| Becoming a seller on eBay can be daunting. | | | | and you must place these numbers as the first |
| Becoming a travel seller can be impossible, unless | | | | lines of your ads on EBay. All members listing |
| you know the secrets. My tips on selling on eBay | | | | airline tickets, cruises, vacation packages, or |
| can apply to all categories of items, but some | | | | lodging must be participants in the Seller Verify by |
| steps are unique to selling travel. | | | | SquareTrade Program. This program combines |
| The travel industry is highly regulated on EBay, as | | | | verification of sellers with ongoing monitoring. For |
| it should be. High standards keep out disreputable | | | | instructions on this, go to |
| sellers and scam artists, and add to your own | | | | 8. When you are ready to list your items at |
| company’s trustworthiness when you are | | | | auction, sell small stuff first, building customers |
| approved by eBay.. | | | | and credibility. Sell all items with no reserve, at the |
| 1. Before you are even thinking about selling travel | | | | lowest price you can afford to accept, and fill all |
| on eBay, it is important to get a username and | | | | orders promptly. |
| email address just for eBay. Registration is free | | | | 9. Choose carefully what you will sell. You cannot |
| and only takes a few minutes. Register as a seller | | | | sell some travel certificates, and all listing must list |
| and you can use the same username to buy as | | | | the exceptions, blackout dates, and extra taxes |
| well. Choose a name that reflects what you sell | | | | and shipping charges. Travel agents, and other |
| i.e., “Bermudabound” rather than | | | | businesses selling travel services are regulated in |
| “sexyblueeyes”. Other eBay members will | | | | eBay. According to the eBay rules for selling |
| come to recognize you by your User ID, so it's a | | | | travel, “Businesses and individuals who sell and |
| good idea to choose one you'll want to use for | | | | or arrange air or sea travel or accommodations |
| the long term. | | | | (but do not directly provide the travel service |
| 2. Your eBay name has sunglasses (i.e., read | | | | themselves) may list air and ship related travel |
| “shady character”) for the first 30 days, | | | | items (i.e. airplane tickets and cruise trips), along |
| so don’t try to sell anything while you are | | | | with accommodations, on eBay only if they are |
| wearing shades. Use this time to buy on eBay and | | | | licensed as sellers of travel lawfully able to do |
| learn good practices from other sellers. | | | | business in all 50 states and they themselves will |
| 3. Set up a PayPal account. EBay buyers feel | | | | be booking the travel for the winning bidder. Their |
| more confident purchasing something from a | | | | listings should clearly set out their California seller |
| seller who accepts PayPal. According to PayPal, | | | | of travel license number as well as any other |
| “Listings that offer PayPal are 6% more likely | | | | license information required in other states. It is |
| to sell and experience a 5% average increase in | | | | against eBay policy for travel clearinghouse |
| final price.” Go to www. Get a business | | | | affiliates that are not actual agents booking the |
| account. Registration is free. | | | | travel themselves, to list travel auctions on the |
| 4. In the first 30 days, buy small items on EBay, | | | | site. Sellers are required to include the following |
| pay for them promptly. I have always found | | | | disclaimer in all listings for travel exactly as it |
| eBay sellers to offer good values, provided that | | | | appears below and in a text size and color that |
| you check their feedback listing first. | | | | can easily be seen and read by all bidders: |
| 5. Pay your seller promptly, because then you will | | | | "By listing this auction I verify that I am the actual |
| always get positive feedback from your seller. | | | | travel agent or travel provider and not a third |
| Your feedback profile is the most important | | | | party affiliate. The travel/accommodations in this |
| aspect of your reputation at eBay. Feedback is | | | | auction will be booked directly through me and not |
| extremely important on eBay, as your future | | | | an outside agency. I also verify that, other than |
| buyers can evaluate you at a glance. Even one | | | | the government taxes and related government |
| strike against you counts heavily. Your feedback | | | | fees stated within the listing description itself, |
| score also helps later with qualifying to run banner | | | | there will be absolutely no additional fees, charges |
| ads on eBay, and to have eBay pay some of | | | | or after auction purchases associated with |
| your advertising costs. | | | | booking the travel within this listing." |
| 6. Create your “About Me” page on eBay. | | | | For travel services other than air or sea travel, |
| Use this page to tell other eBay users about | | | | businesses and individuals may offer gift |
| yourself and your interests, your experience and | | | | certificates or coupons that are issued by a |
| your products. | | | | specific provider of travel, such as a gift |
| 7. While you are waiting the 30 days, also become | | | | certificate to a particular hotel. They may not, |
| a) ID verified and b)square trade approved. a) | | | | however, offer travel club memberships or |
| Get ID Verified through eBay as an extra sign of | | | | "choice travel" certificates.” |
| security for buyers. When a member gets ID | | | | 10. Build a store. EBay stores are free for the |
| Verified, a third-party company working with | | | | first 30 days. Afterwards, they are $9.95 a |
| eBay confirms the member's identity by cross | | | | month. According to eBay, Store sellers see on |
| checking their contact information across | | | | average a 25% incremental increase in sales the 3 |
| consumer and business databases. You'll see the | | | | months after opening their Store.” Here is |
| ID Verify icon in verified members' profiles. | | | | where you can list all those other items that are |
| B) The Square Trade Seal is one way for sellers | | | | higher priced, but good value at a low listing fee - |
| to show bidders that they are committed to high | | | | at about 02 cents, rather than $4.80 for an item |
| selling standards and have had their identity | | | | over $500. Auction and Fixed Price listings appear |
| verified by a third party. You will need a credit | | | | in your eBay Store as well as in eBay Search and |
| card and your IATA, ARC, or seller of travel | | | | Listings. The store allows your buyers to peruse |
| number. Both are requirements for selling travel, | | | | your other items in addition to your auction items. |