How to Make Money Selling on eBay-Test Before You Invest!
By Bob Hamilton
There are many potential causes for items not selling at auction. While some particular causes can be identified, often the real root cause of the ‘No Sale’ is a lack of preplanning and pre-testing by the seller. In those cases the seller has simply somehow found a product, and gone ahead and purchased a quantity of that product to try and sell. All of that time and expense invested without the seller knowing whether there is a market for the item or not. Testing before investing is one of the real keys regarding how to selling on eBay.
A much better way to manage an auction business would be to first research the market niche and the proposed item to be sold. The seller who knows how to selling on eBay will cautiously move forward to test the market. That seller will never just jump in and invest a lot of time and money on what may be a poor product to sell.
The investigation should focus on examining the item(s), the market, and the specific market niche. That research should include (At a minimum.):
•Sellers already in the marketplace.
Try to gain a grasp of the sellers that are already in that market. What items do they sell? Approximately what quantity of those items do they sell? What are their average sales prices?
•Products that sell in the marketplace.
Does the item that you have selected already sell on eBay? (Reminder: Be sure you are examining products that sell, not products that are listed and don’t sell.) How much are they actually selling for?
•Products that are profitable in the marketplace.
Does the item that you have selected to sell on eBay sell for enough money that you will make a profit? Have you factored in all of your expenses (Cost of item? Warehouse costs? Packaging costs? Handling costs? Shipping costs?)
Keep testing and adjusting products and fixed prices until you find the product line and specific items within that product line that consistently sell. We are in this to make money; be sure that your selected items actual make a consistent profit for you.
What is testing? Why should you test? What are you trying to find out by testing?
Testing is simply the process that you follow after conducting market research and determining a market niche and product(s) that you plan to be selling
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in that niche. It is taking 2-3 of that item and selling them at auction PRIOR to making a large cash investment in inventory.
Testing is simply taking the time to make sure that taking a specific action (In this case selling an item.) will get the desired result. In this case, if you are thinking about starting to sell mini-desk lamps, testing with 2-3 sales first will verify that there appears to be a market (Assuming they sell.) and that there is a profit (Assuming they sell for enough to cover all costs, expenses and a little more for your profit.). (Sellers who know will also check supplier dependability, shipping and freight costs, overall product quality, etc.)
Every time you start a new process or procedure, or add an item, it is best to test before you commit to dive in and go forward at full speed. on eBay success by conducting research, and testing. Test and retest to stay ahead of your competition. Test and retest to ensure your auction sales success.
Bob Hamilton All Rights Reserved Helping people get started on eBay Visit http://www.onlineauctionsmadesimple.net for a free dropship report http://www.openingadollarstore.com
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