Guide 2 Auctions

Books

Buying Items
   Avoiding eBay Scams
   eBay Gift Certificates
   eBay Sniping
   Escrow Services
   Finding Great Deals

Courses
   DropShipping Wholesalers
   Silent Sales Machine

DVDs

Selling Items
   Avoiding eBay Scams
   Driving Traffic
   eBay Business Solutions
   eBay Customer Service
   eBay Data & Research
   eBay Drop Shipping
   eBay Pricing
   eBay University
   Ensuring Success
   Forbidden Items
   Promotional Tools
   Selling Expensive Items
   Selling on Consignment
   Shipping
   What Sells

Software

Videos



Links
 
 














































 
Guide 2 Auctions   >   Selling Items   >   eBay Customer Service

eBay Customer Service


Many people who sell through and other auctions tend to think of auctions as one-off events, and consequently can forget the importance of great customer service. Even if you know better, when you're running your own business, it can be easy to get absorbed in all the details of running auctions, not to mention the technical aspects of using , that customer service slips to the back of your mind and your priorities.

If you hope to make a living from , then you have to stop thinking of it as an "auction" and start running it like a "business". With any business, a key thing to remember is that quality customer service is one of the essential building blocks of success. With an business, this is just as true, if not more so, than many other types of business. When an buyer receives quality customer service from you, they will potentially do one of two things – or both: They will give you great feedback (helping you more easily attract more bidders and buyers in future), and they may also look for more of your auctions in the future.

Imagine that you own a traditional brick and mortar business. Ask yourself how would you treat your customer while they were standing at your counter, waiting for you to finish ringing up their order? You would be helpful and respectful of course! You would do everything that you could to guarantee that customers return to your establishment in the future. You would bend over backwards to make sure that their buying experience with you was both satisfactory and enjoyable. Som why would you do any less at the close of one of your auctions?

One of the most important aspects of customer service is clear and timely communication:
  • Immediately upon the close of your auction, you should contact the winning bidder, and congratulate them. Your email should describe the item they have won and how the item will be shipped – even if this information was already part of the description for the auction. You should also remind them of their winning bid amount, give them payment options and instructions, and tell them when and how the item will be shipped.

    You should also thank your customer for participating in your auction, and, if you feel it appropriate, you may wish to take the opportunity to tell them about any other open auctions that you have.

  • When the payment and shipping details have been taken care of, your should contact your customer again. This email should tell the customer when the item was shipped – the exact date and time – and when it is expected to arrive on their end. You should also make clear to the customer, that they should feel free to contact you if they have have any problems or questions.

  • If a customer does contact you in the future, you should answer as promptly as you can, and do everything that you can do to make them happy with their purchase – even if it means issuing a refund.

    Some sellers are very reluctant to issue refunds, believing it to be "lost" money. However, if you look refunds in a different way - refunds aren't lost money, they are building blocks of a solid reputation - then you will become a lot more open to issuing refunds. It is of course reasonable to expect the buyer to return the item to you (although you should pay any associated shipping costs) before a refund is issued - but once you have received the received the returned item, you should issue the refund promptly.

 
       

 
 
 
   

 
       
With any business, it is up to the individual owner of said business to ensure the success of the business. You may make more or less than any sample figures or results that might be quoted on our web sites or other publications. All business involves risk, and many businesses do not succeed. Further, Answers 2000 Limited does NOT represent that any particular individual or business is typical, or that any results or experiences achieved by any particular individual/business is necessarily typical.

Copyright © 2007-2008, Answers 2000 Limited

Privacy   Terms of Use

In Association With Amazon.com
All trademarks are property of their respective owners.
All third party content and adverts are copyright of their respective owners.