The Official eBay Guide to Buying, Selling, and Collecting Just About Anything (Paperback)

by Laura Fisher Kaiser (Author), Michael B. Kaiser (Author), Pierre Omidyar (Introduction) "If the idea of cyberauctions seemed far-fetched in the early 1990s, the results now tell a different story..." (more)
Key Phrases: sell your item form, happy trading, high bidder wins, United States, Community Standards, Great Collections (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

HAPPY HUNTING™ ON eBay

Aunt Fannie's cameo pin collection...the cartoon-character lunch boxes you had in third grade...that cast-iron doorstop you bought for $2 but is really worth $200....Whether you're a busy buyer, an avid seller, or just a fun-loving browser, you'll find countless collectibles like these on eBay, the world's largest person-to-person online trading community.

Now -- in this official primer from the popular Internet site that has revolutionized the collecting world -- the experts at eBay unlock the secrets of successful online buying and selling, for everyone from the enthusiastic beginner to the seasoned pro. Featuring an introduction by Pierre Omidyar, eBay's founder and chairman, and packed with tips and stories from "eBaysians" all over the country, The Official eBay™ Guide is the only authorized book that shows you how to

* BUY SMART -- unraveling the mystery of value, bidding to win, and learning how to spot the really good stuff
* BE A SAVVY SELLER -- from writing the perfect item listing to collecting payments from your happy customers
* LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS -- top eBaysians, Ambassadors, Power Sellers, and eBay employees lend advice and share secrets for success
* FIND THE GREAT STUFF -- how to work garage sales, flea markets, tag sales, estate sales, and even the other kind of auction

Packed with invaluable resources, information, and practical tips, The Official eBay™ Guide also features entertaining stories about the millions of people who make up the eBay community. It's your must-have companion for mastering the art of buying and selling an astounding range of collectibles and items, from the practical to the whimsical.

About the Author
Laura Fisher Kaiser & Michael Kaiser are collectors, writers, and longtime eBaysians. Laura is Deputy Editor at This Old House magazine. For fifteen years, Michael was an executive at a nonprofit organization. A former art glass dealer, he is now a consultant and writer. The Kaisers live in Manhattan.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Fireside; 1 edition (November 16, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684869543
• ISBN-13: 978-0684869544
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #635,178 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Much like Microsoft Manuals, December 8, 1999

By A Customer

This is a comprehensive book, and becuase it is the "official" guide to eBay, it does not offer the skinny about the tricks of the trade--like best and worst times to begin and end auctions, deciding of reserves, and automated software to help with selling etc. It is much like Microsoft manuals: it tells everything about ebay that's official, but does not give away the tricks of the trade. A nice addition to your book shelf, but surely not the first eBay book you should buy. Information about the official stuff, however, is undeniably comprehensive.

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Fine in 1999, but outdated, April 5, 2002

By A Customer

This book was probably very good in its day, but eBay has changed so much since it was published that it really doesn't hit things straight on. It has the basics of buying and selling, and is loaded with cute anecdotes. I've had gotten better information with the updated Dummies books on the subject.

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, funny and better than I imagined!, December 13, 1999

By A Customer

Comprehensive, smart and better than I hoped for! I wasn't quite sure what an 'Official Guide to eBay' was actually going to cover. However, I was delighted by this smart book that also has a sense of humor. It of course has all the 'how to' stuff you'll ever need about eBay and covers lots of ebay's rules and online etiquette. It's also packed with great advice about being more sucessful in buying and selling and taking a more business like approach to ebay activities. The book has profiles of eBay collectors and sellers and little tidbits about ebay that made this much more than a point and click mannual; it's actually a fun read. A portion of the book is devoted to the whole crazy world of collecting and the world beyond ebay. I found this helpful and I can see how collectors or people trying to sell to collectors could benefit from this information. I learned a great deal. Now I know I am actually an ebaysian!