A Newbie's Bidding: Under Control or Out of Hand?
Of most interest to sellers should be the bidding habits of a new bidder. Though new bidders don't have a long-term history of bidding that can be reviewed, sellers quickly can ascertain whether the new bidder is adopting one of two common shopping styles:

The Super Cautious: Some new bidders won't bid much at all (either in dollar amount or in the number of items concurrently bid upon) until they can gain a certain level of comfort and familiarity with the online auction process. If they have good first encounters and believe online auctions can be a venue of success for them, they'll typically loosen up and get a bit more active in future pursuits.

The Super Shopper: Other new bidders, however, find online auctions to be a veritable playground of great stuff to be had and will bid in a feverish and flurried manner to win all the terrific finds they stumble across. And though their enthusiasm is appreciated, a quick check of their immediate bid history might reveal they're committing to an overall hefty tally if they should prevail in all their bids. So what? Well, you'll want to act fast to ensure your sold item can be quickly and fully paid for, lest your new bidder accidentally has overbid his or her present bankroll.

Of course, these are pretty much the two extremes of newbie bidders and you can expect a good many to fall somewhere in between. And though some might argue it's not a seller's business to know about how, when, and how much a new bidder bids, those who've been selling on a regular basis understand that it's worth noting how newbies are bidding and how to deal with them to ensure the deal comes to a successful close.

A Seller's Golden Opportunity
Although some sellers insist they're not in the business of "baby-sitting" newbies, a wise seller will recognize the special opportunity to aid and build rapport with new bidders. There's certainly little time for intense hand holding of newcomers (a seller must attend to other customers, after all), but consider these methods of engagement and approach, which will help ensure a win-win situation with a new bidder:

Set the Tempo: Many new buyers aren't exactly savvy to the protocol of auctioning. They might be overanxious; they might be undercommitted. It's your job to quickly and completely answer their questions during the auction (with good email communication and an even better TOS), then promptly get the exchange in motion after auction's end. Demonstrate your tried-and-true professional auction-managing process, and newbies will know they're working with a real pro--someone who's usually inclined to work with them to complete a smooth transaction.

Be Their Guide: Of course, it's not a seller's responsibility to show a newbie the ropes, but it's still good business to help new bidders (your new customers) better understand how online auctioning works. Remember, if you're there to assist them, chances are they'll remember you, your products, and your good business style. That's usually the recipe for earning repeat business.

Build a Better Community: OK, you might say helping out one newbie is just like a drop in the online ocean, but how else can sellers help ensure the auction venues stay active and positive unless each is willing to shoulder the load of keeping the community upbeat? Many are eager to police the auction spaces; why not put as much--or more--energy into providing a good example of how to conduct better business?

Customer Care
At the end of the day, a seller's bottom line is determined by the amount of care extended to customers. Though it's certainly not just newbies who frequently require additional attention, the opportunity to lend a hand to a wide-eyed newcomer is the same opportunity in which a lasting customer base is formed. Take the time to understand and assist auction newbies and they'll likely find that your auctions are a safe and worthwhile bet.

Then, of course, they'll tell their friends, and they'll tell their friends…

Dealing With Difficult Buyers Encouraging Repeat Business Dealing With Deadbeat Bidders