posted on January 6, 2001 02:07:46 PM
I have an *About Me* page on eBay... they're a good thing. Different folks include different stuff on their ME pages.
Ideas:
Links to favorite sites
Pictures of you - family - friends
Your terms of sale (refund policy?)
Links to helpful hints about trading
Sample of your most recent feedback
Your current Sellers list
Story about how you found eBay and the items you are selling...
Things you collect
Having an About Me page helps to let your potential bidders know more about you (the person they will be trading with)... it can serve as a means of building their confidence in you.
posted on January 6, 2001 02:10:02 PM
I would start by putting the shoe on the other foot. What would you want to know about someone you were going to buy from?
I'd like to know your terms of sale, your shipping options, your commitment level to your customers and on a really personal level, what got you into selling on eBay, or maybe what personal investment you have in what you sell.
I'd also like to see an email address and a statement welcoming questions or concerns, or just general information about the items you sell.
I think building your own community of buyers is one of the most useful things you can do for yourself as a seller, so welcome interested parties into your world through email!
posted on January 6, 2001 02:35:46 PM
Definitely! I've had one since they first introduced them, and I really love the concept. It gives me a chance to explain a bit about myself so I'm not just a faceless seller, plus I use it to talk about items I plan on putting up for auction in the near future. I find this whets people's interest and keeps them checking my page to see when I've listed something they like. I've had a number of occasions where I've listed something and it has received a bid before it has even appeared in the listings, which means the bidder must have been checking my seller list.
posted on January 6, 2001 02:45:33 PM
Ok guys ~ you all make good points ~ but I have been leary of posting too much about me personally ~ because of all the sick'os out there. One of my frequent buyers also sells, and some sick'o said something very threatening about her kids in an email ~
posted on January 6, 2001 02:59:10 PM
My About Me page is friendly TOS/Mission (to quote Barry) Statement kinda thing.
I put up a logo I sketched in ink and let people I am in there shoes too.
I think it helped out in the zero feedback days.
I have no links, if I did it would be to a home page that pertained soley to my biz on ebay/yahoo/amazon (which reminds le to get motivated...amazon book sales are better for me than ebay.)
I don't put personal information. Just not my style.
posted on January 6, 2001 03:00:00 PMkatzname: Check out my site at the link I provided. I do talk about myself, my interests, etc., but I only give my first name. I only give out my address, phone number, etc., to the winning bidders of my auctions.
Barry
---
The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
posted on January 6, 2001 03:00:53 PM
This hasn't happened to me because I don't have pictures of any minor family or friends on my "dottie" account ME page....
I just have pictures of me and DH vacationing in Thailand (since many of the items I sell are purchased during out trips to the orient) and a picture of some eBay Voices friends visiting in San Jose.
I agree with Barry though... including pictures and links to your website and a little bit about yourself and the items you're selling helps to remove that "faceless seller" feeling. Buyers are really freindly when they feel like they know ya better.
A quick sample of recent feedback and your sellers list is just good exposure.
(not sure how to do this)
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/dottie/
I don't have TOS on my ME page yet, but the plan is to update my page in March to include a refund policy that is clearly stated and perhaps some larger eMail links to encourage more direct communication with interested buyers.
posted on January 6, 2001 03:10:23 PMDottie: Cute page! Maybe I should stick some photos from my trip to Hong Kong on my page...
As for TOS, I never bothered putting those on my ME page. Why? Because I put them in every auction description I write. One of my pet peeves is people who don't state their terms in the auciton description and instead simply provide a page to their ME page where they have page after page of disclaimers, threats, etc. Besides, since your "ME" page can be edited at any time, it makes me uncomfortable knowing that an unscrupulous seller could change the terms after a particular auction has ended [say, for example, changing "satisfaction 100% guaranteed" to "all items sold as-is"]. Not that anybody would really do that, of course, but I still prefer to see the terms spelled out in the actual auction description....
Barry
---
The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
posted on January 6, 2001 03:18:39 PM
Gee... I never even thought of that!!!! But you're right, Barry. I think I should just come up with some sort of short "blurb" to include at the bottom of my listings regarding Refunds.
(Basically, I refund 100% including shipping if the item is returned to me - but NOT before)
Guess I'll just leave the ME page with silly pictures and mindless rambling! LOL
posted on January 6, 2001 03:55:22 PM
I'd say "Yes", but do a good job of it--you want it to make a good impression. I've seen several negative comments regarding "About Me" pages that are rants against buyers or contain a multitude of typos.
Our page contains a short blurb with our email address about who we are, sections on TOS, Returns/Refunds, Feedback Policy, International Sales, and the stock Ebay blocks of items we have for sale and recent feedback received. I don't know that anyone looks at it--I've never had any comment. I have a personal web page for friends and family with all the personal stuff on it.
posted on January 6, 2001 05:01:38 PM
Yes...
I have had an AboutMe page for about a year now and periodically revise it...
When I first did it, it was from a buyers POV...
Then once I was comfortable as a buyer, I did one that reflected being a buyer/seller...
Now that I'm more comfortable as a seller, it reflects that...
Do people read it?
You bet!
I have a link to it in my email and have been told by people that they've visited it...
Basically it's babble about being a seller with links to my listings on Yahoo and Amazon, etc...
It also contains my recent feedback, my listings on eBay and I think it even has my email address...
NO pictures, NO personal info given...
I save that for my emails between me and my buyers, if I feel comfortable with them AND if they ask...
DO go do it...You can always change it whenever you like...
Oh and I leave the TOS for the auction ads, where they belong
posted on January 6, 2001 05:25:41 PM
Definitely use it. Remember, About Me is supposed to be your personal web page. Provide personal information, not just hype. My About Me page was featured in the very first eBay Life newsletter. I've updated it several times since them. Right now I'm using it to post news to my customers about recent upgrades (delays). I almost always include a photo of myself, some personal artwork, link to my web page, etc. I try to make it nice, so the customer feels they can put their feet up while they're visiting my page. Almost always a free software giveaway.
Take a look if you want, there's practically nothing on my page at the moment.
