| Online auctions are big business. But they | | | | information. But do provide exact |
| can be big headaches. | | | | measurements, colors, condition, etc. Be |
| | | | precise. |
| During the past year, trading in online | | | | |
| commerce was valued at $60 billion, according | | | | Exceed Expectations - You want every customer |
| to *Business Standard." Online trade among | | | | to be happy. So do a little more research on |
| small businesses makes up 1 per cent of USA*s | | | | shipping, or negotiate on price. But remember |
| GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and is expected | | | | that the customer is the reason you will have |
| to reach 10 per cent or $400 billion of USA*s | | | | success. Be prepared to go the extra mile and |
| GDP by 2010. | | | | provide superior service every time. |
| | | | |
| "But setting up and maintaining operations on | | | | Digital Images - While auctions without |
| huge auction sites like Ebay is not always | | | | photographs can and do sell, auctions with |
| easy," said Rich Moc, owner of Performance | | | | photographs sell much better. People like |
| Cars at Pcars.com, a niche automotive auction | | | | visualizations and want to see what they will |
| site. "People can spend a lot of time sifting | | | | get with their money. Make sure your |
| through cluttered pages of auctions, bidding, | | | | photograph is clear, focused and offers more |
| setting up accounts and managing multiple, | | | | than just a straight view. |
| confusing and expensive fees that can take an | | | | |
| accountant to figure out. And trying to | | | | With Pcars.com, sellers can instantly create |
| figure out how to submit a simple email or | | | | their own account and setup their own |
| place a quick call for help can be a pain in | | | | homepage. Next they add their product |
| the neck." | | | | information and links. Then upload images, up |
| | | | to eight photos included with the no-cost |
| The solution or pain relief for big auction | | | | membership. That*s it. |
| headaches? Smaller, niche sites with | | | | |
| personalized service. For example, | | | | "It is THE BEST site to host photos and one |
| Performance Cars offers easier management, | | | | of the best to sell and buy things for your |
| one-on-one help and plenty of options to help | | | | car!" shared Lefteris from Greece who sells |
| with automotive solutions and aftermarket | | | | Jewels for Porsches regularly on Ebay and now |
| selling. Some of their auction tips are: | | | | on Pcars.com, too. "And the site is very easy |
| | | | to use." |
| Customer Service - When you have an item | | | | |
| listed and a potential buyer contacts you | | | | The site is developing to meet needs of the |
| with a question, respond quickly. It is | | | | buyers and sellers. In the works are Photo |
| important and actually critical to your | | | | Gallery for hosting pictures, AV Center for |
| success to check your email account several | | | | racing videos, and a Forum for comments and |
| times a day. Answering a question could be | | | | sharing automotive tips. |
| the difference between you getting the sale | | | | |
| or the buyer going someplace else. | | | | "As a seller I find the PCARS site very easy |
| | | | to list and I like that I can have large |
| Description - When you list your item(s), | | | | photos for my items," Lefteris explained. "I |
| write an accurate description. No need to | | | | use Ebay also, but I find the PCARS site |
| write long paragraphs of rambling | | | | much, much better. I*m here to stay. |