Learn to Buy and Sell on eBay

Online auctions match buyers with sellers in a global marketplace for almost any item. If you've ever dreamed of working from home or just earning extra income by buying and selling goods online, this course will guide you every step of the way!

In this course, you will gain all of the knowledge necessary for success in the online marketplace. You'll learn how to create titles that get noticed, how to craft advertising copy that sells items quickly and for top dollar, and how to create and upload photos of the items you are selling. You'll also learn how to safely conduct financial transactions, how to accept credit card payments, and how to pack and ship any item hassle-free. If you're a buyer, you'll learn how to value almost any item up for auction, how to get the best possible price, how to protect yourself against fraud, and how to compete effectively against other bidders.

What you will learn

• Learn the fundamentals of buying and selling on eBay, and understand its advanced features
• Discover how to buy and sell in an online auction and become confident in your ability to benefit financially
• Learn how to create effective auction descriptions, and properly promote your listings for maximum exposure
• Discover the art of proxy bidding, bid sniping, and other tips for winning an auction at the best possible price

How you will benefit

• Discover the secrets to making money from the comfort of your own home
• Gain confidence in your ability to use online marketplaces and benefit from great deals
• Learn how to connect with others in an online social community

Outline

Learning eBay's History and How to Navigate the Site

Entering the world of eBay can be somewhat like visiting a foreign land. It has its own community, culture, and language (so to speak). In the first lesson, you'll learn all the ins and outs of the eBay marketplace. The lesson will go over eBay's history, the motivations for buying and selling, and how to browse the categories of eBay.

Registration and Searching

Knowing how to search the eBay auction listings for items of interest is fundamental if you're interested in buying or selling goods in the eBay marketplace. In this lesson, you'll learn the basics, as well as some advanced search methods, allowing you to not only find what's currently up for auction, but also to gather information on items that have recently sold. You'll also go over the eBay registration process so you can truly begin your eBay experience.

Auction Pages and the My eBay Section

In this lesson, you'll take a tour through the eBay auction pages to help you understand the site's terminology and layout. You'll learn what specifics to look for in item descriptions to help you become an astute buyer. You'll also explore the My eBay section of eBay—an invaluable tool that you'll use to keep track of everything from your buying and selling activities to keeping lists of favorite searches, sellers, categories, and much, much more.

Bidding and Buying After the Auction

This lesson will guide you step-by-step through the eBay bidding and buying process. Not only will you learn all the bidding basics, but you'll discover the art of bidding, including proxy bidding, bid sniping, and other tips for winning an auction at the best possible price. It will also prepare you for what happens after the auction ends—communicating with the seller and making your payment.

Your First Sale

In this lesson, you'll learn how to prepare for your first sale on eBay. You'll go through the first steps of the selling process, including locating items to sell, creating effective auction descriptions, and properly promoting your listings for maximum exposure.

The World of Digital Photography

In this lesson, you'll learn why digital photographs are so important when selling an item on eBay. The lesson will cover what type of camera you need, lighting and background techniques, picture editing, and even how to protect the images you capture.

Basics of Pricing and Shipping

This lesson will go over the basics of pricing your auction items and discuss setting your shipping rates. You'll learn why pricing your item lower may actually get you more money in the end. The lesson will also discuss how value plays a part in the price you ask and what a reserve price is. Then you'll go over what supplies you'll need to ship your merchandise, and where to find valuable shipping tools and resources.

Launching Your Auction

This lesson will guide you step-by-step through the process of launching your auction. You'll learn selling fundamentals such as registering as a seller, understanding eBay's fee schedule, and filling out the selling form for your item. You'll also go over adding pictures to your listing description, accepting online payments, and using online escrow services.

Post-Sale Management

In this lesson, you'll learn the steps you may need to take once you've listed your item. You'll see how to make revisions to an auction currently in progress, how to answer questions from bidders regarding an item you have up for sale, how to cancel bids from unwanted bidders, and how to end an auction early.

Discussion Boards and Your Profile

In this lesson, you'll truly be inducted into the eBay community! You'll discover all the different elements that make up the social world of eBay, such as the discussion forums, "About Me" pages, chat boards, and other eBay tools such as eBay radio and the eBay News Section. When you're finished with this lesson, eBay will be your online home away from home.

eBay Stores and Other Sellers' Resources

In this lesson, you'll take a tour through the world of eBay stores where you can take your eBay selling experience to the next level. You'll find out how to design and open an eBay store and then look at other valuable sellers' resources, such as listing tools and auction management software.

Advanced Selling Topics

The final lesson will go over some advanced selling topics. You'll learn which items tend to sell the best, how to find out what the hottest sellers are, and how and where to find inventory to sell. It will also discuss eBay's trading assistant program and other auction websites. You'll finish the course with some priceless parting knowledge that will help you jump-start your eBay selling success.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.