Some Who Sell On eBay May Need PA License

The state of Pennsylvania is telling those who sell other people's stuff on eBay that it's time to get a state-issued auctioneer's license.

By state law everyone who sells another individual's belongings online needs an auctioneer's license. The law does not include people who sell their own things on online sites such as eBay.

The law is not new, but the issue is getting attention because at least two people who sell things for others on eBay have been investigated by the state and are awaiting hearings, according to officials. Both could face fines of at least $1,000, officials said.

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Ebay Allowing Non Registered Buyers

Ebay has announced a new feature called Guest Buying, which allows site users to purchase Buy it Now items without first registering on Ebay. It is their contention that many potential buyers are turned away by the prospect of having to register an account on Ebay.

Buyers need to use Paypal to complete their purchases and will not be allowed to leave feedback. Guest buying will initially be available in the Music, Books, DVDs & Movies, and Consumer Electronics categories and sitewide within a few weeks.

Ebay Countdown - New Browser Based Tool

Ebay is in the process of releasing a new browser based tool to assist in tracking and bidding on auctions. The new tool offers:

* Real time updates. See the time remaining and current bid (no need to hit refresh)
* Visual and voice alerts. Get helpful reminders before the items that you're bidding on, or watching, end.
* Fast and easy bidding. Bid with just one click.
* Quick access to last minute deals. Find those great steals - items ending soon with no bids.

http://countdown.ebay.com/start

Ebay to Add "Auto-Accept" to Best Offer Feature

Ebays best offer feature allows sellers to accept (or reject) offers from buyers or to negotiate a mutually-acceptable price. They are adding an auto accept option to their best offer feature in an effort to make Best Offer mire useful to sellers. The option will basically allow sellers to automatically accept offers above a certain price for each of their items. A workshop will be held Nov. 12 to review the best offer features and new options.

Free Gallery Feature Promotion for Sellers

In an effort to boost holiday sales, Ebay is offering free gallery feature from November 6 - December 12. The gallery feature provides a thumbnail photo next to the auction listing and make it easier for buyers to preview items. The promotion applies to auction style and fixed price listings.

Excluded are eBay Motors listings (including parts & accessories, passenger vehicles, motorcycles, powersports and other vehicles), international, live auction, professional services, real estate, Ad Format and Store Inventory Format listings.

Tips for Better Ebay Photos

Here are a few tips to get the most from your eBay photos:

1. Keep it sharp ....There is probably no greater turnoff than auction photos which are fuzzy. The easiest way to get sharp photos is to use a tripod. After you have set up for your photo, set the self timer on your camera to make the actual exposure. This eliminates any possibilities of accidental vibration and also allows for longer exposures in low light conditions.

2. Unclutter the background....You want all of your buyers concentration focused on your widget. Remove anything from the cameras view that is not for sale. It is also a good idea to use a background which contrasts with your item. Lighter backgrounds for darker items, and vice versa. A hardwood floor or a solid colored fabric remnant can work quite well as background material for many items. Clothing can be photographed hung up in front of a neutral colored wall.

3. Lighting is very important.... Lighting can be one of the more difficult areas to master. Turn off your cameras automatic flash and use natural lighting whenever possible. Your object is to avoid flash glare and harsh shadows while keeping the color rendition as accurate as possible. Soft natural light filtered through a white curtain can often produce good results. Where shadows appear, position white poster board to reflect light back onto your subject. If you must use flash, the best results will be with an external bounce flash that will provide indirect lighting. It may take a bit of experimenting to get the setup just right, however it will be time well spent.

4. Watch the file size..... Keep in mind that you are publishing on the web - not making a door poster. Using the mid range settings on your camera will keep the file size down and allow the photos to load faster.

5. Use editing software with caution.... It is fine to use editing software to crop a bit and touch up the background. Use caution however when editing any aspect of the actual subject. Regardless of the magic you can do with Photoshop, it remains quite important that your photo be as accurate a representation as possible of the real thing.

6. Show the bad stuff.... When selling used items be sure and photograph any defects in the item. (they should also be noted in your written description)


Internet Auction Directory

Ebay to Update Seller Account Page

Ebay has announced that they are updating the Seller Account page (found in the My Ebay section) to reflect the following changes:

- Up to date information on the amount due as of that day, total balance due, and a breakdown of how the totals are calculated.
- Alerts to notify when automatic payments are deducted.
- Information about any declined payments.
- Information about payment methods on file and how you can change them.
- Adding tabbed format to the page to make it more user friendly.