1. Buy it now?
The Buy It Now option lets you set a "price" for your goods, rather than relying on the auction price when the virtual hammer falls. It's a good way to quickly get exactly what you want for an item -- as long as you're realistic about its actual value. But it also adds a 10c premium to your listing, and it's a premium that vanishes the second anyone makes an actual bid on your item.

2. PayPal - How to get protected
PayPal Australia recently announced that sellers would, for the first time, enjoy some protection against dodgy buyers -- either those using stolen credit cards, or who claim goods were never sent. You do have to follow PayPal's guidelines very carefully to qualify, however. Specifically, you've got to send the goods using a completely trackable shipping method. Within Australia, this equates to registered post, and internationally, according to PayPal's service pages, this is "any international shipper that supports door-to-door tracking that is viewable online, such as UPS, FedEx or DHL". Of course, you'll have to get your buyer to agree to those shipping costs upfront, and make sure you keep your copies of the paperwork, too.

3. Ending auctions early
If you've got a desirable item, you're almost guaranteed to get one or more enquiries asking if you'll end the auction early and outside the eBay framework. Be very wary; while not every enquiry is going to be a scam, you're more than likely to be besieged by people trying to score a quick bargain if they sense you don't know the true value of an item, and, of course, you're dropping any kind of seller protection that eBay might offer you. Absolutely do NOT accept any kind of credit card payment or cheque for an out-of-eBay pitched auction like this -- they're too easily faked, stolen and/or reversed. We also suggest you refrain from shipping to Nigeria or other known scam hotspots where practical.

4. Answer all questions, even the obvious ones
eBay's a global marketplace and while you may write the most stunningly clear auction descriptions in the world, be prepared for plenty of less-than-stunning questions about your goods. While it may be annoying answering the same questions endlessly -- and for some queries it's well worth publishing the answer on your auction page to save some pain -- it's still worth answering every single query. With its international nature, not every buyer will have the same native language as you, which can add to confusion. Moreover, whether or not the buyer understands your description makes no difference to the value of their money, and every answer you give could lead to more auction cash for you.

5. Know your resolution steps upfront
It's worthwhile keeping track of eBay's resolution policies for disputes if you're planning to sell on a regular basis. These change from time to time and are region specific. Just because your aunt in Chicago gets a certain type of seller protection, doesn't mean that you will.

6. PayPal - Sell smartly, withdraw smartly
PayPal charges a premium for Credit Card payments (to recover costs that the providers charge them), and passes those costs on to you in the form of the premier and business accounts. If you're only selling off a few items, it's worth stating that you won't accept credit-card funded Paypal payments, as eBay/Paypal will take 30c plus between 1.1 and 2.4 percent for every transaction going through a premier account -- even if they weren't credit card funded to begin with. From a merchant's perspective that may well be a cost of doing business, but if you're just doing a virtual garage sale, it's effectively giving money away.
If you are selling lots of low-cost items and accepting money through PayPal, it's also well worth letting it accrue until you've got more than AU$150 in balance before withdrawing it. Paypal charges a $1 premium for transferring balances under $150 to Australian bank accounts.

7. Offer a full slate of payment options, including credit cards.
The more payment options you, as an Ebay seller, offer prospective bidders, the more bidders your product will attract and the more successful your selling on eBay will be.

8. Focus on getting positive feedback first.
Feedback really matters when you're selling on eBay. If you have a consistent record of positive feedback, prospective buyers will both bid more often and be willing to pay higher prices. So you may want to hold back on placing higher priced products until you have a successful track record as an eBay seller established.

9. Be business-like.
Act professionally, provide the kind of superior customer service that will build your reputation, and make sure that you’re following all the business rules that apply, such as registering your business and properly charging and remitting taxes. Selling on eBay is just like any other business; to become an eBay success, you need to follow the rules and provide the kind of customer satisfaction that will translate into increased eBay sales.

10. Payment options are very important.
Offer as many as possible to attract a wide range of bidders. Use paypal or billpoint to accept credit cards and you'll be opening your product up to many more customers. Why not take personal checks but agree to send only to the address on the check?

11. Shipping Terms should be clearly stated to avoid problems later.
Also, don't try to make a tremendous amount of money on this or you may end up with negative feedback once the buyer finds out. Be fair!

12. Return Policies should be clearly stated as well to avoid future complications.
Wouldn't you rather be working on your next sale, over spending time dealing with one from the past??

13. Like James Bond...
be a double agent well sort of, start selling with a few different ID's, maybe 2-3. This is excellent practice to avoid being crushed by a few negative feedbacks. If you are selling an item that is prone to negative feedback(if you must) stay away from your "spotless" ID. Save that for big ticket items whose bidders demand trust! Be creative.

14. Don't Throw Stones if you live in a glass house.
Unfortunately, leaving bad feedback, even when warranted is a surefire way of getting some from that person. If a deal goes sour, wait to see what type of feedback they leave for you. Think before you act, what's more important?

15. Don't be in a Daze when it comes to days...
The days you begin your auctions on that is. A great time to post a 10 day ad is Thursday. Not only will your auction end on a Sunday (big bidding day) you will also have two weekends worth of bidding (the most bidders online). For 7 day ads, I recommend you try posting on Sundays as well in the evening time around 7-8pm west coast(Pac.) time or 10-11pm east coast time. If you choose to do 3 day auctions Thursday is your day because it includes those bid filled power sundays! This group of auction tips is not to be overlooked!
One a day keeps competition away. Don't post your auction so that it ends near another similar item. This makes your item less rare and offers bidders an option...No good!

16. Smaller is Better! sometimes...
Listen, if you start your item at a high price you lose all those valuable bids from the cheapskates. Wait, WHAT?! Yes, you heard me right, they're valuable bids because they make the # of bids go higher which causes other potential bidders to think you've got the hot item. They also believe that if XX amount of other people thought it was a great deal, then it must be! Also, how better to save money on the sale then lower your insertion fee? As long as you're attentive and keep track of when your auctions end you can cancel the item if you don't hit a satisfactory price. Just add a short disclaimer to your auction stating that you reserve the right to retract the item at any time...

17. Think twice about ending an auction early.
If your item is not bringing in the bids you expected during the course of the auction, don't panic. Since many bidders wait until the last minute to bid, a practice known as "sniping," the price on a desirable item can double or even triple during the last few seconds of an auction. If a potential buyer makes you an offer via e-mail to end the auction early and sell the item to them outright, that's not a good idea either. It's not only against eBay's rules to skirt around paying ending item fees, you could be cheating yourself out of a high ending price by selling to someone making a lowball offer.

18. Keep in touch with your best bidders.
If you specialize in certain items such as glassware, pottery, toys or jewelry, consider setting up email lists to keep in touch with past bidders. You'll want to ask them before placing them on the list so your email won't be considered spam, of course. Once you've compiled lists of people interested in your specialties, you can keep in touch with them weekly, bi-weekly or monthly to let them know when you've listed items they might be interested in viewing. Include links directly to the items, or to your seller's list in your communication.

19. Write detailed, compelling descriptions.
Include any and all identifying characteristics and features, including the item’s condition, when it was made, and any flaws.

20. Accept multiple payment options.
The more payment methods you accept, the more likely you are to find a buyer. The question is whether or not you want that buyer. There are plenty of above-board buyers who prefer to pay with money orders and cashier’s checks but there are also fraudulent buyers who will attempt to pay with fake money orders. You must decide how much risk you are willing to accept.

21. Work to maintain your eBay feedback rating.
You won't be able to please everyone all the time, but your feedback rating is your reputation. High seller ratings and positive feedback raise buyers’ comfort level buying from you, so treat each customer right to make sure you build a solid reputation among the eBay community.

22. Provide good customer service.
Just because you don't have to meet your buyers in person or talk to them on the phone doesn't mean you can provide shoddy service. Responding promptly to inquiries can help facilitate a sale. If you are slow in responding to bidders’ questions they may lose interest in buying your item.

23. Open an eBay Store.
Store sellers enjoy special perks such as the option to add search inventory along with their listings, which can lead buyers to other auctions. Plus you have a central location to drive your customers to, and a place where only your merchandise is featured — without competition.

24. Let them Buy It Now.
Sellers who meet certain criteria can offer fixed-price "Buy It Now" listings. Neither you nor the buyer needs to wait for the end of an auction cycle — you get your payment sooner, and buyers get their merchandise faster. This is a great way to move more merchandise, especially if you have a product that's in demand.

25. Try shorter auction times.
Just because seven-day auctions are the norm doesn't mean you're stuck with weeklong listings. Sometimes short auction cycles can create additional demand, especially for high-demand items.

26. Offer satisfaction guarantees, warranties, or returns.
Every consumer feels more comfortable with some sort of guarantee, warranty, or the option to return an unsatisfactory product. Most low-volume sellers prefer to sell their items "as is," so offering some kind of guarantee is a great way to set yourself apart. Make sure you post your return policy prominently.