Real Pictures Make A Real Difference For Sellers

When selling an item one of the most important factors to getting noticed amid the mass of similar items is the picture.  When selling on eBay it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd.  There are really only two ways to get your item to attract buyers, title and picture.  While the title of the item is important to getting found on eBay the picture is what is most likely to bring someone onto your page.

When selling an item, eBay graciously provides a stock photo for many items.  Don't use it.  Buyers like to see the actual item that they are buying from online auctions.  By using a stock photo you're putting doubt into the buyers mind.  Using multiple pictures (try to use at least 3) from different angles will provide your listing with a serious boost.  If the buyer knows exactly what they are getting they will feel more comfortable with making a purchase from you.

The quality of the pictures is also a very important.  They have to be clear, well lit and show as much as the item as possible. It's also a good idea to display any imperfections that your item has.  If you're selling a cell phone with scratches on the screen, show those in one of your pictures.  It will build trust between you and the buyers.  Honesty on eBay is crucial if you want to be able to maximize your earnings.

Spending a little more time on your product pictures will go a long way towards improving your bottom line.  Give it a try.

How To Avoid Buying Knock-offs On eBay

When I'm looking to get a good deal on an item I really want I often check two places right off the bat, Amazon and eBay.  Amazon is a great place to check pricing and availability of almost any item you're looking for.  Amazon is great but I often am able to find better prices on eBay but there is also a greater chance of purchasing a knock-off item on eBay.   You have to be careful.  Here's a few tips that should help you avoid buying knock-offs on eBay.

• Compare Pictures - This one is pretty simple but is pretty easy to fake.  One thing I tend to be wary of is stock pictures of items.  If you are buying a product that has a picture up (stock or otherwise) compare it to the picture of the item on Best Buy, Amazon or the manufacturer's website.  If the picture the seller is using is of the actual product (or a stock photo of the actual knock-off) you might be able to identify differences between the items.  If you see any difference you might want to look for another item.  
• Review Seller Feedback - Seller Feedback score can be your best friend when shopping on eBay.  I tend to look at anybody that doesn't have a 100% score to be on the safe side.  The negative scores are occasionally minor customer issues but you'll also see if the person is not happy with the item they purchased.  It's a great resource for all eBay shoppers.
• Check Quantity and Price - If a seller is offering an item at a price that seems too good to be true there is a good chance it is a knock-off.  If a seller has a large quantity of these items then that also makes it more likely that the items are fakes.  For a seller to get their hands on a large quantity of items from the original manufacturer and be able to sell them at 50% of the manufacturers price is highly unlikely.  
• Search The Web - If you find an item that you think could be a knock-off do a quick search on the web to see what else is out there.  Go to Amazon, Google Shopper and anywhere else you want to check to see what the going price is.  Also, check for the item and put wholesale at the end of it.  There are a ton of websites that are selling wholesale lots of knock-off items at low prices.  If the item you are looking for shows up on one of these sites at an extremely low price then that should set off an alarm.

I hope these tips can help you avoid making a purchase you regret.  eBay can be a fantastic place to get great deals and taking the steps I outlined above will help you insure that you are happy with your purchase.  Let me know if you have any questions and good luck.