eBay Hacks, 2nd Edition

Post a Want Ad

Create a free listing on eBay’s Want It Now site, and let the world know what you’re looking for.

In an effort to answer the pleas of hungry collectors everywhere, eBay has created a special place where members can advertise items they’re looking for, as opposed to items they’re selling. To create a new want ad, go to pages.ebay.com/wantitnow/ and click Post to Want It Now.

The rather spare Post To Want It Now form has only three self-explanatory options: Title, Description, and Category. Type a keyword-rich title [Hack #47] , take time to write an effusively-friendly description, and then select the toplevel category under which you’d normally expect to find your item on the main eBay site. Click Post To Want It Now when you’re done.

Tip

Make sure to indicate in the description that you’re willing to pay via PayPal [Hack #33] , if that is indeed the case, as it will help affirm your trustworthiness among the more timid sellers that may stumble upon your ad.

Your ad will appear on the site immediately, and will remain for 60 days or until you delete it. Click View Your Post on the confirmation page to see your listing, which should look something like the one in Figure 2-10.

Figure 2-10. A Want It Now listing allows you to advertise what you’re looking for, in the hopes that a seller will see it and contact you

Now, don’t expect a flood of emails from eager sellers right ...