Re: How To Make Ebay Work For You - for beadmakers

I would LOVE to put my own HTML layouts in my auctions, but haven't figured out how to do that.

Logos, links and font colors/sizes aren't a problem. Where do you start the code that you paste in: at , , or what? Applying background images, and tables? (I know that eBay won't allow javascript, especially scripts that open new windows -- been there, tried that.) I know this stuff can be done 'cause I've seen it, but I'm completely be-fuzzled.

Note: I've been doing HTML since 1995. I detest websites with music, flashing text, black or green backgrounds with red text and tons of animated graphics. The occasional cursor toy is OK, but only on sites otherwise devoid of the above violations of good taste, and meant strictly for fun. Check out:

Not only are you a glass artist, you have a sensible head on your shoulders. I agree with every point you made - including the bit about the lentils. I detest them - period. LOL!! But seriously, if anyone wants to be successful on eBay, they need to know the basics: quality and customer service. And part of customer service is offering what the customers want. I don't particularly care for cat's eye beads, but some of my customers love them and have bought them from me for five years. Why in the world would I quit carrying them on aesthetic grounds because they offend my artistic sensibilities??

You are successful on eBay because you've put the time into learning what sells and what doesn't. Anyone who expects instant success is deluding themselves. eBay is the greatest example of a free marketplace ever conceived and those who put some time into learning what works will always do well. I'll have to mosey on over to lurk at WC to see what the reaction to your eminently sensible essay is!

Mj

:) I don't use the html or body tags, and I use a table in mine. It's pretty much standard HTML. I view mine in Coffee Cup before posting it to ebay so I can see what it looks like. The background needs to be started in a table, otherwise it covers the whole page instead of just the description and can screw up the text on the page. It took some teaking to get a layout that worked for me. You just have to fiddle with it a bit.

I lay out the page in Adobe GoLive (my web dev. tool), the cut/paste the source code into the auction description.

I did the same thing, but with Netscape Composer (free and easy to use IMO). I have it down to a "fill in the blanks" template that lives in Turbo Lister and a simple text file for Justbeads. A few quick entries, and it's all cut and pasted in. Takes me about 10 minutes to load 6 auctions on Justbeads, after the writing is done. All my auctions look the same, and look very similar to my website, so I'm "all me."

KarenK

Kandice,

I think it is wonderful that you took this time out of your day to share this wealth of information with whomever should happen upon it. It is a wonderful contribution to the bead community. I think you should also include it on your website....tips for success.

I would also like to applaud your advice, it all sounds great!

Beki

Makes sense to me ..... Rainbow

Yeah but hat? ROFL! (running like the dickens!)

Harry

My Ebay Auctions are at

Thanks, sweetie. You wouldn't believe the number of emails I have received over the last few months asking how I do well on ebay. It gets exhausting answering everyone's questions. I think I will put this on the website and refer people to it when they ask.

Good, I am glad you are doing that Kandice. It will be helpful to others, which is always a good thing, and will free up some of your time so you can spend more time at the torch, which is a really good thing! =o)

And, I would totally believe how much time, and how many people. I made the mistake of not keeping track, starting years ago, of how many people have asked me how to thread a needle. ;o)

Beki....always patient and helpful, except when I'm not.

ROFL - I soooo know what you mean!!!

Do people not have eyes to see? I hate to sound unkind, but if those who ask were producing your quality of work in a style as popular as yours and had pictures as clear as yours and marketing as professional as yours, they too would be doing well on eBay. All it takes is to look at your beads, look at your auctions, and the answer is right in front of them. No need to ask... it's not like the answer is going to be "Oh, I use voodoo! Just sacrifice a goat in your living room, your auctions will syrocket!"

I think the specific technical questions are very cool; for example, how to set up a template, what to look for in a camera, what lighting to use, etc. but asking you how it is you do so well on eBay seems sort of... a waste of time.

-Kalera

Kandice Seeber wrote:

Hehehehe - it's funny you say this, because at this moment, hubby is telling me I should stop reading and posting to forums and newsgroups because it's stressing me out too much. I have more I wish to say, but damn, it would make me sound like a total bit**!

ROFL - yeah. I got tired of sacrificing those goats. And you know, the mess was starting to get to me. I need a vacation. Seriously. I'm starting to lose it!!!

Thank you sweetheart for saying this. :)

Kandice -- when I was selling and doing well, I got it all the time too and damn it, I got tired of telling everyone else how to run their businesses. I just quit answering most of them. It is either that, or write a book. NO USE in spending that much time on something for which one does not get paid, and does not enjoy. A heated argument or discussion is one thing, but the same shit over and over and over and over is another. Waste of time, darling. Yours.

Becki "In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling difference between wrong and right." -- Counting Crows

Yep. I called it done when I wrote that post - pretty much, anyway. I will just point them over to the info on my website, where the ebay tips post lives forever. Now I am just complaining and whining to all of you. :D

In that case, you get this:

((((Kandice's Suport Hug))))))) Becki "In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling difference between wrong and right." -- Counting Crows

Awwwww - thank you - I needed that!! :)

It's funny you would say *that* because my husband went as far as removing my newsreader from my system. "I made it disappear," he said. With my last system upgrade, I asked him to please, please bring it back. He did, but said he'd be watching closely for mood changes and other undesirable behavior. :)