idoebay2
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posted on May 21, 2002 04:49:49 PM
From all that I have read, feedback is very important, so how do you get someone to give you a chance at the beginning when you have zero feedback?
Everyone had to be new at some time 
TIA
Alana
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kyms
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posted on May 21, 2002 05:28:44 PM
Try buying a few things and get your feedback up to a 10 or so. Then begin selling small lower priced items and build your feedback. You'll be amazed how fast it builds...
After the first 100 or so people will probably really trust you. Try signing up with Square Trade..
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sanmar
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posted on May 21, 2002 05:28:49 PM
This is my philosophy: #1; Do a good job of presenting your article for sale. #2; Be honest, tell of any flaws etc. #3; If you get prompt payment, then give the buyer a + fdbck & let them know that you have done so. #4; Ship promptly & email the buyer that the item has been shipped & when they can expect it to arrive. I ship almost all smalls & advertise that I will ship within 24 hrs. of receipt of payment & I do. Almost everything I ship is by Prioity Mail, so they have it is 2-3 days.
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jdk156
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posted on May 21, 2002 05:32:21 PM
I was new not so long ago. You just put your best foot forward and dive in. If you list something at a good starting price that
someone wants they will bid. As you can see on some of the other threads really good pictures are important. Oh and it helps to read all the threads here. There is some VERY good information in them.
If you need to know something just post away here -- you'll get a response. There are some very savy people that will give good and accurate answers.
Good luck to you!!!
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Helenjw
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posted on May 21, 2002 05:49:21 PM
I think that the idea to buy a few inexpensive items is a very good way to build up feedback before you start to sell.
Don't expect to receive feedback from everyone though. Even if you do everything perfectly, some people just don't leave feedback. So don't get discouraged.
Good Luck!!!
Helen
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idoebay2
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posted on May 21, 2002 06:02:00 PM
Thank you soooo much guys for your advice!! I really appreciated you taking the time to answer
Alana
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sulyn1950
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posted on May 21, 2002 06:10:21 PM
When I started on eBay, I purchased until I had my first star for 10 FB. Of course, it took me 20+ purchases to get left FB by 10 unique sellers! 
I then did a ME page and stated that I was a buyer who decided to try my hand at selling and I would make every effort to offer top quality items, at reasonable prices and provide the best customer service I possible could. I think I only had one person actualy read it, because I did get one buyer mention having read my ME page.
You'd be surprised how many people don't seem to really read the FB, they just check to see if you have any NEGS!
All the other advice given already is excellent. Good pictures, good ads.
If you don't know HTML already, learn how to put in <P> or <BR><BR> to add some breaks in your text so you don't have this one gigantic glob of words! That's very hard to read and I think that's why lots of folks don't bother. Increasing the size of the font a bit makes it easier to read too!
Good Luck and have some fun and I hope you make oodles of money! 
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twinsoft
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posted on May 21, 2002 06:41:30 PM
Start by selling off a few cheap items. Don't put your best stuff up first because a low feedback rating DOES affect bidding. Bidders won't send $500 to a newcomer with no visible trading history.
Be patient and you will get there. There really are no shortcuts to building a reliable reputation.
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dacreson
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posted on May 21, 2002 06:47:42 PM
I will add; know your product and try for a nitch area. Some area that you know well and have access to new stock. If you are in Ebay for the money (Some are not) know what you paid for your stock. Don’t work yourself to death over a $5.00 sale. Study your sell through (Lots sold / lots listed) Less than 50% you likely have a problem. Don't let the 5% Ass H**** detract from the 95% great people. Good luck and we will see you down the road.
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profe51
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posted on May 21, 2002 07:42:36 PM
all of the above, but I gotta re-emphasize pictures. Learn how to take nice clear pictures, and learn how to optimize them into small files that will load quickly. Having a huge picture that creeps onto the screen one line of pixels at a time is infuriating, and will cost you bidders. avoid cute spinning gee-gaws and musical backgrounds that take too long to load for the 95 percent of folks who still dial up for their service. ...last but not least, know your product so you can answer questions with authority........
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mrspock
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posted on May 21, 2002 09:53:14 PM
when my wife wanted to start her own Id I shifted over and did all my buying thru her new ID untill she he 10
I have no problem buying from low feedback sellers just bought a item from a 1 seller and I bought one last week from a 4
spock here......
Live long and Prosper
[
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REAMOND
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posted on May 23, 2002 09:59:34 AM
I do not recommend anyone selling higher value items with 0 or low feedback.
I took a chance and bought a $450+ item for $100 from a 0 feedback seller and he was very disappointed. The item he offered was even superior to the identical items on eBay.
He listed 2 times with no reserve. His EOA email stated I got a great deal, so I went ahead and eduucated him AFTER I received the item.
No one was willing to pay opening bid, much less market price to a 0 feedback seller.
Buying is the quickest way to build feedback.
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zathras11
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posted on May 23, 2002 10:16:21 AM
I didn't want to spend the time buying to
build my feedback (I came to eBay to make
money not spend it), and I wanted to sell
using the Buy It Now option, so I spent the
$5 and opted for the eBay verification option.
It was worth it. Sales were good from the
beginning.
Other than that, I agree with most others...
Always take the best picture possible of
items you want to sell (I take 640x480 and
use Lview Pro to reduce them to clear 320x240
so they load quickly). Write detailed
descriptions (noting any flaws in item).
E-mail promptly when auction ends. E-mail
when item mailed. Develop your own clear
Terms of Sale (TOS). Sell lower cost items
at first. Expect that about 5% of the
people you will deal with are jerks, but
treat everyone well until they reveal
themselves! Always leave fair and honest
feedback and do not be afraid of a Negative!
I used to fret those, but I've had so many
people out right lie about me that I no
longer worry about them. And I'd still over
95% on Yahoo/Bidville/eBay. Good luck!!!
Z
---
"Cannot say. Saying, I would know. Do not
know, so cannot say". -- Zathras (Babylon 5)
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