Product Description
eBay has changed the way products and services are purchased all over the world. Daily over 1.5 million online customers and providers log on to bid and sell virtually anything that can be bought or purchased. In 2006 eBay sellers are estimated to post $22 billion in sales. There are businesses earning $1 million a year selling products on eBay today. It is estimated that more than half a million people make full-time incomes just with their eBay business. eBay also allows you to run a business that requires no advertising costs. This expertly written new book will show you how to take advantage of this business phenomenon and arm you with the proper knowledge and insider secrets. Filled with actual examples and antidotes from real eBay entrepreneurs, this book is as engaging as it is informational. eBay is a level playing fieldit doesnt matter how old you are, what nationality or income level, whether you own a business now or not, what your background is, or where you are located. Start making money on eBay today! The book starts with a complete overview of how eBay works. Then you are guided through the whole process of creating the auction and auction strategies, photography, writing copy, text and formatting, managing auctions, shipping, collecting payments, registering, About Me page, sources for merchandise, multiple sales, programming tricks, PayPal, accounting, creating marketing, merchandising, managing e-mail lists, advertising plans, taxes and sales tax, best time to list items and for how long, sniping programs, international customers, opening a storefront, electronic commerce, buy-it now pricing, keywords, Google marketing, and eBay secrets; everything you will ever need to get started making money on eBay!
Customer Reviews:
Great for newbies and everyone.......2007-07-12
Cheryl Russell is articulate and specific in walking a person through the ropes of eBay from square one. She teaches how to do business, not just randomly sell (or try to sell) products. Her book covers details of recordkeeping and how to really grow a large, successful business. She methodically teaches the steps to success and helps the reader see the big picture of growing a business from scratch. Excellent resource!
Great referance for eBay Sellers.......2007-06-14
a Gotta Have book if you are planning on starting an eBay business in your home. also a great reference for the experienced eBayer.
Helpful for sure..........2007-05-08
...but not really anything I didn't already know, and I still consider myself to be a bit of a n00b. But the book does contain some good ideas.
If you are a complete newbie to eBay, this book could pretty much be essential.
wonderful book!!.......2007-02-22
great book! valuable resource, packed with accurate, up to date information on building a business with ebay. this is an interesting read-not at all boring. written for a newbie to ebay, but still an important tool for those with more ebay experience. worth the purchase price. this book has definitely given me important information on getting a store of my own-up and running. buy this book! shannontk
Do Yourself a Favor and Read This Book.......2007-02-09
Let me tell you why this book is important:
1. Listing fees on ebay can eat you alive if you don't pay attention.
2. Security risks are high on ebay,as its success has brought every low-life in the world into its realm.
3. If you want to make a bunch of money buying and selling goods, ebay is a place to do it.
That said, I believe this book provides as good of an overview of the ebay business as any.
You may also want to read "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill and "The 17 Principles of Creating Wealth" by Phillip Collinsworth.
Book Description
Starting An eBay Business For Dummies is the book eBay entrepreneurs have been dying to have -- all the tips and tricks of turning eBay trading into a full-time job are here.
This book covers the essentials an eBay user or budding entrepreneur needs to start a money-making venture by trading on eBay. Discover the essentials not only for maximizing your profits on eBay, but also how to run a smart business. This guide explains the enhanced features of eBay including their new Gallery feature designed to help business pull in customers by displaying their goods in individual online boutiques.
Customer Reviews:
Very Happy.......2007-07-22
The book was a lifesaver. It was in good condition and came in a timely manner.
eBay Overview.......2007-03-31
Beginners will find many useful tidbits to help them get a sucessful eBay business started. This book is a good starting point.
Useful.......2007-03-10
Some useful information on ebay. Not all ideas work for all items being sold, but gives you ideas.
Very surprised.......2007-02-07
Its a great first and reference book for beginners or if your thinking of selling anything on Ebay.
General Overview for eBay begginers.......2007-01-10
Overall this book was an easy read. The information is marginally useful. I would not say it is the best book on ebay selling, but there are bits of advice that I found useful. What I think lacked attention was the section on getting inventory, there just wasn't enough sources.
However the book does give advice on going legite and all the paper work you need to complete.
It is a good general book for starting, but not the only one you will need to run an eBay business.
Book Description
If you sell things online, you already know how important pictures are. They are the only way your customer has confidence to buy.
Whether you sell at eBay or on your website, better pictures attract more customers! This handbook will teach you how to take great pictures -- without spending a fortune!
This handbook includes highlighted tips on how to save money and take better pictures, as well as over 50 color pictures of equipment, techniques, and examples. Keep this handbook with your camera and refer to it when you need ideas or inspiration on your next pictures.
It is organized so you can quickly find the answers to your questions. You don't have to read the whole book -- you just find what you need and get going. There is a "Troubleshooting Guide" to help you correct problems you are having, a "Final Checklist" to ensure that you are ready to sell, and even a "Glossary" of photography and computer terms.
You don't have to be a professional photographer or a computer geek to create great images for your auctions. Rod writes in non-technical language and teaches you what you need in the section called "Computer jargon you will need." At last, you can take the mystery out of "jaypegs" and pixels!
If you don't have a camera or don't like the one you have, this handbook will teach you what features you need and which ones you don't. The camera the author actually used costs about $200, but he shows you how to be successful, whether your camera cost less or much more.
If you don't already have the equipment you need, Rod will show you how to buy it or make it for almost nothing. For example, did you know that for about $25 you could build your own table-top studio with tools like the professionals use: a seamless background, light booms for front, side, and backlighting, diffusers and reflectors for diffuse and indirect lighting? Add a couple of full-spectrum light bulbs with fixtures for another $20 and you have a great, complete studio for photographing things up to 2 feet in size.
Rod will teach you how to prepare your images for use on eBay so you have eye-catching thumbnails and fast-loading, high quality images. You will finally understand what you need to know about image formats, compression, image quality and more.
Customer Reviews:
Pictures for eBay.......2006-08-21
I thought that this book had many great ideas for great pictures. Many made very good sense.
OK at best.......2006-07-10
As a some time seller on eBay I've come to realize that my photos are as important, if not more impotant than my auction description. I guess the reason I'm not as enamoured with this book than the other reviewers of this book is that right off the top you are told not to read through this book, but to look for specific topics that will help solve your problems. How am I to learn a new trick/tip if I skip it because I don't think it applies to me? It has good info info, I just wish it was a better read and more substantial. I have several books on photography for eBay, and this is far from the worst, but it could have been outstanding. Personally I think "eBay Photos That Sell" by Dan Gookin is a better book for the non-professional.
Taking Great Pictures for eBay Auctions and Online Selling.......2006-01-22
This is a user-friendly book. Written for amateurs who know the importance of placing effective photos of their products on eBay, but who don't have the time or equipment to borrow into commercial photography. Mr. March's book makes it easy to learn several techniques that are essential to putting high impact, crisp photos on eBay. For example how to focus on your product with a consumer auto-focus camera, which can be frustrating without a manual focusing ring. By my estimate 50% of all eBay auction photos are either out of focus or soft focused. Too bad they haven't heard about Rod March's book.
Taking photos with a digital camera.......2005-09-24
Love this book! I have been listing on eBay for a couple of years and am always looking to improve my photos. This book is written in simple language with clear instructions, I can reccommend it to anyone who wishes to begin taking digital photos or improve their photos.
Taking Pictures For Your eBay Items PRICELESS.......2004-11-16
I recieved the book today and could'nt put it down. I went out and bought supplies for my own little picture taking studio! I thoughrt i knew how to take a great picture of my item's but was i wrong. I learned so much from this informative and easy to read book.The detail is execellent and he breaks everything down for even a beginner.The best investment you'll make if you plan on selling ANYTHING online.This IS THE BOOK!
Book Description
eBay is the world's #1 online shopping destination and can be a bit intimidating for first-time users. Thankfully, though, the latest edition of eBay For Dummies addresses all the issues a first-time or inexperienced eBay user will confront. Readers will be up to date in no time on the latest changes in the eBay interface, fee structure, and methods for buying and selling. Readers will quickly be on the path that makes bidding, buying, and selling the fun it should be!
A Reference for the Rest of Us!
- Author Marsha Collier is a recognized eBay expert, thanks to her bestselling books, appearances as an instructor at eBay University events, and appearances on NBC's Today Show, ABC's The View, and numerous print and radio interviews
- Topics include: getting a user name, making first bids, completing transactions, selling items, and what to do if anything goes wrong
- An ideal resource for everyone from corporate customers to mom & pop retailers, as well as individuals who are cleaning out their closets and garages
Download Description
eBay is the world's #1 online shopping destination and can be a bit intimidating for first-time users. Thankfully, though, the latest edition of eBay For Dummies addresses all the issues a first-time or inexperienced eBay user will confront. Readers will be up to date in no time on the latest changes in the eBay interface, fee structure, and methods for buying and selling. Readers will quickly be on the path that makes bidding, buying, and selling the fun it should be!
A Reference for the Rest of Us!(r)
* Author Marsha Collier is a recognized eBay expert, thanks to her bestselling books, appearances as an instructor at eBay University events, and appearances on NBC's Today Show, ABC's The View, and numerous print and radio interviews
* Topics include: getting a user name, making first bids, completing transactions, selling items, and what to do if anything goes wrong
* An ideal resource for everyone from corporate customers to mom & pop retailers, as well as individuals who are cleaning out their closets and garages
Customer Reviews:
eBay for Dummies.......2007-09-29
Excellent book and just what I wanted. It arrived quickly and in great condition.
Ok but incomplete.......2007-08-27
I read the Dummys Guide several months ago. Since then I have read a number of other books and watched the Dont Bid On It eBay video. I also read the Simplified Tips for ebay, Schills and Sharks, and several others. After going through everything I am ready to pass along my opinion. I will mainly compare and contrast the Dummys guide with my top choice.
The information in the Dummys Guide was outdated and incomplete. The information was good but there was a lot of important things that were left out. Pages are filled with cute cartoons instead of details ebay users really need. Lots of filler to make the book longer but when compared to newer books, the actual information was thin. It barely comments on snipe bidding but the like Don't Bid On It book(which is also available here at amazon), has a detailed article on snipe bidding plus a chapter on bidding strategies that explains how it works along with other bidding strategies. The Dummys guide only quickly mentions fraudulent sellers and feedback with little explination of how to check it. Dont Bid has an extensive chapter explaining how feedback really works, how to prevent bad buyers from leaving you negative feedback, how to use feedback to spot hijacked or fake accounts, a full chapter on feedback and how it works, it also has a full section on identifying honest buyers and what to do if you do have a problem with a buyer or seller, and much more than I can list here.
Did you know that any seller who says "I am not responsible for loss or damage if you do not buy insurance" is WRONG, they are legally responsible even if the buyer does not pay for insurance.
Did you know that if you select the wrong option when filing a PayPal complaint, your complaint will be automatically rejected and you will not be able to re-file? That is pretty important to know and both of these were in the Dont Bid book but not in Dummys Guide as well as many similar tips.
The Dont Bid book also has a demonstration video. Many of the pages in the Dummys guide were filled with explinations about what webpage to go to and what to do, it was much easier to see it demonstrated in the Dont Bid video than it was to read the step by step in the dummys guide. Some of the Dummy's Guide information was not useful, for example, they explain how to research a bidder by seeing when they return to re-bid every day, but in the Dont Bid book they explain that you should not be bidding against such an inexperienced bidder in the first place because that only runs up the price unnecessarily. By simply waiting until the last minute or using snipe software you can avoid this bidder running up the price. This was not part of the dummys strategy and as far as I can remember, that was the only strategy they had. The Dont Bid book had several bidding and several more buying strategies.
The Dummys Guide gives you enough information to get started on eBay, but not enough to trade safely or enough to buy/sell and obtain the best prices. The Dummys guide is not expensive so give it a read but dont use eBay before you read the Don't Bid On It series, only then will you really know how to use eBay safely and correctly.
Great beginning book.......2007-06-17
I hadn't done much with eBay before, so there was more explained in this book than what I had imagined eBay had. Very informative and easy to read.
Not only for Dummies...........2007-06-14
A Gotta Have book if you are planning on starting an eBay business in your home. Great reference for the experienced eBayer.
Great Buy.......2007-05-16
Great book for the beginner in Ebay buying and selling, I found it very informative.
Book Description
New ways to make big money in online sales! EBay is still the world's most popular auction site, but it's not the only one. The savviest PowerSellers are finding new places to sell online. Selling Beyond eBay offers powerful strategies for targeting not just more buyers, but the right buyers. By taking advantage of specialty sites, other auction sites, and online storefronts, sellers can dramatically increase their profits. This book gives them:
* descriptions and reviews of hot auction sites and marketplaces like uBid, iOffer, Yahoo!Auctions, Overstock Auctions, Bidville, Bid4Assets, ebid.tv, and Amazon * profiles of successful sellers using these sites in addition to (or instead of) eBay * step-by-step instructions for creating and managing online storefronts * options for combining online storefront sales with eBay auction sales * details on how to expand sourcing options in order to sell more merchandise
There's more than one way to sell online. It's time to start Selling Beyond eBay!
Customer Reviews:
Another fine internet small business book.......2006-10-07
Speaking of Ebay, SELLING BEYOND EBAY: FOOLPROOF WAYS TO REACH MORE CUSTOMERS AND MAKE BIG MONEY ON RIVAL ONLINE MARKETPLACES by Greg Holden is another fine internet small business book which will reach small sellers and pros alike. Understand how competing auction and non-auction sites like Overstock, Bidville, Yahoo and eBid work, learn how to partner a small store with a big name, and locate new product deals using SELLING BEYOND EBAY, which include includes profiles of successful seller techniques both inside and apart from Ebay.
e-selling overview.......2006-07-25
An easy read. Definitely worth the money, for the websites I might never have found otherwise, & the interviews w. ebayers
who've found success combining ebay w. other e-selling methods
Average customer rating:
- Excellent investment for your money whether you are a buyer or a seller.
- Good eBay Toolbook
- The "best practices" guide to eBay...
- Good for volume sellers
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eBay Hacks, 2nd Edition: Tips & Tools for Bidding, Buying, and Selling
David A. Karp
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Hacking
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ASIN: 059610068X |
Book Description
Whatever you call it--an online auction house, the world's largest flea market, or a vast social experiment--no metaphor completely describes the huge trading community that is eBay. Underneath it all, eBay is also a computer program and a complex socio-economic system, requiring experience, finesse, and the right tools to master.
eBay Hacks, 2nd Edition has been completely revised and updated to make use of an array of new tools and features, as well as to reflect the changes in the eBay API, eBay's policies, and general practices of its increasingly sophisticated users. In all, the new edition of eBay Hacks sports 30 brand-new hacks plus dozens of hacks that have been expanded, deepened, or otherwise completely rewritten.
eBay Hacks shows you how to become a more efficient buyer and seller with clever tricks and shortcuts that will surprise even the most experienced eBayers. The book's wide range of topics covers all aspects of using eBay, such as advanced searching techniques, sniping tools, selling strategies, photography tips, and even research techniques for PowerSellers. But eBay Hacks doesn't just cover the basics; you'll learn how to write scripts to automate tedious tasks, take better photos, and tap into the eBay API to develop your own custom tools. Unlike any other book, eBay Hacks, 2nd Edition also provides insight into the social aspects of the eBay community, with diplomatic tools to help to get what you want with the least hassle and risk of negative feedback.
This bestseller supplies you with the tools you need to master eBay, whether as a buyer or seller, casual surfer or serious collector, novice or seasoned expert. With this guide, you will become a savvy power user who trades smarter and safer, makes more money, enjoys successes, and has fun doing it.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent investment for your money whether you are a buyer or a seller........2005-09-22
I have only read about half of the book so far and already I have used many of the tips and scripts. All the scripts mentioned in the book are available online so you don't have do all that typing. Many of the hacks are not really hacks, but tips and recommendations on how to do things.
The only minor complain I have is that the book references other chapters, but you have to go back to the Table of Contents to find the page number for the chapter. I think each page should have the current chapter number on it.
Each page does have the hack number on it so it makes it easy to find a hack without going back to the table of contents.
Good eBay Toolbook.......2005-07-28
Author: David A. Karp
Description:
eBay Hacks by David A. Karp
Published by O'Reilly ISBN 059610068X
Reviewed by Jim Lauria-HuNTUG member
From the introduction: "Essentially, you'll find in this book the tools to help you trade smarter and safer, make more money, and have fun doing it."
This second edition-revised and updated to June 2005-provides the eBayer with tips and tools (aka hacks) for successful bidding, buying and selling on the premier online auction web site.
I found the hacks provided by the author to be extremely helpful and informative, easy to use and understand. As a long time eBay seller I had become complacent with the tools and techniques which I had been using for months or even years. This book has given me new ideas and approaches to make my eBay business better.
Karp provides clever shortcuts and powerful tools to do all sorts of neat things like create better titles, listings and descriptions to fancier photographs (Hack 74) and even how to cultivate a good reputation and protect yourself and your $ (Hacks 25 & 85). He also provides warnings about your safety, privacy and money matters.
Included is a chapter on eBay's Application Programming Interface, XML, Perl, PHP and RSS and development of custom software apps that can be worked in to one's own business apps and can also be passed along to others-hey maybe even for a small fee!
The book is well written with plenty of photos, screen shots and lots of code to get you up and buying/selling in quick fashion. 438 pages that read through really quickly and are packed with plenty of good stuff.
I would recommend this title for anyone-novice or pro-who is or would like to make or save some money using eBay or just to have some fun while selling your wares. The book lists for $24.95-less online.
I give this one 5 stars.
The "best practices" guide to eBay..........2005-07-14
If you use eBay (as a buyer or seller), this is the "user's manual" or best practices guide that should be part of your signup... eBay Hacks by David A. Karp.
Contents: Diplomacy and Feedback; Searching; Bidding; Selling; Working with Photos; Completing Transactions; Running a Business on eBay; The eBay API; Index
Most Hacks titles consist of 100 tips and tricks related to the subject matter being discussed. In eBay Hacks, you get an extra 25 for your money. What a deal! :-) Regardless of whether you're a complete newbie to eBay or you actually run an eBay storefront, you'll find things in here that will save you time and money on a regular basis. Reading the chapter and hacks on feedback, I learned that there are ways to prevent negative feedback even after it's been given. Since so much of who you are on eBay relates directly back to your feedback rating, this can be a critical factor in getting buyers to trust you (or others to sell to you). The chapter on bidding went into the act of "sniping", or bidding at the last second, so that you can stand a much better chance of not being overbid at the last second. I didn't realize there are third-party services that will do this for you automatically. No wonder I've lost some things I really thought I had nailed. Karp even goes into how best to compose photos that will draw people to your auction rather than send them away for something that looks more appealing.
Obviously, you can use eBay without this book and information. I'm sure you'll do fine. But the first time you find an auction miscategorized (because you were looking for that condition) and you launch a bidding strategy that gets you the deal of a lifetime for next to nothing, you'll wonder why you waited so long. Good stuff here...
Good for volume sellers.......2005-06-14
One of my favorite activities in my spare time is buying and selling on eBay. It has quickly become the world's largest virtual mall of just about everything you can possibly think of. When I received this book I was eager to learn some of the "tricks of the trade" and found a lot of useful material, albeit some of it is geared towards power sellers and not the average user.
The book itself is packed with 125 "hacks" for eBay, which can range from the basics (leaving feedback) to the more complex (setting up your own online check-out). A lot of the hacks give you tweaks and twists on the normal way of doing things, or take a task and show you a different, sometimes a little more dynamic, way of doing it.
Some of the more advanced topics will only be feasible if you are a powerseller. The author covers a lot of third-party tools as well, which can quickly run into the big dollars if you are just selling a few things each week. However, there is a fair amount of material devoted to the mom and pop sellers, like many of us are. One of the shining points of this book is that it does show you how to do a lot of tricks yourself if you are willing to roll up your sleeves and play around with Perl.
However, the book is for more than just sellers. A lot of tips are there for buyers as well. Such things as how to snipe effectively, and how to take advantage of bid increments in the auction to get the item for the lowest price. Even though the author is writing for both parties, the buyer and seller, he does a good job of not taking advantage of one over.
A few of the topics he covers can be a bit controversial, depending on how you look at it. Things such as withholding feedback and sniping can be frowned upon by some -- but it is all perfectly legal in the world of eBay and the author tells you how to take advantage of it.
Overall, a good book for those who want to get more out of eBay than just the casual buyer/seller. If you want to kick-start your eBay selling career, this is one of the books you will want to have to help guide you; Whereas if you want to learn the tricks of the buying game, you couldn't have picked a better reference manual.
Book Description
Proven strategies and the latest selling tips from eBay's most elite merchants
With an estimated 200,000 people making a full-time living selling goods on eBay, and millions more earning a part-time income, it's clear that eBay can create some impressive profits for those who know what they're doing. The eBay Millionaire profiles 25 of eBay's elite Titanium Power Sellers-those who move more than $150,000 in goods every month-and reveals the secrets to their success. Author Amy Joyner reveals the fifty top lessons for profitably selling almost anything on eBay, from how to select the best mix of merchandise, ship goods, and keep customers happy to working with wholesalers, making the leap from part-time to full-time selling, and looking like a million-dollar business even if you're working from your kitchen table.
Amy Joyner (Greensboro, NC) is an award-winning reporter for the News & Record in Greensboro, North Carolina, who has been covering e-commerce and entrepreneurship for many years. She is the coauthor of Making Dough (0-471-43209-1) and has won awards for her writing from the Associated Press, North Carolina Press Association, and other organizations, as well as three Knight Center Fellowships for business, aviation security, and military reporting.
Download Description
Proven strategies and the latest selling tips from eBay's most elite merchants With an estimated 200,000 people making a full-time living selling goods on eBay, and millions more earning a part-time income, it's clear that eBay can create some impressive profits for those who know what they're doing. The eBay Millionaire profiles 25 of eBay's elite Titanium Power Sellers-those who move more than $150,000 in goods every month-and reveals the secrets to their success. Author Amy Joyner reveals the fifty top lessons for profitably selling almost anything on eBay, from how to select the best mix of merchandise, ship goods, and keep customers happy to working with wholesalers, making the leap from part-time to full-time selling, and looking like a million-dollar business even if you're working from your kitchen table. Amy Joyner (Greensboro, NC) is an award-winning reporter for the News & Record in Greensboro, North Carolina, who has been covering e-commerce and entrepreneurship for many years. She is the coauthor of Making Dough (0-471-43209-1) and has won awards for her writing from the Associated Press, North Carolina Press Association, and other organizations, as well as three Knight Center Fellowships for business, aviation security, and military reporting.
Customer Reviews:
Was an ok book........2007-10-20
I read this book and hoped to find several new ideas but I was very disappointed. I could not find a lot of new information in the book. Certainly the price tag is too high too.
Great addition, but take it with a grain of salt........2007-07-05
This is a great resource if you already sell on eBay, and are looking for a quick read. This book will NOT be helpful if you are just starting out on eBay, looking for product sources, or need a how-to manual of any sort. The author spoke with several Titanium Powersellers (the highest grossing sellers on eBay) about how they got started and what their business is like currently.
Personally, I thought the book was helpful for my own use. There were quite a few good ideas that helped us streamline our own business. We took an extra-hard look at sellers whose product line matched ours (small, light-weight commodity items) and tried to see if any of their ideas would benefit our business. There weren't any huge changes to our business, but the book helps us tweak our practice with small changes either taken directly from the stories, or inspired by the stores.
Here's the catch:
eBay is stagnating. Since the book was released, many of the Titanium Powersellers in the book have either closed down, moved off of eBay, or cut back drastically on their eBay listings. The successful sellers don't stay on just eBay, but diversify as much as possible, and the book doesn't mention cross-selling at all.
There isn't a whole lot of information in the book, but I do think it's worth the $15. But the true secret to becoming a top online seller? Start preparing to move away from eBay.
Another great book to add to collection.......2007-06-14
Another great book to add to collection of reference material.
Everything but the Sources..........2006-07-16
I purchased this book in hopes of understanding what I need to do in order to move from casual ebay seller to powerseller. I did find ways to increase efficiency and the names and websites for the companies that provide the software but I did not find how to join buying groups, which ones are best or anything else that gives me a "Turn Key" ebay business. I work on computers, build custom systems, and occasionally take a trade in. I found that there is a company that uses this as a business model and was able to get some limited ideas from this book. This is not the book that answers "Where do I get product at a price that will make a profit on ebay".
I am looking for the mother of all ebay books, something that gives me the sources to create a truly turn-key ebay store. I am buying all the ebay books I can find because I am dead set on becomming a power seller by September, 2006. This book has been a big help but it is not the holy grail.
Not a How to Manual but interesting.......2006-06-09
Not sure what I expected. Ive never read much about doing business on eBay but thought it was time. Interesting stories. The format is to give you pointers by telling the stories of successful folks using eBay and the Author does that. I didnt find it terribly helpful for someone starting out and that maybe wasnt the intent but it was informative. I found that you had to dig a little for the secrets, maybe as it should be who knows? But an okay read, worth the price.
Book Description
This book will show you how to become the next huge online success story
"Your goal as an Internet entrepreneur should be to have a presence on everyWeb-based marketplace where your customers and potential customers shop. In The Online Millionaire, I'll introduce you to the most popular online channels and reveal the tricks of the trade for excelling in these marketplaces.
"You'll learn the ins and outs of selling on eBay, Amazon.com, Yahoo!, Overstock.com, and other auction marketplaces. You'll also read about how to use search engines and comparison-shopping sites to attract customers and drive sales. Plus, you'll find out how to go about building your own professional e-commerce store, along with proven ways to make money promoting other companies on your site.
"While it is still the 800-pound gorilla of e-commerce, as you'll realize by the timeyou reach the final pages of this book, online entrepreneurs now have many other options to reach buyers beyond eBay. I'll show you exactly how to launch your own multi-channel online marketing empire, regardless of the types of products you sell. You'll discover how each online channel works, what it costs to sell there, how to get started, and what products sell best.
"So, let's get started on this journey to creating a thriving online business that can put your company front and center on all of the world's top e-commerce sites."
--From the Introduction
Customer Reviews:
Millionaire Breaks It Down.......2007-08-12
"The Internet is no longer an uncharted business frontier"... the first words I read.
The Online Millionaire is a how-to that zeroes in on this idea.
Serving up lessons on everything from eBay to building your own website author Amy Joyner backs up theory with stories from the front lines. Lacing each chapter with stories retold by online millionaires, Joyner's 101 approach (with sub-chapter headings like The Lowdown and How It Works) may not appeal to the Internet enthusiast, or anyone under the age of 16, but will be a breath of fresh air to the web-challenged. Joyner keeps it simple and paints with broad strokes . . . so for me - a member of the latter group, Millionaire helped break down the intimidating and self-imposed barriers I have towards the Internet. I couldn't build a website before reading this book and I probably won't anytime soon, but the curtain has been pulled and the mystery revealed.
A must-have reference.......2007-05-19
Don't let the word "Millionaire" scare you away from getting your hands on this book. When you are armed with the right knowledge, tools, and willpower, the possibilities are endless.
It is written by Amy Joyner. She previously wrote the book "The eBay Millionaire" and other numerous books. She also runs her own successful eBay business and has quite a history as a business and technology reporter.
If you are familiar with selling items on eBay and/or selling items from your own website, you will really enjoy the opportunities described in each chapter of this book. You'll be shown ideas of how to expand exposure for your business.
Amy presents information in an easy to follow layout and includes an Action Plan in each chapter. Topics range from auctions and other online marketplaces to the tools that are available to help you streamline your business.
You will also read two to three success stories within each section. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these and I will definitely refer to them again for inspiration. You won't feel alone when you learn how some current thriving businesses started out of necessity and with hardly any available financing. Amy does a great job relating the stories, including mine, which is the last story in the book about success with Affiliate Programs.
Think of this as a must-have reference... a road map to kick your business into high gear.
Book Description
Degunking™ eBay is the smart guide for buyers and sellers who want to really fine-tune and optimize their eBay experiences, regardless whether they are buying or selling products, or building an eBay-based business. Written in the conversational, no-nonsense approach that has made the Degunking™ series a huge success, this book can help save you tons of time and money with your eBay activities. It provides a wealth of valuable "clutter reduction" and organization tips for both buyers and sellers. Buyers will learn insider tips and tricks to search through massive amounts of product listings to find what they want, and then to bid and complete successful transactions. Sellers will learn how to assess their markets, find how to get the best price for their merchandise, and how to write attention-grabbing copy.Whether you are buying or selling, you'll get the best results if you have a winning strategy. Avid eBay-er and best-selling author Greg Holden will show you techniques for bidding that will greatly increase your chances of winning auctions. And he offers important information to help you avoid defective merchandise, problem sellers and scams, and where to turn if you do have a problem. eBay sellers will learn techniques for getting their items noticed, making their items look attractive in postings, marketing their products, degunking and streamlining eBay features for sellers, setting up clutter free up eBay Stores, and learning how to research and take advantage of the hot trends. This book gives all eBay users the opportunity to profit from their bursting closets and garages.
Customer Reviews:
Designed especially to help novice to intermediate users.......2005-03-05
Written by seasoned computer and internet writer Greg Holden, whose previous titles include "Internet Auctions for Dummies" and "Cliff Notes Guide to Buying and Selling on eBay", Degunking eBay is a resource especially for eBay buyers and sellers who are high on transaction volume, short on time, and need to make their eBay buying and selling activities as quick and clutter-free as possible. Chapters address how to swiftly look through massive numbers of product listings to find the right items, how to spruce up one's auction descriptions to make more money, how to take advantage of hot trends, how to maintain excellent feedback ratings, and much more. Designed especially to help novice to intermediate level eBay users, Degunking eBay includes tips directly from eBay's PowerSellers, and a "Quick Degunking Sheet" at the front of the book for easy reference. A "must-have" for anyone interested in amassing private collections from or making money off of eBay.
Good for Novices, But Author Attempts to Do Too Much.......2005-03-04
Have you ever been at a party where you get to talking with someone who has a very nice way about them. Very stylish, very engaging and the topic she's talking about is very trendy. You listen and interject some "oohs" and "ahs" and "I see" and "really, how interesting" but you begin to realize that almost everything the person is telling you is obvious. And you notice how they keep repeating this obvious information as if they were telling you the secrets of the universe. Well, that's how I felt while reading DEGUNKING EBAY by Greg Holden. Greg has a nice breezy way of communicating and Ebay is a word on everyone's lips.
Greg has come up with an all purpose catchphrase, degunk, which he uses quite liberally. Probably because he is promoting the DeGunking series of books.
After reading a few chapters I realized Greg was like that partygoer, a prophet of the obvious. Not that he doesn't have a wealth of information packed into the book, some of which can certainly help a Novice Ebayer. It's just that I feel there the book attempts to do too much.
The premise of the book is the entire universe of Ebay. Buying. Selling, AND degunking your computer. If you are not a PC Pro and you noticed your computer slowing down, the step by step clean-up techniques Greg shares are good.
The buying aspect is pretty straightforward. How to do better searches for items. How to bid more successfully. This is the stage at the party where you are really into talking with Greg. This takes you up to about page 77 in a 280 page book. Then the enthusiasm wanes.
The thought that the average person can start a sustainable business using Ebay is a very INTRIQUING. I'm sure it can be done-IF that person has a heartfelt passion for a craft, closeout merchandise, antiques, and a foundation of knowledge on the subject. If that kind of person reads this book for specific Ebay enhancing tips, the book will prove somewhat useful.
So much of the selling information is common sense: write good descriptions and take clear digital photos. I guess it doesn't hurt to read any of this.
On page 208 the author does indeed tell us to Focus on What You Love as a key to being a good seller.
A few times, Greg made me laugh out loud. That in itself is worth the cost of the book. For example, he writes "Some wholesalers are just interested in getting your money and not in providing you with a regular supply of quality products."
I am SHOCKED to hear that.
Hey, I like the way Greg writes and I bet if i met him at a party I'd listen avidly for awhile. And there maybe others at the party who might find everything that Greg says about Ebay to be fascinating and something they could put to use.
In summing up, if you buy Greg's book there is enough here that you will recoup your investment.
good help, but doesn't discuss alternatives.......2005-01-30
As eBay has grown enormously, it has continually added new features, for both buyers and sellers. The complexities of which help drive the need for a book like this. Holden doesn't just confine himself to explaining procedures on the eBay website. He goes into ancillary topics like what the selling of seasonal items might involve, or the finding of wholesalers of items that you might buy from, and then resell on eBay.
While he discusses both buying and selling, you quickly find that the attention is focused on being a heavy seller. When you read elsewhere of people supporting themselves on eBay, it is by being these sellers. So a lot of the utility of the book is in the advice around building up sales, where the mechanics of running auctions is really a lesser detail.
His advice is generally good, with one important caveat. The book never really questions under what circumstances you might not want to sell on eBay. It does not discuss alternatives like Amazon, if you are selling non-collectible items like books, CDs, DVDs and software. eBay charges a listing fee, even if no bids are placed. And currently, some 53% of its auctions end with no bids. So the listing fees can significantly add to your cost, especially since an auction is just for 10 days at most. By contrast, Amazon levies no listing fees. Though if something sells on Amazon, its commission percentage is higher than eBay's. So there are tradeoffs. Plus, in recent years, eBay has repeatedly raised many of its fees. Leading to deep dissatisfaction from many of its largest sellers, who feel that the company is ripping them off.
The book would be of more use to a reader if it broached such topics.
Book Description
It's the undisputed king of Internet auction sites. It's a global bazaar offering a range of goods from Antiques to Zulu Daisies. Cars, clothing, collectibles: you name it, and it's likely that you can find on eBay. But along with the vast selection of goods available, buyers and sellers also encounter all the other elements that markets are known for: tricks and swindlers, overpriced goods, deceptive labeling, small print, recycled items marked as new, and the occasional rare priceless find or undiscovered treasure. Seasoned eBay traders know that to successfully buy and sell within this mega-shopping platform, you need to understand the system. Unfortunately, the secrets of the site are often tightly held by other buyers and sellers seeking a competitive edge. But what if you're a newcomer? Or an experienced trader who wants to make the jump to power buyer or seller? eBay: The Missing Manual gives you the inside information you'll need to become an eBay expert. Buyers will find the most effective ways to find you want and pay prices that are sure to bring a smile to your face. And you'll get authoritative advice on strategic bidding: how to watch for elusive items, time your bids to take the competition by surprise, and--above all--avoid paying more than you ought to. Sellers will get sure-fire tips from eBay veterans who have discovered ways to ramp up their own auctions and sell at the highest possible prices. From the smallest details, such as how to take and post the most effective photos of your goods, to pricing strategies, inventory management, and shipping methods, this user-friendly manual will help you make more money on eBay. Whether you're selling a single item or running fulltime business on the site, you'll find tips to help you do it more effectively. As in any community, problems and disputes arise, and you'll learn how other eBayers resolve such troubles or work around them. eBay: The Missing Manual has gems of wisdom for everyone from total novices to more experienced traders. If you're looking to improve your eBay auction experience, you'll savor the tips and trick revealed in this guided exploration.
Customer Reviews:
Missing Manual on eBay.......2007-07-12
Great book in explaining all the aspects of safe buying and selling items on eBay!!! It has helped us enormously.
Fantastic Book.......2006-09-10
Best book I have read about eBay. Very comprehensive, detailed and well written. Hard work went into producing this book.
It is both for beginners and beyond.
A good introduction, but probably due for an update.......2006-03-19
This is a great starter book for anyone curious about buying or selling on eBay. My only issue is that the book could probably use a refreshing. eBay is a very dynamic property and this book was probably written at least a year ago.
SELL AMERICAN!!.......2006-02-23
Are you one of the millions of people who buy and sell on eBay? If you are, then this book is for you! Author Nancy Conner, has written an outstanding book that will help you get to the site, get registered, and get going.
Conner, begins by showing you everything you need to get going on eBay. Then, she shows you how to bid on eBay auctions with confidence. The author continues by showing you how to search better than the competition and bid smarter. In addition, she then shares other secrets serious shoppers use to prevail on eBay. The author also introduces eBay tips and tricks. Then, the author shows you how to hone in on your strategy for a competitive edge. Next, she shows you how to turn your eBay hobby into a part- or full-time business. Next, the author shows you how to get in on the action and create a sales niche within eBay's specialty auctions. Then, she briefly describes the software that you can use on eBay. The author continues by presenting general and specialized discussion groups, both on and off eBay, that will help you make satisfying connections. Finally, she covers a Learning Center just for newbies, a Help page, interactive help via live chat or e-mail, a centralized Services page, a site map, discussion boards, and more.
After reading this excellent book, you'll be using eBay like an old pro. In other words, this book was will help you ramp up your eBay experience--find more bargains, build better auctions, and close more sales.
Whatever "it" is, you'll find it in the Missing Manual..........2005-11-21
If there was one book I would suggest to anyone venturing into the waters of eBay, it'd end up being this one... eBay: The Missing Manual by Nancy Conner. This one covers it all.
Contents:
Part 1 - Buying on eBay: Ready, Set, Shop!; Bidding, Paying, and Following Up; Finding - and Getting - Bargains; Power Buying Strategies
Part 2 - Selling on eBay: Sell Stuff, Make Money; Honing Your Competitive Edge; Going from Hobby to Business; Specialty Selling; Cool Tools for Sellers
Part 3 - Finding Other eBayers and Getting Help; Finding Help
Part 4 - Appendixes: Where to Learn More; HTML for eBayers; Other Auction Sites; Index
Like all other eBay books, this one covers how to buy and sell on eBay. The writing's good, but there'd be nothing special if it stopped there. Where this book earns its keep is when it goes into areas I haven't seen covered in any other book. I've never seen a book go into any detail on other resources to learn about eBay, such as call-in internet radio shows and newsletters. I've never seen a book cover HTML in a small number of pages in order to allow the seller to create better auction pages. There's good coverage on third-party sites that give you more information on how to best price your auctions. There's even material on how to evolve from buying and selling as a hobby to running a business based on eBay. Package all this up with clear writing and numerous screen shots, and you really *have* found the missing eBay manual.
To paraphrase eBay's latest ad campaign... "Whatever you're looking for, you'll find *it* in eBay: The Missing Manual"...
Books:
- eBay Income: How Anyone of Any Age, Location, and/or Background Can Build a Highly Profitable Online Business with eBay
- eBay Powerseller Secrets:Insider Tips from eBay's Most Successful Sellers
- eBay: The Missing Manual
- Economics of Regulation and Antitrust - 3rd Edition
- Essentials of Corporate Finance (Mcgraw-Hill/Irwin Series in Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate)
- Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide
- FLIP: How to Find, Fix, and Sell Houses for Profit
- FLIP: How to Find, Fix, and Sell Houses for Profit
- FLIP: How to Find, Fix, and Sell Houses for Profit
- Franchising 101: The Complete Guide to Evaluating, Buying and Growing Your Franchise Business
Books Index
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eBay: Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks (Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks)
What to Sell on eBay and Where to Get It
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