| The Online Seller | Vol. 4, Issue 2 |
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Take advantage of these—right now—to drive your business to new heights.
by Lisa Suttora
With record e-commerce spending of $32.6 billion during the 2010 holiday selling season resulting in a 12-percent increase over 2009, according to comScore, and the first billion-dollar online shopping day behind us, there's no doubt that e-commerce is on a robust growth trajectory for 2011. Read story.
Did 2010 Holiday Sales Measure Up?
As we greet a brand new year, let's see how some top sellers rate the last one.
by Brad and Debra Schepp
5 Missteps to Avoid in Online Sales
Practices that will do everything but keep your customers happy
by Dennis L. Prince
Point of No Returns?
If your returns policy is too restrictive, you may be losing return business.
by Miriam Otto
Building Trust in Your Overseas Supplier
Research and relationships are the keys to a good sourcing experience.
Are You Ready for Mobile Buyers?
Learn how to optimize your listings for on-the-go shoppers.
Auctiva 101 Webinars. Get a close-up look at Auctiva's newest features, and an introduction to our comprehensive suite of eBay listing management tools with Auctiva 101 Webinars. Ideal for new and experienced users alike, these one-hour classes let sellers interact with Auctiva management and developers to get the story behind the software, and learn strategies for success on eBay. Webinars take place every week. To attend the next session, register here!
News Stories
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Fourth quarter pushes overall results above predicted figures.
eBay generated slightly more revenue in 2010 than expected—$9.2 billion—with the help of payment processor PayPal and an overall strong fourth quarter. Read story.
eBay UK to Monitor Shipping DSRs
Officials will step in to prevent an unfair drop in sellers' ratings.
AliExpress Cuts Shipping Costs
Fulfillment program could save buyers 30% on shipping.
First-Class, Media Mail Rates to Rise
USPS says new prices will have minimal impact on customers.
Auctiva Blog
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Years ago, I used to be protective of my eBay selling ID anytime people asked me for it. I'd buy a cartload of cell phone cases that were marked down from $30 to $1 and, of course, the cashier (and sometimes people waiting in line) would ask what on Earth I was going to do with so many of them. Read more.
Free eBay Shipping Service from Stamps.com! Simplify your eBay shipping. Stamps.com imports order data from eBay, posts tracking information back to your store, and it's compatible with First Class Mail International, so you can ship worldwide without ever going to the post office. Best of all, you can print eBay shipping labels for free. Sign up today and get a $55 bonus!
Weird and Wacky Listings
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This rare, heart-shaped almond could be a unique way to tell your sweetie you're nuts about 'em on Valentine's Day. Bonus: Almonds are a heart-healthy snack, so they'll know you truly care. Sure, roses and chocolates are nice, too, but they won't score you any points for originality.
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If it's friendship you want, look no further. High bidder on this auction will get to replace the seller as the best buddy of Alexandros, who lives in Greece and is, apparently, a genuinely good guy. Not sure we can say the same about the seller. Can you trust someone who would sell his closest friend?
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Liven up the Super Bowl festivities this year by bringing your own set of party penalty flags. Catch someone double-dipping at the chip bowl? Throw a flag on that play—illegal motion. Rival fans getting unruly? Unnecessary roughness. Host ran out of beer? Automatic disqualification! Let the fun begin!
Ask Auctiva
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Got a burning question about Auctiva, eBay or e-commerce in general? Through our Ask Auctiva program, you can speak directly to Auctiva's top managers. All you have to do is send an e-mail to "AskAuctiva" at the Auctiva dot com domain. Selected questions will be answered by Auctiva managers and published in an article on the Auctiva Education tab. Read some recent Auctiva Q&A articles here.
Please do not submit inquiries requiring an immediate response. Instead, please file a support request for technical or account-related issues.
Auctiva User Profile
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Sue Carlson Dunn has created an emporium that encourages rockers of all ages to indulge their passion for music without having to worry about rocking too hard.
"When head-banging means a neck brace for six weeks, there has to be a gentler way to indulge your passion for the great—and not-so-great—bands and artists of the past," she notes. Read story.
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 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.
Auctiva Commerce Store Spotlight
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Ian House is convinced everyone has a need for nostalgic, affordable metal sign reproductions.
"There's just no getting around it," the owner of American Yesteryear says. "We believe that every man, woman and child in this country should own at least two nostalgic metal sign reproductions each. It's not simply an indulgence; it is fundamental to the pursuit of happiness."
American Yesteryear is there to fulfill that need with vintage metal signs featuring images of the armed forces, pin-up girls, Route 66, motorcycles, vintage cars and more. The shop is directed toward the celebration and preservation of America's history, "by way of its vast archive of historical imagery," House notes. The collector has been selling tin sign reproductions for five years, but this Auctiva Commerce endeavor is his first shot at selling hand-crafted, 24-gauge steel, high-grade sign reproductions.
The store is in its early stages—House still has a lot of inventory to list—but the signs' quality and competitive prizes are already attracting customers, which House treats with "the best customer service that they will ever experience," he says. "Nothing else matters. People trust you with their hard-earned money, and they deserve your common courtesy, honesty and integrity in return."
House knows how expensive original vintage signs can be, so he strives to offer fair prices. "It's not uncommon for an original sign, in decent and collectible condition, to be valued at hundreds of dollars, and often into the thousands," he explains. "In many ways, this price impediment—which has prevented most collectors from any access to the originals—is what gave birth to the now-thriving market for economical tin sign reproductions."
Auctiva Commerce has helped House participate in that flourishing market. "It has given me confidence to grow my business knowing that the selling tool is already superior to what I've been used to, and it will only keep getting better, from what I can tell," House says. "The new Store Designer tool is simply brilliant."
Visit American Yesteryear.
Set up your own Auctiva Commerce Store and get complete freedom over your shop.
Feedback Forum
In response to "Alibaba.com Acquires Export Services Firm," one reader writes: "I have little doubt that Alibaba is going to become a big player in exporting China's products to the U.S. Anything to speed shipping (as well as reduce costs) is terribly important—as anyone who's bought something on eBay from China knows." 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.
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