Tricks of the eBay Masters (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Michael Miller (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0789735431 | ISBN-13: 978-0789735430 | Publication Date: March 2, 2006 | Edition: 2

Take the mystery out of eBay and the enviable PowerSellers. Tricks of the eBay Masters, Second Edition is full of advice and over 600 tricks from expert eBay users. They learned by doing and are now going to pass on their wisdom to you. Find out how to jazz up your auction listings with HTML, how to increase buyer traffic through key words and how to use photos to increase your selling potential. You'll even get tips on where to find items to sell, how to pack your items better and how to ship cheaply. Also find out what not to do as the experts give you examples of mistakes they made early in their eBay careers and how not to repeat them. Increase your auction income and successful bidding through Tricks of the eBay Masters, Second Edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Miller is an active and successful eBay buyer and seller, with more than six years of online auction experience dating to the early days of the eBay site. He has authored more than 50 how-to books over the past fifteen years, including Que's Absolute Beginner's Guide to eBay, Absolute Beginner's Guide to Launching an eBay Business, and Making a Living from Your eBay Business. More information can be found at the author's Web site, located at www.molehillgroup.com. He can be contacted via e-mail at [e-mail].

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Tricks of the eBay^® Masters, 2nd Edition

Introduction

• Who Are the eBay Masters?
• Where Can You Find the eBay Masters?
• How the Tricks Are Organized
• What's New in the Second Edition
• Tricks Credits
• One Last Word About the eBay Masters
• Let Me Know What You Think

This is the most unusual book I've ever written. And I've written a lot, somewhere north of 75 books in the past 17 years or so—including a half-dozen other books on eBay and online shopping. But this one takes the cake; it's unlike anything else I've ever done.

What makes Tricks of the eBay Masters such an unusual book—and why should you care?

The book you hold in your hands is unusual in that while I wrote the words, most of the ideas inside came from other people—from close to 200 other people, to be precise. These people just happen to be eBay buyers and sellers, successful ones, who were willing to share some of the secrets of their success. Those secrets are the "tricks" in this book, tips and advice you can use to become more successful at your eBay transactions.

And that's where this book is different from any other eBay book on the market, and what makes it especially valuable to you. Yeah, I can tell you everything I know about eBay, but that's just one person's opinion—based on one person's experience. How much better to learn from the experience of 200 people, all of them Masters at eBay buying and selling. These are tricks learned from hard experience, and they're presented here in one place, the better for you to benefit.

Of course, the nature of these 600 tricks means that this isn't a traditional how-to or tutorial book. In fact, it kind of jumps around in spots, depending on what tricks the eBay Masters submitted. So if you're expecting a beginner's-level introduction to eBay, I recommend you look elsewhere. (A good book of this ilk is my own Absolute Beginner's Guide to eBay, no doubt available at the same place you purchased this book.)

Where Tricks of the eBay Masters excels is imparting very specific bits of wisdom and information, about particular types of eBay activities. Want to learn the best day of the week to list an item? Or how to avoid waiting in line at the post office? Or how to pack a china plate? Or promote your eBay Store? Or find closeout items to sell? All those tricks—and 595 more—are here, courtesy of the eBay Masters. You might not find all the tricks here useful or applicable, but I know you'll find a lot of them so, and that's why you're reading this book, isn't it?

Who Are the eBay Masters?

Okay, so this book includes a ton of advice from eBay's most successful buyers and sellers. But who are these people? Who are the eBay Masters?

Here's the neat thing. eBay's most successful members are just regular folks, like you and me. They've learned all they know by doing; their tricks come from experience. When they do something right, they remember it. When they do something wrong, they remember that, too, and learn from it. Just normal folks, with a penchant for success—and a willingness to share their wisdom with others.

Don't believe me? Then read about some of the eBay Masters who contributed tricks to this book, in their own words:

april0403

Member since 1998, Feedback: Turquoise star

I retired after 35 years working in a major electronics firm in Dallas. I had bought a few items on eBay. I registered on eBay as a buyer in 1998, I believe. I had a friend who signed on as a seller, and figured I could try it as a hobby, something to keep me off the streets and out of pool halls, LOL. I had a designer handbag that was about fifteen years old, and always wanted to sell it... so I did, and there was no looking back after that. My oldest daughter got interested in selling, I coached her a bit, and now we have a lot of fun with this. She's actually done more business than me with eBay. I love it here.

bobbibopstuff

stores.ebay.com/BobbiBopStuff

http://www.bobbibopstuff.com

PowerSeller

Member since 1998, Feedback: Red star

I'm John, 57, and semi-retired, LOL. Sandi, my wife of 35 years, will be semi-retired in a couple of months, and then we can devote more time to our four grandchildren and traveling with our financial counseling ministry. In the meantime, we are testing the eBay waters and have been pleased and amused with our efforts. This is a great business to learn and supplement our time and income. We are trying our hand at many categories, and are learning which ones to leave to others and which ones we can find room and business in.

clact

stores.ebay.com/Once-Upon-A-Bid

PowerSeller

Member since 2002, Feedback: Red star

My wife and I have been selling since late January 2003, and made PowerSeller in just three months. It is a lot of work, of course. I'm an accountant (CPA) in my day job.

dfrazier18

stores.ebay.com/Fraziers-Finds

Member since 2000, Feedback: Red star

I'm Debra. I began on eBay back in October 2000. My now 15-year-old son was a big-time LEGO fan and I bought dozens and dozens of retired sets (some never made available in the U.S.) from many different sellers in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Italy, and the U.K. And I paid cash (USD and DM) for all of them. I started selling in September 2002, to fund all the LEGO I was buying—first selling Clinique Gift With Purchase samples, and eventually expanding into "home decor" items. Candle accessories are my specialty. I opened my eBay Store September 2003, with the intention of closing it down in January. But like so many others, I became addicted.

going1nceamc

stores.ebay.com/GOing1nceAMC

http://www.going1nce.com

PowerSeller

Member since 1999, Feedback: Red star

GOing1nceAMC is me, Sally, with my partner, Kyle. A few years back, I launched my eBay career when my friend, Wayne, called upon my computer/web-savvy and graphic designer skills to help run his eBay auctions. I bought a Coke can bank to learn a bit about eBay, and then started listing coins for Wayne's company. Today I manage both Wayne's eBay business and my own, with the help of an assistant on each. I have learned a lot in my short, brilliant career on eBay. I am also a registered eBay Trading Assistant.

hortonsbks

stores.ebay.com/Hortonsbks

PowerSeller

Member since 2000, Feedback: Red star

I am not a volume seller, usually averaging about 40-50 books at a time. My sell-through rate is fairly low. I'm never going to make a fortune hawking my used books, but it's what I know best, so I'll stick with it.

ilene

stores.ebay.com/Ilenes-Discount-Collectibles

PowerSeller

Member since 1997, Feedback: Green star

I am somewhat unusual for an eBay PowerSeller. I work full-time at a professional job which includes commuting between two cities. I maintain Gold PowerSeller status about 50% of the year, but I spend very little time doing it. I have a partner who puts up half the cash and does the pictures and the packing. I do all the buying, selling, and dealing with buyers. I have been doing this for about seven years and I have lots of ways of simplifying everything. Time is my biggest problem.

jimrick1

M...

Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: Que; 2 edition (March 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789735431
• ISBN-13: 978-0789735430
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,228,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Miller is the best-selling writer of more than 100 non-fiction books. He writes about a variety of topics, including computers, online selling, business, consumer electronics, and music. From his first book (Ventura Publisher Techniques and Applications, published in 1988) to his latest title, he has established a reputation for practical advice, technical accuracy, and an unerring empathy for the needs of his readers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A ridiculous book, "author" making money from ill-informed sellers, July 2, 2005

By 

Chix - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tricks of the eBay Masters (Paperback)

This book is just ridiculous. The "author" came to the eBay Community Boards and basically asked for advice to add to his book. It didn't matter what advice was given or the status/knowledge level of the person who gave it, as long as it filled up more space in his book. Case in point, there are many (too many) blurbs by Big_pink_starfish, a seller who specializes in selling trading cards that are not in high demand. The seller loses money on every single auction she has b/c she has a store, has "extras" on her auctions that cost money, yet sells each item for a quarter AND takes payment by Paypal which is a .30 +2.9 charge for every payment made. She is in the hole every time a sale is made yet this is a "Master". Other blurbs come from those who admit they have never sold a thing on eBay before. These tips are supposed to be from the most successful sellers and buyers? Obviously no research was done on the background of those quoted.

Take my advice, don't buy the book, go the eBay forums yourself and anyone with half a brain can tell the knowledgeable sellers from those who just take up space.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars If you are new to eBay and common sense, March 6, 2006

By 

Survivors Edge, LLC "Survivors Edge, LLC" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tricks of the eBay Masters (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This is a great book if you lack common sense or judgement deficiency. And this is the 2nd edition. Consider the book eBay the RIght Way instead.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Selling on Ebay? Must read Tricks of the Ebay Masters!, December 7, 2004

By 

rockinghorsegirl4now "Toni" (Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tricks of the eBay Masters (Paperback)

Great book full of all kinds of important information from the sellers who already are making money on Ebay. All our tips and helpful instructions that Ebay members have given daily on Ebay's Discussion & Help boards over several month's time. Right at your fingertips now! In one easy-to-read book.

The chapters are laid out nicely so the reader can go right to the area of selling they need help with: listing auctions, taking pictures, packing & shipping, customer service, HTML, setting up an Ebay store, much more! Different opinions of many buyers and sellers as one-size doesn't fit all.

Great for new sellers just starting out and for sellers who have been on Ebay for years as the market is always changing and competition is growing. Even old dogs need to learn new tricks.