possible in your listings – choose great keywords, use plenty of photos, respond quickly to questions, offer low cost or free shipping, pack your item with care, ship quickly, and let your buyer know the item has shipped. All of these combined make for a smooth shopping experience for your buyer.

Bring this knowledge to your next listing and sell more today.

When offering shipping options, it's good practice to offer buyers more than one choice. Try offering both an economical option and a fast option – for your time-sensitive buyers. This way, you meet the needs of more buyers.

Of course, offering FREE shipping is an added plus to you and the buyer, as many buyers only buy from sellers who offer free shipping and think about total cost. Whenever possible, ship your item the same day and remember to always upload tracking information.

eBay makes it easier – and more lucrative – than ever to upgrade your electronics. You can list on eBay where eager buyers search for electronics every day or even cash in instantly, through eBay Instant Sale, for electronics gear.

eBay Instant Sale is a fast, easy way to put cash in your pocket and stay on top of the newest gadgets. Just type in your make and model, answer a few short questions about your device, and get an instant offer. If you like the offer, you'll be asked to verify your information in order to complete the transaction.

• FREE shipping label. You'll receive a free shipping label from the eBay reseller in order to mail the item. Once the item is received, the reseller will evaluate the device within 2 days.
• Get paid directly. Once the data is removed, the offer will be paid directly to your PayPal account.
• FREE data removal. If the item is as described, the reseller will remove all data for free and make an offer.

Learn more about eBay Instant Sale and cash in on your electronics today.

The other great option is to list your items on eBay. Be specific in your item condition, clearly pointing out any flaws or scratches. Buyer demand is strong for virtually all makes and models of electronics.

Answer: Always make your buyer aware of a flaw of any size in your item. New, vintage, and gently used items can all have small blemishes, but the key to a successful sale is to be honest and clear about the blemish in your description. Include close-up photos of the flaw so buyers know exactly what they are getting and there are no surprises.

Two new features in the Seller Information Center make it easier than ever for you to find the selling tips you seek.

• It's now searchable – type in the topic you'd like more details about to find what you're looking for quickly.
• There's more detail in the left menu items – these now expand to show the topics within each area.

Visit the improved Seller Information Center and take advantage of all the great 'how to sell' resources including short beginner videos, guides like the brand new Shipping Made Easy Guide (PDF), and inspirational success stories about sellers like you.

Larger pictures are now available on the item page, giving potential buyers a more detailed view of your item. The maximum display size of the pictures at the top of listing pages has increased from 300 pixels on the longer side to 400 or 500 pixels, depending on the buyer's screen resolution. (If the pictures in your existing listings are big enough, we'll increase the size for you.)

Later this year, the maximum size of pictures displayed in Enlarge and Zoom features will also increase to approximately 1000 pixels on the longer size.

Follow these best practices for taking and displaying pictures:

• Use clear, well-lit photos taken against an uncluttered background. Clearly show any flaws your item might have to set proper buyer expectations.
• Add multiple pictures to show all angles and details. Some categories offer up to 12 free pictures per listing – take advantage of every one of them.
• Increase your camera's image size setting to get the biggest pictures. Aim for 1600 pixels on the longer side.
• For items that aren't in perfect condition, include a picture of the actual item, not a stock shot.

Learn how to take great photos now and check out this two-minute video for even more tips.

When you list in Clothing, Shoes & Accessories, be sure to include item specifics for Brand, Style, Color, Size Type, and Size. Starting July 20, Brand, Style, Size Type, and Size will be will be required for new and revised listings. Adding item specifics to your listings gets your items in front of more buyers, helps buyers find your items faster, and creates an overall easier and more satisfying shopping experience.

Buyers today search for items based on these key details, so if your items are missing these, they may get overlooked. Put your items in the best possible position for sale now. Plus, it's a great time to check out the eBay Fashion selling guide to see what's hot or in season and list those items today.

As of June 14, you can list and sell items on eBay from your Android phone with the official eBay for Android app. All the convenience of selling on-the-go is now available for Android phone owners in the US and UK so you can reach more buyers on more platforms. Now it's easier than ever to create listings wherever you are. With the eBay app for Android you can:

• List, revise and relist items
• End listings, mark items as shipped and leave feedback
• Research active and completed listings
• Scan a barcode with a RedLaser's barcode scanning technology for quick listing
• Option to choose "Sell one like this" from the item page
• Add Best Offer to a listing
• Add reserve price to a listing

Buy and sell with your eBay for iPhone app too! Download the eBay app for Android or iPhone and go mobile with eBay today!

Great news! Sign up for the new FedEx Advantage® Savings Program for eBay Sellers and save big on your FedEx® shipments. And the more you ship with FedEx®, the larger your discount.

With this program, it's even more cost effective to offer a fast shipping option when you list. You can save 8% to 20% on eligible FedEx Ground® and FedEx Home Delivery® shipments, and 25% to 37% on eligible FedEx Express® shipments. For example a FedEx® Envelope shipped via FedEx Priority Overnight®, normally $24.50, will cost you only $17.89 – a savings of 27%! Plus, there are no minimum shipping requirements – you start saving as soon as you start shipping.

These FedEx discounts are available to all eBay sellers—just open an account or enroll with your existing FedEx account to start saving right away.

We've updated the UPS shipping prices for Online Rates on eBay to reflect the UPS Standard List Rates in both My eBay Shipping Preferences as well as the Shipping Calculator. If you're using the simple form, just click on Shipping Calculator. In the Sell Your Item selling form (the form with more choices) you'll find the Shipping Calculator under Research Rates.

Enroll for FREE to get discounts with UPS of up to 32% off Standard List Rates. Learn more about setting preferences and calculated shipping.