So you have finally decided to dust off that box labeled “Stuff” in your closet and turn that clutter into cash! Good for you! Now what? Whether you are making your grand debut into the online marketplace for the first time or are on the top of the VIV (very important vendor) list on eBay, brushing up on your selling skills can be helpful for everyone. Here are a few ways to boost your profits and get ahead of the competition:
1. Be Trustworthy
With the huge influx of spammers and scammers out there on the WWW these days, building trust with your customers is the most important thing you can do as an online vendor. Always list your contact information and be prompt about returning phone calls and emails. Although some people are not comfortable giving out their phone number to a customer, the customer often feels more comfortable knowing that there is a real person available to call on the other end of the deal. Using paypal or another verified, secure method of payment is another way to win the customer’s trust. Never have them pay by money order or require them to send cash or a check via the mail. That raises an immediate red flag!
2. Be Reliable
Always hold up your end of the deal. If you promise a customer 2-day shipping, make sure the package arrives on their door step intwo days. Period. Also, it is important to email the customer their tracking number. Nothing is more frustrating than ordering something and wondering where the heck your package is! “Did it get lost in the mail? Did I get scammed? Did someone steal it off my doorstep?” Nothing will earn you a bad review faster than a frustrated customer waiting on their package, which brings me to my next tip…
3. Get Customer Testimonials and Reviews
Good customer reviews are essential to your success as an online vendor. A bad customer review can kill your credibility and drive customers away in a flash – which is exactly what you are trying to avoid. After the item has been sent and your customer receives it (you will know when it arrives because you kept a copy ofthe tracking information!), check in with him/her by email or phone and politely ask for a review or testimonial as to how satisfied/dissatisfied they were with the transaction. If they happen to be dissatisfied, then you can learn from your mistakes and avoid them next time.
4. Be detailed
When you post an item, it isimportant to be very detailed when it comes to pictures and the description of your item. The more detailed and honest you are, the better the chance that your customer will be satisfied withtheir order. Take as many pictures- in good light and from different angles - as the marketplace you are selling through will allow. Be very honest and detailed in the description of your item as well. If you have carried that purse you are selling since ’95, “lightly used” just isn’t going to cut it!
And finally,
5. Post your items on iTaggit and use our Sell It feature to export your items to eBay.com, Craigslist.com, and Oddle.com in one click!
