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