CONSUMERS - AUCTIONS - 06.01.2010

Three tools for eBay

Tool 1: the toolbar

IE. The basic procedure at the eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk) site is simple: the seller offers a product and anyone can make a bid. The highest bidder wins, just like in a “real” auction. To make it more efficient, you can install the free eBay Toolbar (http://pages.ebay.com/ebay_toolbar/), which nestles itself into your browser. It helps you to conduct searches on eBay and to monitor items, for instance the items on which you’ve made a bid. You will receive alerts when someone else makes a bid and when the auction is running to a close. In this way, you don’t risk missing out on a good deal. When you sell something via eBay, this toolbar will also keep you posted of all the bids.

Tip. You’re also alerted when you’ve probably been lured to a potentially fraudulent “eBay” site, for instance, by phishing.

Firefox. Unfortunately, the eBay Toolbar only works in Internet Explorer. But as a Firefox user you can install a special add-on: the eBay Sidebar (http://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5202). It adds an extra sidebar at the left side of your browser, together with an eBay button next to the address field. The combination of both lets you keep an eye on your eBay trading, monitor items, make bids or sell objects, etc.

There are various other eBay add-ons for Firefox, such as the Amazing eBay Toolbar (http://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/13650).

Tool 2: standalone application

As a fervent eBay user, you may want to install the eBay Desktop (http://desktop.ebay.com). It’s a standalone tool which doesn’t require an Internet browser but which is connected to the Internet all the same. Note. You may first have to install Adobe AIR (http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/air), the engine behind this application. After you’ve logged in, the eBay Desktop lets you do anything you can on the eBay site itself, but in a more efficient, faster and neater interface. For instance, it’s child’s play to filter interesting objects or add them to the list of items to be monitored. Moreover, you can create special “feeds” for your favourite searches and sellers; additionally, you can set reminders.

Tip. Conveniently, you’re even alerted when you’ve closed the eBay Desktop. Therefore, you certainly won’t miss anything!

Tool 3: sell objects yourself

Do you also sell via eBay? If you don’t do this frequently, the default options on the website will do fine. However, if you sell objects often, the free Selling Manager (http://pages.ebay.com/selling_manager/) might come in handy. Indeed, this tool speeds up and facilitates the organisation of all your auctions, and helps you to create invoices, etc.

You may find it useful to combine the above tool with the Turbo Lister (http://pages.ebay.com/turbo_lister/). This tool allows you to organise multiple auctions by means of templates which you can design yourself. You can also save the data from products you sold earlier and use them as the basis for new listings. Conveniently, you can modify several auctions in one go.

Tip. The Turbo Lister also lets you launch one or more auctions simultaneously.