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Selling expensive items on eBay is really no different



than selling low cost items. Essentially, no matter



what you are selling, it all comes down to how you



market the item. This doesn’t mean you have to



surf around the Internet placing ads here and there –



when it comes to eBay auctions, the marketing is



all done at the eBay website. Basically, when you



set up your auction, you are setting up an



automated marketing campaign.





First, you must determine what the value of your



item is, in three different ways. This will help you



determine what your reserve price is. On eBay, the



reserve price is the lowest price that you are willing



to accept for your item. First, have your high priced



item evaluated to determine what the actual market



value is. Next, research similar items from past



auctions at eBay to see what price those items sold



for. Finally, determine what the value of the item is to



you. With this information, you should be able to



determine the lowest amount you are willing to sell



the item for.





Set your reserve price, and then set your opening bid



price lower than $50 – no matter how high your



reserve price is. This is a marketing tactic. It will be



hard to attract potential buyers to an auction for an



item selling for hundreds or thousands of dollars –



but getting them to an auction where the opening



bid is only $50 is quite simple. Remember, you don’t



have to sell the item to anyone who bids less than



your reserve price – unless you choose to do so at



the close of the auction. This method of price setting



resembles marketing gimmicks used by offline



businesses that are simply designed to ‘get customers



in the door.’





Work hard on the description for your listing. Use



words that really describe your item well. Provide as



many details as possible, including details that prove



the authenticity of collectible items. Include pictures



of the item as well. Do not try to deceive potential



buyers! If the item has marks or scratches, simply



be honest about it, and make sure that the pictures



convey this as well. State how the item will be



packed and shipped. Also let potential buyers know



that shipping insurance must be purchased as well



– in case the item is damaged once it leaves your



possession.





For higher priced items, most eBay buyers feel more



comfortable using an escrow service. Offer this as



an option in your auction, with the understanding that



the buyer must pay for the service. This protects both



parties from fraud, and it makes many buyers more



open to spending the money to obtain the item.



eBay has partnered with an escrow service that is



commonly used for high ticket items.