| So your auction closes. Now what? | | | | Trustworthiness |
| | | | |
| Hopefully you made a sale or several sales. | | | | It is extremely important that you handle |
| Now the important work begins. Here are some | | | | your account with integrity. The number of |
| tips on what to do after your eBay auction | | | | positive comments and amount of stars earned |
| closes. | | | | are what will be the deciding factor for many |
| | | | buyers. Be professional, polite, and stand by |
| Buyer Contact | | | | what you sell. |
| | | | |
| Once your items have sold, be responsive to | | | | Sending Items |
| the buyer. Contact them in a quick manner, | | | | |
| thank them for their purchase, and provide | | | | In your description, provide accurate details |
| the required information for payment. | | | | regarding shipment. Make sure the item(s) are |
| | | | sent within the time you stated. In many |
| Professional Wrapping | | | | cases, people purchase something for a |
| | | | specific purpose and if you do not ship it |
| When you wrap your items, wrap it | | | | when stated, not only do you mess up their |
| professionally in nice, clean tissue paper. | | | | schedule for the item but you have probably |
| If breakable, be sure the item is wrapped | | | | lost a customer and opened the door for a |
| with bubble wrap as well. Include a business | | | | negative feedback. |
| card with your website information, name, | | | | |
| address, or a printed out statement showing | | | | Communication with Buyer |
| the items name, items number, price paid, and | | | | |
| a small hand-written note thanking the buyer | | | | It is your responsibility to contact the |
| for their purchase. | | | | buyer at the end of the auction |
| | | | congratulating them on winning the item(s). |
| Insurance | | | | Issue an e-mail requesting their shipping |
| | | | address. Once they provide that information |
| Insurance is usually a good idea but in | | | | to you, let them know when the shipment will |
| general, it should be an optional feature, | | | | go out, which should coordinate within the |
| with the decision left to the buyer. Remember | | | | timeframe provided in your auction |
| two important things about insurance. First, | | | | description. If you know the shipping |
| insurance is VERY inexpensive. Therefore, in | | | | charges, advise them in this same e-mail. |
| your description, you should state how much | | | | Once payment has been made, send another |
| insurance would cost and recommend it. | | | | e-mail to the buyer confirming that you |
| Second, you should also state in the | | | | received their payment and that the item(s) |
| description that if insurance is not | | | | will be shipped on X day via (US priority |
| purchased, you are not responsible for lost | | | | mail, UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.). Once you have a |
| or damaged items. | | | | tracking number, send that to the buyer as |
| | | | well. This will allow them to follow the |
| Go the Extra Mile | | | | tracking themselves. |
| | | | |
| You want every customer to be a happy | | | | Integrity |
| customer. If you have to do a little more | | | | |
| research on shipping, or negotiate on price, | | | | Regardless of whom the buyer, work with |
| remember that the customer is the reason you | | | | integrity and run your auctions accordingly. |
| will have success. Therefore, be prepared to | | | | More than likely, you will run into some |
| go the extra mile in providing them with | | | | difficult buyers, although not often. Keep in |
| superior service every single time. | | | | mind that every buyer provides the best form |
| | | | of advertisement - word of mouth. Integrity |
| Negative Feedback | | | | is what will draw customers in and keep them |
| | | | coming back along with friends and family. |
| Unlike other sites that use a feedback | | | | |
| system, eBay's feedback is sacred and taken | | | | Openness |
| very seriously. Negative feedback is never | | | | |
| removed. Therefore, if you leave negative | | | | If a buyer makes a recommendation, listen. |
| feedback rather than trying to handle a tough | | | | That does not always mean you will agree or |
| situation between you and the seller, this | | | | even like their recommendations but if they |
| could give you a bad reputation. If people | | | | have something to say, it might be something |
| see that you consistently leave negative | | | | important to making your auction site better |
| feedback because your buyer did not pay as | | | | for future buyers. For example, if your |
| quickly as you like or whatever reason, | | | | shipping information seems muddled to the |
| buyers will be leery of buying from you in | | | | buyer but clear to you, you need to review |
| fear of getting negative feedback themselves | | | | what you have written. If the customer is |
| should something go wrong. | | | | struggling with understanding, that is truly |
| | | | what matters. |