The Secret Of eBay^® PowerSellers^®

eBay PowerSellers have a secret to their eBay success. They aren’t just selling on eBay. They are running a business.

What’s the difference? A lot. Simply selling on eBay entails creating a posting or multiple postings, then sitting back to see how the products you’re selling on eBay fare compared to the competition.

An eBay PowerSeller is the one with an eBay success story. They are eBay’s top sellers in terms of consistent volume of monthly sales. They also maintain a 98% or better positive rating by eBay users.

Just like any business owner, an eBay PowerSeller has researched the market (in this case, the eBay market), analyzed the financial risks, and took a leap of faith when starting to sell on eBay. Instead of just selling one or two things, they have a detailed business plan and probably a detailed marketing plan, both meant to ensure eBay success.

In the business plan, an eBay PowerSeller calculates an average sales price and compares it with selling costs to determine how many items they will need to sell every month. For true eBay success, the numbers they sell every month should put them at a profit within a very short time frame because the overhead costs for selling on eBay are low.

The business plan also indicates whether the eBay PowerSeller has a plan to pay for auction listings or open an eBay storefront. The latter typically saves an eBay PowerSeller more because the monthly charge is most likely less than the price they would pay to sell on eBay one auction listing at a time.

The storefront also enables an eBay PowerSeller to create an image for their company. On eBay, success can be dictated by creating an appropriate and professional image. An eBay PowerSeller can determine the image their store will portray before opening.

Store items sell for a fixed price instead of the bidding process on eBay auctions. This way, an eBay PowerSeller can sit on those items until they get the right price. Getting the right price leads to greater eBay success.

Another great benefit an eBay PowerSeller can use in opening a storefront is the vacation settings. eBay storefronts can be put on vacation mode so that no one can see the store when they’re away. Vacations, as we all know, are vital to success at work. It’s no different with eBay success.

Vacation is especially important to an eBay PowerSeller because, to an eBay PowerSeller, selling on eBay is not just a hobby. They work very hard finding the right products to sell on eBay, marketing those products, and putting together assembly-line-like processes to get those products to the buyers quickly.

Keys to an eBay PowerSeller’s success

Keeping buyers happy is a primary key to eBay success. An eBay PowerSeller considers customer satisfaction extremely important to their business. It is, after all, the only way to maintain a 98% positive rating.

Aside from the rating, the feedback listed on an eBay PowerSeller’s storefront can make or break a sale. As with any business, negative press can hurt business. Unlike in traditional businesses, though, an eBay PowerSeller cannot avoid negative comments because they are posted right there on their doorstep. eBay success depends very heavily on positive feedback.

Efficiency is another key to eBay success. For an eBay PowerSeller, time is money. The time spent packing an order is time not spent making the next sale. eBay PowerSellers use various techniques to make their eBay stores more efficient.

For example, they use Dutch auctions, in which they place a large number of the same item up for auction at the same time. The highest bids win the product, and one bidder can bid on multiple items. For eBay PowerSellers, Dutch auctions are a huge time-saver because they are selling multiple items with one listing. They also get very good at packing the same item over and over again.

Assembly-line setups also help an eBay PowerSeller become more efficient. This usually involves a large table in the eBay PowerSeller’s basement stocked with everything needed to package and ship.

Another way an eBay PowerSeller can add efficiency to their business is by bulk-listing their auctions. This means they use a software program that will launch pre-created auction listings on a particular day and time. So, if they want to start selling Easter-related goods in early March, they can create the listings in February and schedule them to go live on the right date.

Keeping up with auction and eBay trends is another key to eBay success. They do this by reading books, joining chat rooms, and keeping an eye on the business section of the news. By keeping up, eBay PowerSellers not only ensure they aren’t blindsided with changes in eBay policies, they also learn about consumer trends that might help them make more money, adding to their eBay success.

Often, an eBay PowerSeller will find more eBay success when they have their own web site aside from their eBay storefront. Depending on what these eBay PowerSellers actually sell, having a separate web site can augment or even double yearly sales. In some cases, an eBay PowerSeller will have a separate Web-based business first, and use their eBay storefront to fill in the revenue gaps in slow months.

True eBay success means making buying and selling on eBay much more than a hobby. To really make money on eBay, sellers need to make it a business. Most eBay PowerSellers have found the keys to eBay success.

eBay is a registered trademark of eBay, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

This article is intended for general informational purposes and does not provide legal or other professional advice. All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Please read our disclaimer for additional terms and conditions governing access to and use of this article.