Getting Started in Internet Auctions

by Elliott, Alan C.

• ISBN13: 9780471380870
• ISBN10: 0471380873
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-04-19
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Now you can join the more than a million people who participate in online auctions each day. This book describes winning strategies for both online buyers and sellers, including how to spot inferior merchandise, how to find auction bargains, how to bid to win, how to avoid Internet scams and fraud, how to conclude your transaction safely, and more.

Author Biography

ALAN C. ELLIOTT is a computer consultant, instructor, author, and businessman. He has written over a dozen books ranging from introductory computing to business success strategies and has taught computer application courses since 1981. He currently serves as Assistant Director for Academic Computing Services at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. A successful Internet entrepreneur, Elliott has sold over one million dollars worth of merchandise in e-commerce.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	xi
Buying and Selling on Internet Auction Sites	xi
Getting Successfully Started as a Buyer or Seller	xii
Learning How to Buy at Auction	xii
Selling Your Own Items at Auction	xiii
Getting Past the Basics	xiv
Summary	xv
Getting Started	1	(17)
How Do Internet Auctions Work?	1	(1)
Understanding the Types of Auctions on the Web	2	(1)
Getting Started with eBay	3	(6)
Buying at Auction	9	(1)
Three Varieties of eBay Auctions	10	(2)
Evaluating the Auction Item	12	(3)
What Do the Abbreviations Mean?	15	(2)
Summary	17	(1)
The Opening Bid	18	(21)
Browsing and Searching	18	(5)
Narrowing Your Search	23	(11)
Bidding	34	(4)
Summary	38	(1)
The Winning Bid	39	(17)
Bidding Strategies	39	(8)
Timing Counts When You Really Want to Win	47	(4)
You're the Winner!	51	(3)
Retracting a Bid	54	(1)
Summary	55	(1)
Money Matters	56	(14)
You Won! Now What?	56	(7)
What If the Transaction Goes Bad?	63	(3)
Other Auction Safeguards	66	(1)
Leaving Feedback	66	(3)
Summary	69	(1)
Participating in the Collector's Paradise	70	(9)
Accessing the Internet Collector's Community	71	(6)
Managing your eBay Account	77	(1)
Summary	78	(1)
Selling Your Own Merchandise	79	(9)
Why Sell Your Items at Auction?	79	(2)
Preparing to Sell Items at Auction	81	(1)
Legal and Tax Obligations	81	(2)
Acting Like a Business	83	(1)
Why Shouldn't I Sell?	84	(1)
eBay Seller Resources	85	(2)
Summary	87	(1)
Deciding What to Sell	88	(13)
Choosing What to Sell	88	(1)
What's In Demand?	89	(6)
How to Obtain Products to Sell	95	(5)
Summary	100	(1)
Creating a Winning Ad	101	(21)
Understanding Ad Preparation	101	(10)
Starting an Auction	111	(1)
Summary	112	(10)
Creating and Using Pictures in Your Ad	122	(30)
Placing Pictures in Your Ads	122	(1)
Selecting the Best Graphic File Type	123	(1)
Why Is Picture File Size Important?	124	(2)
Using a Scanner	126	(2)
Using a Digital Camera	128	(2)
Using Video Capture	130	(2)
Placing Pictures on the Internet	132	(3)
Uploading Images Using an FTP Program	135	(6)
Uploading Images to AOL	141	(2)
Uploading Images Using Microsoft FrontPage	143	(1)
Using Free Space for Image Storage	144	(1)
Editing and Converting Graphic Files	145	(1)
Converting and Editing Pictures in Image Composer	146	(3)
Using Multiple Pictures in Your Ads	149	(2)
Summary	151	(1)
Improving Your Presentation	152	(14)
Adding Pizzazz to Your Ad	152	(10)
Using Ad Preparation Software	162	(3)
Summary	165	(1)
Managing Your Auction	166	(23)
Starting Your Auction with Success in Mind	166	(9)
Making Changes to Your Auction	175	(8)
Uploading Many Ads at a Time	183	(1)
Maximize Your Profit and Minimize Your Cost	184	(4)
Summary	188	(1)
Completing the Auction	189	(14)
Be Prepared When the Auction Ends	189	(12)
Using Auctions to Increase Your Other Business	201	(1)
Summary	202	(1)
Controlling Risks	203	(9)
Top Ten Frauds for Buyers to Avoid	203	(4)
Top Ten Frauds for Sellers to Avoid	207	(2)
Controlling Business Risks	209	(2)
Summary	211	(1)
Making a Living on Internet Auctions	212	(7)
Learning from the Experts	212	(5)
Creating an Ongoing Internet Auction Business	217	(1)
Summary	218	(1)
Other Auction Resources	219	(10)
Popular Open Auctions	219	(3)
Popular Store Auctions	222	(1)
What Auction Site Has What You're Looking For?	223	(1)
Specialty Auctions	224	(1)
Additional Auction Resources	225	(1)
Summary	226	(3)
Index	229