Using Ebay

Ebay is the well-known online auction house where you can search for and buy almost anything you want,usually at prices much less than you would normally pay,depending on whether the item you want might incur postage costs. It is not a good idea for instance to import a grand piano from Timbuktu.Ebay has several ways of paying for your item including the PAYPAL system,which is an electronic form of payment.
To join Ebay you need to supply a user name and password - which is the case with many online organisations - once signed up you may buy by bidding for items. To sell items it maybe necessary to first create an element of trust by buying a few items,so that people know you are trustworthy in payment. The Ebay HELP system is quite concise and explains how to do everything including how PAYPAL works.

The advice available from Ebay is very comprehensive - below is a segment of what it says about selling - on the actual site are links that  provide further information about the buying and selling process.

Start Selling with eBay There has never been a better time to start selling on eBay UK. Perhaps you have received an unwanted gift or have a treasure trove gathering dust in the attic. Either way, someone on eBay wants to buy it! If you are new to eBay and need some help with selling for the first time you have come to the right place. We have gathered some handy tips and useful links to take the fear out of selling on eBay. Preparation is the key. So, before you get started, take the time to get to know the selling process. Our tutorial offers a step-by-step guide to selling an item on eBay. With a detailed guide to choosing a selling format, choosing a category, using the Sell Your Item Form, setting a price and starting your auction this is a must for new seller: To sell you must register a Credit or Debit card with us to verify your identity. To get verified, click Sell on the nav bar and click to "Create a Seller's Account." The first thing you need to do when selling an item is to choose a category to list it in. You can choose your category by finding the one that most suits your item or by checking to see what othet people selling similar stuff to you . Don't forget that you can list in two categories to gain maximum exposure. Once you have chosen your category, you need to create your auction. This is your opportunity to show off your item to prospective bidders. Here is a your checklist of thing to remember: Choose a catchy title that describes your itein in one sentence. Description: Describe everything about your item as flilly and honestly as possible. The more information you provide the less wary bidders will be. Include a picture in your auction to get more bids. If you have a scanner or digital camera, add pictures the easy way with eBay Picture Services. Minimum Bid: Choose the price where the bidding will start. Make sure you get the price you want by using a Reserve Price or use Buy it Now? How long do you want you auction to last? 3, 5,7 or 10 days? Will you accept PayPal? This is an easy way to accept payments instantly from all over the world. If you want to stand out from the crowd consider using an Optional Feature. Once you have started your auction, you can sit back and watch the bids flood. Keep a track of all of your auctions via My eBay. Bidders and potential bidders may also want to email you with questions about the item or payment methods so remember to check your email regularly and answer these enquires as quickly and flilly as you can. Once the auction is over it is time to close the deal. When the auction ends you will receive an automated email from eBay with the winner's email address in (You can also get this from My eBay). You must mail your seller within 3 working days. The bidder will want to know how they should pay and the postage terms. Remember to be friendly and helpful. Once you have received payment, you should send the item promptly. If your item didn't end successfully, don't despair. Ebay has a Free Relist Policy that means you can have another go free of charge. 1 Print out this page so you can refer to it as you fill out the Sell Your Item form. 2. You need to be registered with eBay to sell. 3. eBay offer all new sellers a credit limit of £15 so you do not need to pay before you start or have a credit card onfile. 4. Use a low starting price to attract bids: use a reserve price to ensure that you get the price you want for your item. 5. Keep an eye on your auctions using My eBay. 6. Check your bidder's Feedback Profile to ensure that they are reliable. 7. Use a listing enhancement to stand out from the crowd. 8. Be personal: Take the time to write friendly emails. Bidders love to be treated well and remember that this will get you positive feedback. 9. Bear in mind that if your auction ends successfully, you will be liable for a commission or Final Value Fee. 10. Remember that eBay UK has a dedicated support staff to assist you. Trading guidelines eBay will not request personal data (password, credit card/bank numbers, and so on) in an email. Learn how to protect your account. Thank you for using eBay! http://www.ebay.co.uk

It is possible to browse eBay without a user name or password just as if you were window shopping - it is suggested that you do this to get an idea of how it works before signing up.Note that if you are only buying,that you do not need to provide credit card details,but that a seller's account means that eBay holds your details,some people may not feel wholly secure about this,so think about this when deciding whether it is worth your while.

ebay is making £12 per second BY SARAH HILLS

EBAY has raked in record profits of £100million in the past three months - that's £12 per second. The figure, up £43million on the previous quarter, came as the number of users soared from 1l4million to l25million. The auction site said the success was fuelled by the 'spectacular growth' in its British market. The value of sales made through eBay.co.uk soared by 160 per cent in the same period. Manager Meg Whitman said the company was now seen as 'mainstream' in Britain. She added: 'It is a shopping destination where everyone goes first whenever tltey are looking to buy online. It has hit what we call the "knee of the curve", where you get incredible acceleration once you get critical mass.' In thiscounty,a car is sold every four minutes on eBay and an item of clothing every 20 seconds. Most Internet users have bought or sold goods on the site and it has a raft of celebrity devotees, including Cherie Blair and Jamie Oliver. Thousands of people make a living from trading on eBay and many shops use it to sell their end-of-line products. Michael Parsons, of online magazine ZDNet UK, said: 'The sky seems to be the limit for the scale and complexity of products. It has become part of the culture in a way that no one else has done.' The site, whose worldwide income topped £437million in the past three months, already operates in 30 countries and plans to expand in the coming year.

eBay traders boycott site over charges

DISGRUNTLED eBay traders staged a boycott of the auction site yesterday in protest at fee rises. More than 450 professional users formed an online petition to complain about changes to its deal for 'shop sellers'. The subscription service provides a special deal for eBay traders who operate their own online stores which link into the site. Last month, eBay said listing fees for them would rise from a 3p flat rate to a sliding scale of up to l1p, depending on an item's worth. Their items will also be less visible to buyers. EBay's Dan Wilson said: 'We are not seeing any tangible strike action and are not worried about it.' The protest follows similar campaigns in the US, Canada, Australia, Spain and France.

eBay sellers warned over PayPal swindle BY OLIVER STALLWOOD

A LEFTOVER Christmas sprout has fetched £1,550 on eBay. Leigh Knight, 18, put the sprout up for auction as a joke after saving it from the rubbish while washing up. Bids started slowly at £1 and someone even offered a carrot in exchang., After receving the money from a buyer called Rachel, Leigh has given it to charity. TRICKSTERS are duping eBay users into giving goods away for free in a new scam on the Internet auction site. A seller is emailed asking if the item can be sent to Africa - even if the victim has agreed to post only to the UK or Europe. The buyer offers £40 postage using PayPal, an eBay firm allowing online payments. Then an email allegedly from PayPal says the money has been received and seeks a Royal Mail tracking number. If that is not sent, an. email purportedly from eBay threatens action against the seller's eBay account. The aim is to pressure victims into mailing the goods, even though they have never been paid. IT boss John McGregor was almost duped by the scam when he tried to sell his mobile phone on eBay. But the Internet security specialist was able to spot that the emails were not legitimate. He said: 'The real concern is that there are thousands of people who may get caught and taken for a ride.' The con is believed to originate from Nigeria. PayPal and eBay yesterday said its safeguards were 'a world class example of the tools that can be put in place to prevent these attacks'. Members suspecting a hoax email should send it to spoof@ebay.co.uk or spoof@paypal.co.uk. Within a few minutes, they will get a response confirming whether or not it is genuine.[The Metro Jan9,2006]

Colin, 69, gets the eBay auction bug by Eve Dugdale

A PENSIONER has set up his own business selling DVDs on eBay after attending a council course. Colin Thwaites, 69, had heard about the popular site - where people auction off unwanted items - but had never used it. Colin, of Audenshaw, said: "I came to be involved in IT after having a hip replacement. I went to the library to do a course and St Ann's contacted me and asked if I'd like to get a qualification. "I've now got a European Computer Driving Licence qualification and I'm o" to the advanced stage. "The most ridiculous thing I sold on eBay was a pair of antlers! I've also sold egg cups. "1 think a lot of older people think they won't be able to understand computers, but if they just get stuck in they'll see it's quite easy" The course which is held at St Ann's adult learning centre, Burlington Street, Ashton teaches students everything they need to know about eBay Tutor Michael Saxon said that although the course is open to all ages, it has only been those aged 35-65 who have signed up. "It's just a three hour one- off session. People are hearing about eBay from friends and a lot just come to experience it and see what it's about We also have market traders who come to see how they can sell their goods on there," he said. The council's adult learning department also runs courses on how to use MP3s and computer repairs. For more information ring 3438899. THE ADVERTISER, THURSDAY, JANUARY 11,2007

Points to remember about Ebay:

• You need to create an ID and password to join.
• Ebay will autobid for you up to your maximum bid.
• PAYPAL is an electronic system of payment used by Ebay.
• Ebay uses secure webpages which have a padlock in the corner of them.

See also: the WHICH Guide to Ebay ,The World for Sale ,RSS Feeds