Billion Dollar eBay Products They re More Common Than You Think

Ebay does a massive amount of business on a global level every day. Last year, in fact, eBay sold 38 billion dollars worth of goods and services. 14% of all transactions that take place online are done via eBay's auctions. 45,000 people buy products through eBay every day, and it's only growing as eBay expands and enters new markets. Ebay provides a tremendous amount of opportunity to all people of an entrepreneurial mindset.

So what are people buying on eBay?

The truth is that people are buying anything and everything. Of source, there are some markets that are more popular than others. The billion dollar business takes place in the following categories:

· Clothing. In eBay land, an article of clothing sells every three seconds. Much of this clothing is gently used, bought on clearance, or has been sitting in a closet for years. Power Sellers usually buy wholesale and sell below retail.

· Electronics. This covers a lot of technology - televisions, broken equipment for parts, outdated computers. A digital camera sells every minute on eBay - an important thing to know if you're constantly upgrading your own technology at home.

· Collectibles. This is the niche lover's dream. Avid collectors of antiques, artifacts, pop culture, and even used dental equipment swarm to eBay to compete over the next addition to their collection.

· Jewelry. People buy costume jewelry, handcrafted jewelry, wedding bands, precious stones and antiques. The profit margin is usually much better than you will get at an estate sale or pawn shop.

· Sporting goods. Every day somebody throws in the towel and gets rid of that unused ab cruncher, weight bench, or boxing gloves. There always seems to be somebody else that is eager to take that sport or activity on themselves.

· Cars. This is the top grossing category on eBay by far. Ebay sells more cars in a moing than most car dealers sell in a year. This is why many car dealers are taking their hard-to-sell trade-ins and auctioning them off on eBay. Other car sellers on eBay have tued their fixer-upper mentality into a profit by going to local govement auctions, replacing parts, and then auctioning the car off to the highest bidder.

No matter what you're selling on eBay, there is a market for your product. These categories will give you an idea of where the most common profits come from, but don't think that you can't carve a niche out in a different category. There is plenty of room to develop, and test, new products on eBay and find your own spot in the market. Just do your research, be creative in your marketing, and make sure your auctions have good descriptions and accurate pictures. And if something isn't selling, you can always change to a new category or change your product lines. In many cases, you can actually change your entire focus oveight! How many offline retailers can do that?

Matt Bacak, Entrepreneur Magazine e-Biz radio show host became a "#1 Best Selling Author" in just a few short hours and the co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to Retire From Your Job This Year and Still Make More Money Than the Average Medical Doctor... You Can Do It Once You Know the Proven Steps Outlined here! ==> http://www.inteetmillionairemind.com

8 Top Tips For Successful Art Auction Listings

Why is it that some artists seem to make easy money on eBay while others struggle to break even? Seller A and seller B could be selling paintings of the same calibre, yet seller A tus a good profit year in year out and has Powerseller status, while seller B struggles to even make a profit at all. Often it has a lot to do with the look of their auction listings.

I have been selling my original artwork on eBay for 5 years now and boy was I green when I started off. I didn't own a digital camera - I used an ordinary camera with film ... you know that old stuff ... I would take photos of my artwork, then tramp into town, wait three days for the film to be developed, then scan the prints into my computer. The quality of my photos were obviously pretty poor in those days.

I didn't know anything about HTML, templates, how and when to list to get optimum benefit from my auctions. It's a wonder I even got off the ground! But get off the ground I did - though dogged persistence and a willingness to lea, I went from selling paintings for a couple of pounds/dollars, to eaing a good full time living. These days I am a Powerseller and often get hundreds for my paintings.

So, here are my top tips to make your art auctions stand out and promote you from part - time pin money eaer to top seller;

1; Think about KISS .... Keep It Simple Stupid! A listing that has lots of different colours, fonts, animated pictures, text in capitals can be very confusing for the reader. Don't bombard people with too much information.

2; Be factual in your description. If your item has a fault - list it. This way a buyer knows exactly what he/she is getting and there will be no negative feedback later. I have sold paintings that had repairs where they had had small rips in them. I was honest in the fact that the paintings weren't perfect, but my buyers were perfectly happy because they knew beforehand what they were buying.

3; Never be negative. Recently one artist who was struggling to sell anything at all (despite being a very good artist) complained how eBay just wasn't working for him. After looking at his auctions I could see why! His listings were basic to say the least, but he could have gotten away with that. What was stopping any chance of him selling were the words at the end of his auction;

"The artist is unwilling to offer this item at a lower starting price as to do so would be insulting."

Potential buyers might look at this statement and think "well I wouldn't want to insult anyone" or "well if you feel insulted, why list it?" and click away ... to someone else's paintings. Comments like this are far too negative.

4; When selling art, a picture paints a thousand words, as the saying goes. Try to make your pictures as high quality as possible. Include side views of your canvasses and possibly a room view. Don't clutter your listing with pictures of other artwork you have for sale - it's just confusing. If you have an eBay store, you will get automatic 'cross promotion' for several other items at the end of your auction anyway.

5; Don't undersell yourself / under price your work. Who takes 5 to 10 pounds / dollars as an opening bid price seriously? Only very well known, well established artists with large fan bases can get away with starting a listing so low. Until you are established, don't risk selling your art for pennies. You'll not even cover your listing fees, never mind make a profit.

6; Utilise keywords effectively. I saw a pencil drawing of a mum and baby Koala in a tree listed as "A mother's Love Original Pencil Drawing" Unfortunately, it is very unlikely that anyone will search "a", "mothers", or "love". Well maybe love .... but not in the context of an original drawing of an animal. The seller was wasting a lot of keyword space there. Better would have been something like "Original Contemporary Drawing Sketch Koala Bear Bears" Doesn't mean much as a sentence in itself, but it is packed with keywords, people might use to find that type of item.

7; Offer excellent customer service. I have always prided myself on the number of positive feedbacks I have attained over the years. On various eBay IDs I have well over 1000 unique positive feedbacks. This is money in the bank! A happy customer will come back again and again, and it is much easier to sell to an existing customer than to gain a new one. Keep your buyers happy and they will reward you with loyalty and repeat purchases.

8; Have a 'ME' page. With art buying, people like to know who they are buying from. They like to 'get to know' the artist. If you can offer a small biography and artists statement on your me page, your potential buyer can feel like they already know you. I have a bio, a photo of myself with my artwork and a recent article that appeared in a regional arts and culture magazine. This allows buyers to see a friendly face - yours - and to feel like they know a little about you and 'where you're at' before they buy.

I hope these tips help you a with your eBay art career. There's loads more I could add, but eBay is a real leaing curve. Often success comes simply though experience and trying different thing until you find something that works for you. The above tips, however, will get you off to a good start to becoming a successful eBay art seller.

Gail Miller is a professional artist whose wild funky artwork is a visual feast of line, colour and fun. Visit her brand new updated website at http://www.gailmiller.com or her eBay store at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/painttillyoufaint

An Emerging Market in eBay Consignments The eBay Trading Post Part II In A Series

In 2002, the eBay consignments business was bo, referred to by eBay as the Trading Assistant Program.

It's possible that eBay didn't foresee just how much they would benefit form their eBay consignments program. Designed to unite experienced eBay sellers with people who want heir merchandise sold on eBay without having to do it themselves, the Trading Assistant program has enjoyed enormous success.

As big as eBay had become -- larger than all other online auction venues combined -- they were still missing out on a large segment of the population; the technophobes. These people would sell goods on eBay if they had access to a computer and a digital camera, and had the time and inclination to lea how to run an auction. But they either don't have the technology or they lack the desire to become auctioneers, or both. Since they're not on line, they're not likely to lea about Trading Assistants who advertise primarily through eBay. And even if they saw the ads, they probably wouldn't trust them.

You see, people active in the online community are already comfortable with the environment, which has an element of anonymity. But a non-computer person is more likely to want to deal with a real, brick-and-mortar retail business. They may not trust someone who runs auctions out of their home.

How to reach these people? Introducing the concept of the "Trading Post"...

A Trading post is to eBay consignments what the typical consignment shop is to the average community. It's a drop off location that allows consumers to drop their stuff off and have it sold for them as a service. It's a retail location that markets itself to consumers as a local, experienced ebay consignments seller -- a Trading Assistant with a brick-and-mortar store.

While any ebay trading assistant can establish an ebay consignments service out of a retail location, only a Trading Post can put the eBay brand on their physical storefront. (A trading assistant can only advertise inside their store). With this privilege comes a higher standard, ie, eBay has "raised the bar" on their requirements.

A Trading Post must meet the following additional requirements:

-Offers a staffed drop-off location or storefront with regular drop-in hours, so that clients can visit the location without calling ahead.

-Has a feedback score of 500 or higher

-Has at least 98% positive feedback

-Has sales of at least $25,000 on eBay each month

Online, clients can search for Trading Posts specifically, and Trading Posts may receive priority placement in search results. (Yes, even some online clients prefer the retail setting). Also, Trading Posts are displayed with a special icon next to their User ID. If you're a Trading Assistant who also meets the requirements, you automatically qualify as a Trading Post and do not need to take additional steps.

Walt Duflock, Director of the eBay Trading Assistant Program and a real life trading assistant, has announced eBay's intention of having "secret shoppers" and "customer satisfaction surveys" to see if there are certain Trading Post locations eBay would like to support more than others.

Regardless of your status on ebay, there are tools that everyone can use to build their success as TAs, available on the ebay site. I've found many of them quite valuable. For example, among their efficiency tools, they recommend using contact management software. eBay regards this as a great tool for getting "a better understanding of how many prospects it takes to actually create one new client and how long it takes for a client to go from initial contact to hiring you as a TA."

And as far as support, some of the Trading Posts have become so large that they no longer rely on eBay for help. Some have developed their own proprietary systems for tracking customers and inventory, and managing their auctions. The largest and most successful ebay consignment business will even get you started with your own franchise which includes the use of their proprietary systems. All you need to come up with is $55 K plus operating expenses.

But, never fear. You can start your ebay consignment business on a shoestring, and this is how the majority begin. Since 1998, eBay and similar auction sites have been growing by leaps and bounds. eBay consignments are still in their infancy, but I predict a very bright future!

© Copyright 2004 Carolyn Schweitzer DDS. Dr. Schweitzer was a family dentist for 20 years and is now owner and editor of several websites. You can lea more about where to find specific links to the Trading Assistant and Trading Post programs by visiting her website at http://www.netbrainer.com/site/500041/page/449460.

Are You an Ebay Shopper

As I write this article, I am keeping an eye on an item on eBay. Do I have to keep an eye on it? No. I have set up a program that swoops in in the final seconds of the bidding, leaving the previous bidder, who thought they had the item, wondering what happened.

Is that what is happening to you in business? Do you think you have customers sewn up; success just with your grasp, but something always goes wrong?

There is talk in the news about the Retail Industry slowdown in home décor, fuiture and home improvement sales. Pier 1 mentioned they are streamlining and cutting their merchandise offerings by 25% to focus on their core customer. Many retailers who were interviewed mentioned that they have been watching the slowdown trend for a while and already have plans in place to manage what's happening.

Is that how you run your business? Do you look at seasonal, regional and/or global trends that will affect the future of your business or do you wait until the bottom falls out and then wonder what you are going to do. Wouldn't you rather have a heads up on what's happening, before it happens?

Sometimes even experience researchers find it difficult to be guided by research. Instead they look for facts and theories to support the hypothesis that is already formed.

If you think that research takes too long, sign up for a number of newsletters and let the information come to you. If you worry about being spammed, use a hotmail account. Keep an open mind. Rather than coming to conclusions before you have the information, make a list of specific facts and assign weights that will influence your decisions. Create a chart and fill in the answers from each information source, tally the weighted results and then make your decisions based on fact…tempered by entrepreneurial intuition. Set up a system that works for you and commit to use it.

If you are in Retail then these two web sites have newsletters that report on trends from all over the world.

http://www.springwise.com

http://www.trendwatching.com

No matter what your business, somewhere on the net there are newsletters/RSS feeds that can deliver information to give you the edge you need, so you aren't sideswiped…knocked out of the game in the final seconds.

And my purchase on eBay….I missed the first one because someone else paid more than I thought it was worth; but the second one…the competition is still wondering what happened and my purchase is on it's way. I used my proven system and won.

Do you want things to be your way in your world or do you want to know what's really going on in your industry so you can anticipate challenges and make plans to avoid problems?

A theory must be tempered by reality. -Jawaharlal Nehru

Copyright(c) 2005 Nancy Fraser Nota Bene Consulting, All Rights reserved

Nancy Fraser is the President of Nota Bene Consulting. She has been helping clients improve their advertising results and grow their businesses for over 20 years. Free advertising and marketing information in the Notable News http://www.notable-marketing.com

Boosting Your EBay Auction Profits Just Add Audio

According to a recent report, adding audio to your eBay auctions could increase bids by as much as 22% over auctions without audio.

A recent trend showing up on a lot of websites is the addition of an audio clip. The clip is a personal message by the author or the website owner encouraging you to take advantage of what they offer.

The psychology behind this technique is really Marketing 101. It's called personalization. An audio clip added to your eBay auction allows you to personally tell the potential bidder about the product. Using your own voice allows you to make contact with the bidder on a personal level that written words cannot. Because, that's what your eBay auction really is...It's just a long written classified ad asking the bidder to make an offer to purchase your item.

Prior to the advent of the telephone the only reliable way to communicate long distance was by writing letters. It was not unusual back then for lovers to write each other daily or weekly. The decline of letter writing is a well documented event that coincides with the advent of the telephone.

With audio you can describe the item, tell the bidder why you are selling it or even communicate with them about your refund policy or provide your contact information. The possibilities are almost unlimited as a way to establish a rapport with the bidder.

But, the most important reason to add audio clips is that it makes it easy to convey excitement and invoke emotion, giving you a really powerful selling-edge.

How to add audio to a web site:

The simplest way is to upload a .wav or Mp3 file to a website and provide a link to the file. When the bidder clicks on the link his or her computer will automatically recognize the file and play it with the audio player on the bidders computer.

There are some drawbacks to this method. If the bidder's computer doesn't recognize the file it won't play. The overall effect is not as professional as it could be and it distracts the bidder. If you are a reasonably tech savvy type you can easily deal with the drawbacks of this approach.

For the rest of us, there are a number of software solutions and websites that will simplify the task of adding audio to our eBay auctions.

Here are two:

Audio Maker Pro - http://audiomaker.thynke.com - (The one I use and recommend)

Sound Streamer - http://soundstreamer.thynke.com - (Less expensive)

Different programs and websites range from charging a one time fee to monthly fees for the use of the program. The good news is that many will let you test them for as little as $1 for a trial basis or let you download a demo version to see how well it will work for you.

Mike Nalbone is an author, editor, publisher and webmaster who eas a living full-time on the Net. For more, exclusive eBay profit tips like this one, visit: http://auction-revolution.thynke.com

This Article Is © 2005 & May Be Published Solely In Its Entirety, Un-Modified, Provided The Above Resource Box Is Included Along With Active (Clickable) Links.

Boost E Bay Profits With Web Audio

Can you boost profits significantly by adding audio to your E-Bay auctions? According to a recent article on a net business site the answer is a definite yes. In fact, one e-book author suggested that adding audio to your auctions could potentially increase bids by as much as 22% over auctions without audio.

A recent trend showing up on a lot of websites is the addition of an audio clip. The clip is a personal message by the author or the website owner encouraging you to take advantage of what they offer.

The psychology behind this technique is really Marketing 101. It's called personalization. An audio clip added to your Ebay auction allows you to personally tell the potential bidder about the product. Using your own voice allows you to make contact with the bidder on a personal level that written words cannot. Because, that's what your E-Bay auction really is...It's just a long written classified ad asking the bidder to make an offer to purchase your item.

Prior to the advent of the telephone the only reliable way to communicate long distance was by writing letters. It was not unusual back then for lovers to write each other daily or weekly. The decline of letter writing is a well documented event that coincides with the advent of the telephone. The power of the human voice to convey a message triumphs that of the written word.

With audio you can describe the item, tell the bidder why you are selling it or even communicate with them about your refund policy or provide your contact information. The possibilities are almost unlimited as a way to establish a rapport with the bidder.

There are some technical elements to adding audio to your E-Bay auctions. The simplest way is to upload a .wav or Mp3 file to a website and provide a link to the file. When the bidder clicks on the link his or her computer will automatically recognize the file and play it with the audio player on the bidders computer.

There are some drawbacks to this method. If the bidder's computer doesn't recognize the file it won't play. The overall effect is not as professional as it could be and it distracts the bidder. If you are a reasonably tech savvy type you can easily deal with the drawbacks of this approach.

For the rest of us, there are a number of software solutions and websites that will simplify the task of adding audio to our E-Bay auctions. These different programs and websites range from charging a one time fee to monthly fee's for the use of the program. The good news is that many of them will let try them for as little as $1 for a trial basis or let you download a demo version to see how well it will work for you.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Discover 101 Ebay Auction Tips in this FREE ebook www.push-button-online-income.com/ebooks

Make Your Ebook Auctions Stand Out

Selling ebooks on eBay is an inviting idea. By carefully shopping for in-demand content and wisely purchasing it with resale rights, you can secure a product you can sell over and over again with only a one-time expense. A very small initial investment can give you the opportunity to create a long series of successful auctions.

The hassles associated with shipping and handling also disappear, as delivering an ebook can be as simple as sending an email to the buyer. There are even great software packages and services available that make automated instant delivery of purchased ebooks possible. You can truly create a system that runs on autopilot, generating profits with little or no effort on your part.

That's the good news. The bad news is that a lot of other people have also noticed the opportunities presented by selling ebooks on eBay. As such, there is bustling market on eBay for electronically delivered information products and it is easy for your auctions to get lost in the crowd. No matter how inexpensive setting up your ebook auction business might be, the effort and expense will be wasted if no one is purchasing your products.

As such, it is important to make sure your auctions stand out from your competitors. There are a few great general techniques that when coupled with your own skills and originality can set you apart from the crowd and make your ebook business a success.

Look Different

Have you ever searched through the ebook offerings on eBay? Often, you will see the very same ebooks sold again and again. The auction titles look the same, as do the graphics used to promote them. If you follow the herd, you are simply hoping that of the many similar auctions offered, an interested buyer will happen to pick yours from the crowd merely by luck. This is not a particularly sound strategy!

Instead, you should make the effort to differentiate your auction from the others. Secure and utilize a different graphic than the standard ebook cover shot being used by everyone else. You should also spend some time writing a title for the auction—if your title reads like all of the others; your chances for success are reduced considerably.

Read Differently

Look through the auctions carefully and read the product descriptions and sales pages of the other eBay sellers in your market. You'll probably notice that many of them seem like carbon copies of one another. You need to make your eBay auction unique.

Spend some time and effort developing a sales pitch for your product that stands out from the rest. It will require some creativity and effort, but by writing the perfect sales pitch and creating a truly unique auction, your product will be perceived as a unique offering in a sea of sameness.

Offer Something More

If everyone is selling the same ebook, or several similar ebooks on the same theme, you need to make your auction different. There has to be some unique reason why buyers will flock to your auctions instead of others.

One used to be able to create a distinction by simply offering a better price or having higher feedback ratings. As the ebook marketplace has grown, these characteristics are tougher to use to your advantage. Prices are often set at low margins across the board already, and there are a variety of sellers with impressive feedback in the field.

Bundle something extra into your ebook auction. Perhaps a special report you have personally written, insuring the uniqueness of your auction is in order. Maybe you can bundle up an additional ebook for which you have resale rights into the deal. The possibilities are limited only by your own imagination.

In a more crowded marketplace it is possible to succeed. However, the days of merely listing a series of ebooks and waiting for the money are over. If you want to increase your chances for ebook success on eBay, it's time to do something that separates you from the pack.

John Thohill trades on eBay under the useame planetsms For more advice on how to succeed on eBay with information products visit http://www.planetsms.co.uk

Photographing Jewelry for Online Auctions

I am still amazed how many photos in online auctions for sometimes quite expensive jewelry are too blurry and out of focus to let potential buyers see clearly what they are bidding on.

Would you bid hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a vague blob that is supposed to be a diamond ring? Here is what you will need to take improved photos of your jewelry with your digital camera:

1. A tripod (holding the camera in your hand will introduce some blur!)

2. Two or three worklights with 100 W bulbs (can be found at a hardware store for under $10 each)

3. A translucent plastic storage box to set up as a "stage", in which the object is placed on a display stand or jewelry bust

4. Several pieces of silky cloth as backdrops

You do not need to get a top-of-the-line digital camera with 5 Megapixels or more, but the camera should have a macro setting and should let you adjust the white balance to compensate for different lighting condition. Recharagable batteries are a must, as digital cameras go through batteries quickly, and you could easily spend a lot of money on batteries otherwise.

The plastic box setup, with worklights shining through the sides provides soft shadows, and you can use an extra worklight from the front or top when needed. Do not use your camera's flash (it tends to make small objects appear flat), and set the white balance to the type of lighting you are using (see your camera's manual). Some cloth (particularly the kind used for linings) in a nice neutral color (grey, light blue, etc.) makes for an attractive background.

These tips should improve your auction photos, and best of all, they do not require a large investment.

Pamela Bruce lives in Austin, TX. She has been beading since her teens. She is the owner of Love Beads Unlimited and sells the bead jewelry she designs and creates at http://www.lovebeadsunlimited.com

Paying For Items With Ebay Coupons

ThereÂ's a novel idea afoot nowadays: Using electronic discount coupons to pay for items people are interested in purchasing.

This only goes to show that most good marketing ideas can be adopted for the inteet. Instead of cutting coupons out from newspapers or carton boxes, eBay gives out electronic copies of coupons to purchase merchandise. The coupons are fast and easy to use.

Coupons are routinely sent by eBay to members who then use them to pay for items through PayPal. The coupons signify specific discounts that can be applied to the purchase of items.

Using Coupons

To use an eBay Coupon one must buy an item where the seller accepts PayPal as a payment method. Upon payment of the item using PayPal, an opportunity will be given to the buyer to enter a coupon redemption code and receive the discount.

Sharing Coupons

Some coupons from eBay can be shared with other people while some can only be used by the owner. If the coupon indicates that only a specific email address may use the coupon, it may not be shared.

Coupons and Your eBay and PayPal Accounts

To use the coupons the owner must have a PayPay and an eBay account. If the owner does not have these accounts, he or she must sign up for them to avail of the discounts. PayPal lets you pay securely over the Inteet using a credit card, checking account, or a PayPal account balance.

Important Restrictions

Upon winning an eBay auction, the bidder is required to purchase the item even if the coupons they are holding tu out to be invalid for the auction.

Also, coupons can only be used one-at-a-time. This means that Gift Certificates, single coupons, or eBay Anything Points are valid for only one auction and only one type can be used each time.

One more restriction is that the coupons cannot be used for Half.com purchases.

Items must also meet all coupon requirements and must be paid for in ten days from the closing of the auction on eBay.

Coupons have expiry dates. Coupon holders should take note of the expiry dates noted on the coupons.

Sellers may also configure their listings to accept coupons. To accomplish this, the seller must accept PayPal as a payment mode. If a coupon is used in the purchase of one of the sellerÂ's items, the value of the coupon is forwarded to the seller as it's equivalent in regular currency.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Discover 101 Ebay Auction Tips www.push-button-online-income.com/101ebaytips.zip

Importing Products to Sell on eBay

The interesting thing about online buyers is they are extremely price sensitive. A survey done by Forrester Research shows that 73 percent of surveyed online buyers expect prices on the Inteet to be cheaper than in stores. No wonder auction marketplaces are thriving. Among the most popular auction marketplaces growth of eBay is especially notable! Its market share is growing at roughly twice the pace of the over all market. So, it's only natural if you like many other wannabe entrepreneurs thinking seriously to start an eBay business.

Say, after spending long hours on the eBay and doing much research offline and online, you finally have come up with a niche category of products to sell. But, there is one little problem! You don't have a slightest clue where to get regular supply of this product for wholesale price. Often, entrepreneurs with great product ideas fail to materialize their dream business plan just because they are unable to find a right supplier. How to tackle this problem?

Finding a local supplier

Success in any trading business depends not only on how good you are in selling, it also relies greatly on your ability to source the product at right cost. If you have a fairly large list of products that you are considering to work with you have a variety of options to choose from. You may start your eBay auctioning business based on local liquidators, closeout dealers, govement auctions, newspaper classified or Drop-shippers (http://ezine.rusbiz.com/article/39). But to start a real niche business you need to find a constant source supplier, which could be a manufacturer, a distributor or a wholesaler. Obviously, Inteet is the easiest place to get the initial contact information. Try http://www.thomasnet.com/ or http://www.tget.com/ - both websites are good information sources for industrial products manufacturers.

Bear in mind that many manufacturers simply aren't able to handle small orders and don't sell products directly to retailers. Some times, the minimum sales lot is way too big for a small start-up company to manage. However, even if the manufacturer does not sell directly to retail levels, they will provide you with information on their products and refer you to their wholesaler or distributor companies, which will be in a position to cater your needs.

For some category of products, your best option is to attend trade or industry shows in order to locate a supplier. Check out websites of some exhibition centers in your vicinity and find one or two trade shows of your area of interest. Make sure that participants of the trade show are distributors and wholesalers as oppose to large manufacturers. After all, you need to find a supplier who will agree to work with your initial small orders.

Trade jouals or publications of your related field also could be a great source in your quest to find a supplier. Trade jouals publish information on industry trend, articles on major players, various industry related event schedules such as trade shows, and often carry classified sections. Sometimes, they also publish specialty issues such as a buyer's guide or a who's who issue. You may consider getting those issues by contacting the publishers.

Professional and trade associations similar to local chamber of commerce and other groups offer a variety of services, which are extremely useful to members and general people a like. Promotion of the industry and its products and referral services for buyers trying to find specific products are some of the services that they offer. You should not hesitate to contact these organizations for help.

Importing

Competition in world's largest electronic marketplace is fierce! If you have to buy products from a middleman, you may find that your prices are not workable at all. What to do? Since most of the consumers products are imported any way, you may consider outsourcing your product from a foreign country. Today, thanks to globalization importing products are no longer as difficult as it used to be! If you are trying to buy a labor-intensive product, the best places are probably China – which is the hottest at this time, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh and some other Asian countries. If you are looking for medium quality electronics and computer parts, your options are China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, etc. For high-end designer products Italy, Germany and France are your best bet. For intellectual property related products, Russia and other Easte European countries are still a paradise.

There is a good chance of finding a supplier through online B2B portals. If you are looking for a supplier from China you may try www.alibaba.com and www.globalsources.com. Two of the largest trade leads aggregators on the Inteet. For products from India you may try searching the database of both www.indiamart.com and www.trade-india.com. For products from Russia and other CIS countries www.rusbiz.com is a great option.

Here are the steps you must take in order to import products successfully:

• Locate several suppliers either through online resources or by contacting Trade Commissions of respective countries.

• Contact the suppliers and see if they are in a position to deliver the right product. Make sure that the suppliers are not your direct competitors. Many foreign suppliers are actively selling products through eBay.

• If you find their price and quality of the product are acceptable get several samples. It is very important to give them an exact copy of the product you are looking for. Without a prototype you might end up getting something far different than you expected.

• Work out your cost, which include buying cost, packaging, shipping, insurance, customs duty, excise duty if any, financing and handling charges, etc. You may also incur other expenses depending on products and your location.

• Check out your supplier. If possible make a trip to visit the supplier. Ask for references. Contact their bankers if necessary. Importing requires absolute due diligence.

• Check with a logistics consultant about shipping and exporting rules of the country.

• Contact a customs broker to verify latest duty and other regulations related to importing of this particular product.

• Don't forget to consider product life cycle, shipping time, seasonality of the product and other characteristics specific to your product.

Importantly, do your homework! You can sure make money by importing and selling goods on eBay. Thousands are already doing this. But, the key to success relies on your entrepreneurial spirit, due preparation, sound judgment and hard work. If you think you are ready, go for it!

Nowshade Kabir, is the founder, primary developer and present CEO of Rusbiz.com – a Global B2B Exchange with solutions to create e-catalog, Web store, business process management and other features to run a business online. You can read various articles written by Nowshade Kabir at http://ezine.rusbiz.com.

10 Things You Should Know Before You Bid On A Business Product From An Online Auction

1. Know the value of the product before you bid. If the product is brand new, check to see what price retailers are charging for it. If the product is used or reconditioned, you will want to pay way less than the retail value.

2. If the product's description or picture isn't detailed enough for you, contact the merchant to get more information before you bid. You don't want to take a chance to waste your hard eaed money.

3. Know the highest price you will bid for the product and stick with it. Don't get caught up in a bidding war; you may end up paying more than the product's worth. Don't forget to add in the shipping price with your bid.

4. Visit a few online auctions before bidding because some merchants auction the same product in many auctions. You usually can purchase the product for a lower price in a unpopular auction because there are less bidders.

5. Know the time the auction begins and ends. You also want to know how long it will take to ship. If you need the product by a certain date, you'll want to estimate the time it will take to receive it.

6. Know the payment options the merchant accepts before you bid on their product. If they only accept checks or money orders, it may take even longer to get the product because the payment has to clear. If they accept credit cards make sure they have a secure server.

7. Know if the merchant offers a warranty or money back guarantee or before bidding on a product. You don't want to get stuck with a product that does not work or you're not satisfied with.

8. Online auctions will, sometimes, allow you to check the merchants history with their auction. Check to see if people have complained about the their products or business practices before you decide to bid.

9. It's important to place a bid early in the auction to show other bidders you are interested in the product. If someone does out bid you, don't be afraid to out bid them. Remember not to go over your maximum bid price.

10. Another reason to know when the auction ends; you can place a last minute bid. The other bidders may not be keeping track of when the auction ends or may not have the time to bid again.

About the author:

Rojo Sunsen is a specialized bounty hunter who prefers to work quietly/confidentially for the benefit of her clients.

Don t Be A Victim Of Online Auction Fraud

The Inteet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) reported that last year 7.7 million dollars was lost through online auction scams. The actual losses are much greater. Most auction scams are not reported because they involve only small amounts of money.

Most auction Web sites are aggressive at fighting fraud. eBay has a fraud investigation unit that has helped them hold down fraud to only .01% of its transactions. If you paid for an item and never received it, or if you received the item but it was less than what was described, eBay's Fraud Protection Program will reimburse you up to $200, minus a $25 processing charge. In order to qualify for Fraud Protection coverage, you must submit an Online Fraud Complaint with eBay after 30 days and before 60 days from the time the auction ended.

After making a purchase, buyers can leave feedback about their experience with the seller. Before you bid on an item, check the seller's feedback profile by clicking on the number next to the their User ID. There is also a feedback forum and discussion board.

Below are a few actions that you should take to protect yourself from Inteet auction fraud.

• For a high cost item use an escrow service.

• Avoid sellers who request payment by electronic transfer.

• Never provide your Social Security Number or Drivers License Number.

• Verify the delivery data and the sellers retu policy.

• Review the online feedback on a seller.

• If the seller is a business, check with the Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org.

• Prefer sellers who accept credit card payments. When you use a credit card to pay for a purchase, federal law limits your liability for an unauthorized charge to $50. You can also request your credit card issuer to make a charge-back.

• Be cautious about buying from a seller in another country. If you buy from a seller in another country, understand the difference in laws goveing auctions between that country and the US.

If you become a victim of Inteet auction fraud, you can submit a complaint report with an online form at the IFCC Web site www.ifccfbi.gov. The IFCC will review your complaint and refer it to the proper law enforcement agency.

Inteet Auction fraud is a large and growing problem. Take the measures outlined above to prevent yourself from becoming a victim.

Copyright(C)2004 Bucaro TecHelp.

Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included.

About The Author

Stephen Bucaro

To lea how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com. To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp

How to Pay for an Item on eBay

There can be different payment modes on eBay, decision depends on the seller, and how he or she accepts. Each seller being unique can accept different payment methods listed. If you go through the item description before bidding you will find the payment method the seller is wanting. Best way to pay on eBay is to clicking on the "pay now" button. You will see such a button appearing on the web page when you have selected the item you want to buy and also in the email sent to you by eBay confirming your item selection.

PayPal is, as the name suggests, very user friendly and hence the easiest and fastest way to pay for items on eBay. It helps you with various options for paying like credit and debit cards, bank accounts or electronic payments. It is best if the seller of your item chooses PayPal. In that case you simply have to click on the "pay now" button. After reviewing your purchase you can soon pay with PayPal. The seller will then be immediately informed about your payment.

But if you are opting for some other kind of payment option like sending a cheque or a money order then after clicking on the "pay now" button you will get details on such kind of detailed payment procedures. In this you will get to note down the address where your payment has to reach. Here, where PayPal kind of reliable body is not involved, you have to be very careful. You should try to bid on items where you have the freedom to choose the payment type. For instance, if you want to send a cheque but the seller is pressing upon to pay via money order, sounds fishy. It is obligatory to pay to the seller using one of the methods stated in the eBay listing. If some seller changes such methods below the entire listing, you should press upon paying through one of the methods specified.

Donny Lowy runs http://www.closeoutexplosion.com an online wholesale and closeout business that supplies eBay sellers, retailers, and flea market vendors.

eBay and How to Tell If Your Product Is Valuable or Worthless Junk

When is a book not a book? When it's autographed, for example, or in pristine condition despite being centuries old, and other factors that make it stand out from the crowd.

These are a few of many reasons an item – not just books by the way - may be worth nothing and another virtually priceless:

* Is it dated? Dated items are usually provenance proved, not subject to guesswork. But, consider: is it original or a reproduction or reprint? Be careful, if it's dated, give the date, but don't testify to age. For example, a book dated 1900 may indeed have been printed that year, and be 105 years old, or it could be a mode reprint. If you're unsure you could say: 'Dated 1900, in good condition', but not 'Dated 1900. A wonderful example at 105 years old'. Play it safe and on all your listings add: 'All items described to the best of our knowledge and ability'. A satisfaction or money back guarantee also protects you against problems of innocently mis-describing items.

* Is there a signature? Did this otherwise ordinary item have a famous owner to increase its value? Is the signature genuine? Or a forgery? Is the signature original or printed into the book? If the signature is original, is it the hand of the famous person or an agent charged with signing on their behalf?

* Is it in good condition? Do you understand what 'good condition' means for this particular item? Many collectibles, such as books, postcards, stamps, have industry recognised grading standards to which you should also conform. For example, unused collectors' stamps with hinge marks, are not mint, but can be described as unused or mounted, and other recognised descriptions.

* Is it rare? Or is it something quite common but new to you? What does rare really mean? Unless you are sure, describe it as 'unusual' or 'uncommon', not rare.

* It is antique? So many things described as antique are simply old, less than one hundred years to which the word antique really applies. So say 'old' or 'vintage', not 'antique', unless you're sure of that 100 year rule.

* Was the item designed for heavy use, such as pots and pans, coins and banknotes, and unlikely to survive the decades intact? Was the item ephemeral, of limited shelf life, such as theatre tickets, newspapers, and typically used or given away in hours or days? If the item has survived decades, intact, it could be valuable, maybe very valuable.

* Does the item have 'double appeal'? Might it attract bids from two or more different eBay categories and consequently multiple bids, such as a book on a popular theme, but a collectible author, with a famous previous owner. A plate I bought at the auction of Dame Catherine Cookson's effects presented four collecting themes: as a plate in its own right (very popular collecting area), famous owner (well-known novelist), Ringtons design (advertising), area of manufacture (Newcastle-on-Tyne). Oh yes, it was also blue and white, another major collecting interest.

* Is the price too low for comfort? Is it a fake or reproduction? Broken? Even worse, stolen? Check items thoroughly, ask for proof of previous ownership, buy from reputable sellers only, avoid itinerant sellers at flea markets and boot sales unless they provide receipts and contact details. Most boot sale and flea market sellers are very genuine and a majority of organisers now provide written details of traders at the event. Stolen items belong to their original owner, not the innocent buyer.

Avril Harper is a triple eBay PowerSeller and editor of eBay Confidential and webmaster of http://www.publishingcircles.com. She has produced a free guide - 103 POWERSELLER TIPS - which you can download with other freely distributable reports and ebooks at http://www.toppco.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Avril_Harper

7 Reasons To Buy Electronics From China

China has become the world's largest maker of consumer electronics, producing more MP3 Players, Digital Cameras, Video Players, Electronic Gadgets, and other high tech products than any other country.

Have you ever wondered how you could buy direct from the source in China and make your own profits from this economic miracle?

1. Hottest Unseen Consumer Electronics And Gadgets

If you work together direct with suppliers in China you will be ahead of your competition. You will be able to buy many cutting-edge consumer electronics, long before they arrive in the retail stores back home. And you'll have the chance to check out the newest products before they are even released.

2. Don't Worry, They Speak English

Many trading companies and wholesalers in China are already experienced in dealing day to day with their foreign customers in English. And if you are lucky, you will be able to find partner companies in China which are wholly run by Europeans or Americans. Many of them will provide just the same quality of service and support as you would expect from anyone back home.

3. Isn't China On The Other Side Of The World?

You can already see "Made In China" labels everywhere you go. Thanks to inteational logistics companies like UPS and DHL practically any country in the world can receive consumer electronics straight from China. Wherever your customers are in the world, your next buying opportunity will be in China, especially with the increasing number of Chinese wholesale drop-shippers opening their services inteationally.

4. Wholesalers, MOQ, Yadda Yadda

In most manufacturing sectors in China, suppliers require a minimum order quantity (MOQ) for their products before the production process even starts. However, recently it's become much easier to order smaller quantities of electronics: wholesalers such as Chinavasion.com are the leaders in this field. You want one sample, you got it. You need 20 pieces for your online business? No problem! Online wholesalers are opening the electronics market for small to medium business like never before.

5. Can They Drop-Ship in China?

The traditional trade triangle of wholesaler - retailer - customer has been revolutionized through the Inteet. Now at last you can ship direct from China to your customers worldwide without touching the products. (Just in case profiting with Chinese Wholesalers wasn't a big enough opportunity already.)

6. How Do I Pay Them If They're In China?

With online wholesalers you can usually choose to pay in many inteational currencies, and even submit payment "the eBay way" - through Paypal secure online ordering. Paypal offers total protection for buyers, and dealing with their approved online electronics wholesalers will give you extra peace of mind.

7. The Bottom Line

China has been described as the world's factory. The unbelievably cheap production costs for consumer electronics in China are well known to everybody.

Online wholesalers simply let you put those products straight in your cart, without all the hassle - and middlemen - normally associated with the import trade. With no sales taxes added or hidden charges, the price you pay… well, it will speak for itself.

A strong relationship with an electronics wholesaler in China will let you reap rewards for years to come.

Rose Lee is a member of Chinavasion Wholesale Ltd. To get access to real-time prices for wholesale electronics direct from China, register now for free at China Wholesale Electronics

eBay Getting More Bids Using An Auction Preview

If you sell in small niches as I recommend and are organized enough that you know what you will be listing on eBay 1 to 2 weeks ahead of time, you should give serious thought to previewing your upcoming auctions for your customers. The result can be increased sales and higher final bids.

For two years I used a free hosting service to host a small web site that I used as a pre-auction catalog. Each week this preview site would contain pictures and descriptions of the majority of the items I would be listing on eBay the following week.

When that hosting service eventually dropped it's free hosting, because of time constraints, I let that part of my business slide. Over the course of the next 3-4 months I saw a significant decrease in the number of bids, the final selling price, and the number of auctions that closed successfully. At the time that was an industry wide trend but I also think it had a great deal to do with the fact I no longer had a preview site on-line.

After a few months I moved the site to a cheap hosting company and saw an immediate increase in bidders, final selling prices, and closing prices. Adding an auction preview site to your business model can have significant benefits to your eBay business.

An auction preview site has several advantages - both to you and to your potential bidders.

Advantages to the bidder include:

1. It gives them additional time to do research on an item if they want.

2. It gives them more time to ask questions about an item.

3. It allows them to plan their purchases. Many bidders budget a specific amount of money each month for on-line purchases. I've had several bidders tell me they'd decided not to bid on someone else's item so they would have the money to bid on what I was listing next week.

Advantage to you the seller include:

1. It gives you a chance to hone your description if needed. If you are receiving a lot of similar questions from several customers about an item it probably means you need more or better pictures or to make your description more detailed.

2. In most cases it will increase selling prices. I've found that people tend to bid earlier on auctions that they have been able to preview. This early bidding attracts other bidders to the auction and often drives the final price up.

Your preview site doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive. A free hosting service works just fine for what this would be used for. Most of them offer 10-25 megabytes of space, and easy to use page building tools. That's really all you require.

Another option might be geocities.yahoo.com which gives you 25 MB of web space, 5 GB of data transfer and a helpful web page building utility for only $4.95 a month.

Also most of you will find that your ISP offers 10-25 megabytes of free space. If you have a basic knowledge of FTP and HTML this may be a good route to take.

What should you put on your preview page?

1. The items you will be putting on eBay the following week.

2 Clear pictures of the item.

3. A well written description of the item including any flaws.

4. An easy to find email link so prospective bidders can easily email you with any questions they may have.

Advertise your preview site by including a link on your About Me page. Include it in all winning bidder announcements and other correspondence you have with customers. A link in your signature file is a good idea. If you have a list, send an announcement of your new preview site to your list.

If you try this for a month or two I think you will find the results pleasantly surprising - and well worth the effort involved. And, your customers will love you!

Gary Hendrickson has been making his living selling on eBay for more than six years. He's the author of two eBay related ebooks, has a blog for eBay sellers, and is the owner of ColdItems.Com.

ColdItems.Com The Auction Rebel Blog

Online Auctions

When you think of an online auction you think of Ebay right? Well, as huge as Ebay is there is much competition on bidding for items. Most likely the bargain you find ends up getting the price driven through the roof. There are many other online auction websites out there that are as good or if not better than Ebay. The good thing about these auction sites is that the traffic level is much lower and you have a much higher chance of winning your auction! That sounds wonderful right? Well, it is! Would you much rather have less or no competition when trying to bid on that one bargain you just have to have? Below is a list of less known auction websites:

Yahoo Auctions

Overstock Auctions

Ubid Auctions

Rummagehouse Auctions

Bidz

Squeagle

Again, the other auction websites offer many different products just like the giant Ebay, but no one knows about them due to the monopoly Ebay has over them. They are like gold mines just waiting for people to discover them. They are filled with merchandise at the lowest price possible. Get in there and bid on them before someone else has the chance to grab your deal! Great products + less bidding + competition = One great deal for you!

Brought to you by: http://www.hot-commodity.com/ The web's best online auction listing and buying service.

Online Auctions

While some companies have online auction sites, the individual seller conducts most online auctions. Auction sites such as eBay require sellers to register, and to pay a fee each time they auction an item. Sellers usually list a reserve price, or minimum bid they are willing to consider, and also set a time limit for bids. Better sellers provide a full description of the item being auctioned, and a photograph, and are willing to respond to any questions about the item. At the end of the bidding period, the person with the highest bid wins the auction. At this point, the seller establishes contact to discuss payment options, shipping, refunds and follow-up service, if any is available.

Auctions work best when both the buyer and the seller fully understand and comply with the rules of the auction site. Doing so helps either party notice if something doesn't seem quite right. Experienced sellers lea to identify and screen out bogus bids.

Once a buyer places a winning bid, the seller usually specifies payment terms via a third-party payment agency. For items of substantial value, an escrow service may be used, which holds the buyer's money until the buyer receives the item and is satisfied with it. Some auction sites provide payment and escrow services.

Unfortunately, online auctions don't necessarily proceed in a smooth manner or to the satisfaction of the seller and the bidder. The Federal Trade Commission ranks fraud related to online auctions as one of the leading causes of complaints. Fraud may be committed by either the seller or the buyer, and usually involves payment or receipt of items. Online auction fraud should be promptly reported, with as much documentation as possible, to the Better Business Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, local consumer protection agencies and your state attoey general's office.

Online Auctions provides detailed information on Online Auctions, Online Antique Auctions, Online Auto Auctions, Online Auction Sites and more. Online Auctions is affiliated with Auction Services. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Morris

5 Reasons Why Playing Music On Your Auctions Is A Bummer Of An Idea

There are 147 million registered users on eBay, and tens of millions of those are desperately fighting to make sales on eBay. When trying to make their auction listings as powerful as possible, many sellers use ill-advised tactics. They think that if they entertain buyers, they are more likely to get a sale. And as the Inteet becomes more multi-media, there are many temptations thrown in our way, especially the use of sound.

Using background music or sounds, unless you're selling music, is probably a bad idea. If you are going to include music or even an audio product pitch, you are wise to include a command panel that will allow the viewer to listen or not as she pleases. Do not! Do not! Do not! set up your auction listing so that a potential customer is greeted with loud music as soon as they click on your page. Here's why:

1. Potential buyers are there to see your Gucci handbag or Oakley sunglasses, not to be entertained. Making a buying decision is serious business and you to do not want to take their attention away from your merchandise. Instead, the entire focus of your page should be directed at whatever you are selling. Music is simply a distraction.

2. At this time, we cannot count on the quality of audio technology. Buyers have different browsers, different connections and possibly antiquated equipment. Even worse than unwanted music is unwanted music that sounds terrible, that is scratchy, too loud or of awful quality.

3. You will most likely not know what kind of music your perspective buyer wants to hear. If you are selling to teens you can be reasonably certain that they do not want to hear Big Band music. But can you know whether they prefer Eminem or Travis Twitt? Obviously not.

4. Consider the situation of your buyer. He might be prowling eBay while he is at work and is not supposed to be surfing the net. Sudden blaring music as the Vice-President of the company walks by is the last thing he wants. Or a Mom might have just gotten her colicky baby to sleep and when your music wakes up a cranky infant you can be certain you will never get a sale from that irate parent.

5. Audio files take longer to download than text. If your prospective customer has dialup instead of a high-speed connection, they will most likely be gone before your auction page has even loaded.

Ignore the temptation to make your auctions 'more exciting', and instead, concentrate every element on the page on your merchandise. The last thing you want to do is distract a serious buyer who might decide to purchase. Let them find their entertainment elsewhere!

Lea how to sell on eBay with 16 hours of online instruction taught by a 10 year eBay veteran. Own an eBay business instead of an eBay hobby.

Is An Online Auction Right For My Purchase

Is an online auction the right place for you to purchase things at a price you can afford? There was a time when flea markets and garage sales were the destination of choice for those seeking a deal on certain items they wanted. Though both of those market places still exist, there is a better way of doing things: the online auction. Made popular by ebay, online auctions are now all over the Inteet and a great way to find a good deal on any number of items you may need without driving all over town or strolling from tent to tent over 20 acres of flea market.

There are a couple of ways to make sure you make the most of your online auction experience. Certain strategies will be helpful in getting you the price you want on the item you are seeking. Keep these in mind and the next time you log on to the online auction of your choice you will be armed and ready.

Most all online auctions work off of a timer on the auction. An item is put up for sale and site members bid on it. The bidding continues until the clock runs out on the auction, then the seller and buyer get together to decide how the item and money will change hands. First, though, you will need to search the site for the item you are seeking. Once you have found it, there is a little something else you should look for: a buyers auction time ending error. Sometimes you will find a seller who accidentally has their auction ending at a weird time, like 2:00 AM. Rarely will anyone be up bidding on that old pair of skis in the middle of the night. So, if that is what you really want, you can log on about 15 minutes prior to the end of the auction and bid at the last second over the last high bid and have little fear of another poacher being out there going over you as well. So, keep an eye on those end times.

Another thing to look for on online auctions sites is "buy now" features. Many times retailers will sell their overstocked merchandise at an online auction for a discounted price. Rather than going through the bidding of an auction, they offer their items at a "buy now" price. You can simply click on a logo or link and buy the item at a predetermined price without the hassle of the online auction process. These are great to watch for at online auction sites because you will also end up with new merchandise rather than the used or lightly wo merchandise you get with a person to person auction buy.

Online auctions are a great tool for getting the things you are looking for a good price. Long gone are the days of garage sale surfing for the perfect used item or browsing the booths of your local flea market. Now, you simply log on to your favorite online auction site and search for what you need. It is easy and certainly less time consuming.

If you would like to find more of my personal articles on auctions please check out my technology website!

Drop Shipping Your Way to Increased Profits

Drop shipping, for those who are unfamiliar with it, is a system whereby you promote the products of a particular manufacturer, take orders directly, and the manufacturer/source handles all the inventory and fulfillment functions for you.

In a nutshell, here is the drop-ship system:

==>You generate and accept the order.

==>You take your profits out of the sale price.

==>You forward the order and the wholesale cost to the drop shipper.

==>The source factory ships directly to your customer.

The benefits of this arrangement are probably obvious:

* No inventory cost to you.

* Substantially higher profits to you over what most regular affiliate programs allow.

* The ability to quickly set-up inexpensive, highly targeted, niche or mini-sites to test and promote diverse products.

This process has been around for years and has been responsible for many highly successful mail order dealer relationships in the past. Many of the top catalogers and other direct response marketers, have been using this system to increase profits for decades. If you have ever ordered a high priced item from a mail order catalog and been told that the product was being shipped from the factory... then you have experienced drop shipping first hand.

Drop shipping is, I believe, a virgin un-tapped storehouse of profits for todays inteet marketer.

On-line directories exist [http://www.dropshipprofits.com] which reveal essential contact information for drop shippers of over 2,000,000 products and 4,000 brands. Most legitimate drop ship sources will require that you have a state tax reseller number in order to approve you to sell their products and give you the wholesale pricing you are looking for.

Beware of any drop ship source which requires you to pay a fee in order to become a drop-ship dealer... or requires a membership. These are generally organizations which make their money selling "drop ship licenses"... and are, for the most part, scams. Legitimate drop shippers and factory sources never charge you any fees other than the actual wholesale cost & shipping costs of the products you sell.

Another caveat... always make sure that you have a written agreement with the source factory that you own the customer! The factory or drop ship source should agree in writing not to solicit your customers in any form. This is very important to you. Your customer list is one of your most important assets. If the factory you are dealing with balks at this request... use another source who will agree.

Almost every conceivable type of product is available from a drop shipper willing to ship products in single units under your companies name. Pick your interest area... electronics, consumer products, agricultural & industrial products, office equipment & supplies, hobby gear, recreational / sporting goods, clothing, fuiture, etc. The list of available products from drop shippers is almost endless.

The products actual source is invisible to the consumer. The seller (you) is able to build a database of customers that he/she owns and controls (by agreement with the manufacturer) and has all the direct marketing advantages that accompany that arrangement... while eliminating the need for maintaining expensive inventory.

This arrangement offers maximum flexibility and cost savings for the seller. If a product does not sell well online you can pull the advertising (web page or mini-site) instantly with very little cost to you outside of the actual time it took to build and test the web marketing effort. Or, since this type of page/mini-site is so inexpensive to maintain and host... you can simply leave the pages online and take whatever orders trickle through... while you move on to the testing and promotion of new drop ship products. A quick marketing test can be done on eBay or other auction site to determine if the product sells... and at what price.

The manufacturer benefits from this relationship by gaining a legion of active marketers promoting their products... at little or no cost (other than those small costs involved with supporting the marketer with online marketing materials like product images, sales materials, etc).

As a marketer you are looking for several key components in developing the drop-ship relationship with a source factory or distributor:

** High Quality Products

** Blanket Product Liability Insurance (if applicable)

** A clear guarantee and retu policy

** High Quality Marketing Materials ... product images (gifs, jpegs, etc.), selling copy, other suitable web graphics, etc.

** A Customer Service Department that will work with you to develop the best selling situation for you.

If you are a manufacturer seeking to expand distribution (or an inventor with a new product ) you will find the willingness to drop ship in single units will give you a strong competitive edge while you carve out increased market share at little cost.

If you are an online marketer interested in offering high profit products to your niche market (your website visitors) without incurring high front-end development or inventory costs... then drop shipping is for you.

Inteet marketers are uniquely positioned to take profitable advantage of the drop ship arrangement and should give this system a serious look.

(c) Copyright 2005 Thom Reece

Thom Reece is CEO of Online Marketing Resource Center [http://www.E-ComProfits.com] and publisher of "Thom Reece's Web Marketing Strategies & Techniques Newsletter". You may subscribe free at: http://www.WMSTDirect.com, mailto:thom@e-comprofits.com

How to Make Money Selling on eBay

Selling on eBay can be a lucrative business if you know what you're doing. More and more enterprising people are leaing the secrets of making money on eBay. We are here to show you all the tips and secrets you need to be successful and lea How to make money selling on eBay.

eBay is a great site to use if you want an alteative to a garage sale. But keep in mind that it can be a somewhat more complex process than a garage sale. You are relying on pictures and your product description to sell your goods to someone who is taking your word that the item is as described, and you are taking their word that they will come across with the payment.

I have made over $1000 in the past month selling both used and new goods. I also have an eBay Store, which is a good idea to showcase items you have plenty of stock. One of the great things about eBay is their search tool, in which you can search for the hottest sellers on eBay. I also use PayPal, eBay's payment processor and one of the largest payment processors in the world.

Selling on eBay, has been lucrative, but the amount of work involved can result in a feeling that it's just not worth it. Don't forget, at a garage sale the person picks up the item and leaves with it. Sales are final. With an eBay sale, you have to wrap it carefully and take it to the post office or UPS for delivery. You have to notify the buyer that the package has been sent (usually just an email), and hope that it is delivered. In some cases, if your descriptions are not crystal clear, the buyer will feel that the item doesn't reflect your description and will want a refund. This occasionally happens, and out of 200 successful transactions, has only happened to me once.

In the early days of eBay, the sellers were just regular people who wanted to clear out their garages or attics. Now, the site and interest has grown so significantly that "mainstream" businesses sell on the site. For example, you will see products offered by "Sharper Image" and other well-known companies. You can buy automobiles, boats, and almost anything imaginable. With reference to your conce about where sellers get their items, many buy discontinued goods from major retailers, so I wouldn't necessarily suspect the source. Just like any other business, eBay is "buyer beware", because there are scam artists out there who will take your money and give you nothing or inferior products. That's why it is very important to read the seller/buyer feedback.

How To Make Money Selling On eBay

I have enjoyed my experiences on eBay and would recommend it to potential sellers who are well organized and have the time to photograph their items, write descriptions, track the bidding, and package and mail their items in a timely manner. Not only can you make a few dollars but you also get to meet some really neat people. Although this site is designed to show you How to make money selling on eBay, we also show you how to build a good reputation and make some good friends.

Lonnie Robinson is a new einfopreneur, who is making a great income, selling information products on the net. His new membership website, The Ultimate software Membership Pak, has over 200 members and counting. To view his blog, please visit: http://resell-rights-club.blogspot.com

How To Respond To An eBay Buyer s Complaint

At some point in your eBay selling life, one of your customers is going to send you a complaint. As long as you respond to it properly, however, itÂ's easy to keep a complaint from tuing into a crisis.

Respond Immediately and Grovellingly.

Someone might complain to you directly, or they might do it through eBay. Whatever happens, you need to email them immediately. HereÂ's a template to use:

Â"I have just received your complaint and I would like to say that I am very sorry you arenÂ't satisfied. If you would like, I can send you a [replacement/refund] for the item, as part of my Â'no questions askedÂ' guarantee. I apologise again for our mistake.Â"

Whatever you do, donÂ't start making excuses for yourself. Â"Oh, sorry, I didnÂ't get around to posting it yet because IÂ've been busy at work and IÂ'm going on holiday next weekÂ…Â" – no-one cares. If the buyer isnÂ't satisfied, then you screwed up, and you need to apologise repeatedly and do everything you can to make them happy again. Besides, is it really worth your time to go through eBayÂ's long-winded dispute process when all itÂ's going to do is alienate your customers?

This an attitude that will give you a massive advantage in eBay selling, for the simple reason that many smaller sellers are confrontational, unhelpful and out for every penny they can get. If buyers are rude to you, itÂ's just because theyÂ're used to dealing with rude sellers.

Responding politely, promptly and being willing to do anything for your buyers will mark you out as different. ItÂ's so rare that you might even manage to tu your complaining buyer into one of your most loyal customers!

Let People Phone You.

DonÂ't insist that everything is done with email – allow frustrated buyers to phone you and have a chat about their item. The chances are that they will never have talked to a human voice before about an eBay complaint, and will be even more impressed with anything you offer them to solve their problem.

Neutralise Negative Feedback.

If it really comes down to it and your complaint ends up as a piece of negative feedback on your record, make sure you post a response – and donÂ't make it something like Â"buyer was impossible to work with, avoidÂ"!

Instead, post an apology, and detail what you did to put things right, for example: Â"Very sorry for the scratched item, I have sent a replacementÂ". You may also find that some buyers leave feedback before you have the chance to put things right, in which case you could write a phone number in the response space, or something like Â"I have emailed you about a refundÂ".

This will let anyone looking through your feedback see that not only are negatives very rare, but the few that there might be arenÂ't really worth counting.

In the next email, youÂ'll lea how to tu your shipping costs into a profit center.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Kirsten Hawkins is an Ebay and inteet auction enthusiast from Nashville, TN. Visit www.auctionseller411.com/ for more great tips on how to make the most from Ebay and other online auctions.

Online Auctions How Much Do You Know About Them

Online auctions are a great way to find a bargain on almost everything and it is an excellent way of getting the best price for selling something of your own. These are Virtual auctions on the Inteet. The seller sells the product to the person who offers the highest price. These products include houses, cars, seized electronics, jewelry, books, antiques and others.

Consumers are increasingly feeling more comfortable in buying products through the Inteet. Through online auctions they are able to bid on state surplus items, using any computer with Inteet access.

There are innumerable auction sites, selling everything from a pen to a used car and even houses if you want to bid from them. For sellers, online auctions open up new sales channels for new products and offer buyers favorable purchasing conditions. Just think of the product and you will find it on one of the auction sites. All you have to do is sign up, get registered and bid a price for that item.

The items available for sale can include: airport confiscated equipment, boats, electronics, medical supplies, office fuiture and equipment, tools and equipment, antiques, computers, heavy equipment and machinery, vehicles, specialty items, and miscellaneous items.

Online auctions are different from their real-world counterparts. You are free to take your time browsing the listings and bidding takes place over a period of days rather than minutes. Online Auctions offer good opportunity for anyone wishing to start an online business for a number of reasons. If you feel you have the persistence necessary to run your own successful business, this is one opportunity you should consider.

There are thousands of online auctions on the Inteet with more popping up everyday. People love them because they can usually find great bargains.

Some of the tips for buyers and sellers at online auctions:

You could sell your excess or discontinued products at an online auction. It's an effective way to make extra income without any loss for your business. Thus you can make a profit depending on how much people will bid for your excess inventory. Also excessive inventory can be cleared off cost effectively.

An easy way to test new product prices is to see what people will bid for them at an online auction. First, sell your product at three different online auctions. Next, calculate the average selling bid from all three auctions and that will be your selling price for your new product. Hence we can know the exact selling price of the product.

There are numerous auction sites for bidding any product. Some of the auction sites draw over millions of hits a year. The key to being successful is to sell your product at multiple online auctions at the same time. Suppose if we sell a product at one hundred online auction sites that would be one hundred sales a day! This way we can increase our sales at one time.

You could drive traffic to your web site by starting your own online auction site. Customers will visit your web site to find bargains and to sell their own products. Thus plenty of repeat visitors from people re-bidding on products and adding new products to sell.

Lowering business costs is another benefit of online auction. The prices on business supplies and equipment at online auctions are lower. So, do some research work to find which site offers lowest price of the same product to make good savings. For example, a company may be selling them at a lower price at an online auction because they have excess inventory.

Drop shipping is used by intermediary and mail order companies who do not wish to stock inventory of the products sold for future delivery through mail order, catalogues and Inteet advertising. Manufacturers providing drop-shipping services can gain additional sales, shift advertising costs to middlemen, offer advertising material and reduce inventory requirements. Minimal capital is needed to start.

Pradeep Aggarwal is the creator of Auction Spectrum the online auction hub. This site is dedicated to helping people build Profit Pulling Websites and start and run a successful online auction business.

Are eBayers and PayPalers Really That Dumb

By now you have no doubt read no less then six zillion waings about "phishing". (See definition below)

Sorry to test your patience, but here's yet another one.

I have a small presence on eBay selling art prints and posters. A hundred years ago, (maybe I exaggerate a little), I had three gallery/frame shops that I sold to someone that wanted them more then I did. About a year, maybe two years, back I decided I wanted to see about all the hype surrounding eBay. Truth be known, I also wanted to use it as an excuse to get back into the art business. Conversely, I reestablished a number of old contacts with some of my friends and associates in the publishing business. That is when I set up my eBay Store.

One of the things I quickly leaed was that these "phishing" thieves must think I am really dumb.

Since the first month I opened my store, I have been getting phishing emails. Lately, the number I get has increased to as many as 5-6 every single day.

These thieves must be making money on the scam. It must be working, and there must be some people out there that are falling for this. Otherwise, why would they keep doing?

I get not just "look alike" but copies of email forms from these people that are identical to the legitimate forms from eBay's new email system. To be honest with you, I cannot tell them apart and do not even try. I just delete them. I don't read any of them. I don't even click on them beyond what it takes to delete them.

One of scams they run is sending an email saying they have bought one of my prints. They claim that they have paid for it but that I have failed to deliver it to them. And there's the "Respond Now" button right where it should be. The trouble is it does not go to the legitimate eBay site. It goes to a phony site that these thieves have set up. If I were to click on it and log in, they would get my ID and Password which would give them full access to my account. To compound this, they are using the same information on their PayPal account and who knows how many other sites.

Same thing goes for PayPal.

I have had a PayPal account that goes back a year or so before eBay bought them out. To this day I have never opened an email form PayPal.

There is a simple solution to what is becoming a growing problem – don't do it! Don't fall for it!!

If these people want to contact you, they will do so from inside you account. Incidentally, PayPal is a bank, and like any bank account you have to track the transactions, check your balances, deposits, and debits… "Balance your check book" every month. I do this, and to this day I have not found one penny unaccounted for in a legitimate fashion. Although I do have some doubts about the three drivers I bought on eBay that still can't find the fairway on Saturday.

Keep in mind, it doesn't take a genius to set-up (steal) someone else's page lay-out. And anyone can attach any URL address to any form or set of words and letters.

Just because it says paypal.com doesn't make so.

Phishing

A method of identity theft carried out through the creation of a website that seems to represent a legitimate company. The visitors to the site, thinking they are buying something from a real business, submit their personal information to the site. The criminals then use the personal information for their own purposes, or sell the information to other criminal parties.

Investopedia Commentary

A classic example of phishing is an identity thief setting up a website that looks like it belongs to a major bank. Then, that thief sends out many emails that claim to be from the major bank and request the email recipients to input their personal banking information (such as their PIN) into the website so the bank may update their records. Once the scammer gets a hold of the needed personal information, they attempt to access the victim's bank account. –dictionary.com

Floyd Snyder is the founder and former owner of Executive Advertising, Camera Ready Art and Strictly Business Magazine. Currently he is the owner of Strictly Business Magazine at http://www.sbmag.org, TraderAide.com at http://www.traderaide.com/ and eBay Store FrameHouseGallery at http://stores.ebay.com/FrameHouseGallery.

One Step Ahead on Ebay

1. Determine if the product that you are going to auction is a one time sale or if you have a continuous supply of this item. This means that if it is a one time item that you are going to want to get the best price for it. The best way I found to do this is to put a reserve price on the item close to what you need to get out of it. I know that alot of people say that a reserve price will hinder the chances of selling an item, but it won't if you try not to be greedy. If you have a continuous supply of a product, taking a $15-$20 profit is the way to go on something like a $200 Digital camera because you will have many more sales.

2. If you want a steady income on Ebay you need to find suppliers. The best way to do this is to determine what type of product you want to sell, and then start researching what that item is selling for on auction sites. Once you find a supplier that carries your product and you determine that you can profit at least 10% after your listing fees and Paypal fees if any, you are then ready to climb aboard the Ebay bandwagon.

3. The next thing you will want to do once you find the right supplier is to buy a few items to sell. This way you are going to test the suppliers quickness in getting the items to you. Also it is good if the supplier will dropship to your customers. The reason for this is sometimes you may get a item that is broke or scratched and you don't realize it until it is time to ship to your customer. A dropshipper can send this item to your customer just like it came from you.

I hope these few little tips will help you get started in a hobby on Ebay or maybe a lucrative business.

About The Author

Kevin Anthony is an Ebay seller who makes a nice living selling consumer electronics. For Ebay products to sell try: http://www.bestwholesaleelectronics.com

kanthony39us@yahoo.com

Online Auctions 10 Secrets You Should Know Before Bidding

Online Auctions are the best thing that has happened with the advent of Inteet. It makes business online that much more easier and simple. Before you jump into the bandwagon, it is very important to know the facts about online auctions.

And the next time you decide to bid for a product or a service, do remember these vital online auctions secrets and tips.

1. Important to know the value of the product you plan to bid. Product is new? Check the price retailers are charging for it. It helps in two ways, you'll know the original cost and helps you to pay way less than the retail value, if it is old or re-conditioned.

2. To ensure that you get a good product, get the complete information and picture of the product from merchant, if the details are incomplete on the site.

3. Decide your maximum paying limit and stick to it lest you may end up caught in the 'bid war' and end up paying more than the actual cost.

4. It is always good to check a few auction sites for you may find the same product at a much lesser price in some unpopular sites simple because of the fewer number of buyers in those sites.

5. Make a note of the auction begin and end time. And the shipping time as well. This helps you to calculate the time when you want the product at a certain date.

6. Payments: Check the various payment modes the merchant offers. If checks and money orders are accepted, the delay in delivery will invariably be delayed for the payment has to clear. If the credit cards are accepted, ensure they have secure server.

7. Find out if the merchant offers a warranty or money back guarantee before the bid. Surely you don't want to be bogged down with a defective or unsatisfactory product.

8. Always good to check the track record of the merchant, if offered one. See if you can bump into any complaints from the past customers.

9. Start your auction early to convey a message to other that you're interested in the product. If someone outbid you, you do the same. Always remember your maximum bid limit.

10. The reason to know the bid time - it helps you place a last minute bid, assuming that other bidders may not have kept track of the bid time

Pradeep Aggarwal is the creator of Auction Spectrum the online auction hub. This site is dedicated to helping people start and run a successful online auction business by providing Inteet Marketing Tools to build profit making websites.

eBay How to Find High Profit Products to Buy In Bulk Before You Even See Them

Here's a simple trick I spotted just last week, one I hadn't noticed before, not in almost thirty years of bidding at offline auctions, one that could tu every auction you visit into a fabulous source of high price items that you'll pick up for pennies.

I sat there, Wednesday last week, wondering how, in just one day, and a few hours before the auction starts tomorrow, can I possibly see what's in these forty plus albums and suitcases filled with postcards, three hundred plus albums and shoes boxes packed with stamps and first day covers, and an entire shelf filled to the brim with cigarette cards and paper collectibles? How can I ever know how much to bid on almost six hundred auction lots, some of which take a minimum one hour just to flick through with no hope of perusing properly?

And where are those people who regularly bid against me at this auction, people who always spend thousands of pounds at this venue? They were nowhere to be seen on Wednesday, they arrived catalogue in hand next day just a few minutes before bidding commenced.

Maybe they got a sneak preview, a private viewing of items they'd bid for today? But no, I realise that doesn't happen here. When the answer finally dawned on me it opened my eyes to a wonderful way to bid at auction with confidence, even without viewing beforehand.

You see, you really can't view properly at auctions packed with multi-item lots and short viewing periods. Realistically, it could take months, dare I say years, to inspect every postcard, every stamp, every coin and cigarette card, every print, every book, every piece of paper for profit potential?

Over coffee, people I'd known for years confessed they wondered why I spent so long viewing items when a simple statistical formula was all they used to determine their maximum bids.

Let me emphasize this doesn't work with single lot items, like vintage dolls and teddy bears, paintings and toys trains. It only works with multi lots containing hundreds of items.

The trick is just to trust the auctioneers' estimate of how much a lot will fetch and never exceed that amount. Some bidders stop at the top of the estimate, others at the bottom, yet more buy only items that sell below estimate.

Also consider that offline prices are invariably inflated on eBay, where even common collectibles can reach way beyond catalogue value. Most offline auctioneers estimate according to offline value, they're rarely 'techies' and few are personally familiar with eBay, so whatever they think an item is worth can often be double, tripled, or more on eBay.

Tips

* You should always take a brief look at high estimate lots, people make mistakes, there could be typing and printing errors to inflate an otherwise affordable price. Like the rest of us, auctioneers have 'off days', when their estimates will be way off target. A quick check of a handful of lots will reveal how carefully today's lots were valued.

* Do not use the technique until you have experience of particular auction houses. View in advance of your first two or three sales, estimate values, check how closely estimates match actual realizations, calculate statistical accuracy for individual lots and write this in the margin alongside. Where lots typically go within ten per cent of estimate (higher or lower) add 10% to the margin. Where estimates double add 200 per cent and trust auctioneers with low percentage points over others whose estimates vary widely, and consistently, and can never be trusted.

Avril Harper is a triple eBay PowerSeller and editor of eBay Confidential and webmaster of http://www.publishingcircles.com. She has produced a free guide - 103 POWERSELLER TIPS - which you can download with other freely distributable reports and ebooks at http://www.toppco.com