Buying collectibles is one of the most enjoyable things to do on eBay, simply because you can find so many things that you just cant get anywhere else. Here are a few tips to help you on your way.
Find your Category.
Youll probably find that all the items youre after are listed in a single category. Add this category to your browsers Favorites, and keep coming back.
Look for Mistakes.
If you collect something, the chances are you know a lot about it. This can be your opportunity to make a mint from a sellers mistake. They might not realise that they have a rare version of an item, or they might have left off the key information that makes it valuable. If youre willing to email the seller and ask them a few questions about the item to confirm that it is what you think it is, then you should be able to buy items like these. You can then resell them at a big profit, if thats what you want to do.
Dont Always Believe Descriptions.
If you find something you havent heard of, and the description calls it rare, dont assume that it actually is. Far too many sellers just put rare into all of their descriptions the chances are that the item is common and has just been described wrongly. Dont bid unless you know what youre buying.
Stalk Other Users.
When you collect something, youll probably notice that there are four or five sellers who seem to come up with consistently good items and the same buyers buying them. Add their user pages to your Favorites, and check back often to see what theyve got or what theyre bidding on that you might be interested in.
Dont Get Too Attached to an Auction.
There are millions of items being listed every day on eBay whatever you want, itll come around again, and if you dont get it there are plenty more things to buy. This is similar to the golden rule of negotiating: always be prepared to walk away. If you cant walk away, then expect to pay over the odds. There are few things so rare that another seller wont have one to sell. Go and bid in a lower-priced auction, instead of getting into a bidding war in one that is already expensive.
Beware of the Postage.
If you collect lots of small things with a relatively low value, you might end up paying as much for postage as you do for each item. You should take these costs into consideration when you make your bid. Another good strategy is to always buy a few things at once from the same buyer, as they will almost always offer you a discount on the postage.
When youre bidding, you might notice that some auctions go more slowly than others, going days at a time without any new bids. The next email tells you how to take advantage of these slow auctions.
About the author:
Kirsten Hawkins is an Ebay and internet auction enthusiast from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.auctionseller411.com/for more great tips on how to make the most from Ebay and other online auctions.