Protect your feedback profile — and your reputation — from the proverbial slings and arrows of disgruntled eBayers.

In most cases, negative feedback is unnecessary. And I'm sure that if you just received negative feedback, you'll agree in a heartbeat.

But the reason that negative feedback is unnecessary is that it's usually avoidable. Complaints are usually lodged for one of the following reasons:


A buyer's expectations weren't met. A buyer will leave negative feedback for a seller if the item doesn't arrive quickly, if the item isn't in as good condition as promised, or if the seller isn't responsive to emails.

All of these are avoidable:
If you would like to categorize an item as "like new," say it's in "mint condition" instead. The phrase "like new" means "indistinguishable from brand new." No matter how good it looks to you, the person who's just laid down $1,500 of their hard-earned money will expect more than you'll probably be able to deliver.

If the item has been used, say so; don't expect your bidders to realize this simply by scrutinizing your blurry photos or noticing that you set a low starting bid.

Mention all flaws, regardless of how insignificant. Whether or not the flaws are important is beside the point. Rather, it's the blunt honesty that will win the trust of your bidders, and ultimately get you more money for your items (and happier bidders to boot).

If you're selling something belonging to someone else, say so. Otherwise, your bidders will expect you to have full knowledge of its history and will hold you accountable for any flaws you don't specifically mention up front. Anything you know about the item's history (such as previous owners, repairs, or accidents) should be mentioned in the description, along with the current condition of the item. Or, if the item has had a relatively cushy life — surviving no accidents and requiring no repairs — then say so.

If it's dirty, clean it. If you don't want to take the time to clean it, say that it's dirty in the description. Or, better yet, say something like "With a good cleaning, this item will be as good as new!"

If you're selling clothing, stuffed animals, dolls, camping gear, or anything else that can trap odors, be sure to mention whether the items were kept in a smoke-free environment. Your non-smoking customers will thank you either way.

Measuring tapes are cheap and plentiful. Be sure to include the dimensions of your item, especially if you're not that familiar with it. This is not so much for the bidder's convenience, but rather to help ease (or confirm) your bidders' fears that you might've miscategorized your item. For instance, if you're selling your grandfather's model trains and you're not sure of the scale (HO, N, Z, etc.), then you run a pretty good chance of getting it wrong. If you include the dimensions, your bidders can be sure of what they're buying, long before they receive it and have to send it back.

Don't forget to mention the inclusion (or exclusion) of the original box, manuals, accessories, warranty card, paperwork, price tags, or anything else your bidders might expect to get with your item.

taking good photos that will simultaneously sell your item and inspire trust in those who would pay for it.

Don't say "the photo says it all." The photo never says it all.

Finally, your tone sets an expectation with your bidders as to what you'll be like to deal with. Be inviting and friendly, and invite inquiries from interested bidders. Write in complete sentences.

Above for tips to effectively prevent customers from being disappointed, both before and after the sale.

But it's important to note that sometimes there's only so much a seller can do to please a customer. For this reason, sellers must also do everything possible to convince their customers — especially inexperienced ones — to communicate any problems or concerns to the seller before they go ahead and leave feedback.

If you're the seller, probably the easiest way to do this is to include a note inside all your packages with your email address (and phone number, if applicable) and the assurance that, if the customer has a problem, you'll do everything you can to make the situation right. Sometimes the note alone is enough to make the customer happy.

Deadbeat bidder. A seller will leave negative feedback for a bidder who doesn't pay. If you're a bidder, you can avoid this by quite simply not bidding when you don't intend to follow through and purchase the item. Sellers can usually prevent deadbeat bidders from bidding on their auctions — or rather, prevent bidders from becoming deadbeats.

Communication breakdown. One of the most common causes of failed transactions — and the resulting negative feedback — is one party's inability to email the other.

Retaliation. A single negative feedback comment will often result in a reciprocal retaliatory feedback. Unfortunately, this is human nature, and there's not much you can do about it. What's worse, though, is that many eBay members don't leave negative feedback where appropriate out of fear of retaliation.

Any buyer or seller who lets another member get away with murder, simply for fear of retaliation, does the entire eBay community a disservice. Anyone who tries to blackmail you by threatening to leave negative feedback can be suspended for doing so

The Most Profitable Product On Ebay

What is the most profitable product on ebay?
What is most searching on ebay?
What is most buyer want it on ebay?
From the beginning, eBay's primary growth came from the
collectibles market. There are two basic models for eBay
sales:

1. Currently available consumers goods. This is a price-
driven model, and although smart sellers can earn above-
average prices, buyers are there looking for a bargain and
price is the #1 consideration.

2. Other buyers are collectors, looking for one-of-a-kind
unique items that they can't locate elsewhere. Here, price
isn't as important as it is with consumer goods. The power
of this market is obvious because, before eBay and the
Internet, most collectors were confined to a local market.

Dolls have always been big sellers as eBay collectibles and
eight of them are especially strong sellers:

1. The Cabbage Patch Kids began in 1978 and are never
"sold". They are 'born' at Babyland General Hospital in
Cleveland, Georgia and proud parents pay an 'adoption fee'.
The Cabbage Patch Kids were one of the greatest toy
phenomenons of the later 20th century. At one time, it was a
common sight to see grown women shopping and lunching with
their babies in hand. In restaurants, the Kids had their own
chairs and were always appropriately dressed for the
weather.

2. Precious Moments began in the early 1970s when creator
Sam Butcher began drawing the endearing teardrop-eye
children as gifts for family and friends. Today Sam's
Precious Moments artwork is among the most recognized in the
world, and eBay prices reflect this popularity.

3. Madame Alexander dolls were created in 1923. These
beloved dolls range from Charlie Brown to babies and
children to elegant dressed women to glamorous and famous
women like Greta Garbo and Judy Garland. With all the
varieties of costumes, a single doll can be a 1920s flapper
as easily as a member of the court of Louis XIV.

4. Lee Middleton dolls, according to legend, are so real in
appearance that grown men sent for a rescue squad to save
"the baby" from a locked car! Mistaken identity is
supposedly a frequent occurrence and the dolls have been
counted as "passengers" on airplanes and rescued from store
countertops to prevent the 'baby' from falling. As one happy
owner says, "These dolls are so lifelike it's uncanny."

5. American Girl dolls are loved by millions of little girls
(and grown ups, too!) They are not only from different times
and places, but are ethnically diverse: Felicity from
colonial Virginia; Josephina from the 1830's in New Mexico;
Kirsten is "a pioneer girl of strength and spirit growing up
in Minnesota in 1854"; Addy is alive in the 186o's, having
escaped from slavery with her mother; Samantha is "a bright
Victorian girl living with her wealthy grandmother in 1904";
Kit is growing up in 193os, during America's Great
Depression; Molly lives in the 1940's while her dad is away
at war; Kaya is a Nez Perce Indian living in the northwest.

6. Hasbro dolls are one of the products of the gigantic
Hasbro company, who claim to have been making toys for eight
generations, including famous games like Monopoly, Scrabble
and Clue.

7. Bratz dolls, unlike older dolls like Madame Alexander and
Cabbage Patch Kids, have no long history as favorite toys or
collectibles. Nevertheless, their price has astonished eBay
sellers and the Bratz collection was one of the 'super hits'
of the 2003 holiday season and sales have been strong ever
since.

8. And, no surprise, Barbie is the best-selling doll on
eBay. Since Mattel has recently announced that Ken and
Barbie will no longer be an "item", dolls from the 'good old
days' when the name "Barbie" was rarely heard without 'Ken',
will inevitably become more valuable.

Anyone who loves and understands the doll market, can do
very well selling dolls on eBay. They've been strong
sellers for the 10 years eBay has been in existence and are
almost certain to remain popular for years to come.