Ebay the Smart Way
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
eBay the Smart Way Third Edition This page intentionally left blank eBay the Smart Way Selling, Buying, and Profiting on the Web’s #1 Auction Site Third Edition Joseph T. Sinclair American Management Association New York • Atlanta • Brussels • Chicago • Mexico City • San Francisco Shanghai • Tokyo • Toronto • Washington, D.C. Special discounts on bulk quantities of AMACOM books are avail- able to corporations, professional associations, and other organiza- tions. For details, contact Special Sales Department, AMACOM, an imprint of AMA Publications, a division of American Management Association, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Tel.: 212-903-8316. Fax: 212-903-8083. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent pro- fessional person should be sought. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sinclair, Joseph T. eBay the smart way : selling, buying, and profiting on the Web’s #1 auc- tion site / Joseph T. Sinclair—3rd ed. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 0-8144-7204-4 1. Internet auctions. 2. Auctions—Computer network resources. I. Title HF5478.S482003 381’.177—dc22 2003016751 CIP © 2004 Joseph T. Sinclair. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of AMACOM, an imprint of AMA Publications, a division of American Management Association, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Printing number 10987654321 To my grandfather, Joseph Treble Sinclair, who was a master of com- merce in Detroit in the first half of the twentieth century. And to my father-in-law, Ollie Jack Wallin, who was a master of retail in Oklahoma City during the second half of the twentieth century. This page intentionally left blank Contents Acknowledgments . .xvii I. Introducing eBay . 1 1. Introduction to eBay . 3 Markets . .5 A Terrific Place to Shop . .14 What’s Up? . .15 2. Opportunities for Buyers . 17 Individuals . .18 Risk . .20 Transaction Overhead . .21 VII VIII CONTENTS Rent or Buy at Auction? . 23 Summary . 23 3. Opportunities for Sellers . .25 Individuals . 26 Retailers . 28 Risk . 32 Transaction Overhead . 32 Summary . 35 II. Learning to Use eBay . 37 4. How eBay Works . .39 Community Values . 40 User Agreement . 40 Trust . 42 Navigation . 42 Preparation . 50 Registration . 51 Auctions . 54 Gallery . 63 After the Auction . 63 Escrow Services . 64 Wanted Page . 66 Researching an eBay User . 66 Researching Market Values . 66 Representing Yourself . 68 Security . 70 Community . 74 Education . 76 eBay Customer Service . 76 Charity . 79 CONTENTS IX Summary . .79 5. Bidding . 81 Bidding . .82 After Your Bid . .91 Optional eBay Bidding Features . .93 Illicit Merchandise . .98 Summary . .100 6. Selling . 101 Sellers (Auctioneers) . .102 Rating the Condition of the Item . .106 Entering an Auction . .109 Authentication and Other Protections . .113 After You List the Auction . .117 When an Auction Is Not a Sale . .120 Summary . .120 7. Reputation . 123 eBay Feedback System . .124 It’s Your Reputation . .136 It’s Their Reputation . .136 How the System Works . .138 Liability for Defamation . .141 Evaluating a Person’s Reputation . .141 SafeHarbor . .143 Conclusion . .143 8. Reporting and Recourse . 145 Most People Are Honest, But … . .146 Negotiate . .148 Remedies . .149 Collecting a Judgment . .161 Prevention . .161 X CONTENTS Forget It . 162 eBay Offenses . 162 Verified Rights Owner Program . 165 Summary . ..