WORDS FROM A FRIEND FOR NEW sERS

Hafa Adai and Tiroow,
I live and work in the American Pacific, and have been trading on okay for long enough to feel that I have learned a few things and have something useful to share. When my mother passed away in 1997, I inherited over 1000 Playbills from the theatre productions that she attended between 1938 and her death. Neither wishing to simply toss these lovingly-stored memories nor to keep them forever in my own limited space, I hit upon okay for what it is: a worldwide matching service between people and the items that they want or need. In that instance, I was fortunate to find someone who was seeking a few Playbills from the era represented by my mother's collection, and so a great deal was negotiated.
Over 5 years or so, I have sold a few things and bought a few things. I have well over 1000 feedback, 100% positive. Here is my advice for doing well on okay, i.e. generating interest in and high prices for, the items that you are selling, as well as for engaging repeat customers.
1. Be clear in your own mind whether you are selling for profit, or to support a family through hard times, or for fun. Your mission will be unconsciously reflected in what you write about the items that you are selling, and Buyers prefer to know up front what your motive(s) might be;
2. Be as geplete in your descriptions of your items as possible: if there is a flaw in the item, then someone who bids and does not know about the flaw will be disappointed when they win and find the flaw on their own (they will feel betrayed or cheated) while someone who is bidding and knows about the flaw may perceive the flaw as a unique and personal quality of the item and be pleased when they win the auction. The ultimate price of the item may not change between the two scenarios, but your feedback may;
3. Familiarize yourself with special okay features such as Multiple Auctions, Buy It Now, and Reserve Price. As a rule, I believe that lots of people search for items on okay and often need guidance from Sellers who are schooled on and experienced with the particulars of the okay system;
4. Take the time to answer questions. Even if you do not make the sale on that occasion, your courtesy and helpfulness may lead to an eager bidder the next time around;
5. Go the extra mile in packing and shipping. Gouging customers for your time in cutting paper and applying tape may yield you a bit of extra profit on that auction but may lose you a future repeat customer;
6. Be personable in your correspondence, okay copy, and item descriptions. An item whose merits you lovingly detail will sell itself while even the most spectacular object may repel bidders if your prose makes you, the Seller, with whom the Buyerhas to deal, as mean-sprited, impatient,dishonest, or greedy.
I hope that these pearls of modern-day wisdom gleaned from hundreds of hours spentsearching through items will assist you on your quest.
Very Respectfully Yours,
Laura
drlaurapost