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We
live in an age of acceleration. Without a doubt, we have become
"a quick-reflexed, multitasking, channel-flipping,
fast-forwarding citizenry," according to science writer
James Gleick. Of course, this isn't exactly news to online
auction sellers, who always are looking for ways to save time
regarding their auctions. We've compiled the following hints and
suggestions for making the most of that precious commodity:
time.
Post
Office Blues
One of online auction sellers' most common complaints about
wasting time involves trips to the post office. To be sure,
multiple and unexpected visits to your local PO can be a real
time suck. With that in mind, don't make several jaunts to the
post office every week. Rather, designate a particular day (or
two days) for all your postal needs. As you sell more and more
at online auction, you won't want to keep running off to mail a
package, thinking that it's only one trip--those trips
will quickly add up if you don't have a set PO schedule.
Those who are
frustrated with long lines and the hassle of driving or taking
the bus should consider signing up with companies such as
Stamps.com or Estamps. Personal postage providers offer software
programs that are installed on your computer so that you can
print out postage right from your computer. Your account is then
credited the appropriate amount. All you need is a PC, laser or
ink-jet printer, and an Internet connection, and you can gain
access to postage whenever you want. But remember: You'll also
have to pay extra for the added convenience via fees and
charges. Yes, it's true: time is money.
The
Loneliest Number
Don't go it alone. In order to make their online selling more
efficient and less time consuming, many sellers turn to software
assistants, bulk-loading tools, and personalized pages. This is
an avenue you should explore, especially if you're making the
crossover from casual seller to serious seller. By using such
services, you won't have to laboriously list items one by one or
individually track the status of your current auctions. Make the
selling process--from listing to closing the deal--as easy and
fluid as possible. Use the various tools that are available for
sellers.
Also, take advantage of
the auction community. If you have questions, don't isolate
yourself and waste time by trying to figure everything out for
yourself--ask people. Online auction users are a friendly bunch,
and they're always willing to help and offer advice.
Organize
It
Here's one we can't stress enough: Get organized. As the amount
of items you sell increases, so too should you further
systematize your selling procedures. Here a few key suggestions:
Come up with a weekly
schedule and designate certain days for certain tasks (listings
on Sundays, post office on Fridays, packaging on Thursdays,
leaving feedback on Wednesdays, writing auction descriptions on
Tuesdays). Some sellers like to use the analogy of an assembly
line when describing how they go about improving their selling
efficiency.
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Create templates for your auctions
and emails (end-of-auction notices, payment reminders, item
sent notifications). You'll reuse them again and again and
therefore avoid repeat writing and typing. And save all your
auction descriptions. You'll likely wind up selling the same
exact item, if not something similar, and thus be able to
reuse all or part of the text.
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Develop a database (using a
program such as FileMaker) so that you can maintain a record
of your customers. This will not only help you track and
better serve repeat customers, but also allow you to print
out labels so that you don't have to write out customer
addresses by hand.
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Make sure you have a proper amount
of space to conduct your online auction activities (a
stable, quiet place for your computer, a place to pack
items, a place to store your packaging materials), and make
sure that your work space (or spaces) doesn't get inundated
with clutter and mess. Also, come up with an organized
filing system--both in your designated auction space and on
your computer--of all your auction-related paperwork. Avoid
the time vacuum of sifting through stacks of paper and
having to hunt all over your hard drive.
Out
With the Old
Is that prehistoric Pentium-133 on its last legs? Tired of
waiting for pages load because of an obsolete modem speed? Well
then consider upgrading your PC. Slower, older computers will
slow you down. The good news is that PCs have decreased
in price over the last few years, and you can get a relatively
fast midrange computer for around $1,000. Take our word for it:
The investment will be worth it in the long run. A faster, more
powerful, and Internet-friendly computer will translate into
better productivity levels for you. And, of course, the same
holds true for all types of equipment--digital cameras,
scanners, and so on. Good gear will save you time.
Accepting
Credit Cards
Credit cards are becoming increasingly prevalent as a method of
payment for online auction users. And saving time is one of the
main reasons for the popularity of plastic. No visits to the
bank to deposit personal checks, money orders, or cashier's
checks. And no waiting for checks to clear. Granted, some folks
remain hesitant about credit cards, but accepting them is a
great idea for sellers seeking to better streamline their
auction biz. (For more information on credit cards, see our tip
on accepting
credit cards.)
Feedback
Foibles
We alluded to this earlier, but it's worth repeating: Leave
feedback in batches once or twice a week. If you're a
high-volume seller conducting dozens (if not hundreds) of
transactions per week, you don't want to waste time by leaving
feedback sporadically and haphazardly. Again, choose a day as
your feedback day and post all your comments then. Leaving
feedback without a set plan can, like those multiple visits to
the post office, turn into a real time killer.
Listing
Some sellers prefer to list items every day, so that they always
have a new auction or auctions in the "New Today"
section of a site. However, if you're trying to save time, think
about listing only on a specific day or days. Remember: Listing
on certain days of the week--as well as certain times of the
day--can help generate better bidding. (For more information,
see our tip on timing
auctions.)
Also, a lot of auction
sites offer the option of relisting automatically when you're
listing an auction the first time around. If you're planning on
relisting if the item doesn't sell initially, then go ahead and
select the automatic relist option. It's just one less thing
you'll have to worry about later on. (For more information on
relisting, see our tip on relisting
auctions.)
Two
More for the Road
Although message boards can be fun and informative (and even
addictive), don't spend excessive amounts of time on them--or
mindlessly surfing the Web, for that matter--when you could be
listing, looking for new merchandise, or otherwise focusing on
your auctions. We're not saying to avoid message boards or go
cold turkey for periods of time; just make sure that you have a
balance between your social online activities and your serious
selling ones. One last tip that might be obvious but bears
repeating: Bookmark your favorite auction sites. There's no need
why you should have to type in a URL every time you log on.
Back to Auction tips &
tactics
by Vendio Services
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