eBay Hacks, 2nd Edition

Improve Your Trustworthiness Quickly

Don’t let an apparent lack of experience hurt your success on eBay.

Bad credit? No credit? No problem!

—Ernie’s Used Cars

A low feedback rating can hurt a buyer or seller nearly as much as a feedback profile with an excessive amount of negative comments. Luckily, there are a few things newbies can do to gain trust within the eBay community.

Newbie Buyers

Many sellers, primarily those who have had a bad experience with a nonpaying bidder, are understandably apprehensive about bidders with low or zero feedback. So, if you see an auction in which the seller has written a warning about such bidders, drop him a quick note by clicking “Ask seller a question,” just to let him know you’re serious.

Tip

If you’re a seller, see “Keep Out Deadbeat Bidders” [Hack #68] for effective ways of dealing with newbie buyers as well as bidders who don’t pay.

Newbie Sellers

It’s harder to be a new seller on eBay than a new buyer; a seller with low or zero feedback will have a hard time selling anything. Trust, after all, takes on a bigger role when someone else’s money is at stake.

The best thing to do (and, coincidentally, the most fun) is to buy a few things before you start selling. Not only is this an easy way to build up feedback, but it will give you some experience in what it’s like to be a buyer, which will ultimately make you a better seller.

Tip

Note that eBay will also lift some restrictions when you’ve beefed up your feedback. For instance, once you reach a feedback ...