If you’re going to sell on eBay – do it right! Item Number: 100051 $0.00

DescriptionFor many of you eBay is not and never will be a consideration from a buying or selling standpoint. For others, it might be one or the other, or even both. I think I have been pretty vocal in my feelings about this giant flea market – lots of fleas, but that occasional needle in the haystack can be found. And yes, we do list/sell on eBay, mostly to drive traffic into our website, as well as for selling those lower-priced items we may get in a box lot and simply want to get rid of via our ArtemisGalleryClearance seller ID.

If you decide you want to try your hand at using this international “selling tool,” there are lots of ways to do it wrong, but far fewer ways to do it right. Here are some pointers so you can get it right first time selling on eBay, every time:

1. Do not expect to get full retail on anything you list. In many cases, do not even expect to get a decent wholesale price. eBay exists to satisfy this primal urge in people to find bargains! This is a garage sale, boot sale, flea market – call it what you will, but it is NOT Royal Athena Gallery. Do not expect to get Royal Athena prices. We might recommend you ask for a fair “low-retail” price, but accept offers for lower. You never know when you might just be surprised.
2. Do your research up front so you know what fair low retail is. Google is an amazing tool. If you have patience you can find just about anything – including values for most comparable items.
3. Take good photos. If you can’t take decent digital photos of the item you want to sell, likely you will not sell it. Learn how to use the focus mechanism. Learn how to use exposure settings so the item is not too dark or too light. And do not lay the piece against a plaid textile just because you think it adds interest! Use a plain white background, period. A good digital camera can be found for $100 these days. But before you walk out of the store, make sure you can figure out how to use the thing!
4. In your description, convince me that what you are selling is real. Give me details. Give me enough of the provenance so that I know it did not come from Sadigh Gallery. Let me know size, condition, repairs, restoration and any other pertinent information to help me make an educated decision. But don’t bore me with the entire story of the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire. People, who tell too much, often are hiding the real details…
5. Tell me enough information about the history of your ownership so that I don’t think I will get arrested for buying or owning this thing! There are people who buy “fresh meat” off eBay and love that thrill. Don’t buy it, and certainly don’t sell it! Convince me this is legal in every way possible!
6. Do not start your item at 99 cents with no reserve and expect me to believe it is authentic. Some people really do sell things this way (and in the past, many had shill bidders in the wings to protect their butts). But if I am scouting eBay looking for fakes, this is one of the most consistent signs that an item is not right.
7. Give a guarantee that makes sense. Lots of sellers give 3 whole days for you to investigate an item’s authenticity. Hell, I may not even open it for 3 days, let alone do all the due diligence to make sure it’s authentic. 7 days is just about equally worthless for most people. Give a month minimum, a year being better, and lifetime preferred. If you bought it from a reputable source, stand behind it like they did!
8. If you are dumping your fakes, please be kind and indicate they are fake. Indicate why you think this or how you discovered this fact. It happens to all of us, but please don’t burn the next guy just because you got hammered!

If all this sounds like too much trouble to go thru, it’s really not, but if it is, email Teresa and ask her how we can do it for you.

Happy selling!
Bob