Features

5 Tips for Enduring an Economic Downturn
Smart listing strategies will ensure continued sales.
by Dennis L. Prince
Since its inception, online selling has been called the "perfect market" approach. In simple terms, the concept asserts fair market value will always be obtained for goods when buyers and sellers come together to transact, the result being the current acceptable market price for goods.

When serious economic uncertainty creeps into the marketplace, however, the perfect market can become a problem for sellers who see prices continue to drop and profits erode as marketplaces such as eBay maintain—and even raise—fees on merchants. Read story.

What's eBay Like for Buyers These Days?
A look at how controversial new policies have changed the 'experience.'
by Brad and Debra Schepp

Wait, eBay Pays Me to Have an eBay Store?
Store owners get cash back for referrals.
by Janelle Elms

Are eBay's Sales Tools Worth the Price?
Guidance on where—and where not—to spend your money.

From Here to There
An overview of domestic shipping options for the seller

View more Articles.

Free Auction Templates. Enhance your brand and increase sales. With more than 1,500 free templates to choose from, representing every category, color, style and theme imaginable, give your listings an attractive, professional look that will get you noticed. Learn more.

Unique eBay Auctions

Going Mobile
Say good riddance to the economic train wreck that was 2008. And if you're among the lucky ones with anything left to your name, pack it up and tote it wherever you go in this authentic Bernard Madoff canvas beach bag. In these times of financial uncertainty, it's the most secure investment a person could make.

Holiday Leftovers
If you didn't get your fill of sugary treats over the holidays, look no further. This seller is cheerfully offering a half-consumed box of powdered confections, perfect for satisfying that sweet tooth. Never mind that it's an unwanted… er, partially-unwanted Christmas gift. The auction is for charity, so your money will go to a good cause. And your dentist will thank you, too.

There's No Time Like Tomorrow
Meant to make a New Year's resolution, but kept putting it off? It's not too late. Here's one that's never been used, though it's a bit dated. That's all right. If you're like us, you'll just throw it on the pile with all the other forgotten resolutions from years past. Or you will eventually. Hey, why do something today when you can wait until tomorrow?

Browse eBay's Weird Stuff category.

News Stories

eBay Rings in New Year With New Requirements
Deadlines approaching for sellers to update their listings.
eBay sellers will have more to worry about in 2009 than keeping their New Year's resolutions. They'll also have to remember to adjust all of their listings to make sure they're in compliance with new site requirements. Read story.

Twitter Enables New Selling Venue
'What are you doing? becomes 'What are you selling?'

eBay's CEO Makes Naughty List
Employees give John Donahoe 49% disapproval rating.

View all News Stories.

Free Listing Generator. With Auctiva's complete one-page listing tool, you can easily and quickly create professional looking auction listings that will garner increased views and higher bids. Need help writing an attention-grabbing title? Search common product keywords here.

Ask the CEO

Get Answers to Your Questions
Got a burning question about eBay, Auctiva or e-commerce in general? Through our Ask the CEO program, you can speak directly to Auctiva Chief Executive Jeff Schlicht. All you have to do is send an e-mail to "asktheceo" at the Auctiva.com domain. Selected questions will be answered by Jeff and published in an article on the Auctiva Education tab. Read some recent articles here.

Please do not submit inquiries requiring an immediate response. If you need a technical issue resolved right away, please file a support request and your case will be addressed by our customer support team.

View all Ask the CEO Stories.

Auctiva User Survey

How Do You Get Your Listings Seen?
As an online seller, you’re well aware that it doesn’t matter how great your merchandise is if no one can find it. Whether you sell on eBay or elsewhere online, we here at Auctiva would like to know what listing tricks and marketing techniques—if any—you use to get your items noticed.

Click here to take our survey. We’ll compile some of the feedback in an article to be published on the Auctiva Education site. If we quote you in the article, we’ll provide links to your listings to help boost your online exposure (hey, who couldn’t use a little free marketing?). Take the survey.

Get Featured Here
Got a success story you want to share? What amazing garage sale finds have you turned into monster profits online? How has using Auctiva's free templates and auction management tools improved your eBay business? Drop a line and tell us in 50 words or less about an outstanding e-sale experience, and perhaps we'll feature your story in an upcoming issue of The Online Seller newsletter. Submit your story here.

Feedback Forum

In response to "Sourcing for Online Sales? Think Globally," one user writes: "Interesting article, but it does not fully deal with the legal issues of importing from another country. Also, being a moderator on Alibaba, I can attest to the fact that Alibaba makes no real effort to keep scammers off their site. A number of us have been fighting for years now for Alibaba to increase their security, but our comments fall on deaf ears."  Read the entire thread, and post your response.

If you'd like to comment on this newsletter, any article contained within, or on topics you'd like to see us cover in the future, Auctiva editors would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback here.

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