| eBay, the world's auction site, has changed over the | | | | look for. Review your competitors "closed" auctions. |
| years. Now, more than ever, it is an extremely | | | | Review the last 30 days of completed listings and look |
| competitive marketplace. There is still ample | | | | at the buyers/bidders. More specifically, look to see |
| opportunity to make money on eBay. However, for a | | | | what the feedback score is for these buyers/bidders. |
| seller to make money on eBay today he or she must | | | | Do you notice a pattern? Can you see a trend? Does |
| be more savvy than than a seller from 3 years ago. | | | | the same user ID purchase multiple items from the |
| There are many ways you can become a top seller | | | | seller (for an item that would have no need for multiple |
| on eBay. The purpose of this eBay article is to teach | | | | purchases)? When did these users registers? If shill |
| you one of the lesser known strategies. This eBay | | | | bidding is happening, many of the "bidder" accounts will |
| article focuses on how you can compete, and win, in | | | | have recent eBay registration dates. |
| the eBay marketplace by learning, understanding and | | | | Shill bidding happens with new sellers who think "what's |
| applying some of eBay's policies - and using them to | | | | the harm in increasing the price just a little - no one will |
| your advantage. Your goal, if you are going make | | | | know." Shill bidding also happens with experience, high |
| money on eBay, is to be a top performer in your | | | | level sellers. Recently two top jewelry sellers were |
| product niche, and this eBay article will show you how | | | | warned and had their accounts suspended by eBay |
| you can achieve that. | | | | for shill bidding...they were bidding on each others' |
| First, you must be aware of eBay's policies. Second, | | | | auctions. |
| you need to insure that you do not violate these | | | | Shill bidding is illegal, and is another policy violation that |
| policies. And third, you must monitor your competition | | | | eBay takes very seriously. eBay has very |
| to insure that they too are not violating eBay's policies. | | | | sophisticated tools and technology to track shill bidding. |
| Have you ever heard the expression "knowledge is | | | | If you believe there is shill bidding activity going on |
| power"? eBay has established itself a level playing | | | | within a sellers account, report it to eBay and they will |
| field. Everyone plays, supposedly, by the same rules. | | | | begin an investagation. |
| Of course, this supposes that everyone playing the | | | | 4. Keyword Spamming |
| game actually knows the rules. Like in most | | | | As you become aware of what keyword spam is, |
| marketplaces, there are penalties - some sever - if | | | | you'll begin to notice how frequently this policy violation |
| such rules are broken. You must use this to your | | | | actually happens. While some advanced eBay sellers |
| advantage. | | | | who are making money on eBay will actually keyword |
| 1. Fee avoidanceeBay generates a significant portion | | | | spam intentionally, many new sellers are unintentionally |
| of their profits from "final value fees". As a result, | | | | violating this eBay policy. |
| many of eBay's policies revolved around this specific | | | | By definition, keyword spamming is "the act of trying to |
| violation. "Fee avoidance", or the act of "circumventing | | | | attract buyers to your auction by putting popular but |
| eBay fees" can occur in many ways. Here is just a | | | | inappropriate keywords in the title". In situations like this, |
| partial list of practices that might be considered a | | | | sellers often use keyword spamming to make their |
| violation of this policy: | | | | items appear in a wider range of search results, even |
| You can not: end an auction early in order to sell a | | | | though what they're offering isn't exactly what the |
| bidder the item directly and cut eBay out of the deal | | | | buyer is looking for. A title like: Brand new mens watch |
| You can not: end a reserve-price auction early | | | | CITIZEN SEIKO ROLEX CARTIER is an example. |
| because it doesn't look like bidding will reach the | | | | One watch can't be from all those manufacturers, but |
| reserve | | | | the seller wants his title to show up in the search |
| You can not: end a no-price auction early because it | | | | results of people searching for watch - and also for |
| doesn't look like bidding will reach the minimum you | | | | anyone searching for any of those manufacturers by |
| hope to get for the item | | | | name.eBay makes the point that keyword spamming |
| You can not: encourage bidders to contact you | | | | is unfair to buyers - that a seller is wasting a buyer's |
| directly to purchase the item off eBay | | | | time with a title that promises something that the seller |
| You can not: require the buyer who wins the auction | | | | doesn't, in fact, have to offer. There are several kinds |
| to buy something else. For example, a certificate for | | | | of keyword spamming - all of which violate eBay's |
| cheap airfare that requires the buyer to pay for three | | | | policies. |
| nights in a specific hotel. | | | | You can not:: compare. Your title must describe what |
| You can not: give the buyer a choice at the end of the | | | | you're selling and not compare it to something that you |
| auction. For example, if you have a blue tie and a red | | | | are not selling. For example, let's say your have a listing |
| tie for sale, they should be listed as two separate | | | | that says: Womens purse, like prada for less. This |
| auctions - not one auction with a "choice" at the end of | | | | would be considered a violation of the keyword |
| the transaction | | | | spamming policy. The auction is not for a prada purse |
| You can not: include a static or clickable link to a | | | | but the seller is trying to attract bidders looking for that |
| non-eBay website | | | | specific designer handbag. Comparisons don't have to |
| In most situations, it's the bidder who reports to eBay | | | | use the word "like"; either. Titles like: even cuter than a |
| that fee avoidance is occurring or has occurred. | | | | beanie baby or workout clothes, not nike addidas |
| However, as a savvy seller it is your obligation to | | | | puma also violate the policy. |
| report to eBay these violations made by your | | | | You can not: include a list of related words. This |
| competitors. Many times a new seller to eBay doesn't | | | | restriction applies to both titles and descriptions. In a title |
| know they are breaking policies - and certainly doesn't | | | | you're limited to 55 characters, so you can't really |
| know what to do once they receive a warning from | | | | make long lists. However, it's against eBay policy to fill |
| eBay. From time to time you'll see people cease to be | | | | up your item description with long lists of words that |
| a competitor because they often quit selling on eBay | | | | are there for no other reason than to attract the |
| out of frustration. Sellers who have a fee-avoidance | | | | attention of shoppers who are searching by both title |
| complaint against them can expect a warning, | | | | and description. For example, if you're selling cosmetics, |
| temporary suspension or permanent suspension. | | | | don't include a list of words like this in the description: |
| 2. Stealing Photos | | | | lipstick lipgloss lip gloss glamour beauty lip liner and so |
| One of my students recently spent thousands of | | | | on. Your auction might turn up in more searchers, but it'll |
| dollars on professional photos for their products, only to | | | | just upset buyers who are looking for something other |
| find their photos "stolen" and placed on that | | | | than what you're selling. |
| competitors eBay listings. | | | | You can not: use misleading titles. This policy covers |
| It's not easy to take great photos - and it's tempting | | | | some of the previous violations but also anything else |
| for people who see a perfect photo to "right click", | | | | that could potentially confuse buyers or lead them |
| save the photo to their desktop and upload the photo | | | | astray. For example, you might be offering free |
| as their own. This occurs a lot - and is mostly done by | | | | shipping to buyers who use the Buy it Now option. If |
| new sellers on eBay who don't understand that your | | | | that's the case, make sure you state this in the title. |
| photos are not part of the public domain for their own | | | | Here's the point with keyword spamming. Since we |
| use. | | | | know it's going on already in your category product |
| Copyright laws apply to the Internet just as they apply | | | | niche, look for it. Research it. Find it. It's already there. |
| to other media. Should you find your photos on the | | | | Now that you are aware that this exists, report these |
| listings of a competitor, simply report this to eBay and | | | | sellers and their listing violations to eBay. The result will |
| that competitors listings should be removed. When | | | | be in the warnings and cancellations of your |
| you're reviewing your competitors listings for violations, | | | | competitors listings. |
| don't just look at the titles, but review the entire listings | | | | The goal of eBay is for all sellers to play by the same |
| and read the descriptions, looks at the photos, etc. | | | | rules on the same field. It's your responsibility to insure |
| 3. Shill Bidding | | | | that your competitors do not have an unfair |
| Shill bidding happens when a seller (or accomplice) bids | | | | advantage. Remember, "all is fair in love and war". |
| on his or her own auctions - with the intent of driving | | | | If you look closely, you can and will find active auctions |
| up the price. For example, a seller might have two | | | | that violate one if not all of the policies mentioned |
| eBay ID's and use one of them to bid. They might also | | | | above. Can you get away with it? Maybe for an |
| convince a friend, family member or co-worker to bid | | | | auction or too, but sooner or later, you'll get caught. |
| on an item with no intention of buying it. Shill bidding can | | | | Play with integrity to win. And, make sure that your |
| be tempting when lots of people are watching an item | | | | competitors play by the same rules and with the same |
| but no one's bidding - just one false bid to get things | | | | integrity. You never want to jeopardize your eBay |
| rolling - or when bidding is slow and it looks like an item | | | | account by violating the marketplace policies - just be |
| will sell for a lot less than the seller thinks it's worth. | | | | sure that your competitors are not violating them as |
| Shill bidding is a little more difficult to detect in a | | | | well. Do the right thing - report these violations to eBay. |
| competitors listings - but is still something you should | | | | |