Seller Development Is Back With More Tips

Get ready for some more tips! Aashish Tripathi from our Seller Development group is back with some advice and best practices that his team has been sharing with the sellers they've been talking to.

Hello Again!

I hope this finds you all well. Over the last week I have been on the road meeting with sellers across the country (by far the most exciting part of my job) and it reminded me that while business models tend to vary from seller to seller, the core best practices of the great sellers on eBay remain the same.  I wanted to take a few moments to review some of those best practices, to help you think about what you can do to enhance your selling potential.

i. Customer Service: Do your best to provide prompt and clear answers to questions potential buyers have.  Many of our top sellers note that even if that buyer does not buy the product from you, they often return to purchase something else.  Answering questions quickly and kindly displays a high degree of professionalism, which is a major differentiating factor.

ii. Customer Experience: Make the process of buying fun and easy.  This can be achieved through detail-rich listings, easy payment options, follow-up messages with item tracking numbers, and a kind message thanking the buyer for their business and encouraging them to revisit your other listings on eBay in the future.  When people are asked why they want to take their kids to Disney World, they often reply because they went there as children and had a great time.  When asked what their favorite part as children was, they don’t typically recall a ride or show, they often just say the whole experience.  In the same manner, a buyer will not necessarily remember exactly what they bought from you, but will remember the experience, if you make it memorable by going the extra mile.

iii. Fast Shipping: The faster you get the product out, the less chance for any issues with the transaction. The buyer will enjoy getting the product quickly and you can open up shelf space for new products to sell.  This is also a good way to ensure positive feedback.

iv. Hassle-free returns and exchanges: Great sellers know that offering a no-hassle policy for exchange and returns is a great way to build buyer trust and give them peace of mind in purchasing items, especially those that are higher-priced.  The reality is, exchange and return rates in traditional retail, as well as what I have heard anecdotally on eBay, are pretty low. The incremental sales from offering this will likely more than exceed the cost of any return or exchanges.

v.  Offer Paypal:  Buyers like the protection it offers.  As a seller you will be able to take advantage of the protections it offers as well (including up to $5000 in insurance).

These 5 practices were some of the most common best practices I saw from the great sellers I visited. And big thanks to the sellers that allowed me to spend time with them at their places of business - every time I visit our sellers it reminds me how special, hard-working and ultimately good the people who sell on eBay are.