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eBay
eBay.com is one of the most popular shopping destinations on the net. They are an online auction house. People from around the world can buy and sell items. It is a great way to find deals on the things you desire, or for cleaning your house of the things you no longer need. You will find people auctioning everything from crafts and computers to cars and boats.
Locally, eBay has a large customer support center in the Salt Lake Valley. There is also a large number of people from the area using eBay to sell goods. The Zip Search feature below will help you find local sellers:
If you are from Salt Lake and regularly sell items on eBay, please list your auction page in the eBay auctions category on this site.
I've found the best way to learn eBay is from the buyer's side. Even if you intend to use eBay for selling stuff, it is best to try buying stuff first to get a feel for the way the program works.
eBay is first and foremost an auction site. Auctions are listed for a fixed period of time (most auctions last 7 days). The auction goes online. People can bid on items while the auction is open. The one with the highest bid at the end wins.
I think the best way to learn how eBay works is to find items that have just been listed but are severely under priced. I start by looking at the just closed auctions to see how well items are selling. I then go to the beginning of the auction list to see new items. I look for an item that I think is severly under priced, then place a minimum bid. As I am giving a low price on an item, I suspect that someone will outbid me. I can then follow the auction through the bidding process.
In the remote chance my low bid wins...I get a great deal on an item. It is important to remember that if you place a bid on the item and win you are obliged to buy it! Although I have never one a low ball bid. I think it would be fun to try and relist the item to see if I could make a profit.
When you bid on items, you want to pay attention to the seller's feedback. The feedback form tells you if the seller ships the items as advertised and on time.
Buying is fun and you can get great deals. The other fun aspect of eBay is that you can use it to sell stuff. You can get rid of items that you no longer need, but still have market value. You simply put the items up for auction (with a description and pictures if possible); then wait for the bidding to complete. After collecting payment, you will need to ship the item to the buyer. I find it best to have all of my shipping supplies in order before placing a bid. Sellers pay a listing fee to eBay.
In using eBay, you do need to be careful. I have purchased items that were never sent. Sometimes people try to buy things with stolen checks. Many eBay sellers do not accept personal checks. Those that do will often hold your item until the check clears (10 days). If you intend to sell items on eBay, you should consider setting up a PayPal account. PayPal is now owned by eBay. Buyers can upload money into their paypal account and transfer it to the sellers. Paypal also allows sellers to accept credit cards. This is a little more secure than personal checks. Sellers must also realize that buyers might return the item that they purchased.