The eBay UK Bulletin: Issue 221

The eBay UK Bulletin: Issue 221, 15th June 2011

Topics in this issue:

1. eBay news – Electronics categories listings

2. How much!!

3. Slightly different scam

4. Feedback in listings - update

5. Ask Molly – How can I increase my listings limit?

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of The eBay UK Bulletin.

Congratulations to the two bulletin readers who picked up on the ‘Vicar of Dibley reference last week, I wondered if anybody would be on my wavelength – seek help [Ed - I completely missed it]!

The sun is still shining in UK, well on the East coast anyway, so eBay work is progressing slowly. On the other hand, a lot of coffee is being consumed and the Elves are busy in the garden. It’s a tough life!

The bulletin this week includes a scam with a difference; read on and watch out.

As somebody famous once said: “I don’t believe it!” See item 2 below.

[For details of this newsletter, please scroll down to the end.]

-------------------------------------
1. EBAY NEWS – ELECTRONICS CATEGORY LISTINGS

-------------------------------------


If you are selling in the ‘Electronics’ category you should be aware that certain sub-categories have required sellers to list with a ‘matching product’ from the eBay catalogue since 17 May. Things are now getting tough as eBay start to remove non-compliant listings.

If you have listings in the following sub-categories you had best stick the kettle on and check that all your listings comply:

Mobile Phones
Digital Cameras
Camcorders
Lenses
Flashes
Tripods
Film Cameras
Video Game Systems


More items in Electronics categories will need to list with matching products in the catalogue soon, the big one is computing.

To help sellers revise existing listings and to select the right catalogue product, eBay have created a new tool which you can access from the main information page

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/uk/201106061524352.html

Good luck!


------------------------------------------------
2. HOW MUCH!!

-------------------------------------------------



One of the golden rules of selling according to Molly is never set your ceiling price in an auction. You know the kind of thing - telling your bidders what the item costs in the shop. If you do this you are bound to end up somewhere under the retail price, surely.

As Molly tentatively moves into the ‘Lancome’ cosmetic market I found this bargain with one item sold.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320708874810


The other great listing sent in this week by bulletin reader ‘methleykev’ who is moving to PPI for postage and selling excess stamps, how fortunate that they chose the auction format!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260796888322

It just goes to show that Molly knows nothing at all about selling, now where did I put my sticky stamps?


Seen a strange auction lately? Please send it in – Mollybol@ebaybulletin.co.uk



-------------------------------------------------
3. SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SCAM

------------------------------------------------


We love scams and phishing e-mails at HQ, it is a sad to collect them but everybody needs a hobby. This is the latest one doing the rounds and it appears to be the answer to every eBay seller’s prayers, a source of quality stock.

If it sounds too good to be true...

“Hi Molly. I have read your book with great interest and it has really helped me this past six months get going on ebaying.

I just received these emails and thought them rather strange. I had received a similar one last week and actually responded to it out of curiosity. They sold mobile phones and high-tech stuff. I actually didn't reply a second time and then I received this one today. They say it's not a scam, but who knows.”

gulliver19200 - http://stores.ebay.co.uk/gulliver19200


--------------------------------------


“Hi, I have a proposal for you I am looking for a person with seller account and some positive feedback`s to list my items on e bay . I tried my self before but everytime got suspended because of selling high rated items with no feedback . You`re one of the few sellers contacted by me who had the email address in description . If you`re interested we will do this by the most convenience way for both of us (we can discuss about payment to find the best way , I ship first so no scam here ) . Reply me back for details and we will speak about the items and your pay .



“Hello, I am very sorry for contacting you in this way ... but I have an offer to make you. I am looking for a person with e bay seller account to work with me on e bay selling my items . If you`re interested contact me so we can speak about the items and your payment and we will do this by the most convenience way for both of us . I ship items first so NO scam here , Looking forward to hear from you .”



“Hello , I got your email address from your listing and I am interested working with you on e bay . I have high rated items and I want all be sold by an experienced lister with some positive feedback`s . I will ask for payment only after the item is received by the winning bidder My items are 100% genuine, not illegal fake or counterfeit!! the winning bidder will confirm you this before sending me the money . (I ship first so No scam here) Please reply me back so I can talk with you about the items and your payment . I will wait for your response asap . Thank you”

--------------------------------------



Just ignore anything like this that pops into your email inbox and remember that nobody is going to make you rich out of the goodness of their heart.[Ed – except Molly of course.]



-------------------------------------------------
4. FEEDBACK IN LISTINGS _ UPDATE

------------------------------------------------


You may recall in the last bulletin a plea for help regarding the inclusion of active feedback within listings; here are a couple of reader responses for you to peruse:

-----------------------

“Hi Molly,

I have a scrolling 'feedback' and 'other items for sale' on the bottom of my sales pitches, I assume these are what your correspondent means.

The basic widget (as they call them) is FREE in each category they sell and can be found at this website.

http://www.supremeauction.com/widgets/

They're a bit awkward to set-up and need your user ID as they use the eBay API system but I feel are worth the struggle.

They only need to be set-up once, I seem to remember the main problem when I did it was that you could only use Internet Explorer to set them up, Firefox or Chrome wouldn't work.”

‘supporttechservices’ - http://shop.ebay.co.uk/supporttechservices/m.html


“Hi Molly

I use this software in all my listings, normally just below the title. It is called Feedback Analyzer Pro, quite easy to use, only about £5 to buy.”

http://www.feedbackanalyzer.com/

---------------------------------------



The usual caveats apply, check that this is what you want before parting with any cash.

-------------------------------------------------
5. ASK MOLLY – HOW CAN I INCREASE MY LISTINGS LIMIT?

------------------------------------------------


A slightly different ‘Ask Molly’ this week, a cross between a reader’s rant and comment on eBay policy. I would like to throw the question out to all readers – if you have an idea that could help, please let me know.


“Hi Molly,

Are eBay trying to stop new entrants with their listing limit policy?

Please read on.

eBay’s new account policy for business is crazy.

I contacted eBay advising them that I was a long-standing eBay member with a private account with 100% feedback.

They told me in an email that I would be free to list an unlimited number of items- well it was unlimited at 100!!!

I have listed over 1500 items using Turbo Lister and managed after some negotiation to get the limit raised to 180.

My list is all second-hand books – which requires a big inventory otherwise fees would exceed income which I confidentially expect to happen. I have over 15k books, all quality titles carefully sourced, it has blown my plans – I think I have wasted my time listing the initial 1500.



This makes the starting of a new business on eBay a non-viable option for certain products. Books require big inventories – I can understand some limits – possibly for clothing, electronics & software or from someone with no pedigree with eBay - but this make a little sense, but for second-hand books – they are unlikely to get too many entrants – which cannot be good in the longer run – eBay are powerful but I think they are misusing the power.

I will have to hope that after 90 days I will have the necessary feedback to have the limit removed- but with little likelihood of many sales and obviously feedback.

If you or a bulletin reader has any ideas how this can be overcome I would welcome the suggestion.”



The big issue here boils down to having a ‘selling account’, although most eBay sellers start off as buyers and then upgrade to selling to enjoy a limitless listing limit you must have been a registered seller for at least 90 days.


I have read the initial e-mails from eBay, they are a little ambiguous and I can see how the confusion arose.

I am not aware of a cheat that would get around the ruling, but if any readers had similar problems and found a way, please share your thoughts.

It is possible to remove the limit on your account if you have another, more established selling account on eBay. Your other account needs to meet all of these conditions:
· You've been a registered seller for at least 90 days.
· You don't have any unresolved buyer complaints.
· Your detailed seller ratings (DSRs) are at least 4.8 in all areas.

If you meet all of the above conditions, contact eBay and provide:
· The user IDs for both accounts
· Details on how your accounts are linked (for example, employer, spouse, or partner)


If you have a question about eBay or home working in general, please send it to: mollybol@ebaybulletin.co.uk - I will reply personally to every e-mail I receive and remember, there are FREE copies of my book available for the best questions, tips, or stories.


-- END NOTE --



That's all for this week. Check out www.ebaybulletin.co.uk for the latest news from Molly HQ.


The sun stopped shining enough last week enabling me to finish updating the eBook edition of the Business Handbook and it should be available very soon.

Is the eBook worth buying if I already have the most excellent edition three I hear you ask? The main reason to buy the eBook is of course its portability - you can take Molly on the train, bus or to the beach with you without having to carry that big paperback book.

There are not that many changes of any consequence to the content for the eBook edition from that of the 3rd edition paperback, so you might like to save your hard earned for edition four which may well be around in due course.


Best wishes and happy eBaying.

Mollybol



Author of the bestselling title, 'The eBay Business Handbook' - available direct from the publishers: www.harriman-house.com/ebaybusiness