Auction Books

This book is a boring read for anyone who has basic knowledge of eBay. After reading the first two Chapters, I felt like writing a review about this book, but then I stopped myself and decided not to discredit the book so early, so I kept on reading until I finished the book. After all the reading it from cover to cover I still couldn't change my personal opinion about this book.

This book is basically composed of all the different research programs that eBay sellers can use to improve their ebay auctions. If you want to save yourself the money just read the user's manual(free training/information) of the different research programs available. This book is just that, but in the author's words. Don't believe me? Scroll back up to the top of this page and click on "Search inside this book"(below the image of the book), and click "Table of Contents". You'll see starting from Chapter 4 the author gives some a nice Title to each eBay Research program the author touches base on.

For example, Chapter 4 - All About Andale(ignore the first few words "Evaluating Research Tools, and"). If you really want to know all about Andale(if you type in andale.com it will switch you to vendio.com) you can go to their website and learn all about it there. Andale teaches you all you need to know about their research program. Who wouldn't want you have this info for free? At andale's site, theres a tab called "Education & Training Center" click on that and read all you want about Andale research tools. You'll learn everything it can do for your eBay auctions and also how to understand and use the data/information provided. Why pay for someone else to explain it to you when its readily available on the provider's site?

Another example? Chapter 5 - eBay Selling with Terapeak(again, ignore the first few words "Taking the Guesswork out of"). Alright, go to www.terapeak.com, click on "Help", then click "How can I learn how to use Terapeak?". There you have it. The same information you'll find in this book. And no, you don't have to log in to access this information. Its available for free! You can find out how it can help your eBay listings and how to use and understand Terapeak's data/information it provides.

Now look at the subtitles of each Chapter and see if you can uncover what the author is referring to by using the information provided free on the provider's website. Any novice would be able figure/search it out.

What about Chapter 6? and 7? Its the same exact thing.
Chapter 8-11 just touches base on the data/information that eBay provides to you that you can use to determine the best eBay auctions formats, keywords, and time. I wouldn't say the information is Advanced Strategies and it is readily available on eBay's site.

Chapter 1-3, is basically about understanding eBay and how to use eBay to figure out what are the average sales price for items, sell through ratios, and a few other things that a little research and common sense would tell you.

This is just my opinion. However, if you know nothing about eBay (eBay's Help Section has all the info. you need) and the research tools available you may find this book useful and also if you prefer to have all the research programs user's manual all consolidated into one book.

Great tips and strategies. Very encouraging and helpful. Worth buying.

A lot of effort has been put in this book by authors. Unfortunately its worth less. Book's title is hyped up like most books on eBay (big surprise - Any eBay book with big claims in title should be a red flag). In nut shell this book is basically collection of introduction to data collection tools that can be used for eBay. This information (with latest updates) is also available from vendor of tools. I question the value of this book - there is simple none. Here is how this book has failed:

1. To start with what good does it bring for reader to copy information from web and put it in a book. There is even no comparison of tools !!!

2. Authors lack any practical experience in data collection field or on running business on eBay. They have included some small pieces of information from consultants and sellers. But nothing that can add significant value. Reality check - consultants on site optimization are going to share their money milking plans!

3. This book claims that it will help you turn eBay data into dollars (I translate it as saying that it will help you increase sales). In reality data collection tools are only tools. You need a strategy, plan and operating mechanism to take any data and convert into more sales. Beyond data collection the book is completely void of any suggestions on strategy.

This book gives a solid overview of the subject of research on eBay. First it talks about the need to do research for eBay. It then reviews some basic caveats and 'gotchas' about eBay research. Then it reviews the 3 leading tools in great detail (Andale, Terapeak, and Hammertap). This alone makes the book worth it. Imagine if you had to spend money on each of those three tools to determine whether you liked them or not? With the detailed coverage of their various features in the book, you can make a decision about which one you might like to use. This book is a must-read for anyone who is serious about selling on eBay and staying competitive. I don't understand the negative review on this book. I suspect the writer of that review has some axe to grind or did not actually read the book.

Between the two. Save time and money and buy How to Start and Run an eBay Consignment Business
by Skip McGrath

This was a close look at corporate London/New York greed within my world of antiques dealing, and it was nice to see comeupance for some amorality, but I'm not sure how much anybody or anything has really changed in the auction world. The stakes are just too high, so probably now the crooks are just more careful.

A great description of New York high life amidst one of the biggest money scandals of recent memory. Mason keeps the pace fast and sizzling. Lots of colorful details of the characters of high society and the art world make this a fast paced read. He even kees the business and legal side of the story scintilating. It kept me up late into the nights. A must read!

The Art of the Steal is a morality play but the morals we must draw from it differ somewhat from those proclaimed in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. (The book should have been dedicated "to those who got away with it".) True some of the sinners discover that the wages of sin are destruction (incomes, careers, reputation and in one instance, liberty). However, there are also less morally satisfying `morals' to be drawn. Chief of these is: if you must sin make sure you get it all down on paper and then squirrel the evidence away so that later you can get away with your sins by acts of cowardice, betrayal, and the skilfully orchestrated whistle blowing known as `turning state's evidence'. Do all that and you may evade the penitentiary and even hang on to millions in severance pay, stock options and mansions. Also exposed is the ludicrous capriciousness of the American criminal justice system where so much legal action is dominated by the desire of lawyers to add to their reputations - and their incomes. Certainly the connection between the courts and morality - or indeed justice - seems coincidental. Here we find the very marginally guilty going to prison, the very guilty walking away, and the outrageously, indeed confessedly, guilty slapped firmly on the wrist. Finally, this book delivers one clear lesson to all future corporate sinners. If everybody keeps his big mouth shut everybody will get away with everything, no matter how dire the suspicions of the Justice Department. Am I serious? Alas, I am.
Christopher Mason's enthralling book concerns the great Sotheby's and Christie's scandal, which rocked the art collecting world and `high society' across continents during 2000. The blurb states that chief executive officers Christopher Davidge (Christie's) and Dede Brooks (Sotheby's) conspired to "cheat their clients out of millions of dollars". In fact the issue is more that they colluded to deny their clients costly incentives to become their clients. The often comic sometimes revolting thread running through this affair is that terminal greed was to be found everywhere - except, ironically, among the dedicated, devoted, grotesquely underpaid employees of the auction houses. The executives were greedy for power and the privileges of great wealth. The dealers, collectors and sellers were greedy for the last dollar from their Cezannes and Van Goghs (neither artist made a brass farthing from painting) for, as the Duchess of Windsor remarked, "You can never be too rich." Another irony: although colluding with Christie's in defiance of the anti-trust laws put the chairman of Sotheby's, Alfred Taubman, one of the richest men in America, in jail for a year, and put his really guilty executive officer, Mrs Dede Brooks, under house arrest for six months and stripped her of her wealth, it was the decades long intense competition between Christies and Sotheby's which had brought this situation about. Their competing for clients and the grotesque incentives they offered were bankrupting them. Finally the hounds of the Justice Department came baying at the door and after them the lawyers, like genial sharks, charging more an hour than a Sotheby's fine art expert could hope to earn in a week. By that time Davidge had unearthed his long cached evidence and cut a deal with the Justice Department which was so good for Christies as well as himself that the new management, trying to come to grips with the destruction he had brought upon them, had to swallow their bile and pay him millions in severance pay. Christies lost millions in lawsuits from hungry clients but escaped criminal prosecution - most unjustly.
What makes this book so good is the author's expertise. He moves in the circles whose lifestyle he mercilessly lays bare. He does not lambast the rich with inflammatory invective. He is more deadly than that. He gets them to spill the beans about themselves, a `child among them taking notes' - and faith, he prints it! The opulence and tasteless extravagance are so gross, the self-absorption of so many are so blatant, that Mason needs no rhetoric. Remember Gordon Gecko? "Greed is good, greed works!" Right on Gordon - but keep an eye on the Anti-Trust Laws!

Written like a particularly juicy and in-depth Vanity Fair tell-all, Christopher Mason's book, The Art of the Steal details the Christie's / Sotheby's price-fixing scandal that roiled the art world several years ago. Through meticulous research and countless interviews Mason brings to life for the average reading-joe the main players purported to be involved in the crime--Dede Brooks and Alfred Taubman of Sotheby's, and Christopher Davidge and Anthony Tennant of Christie's.

Mason is clearly comfortable inhabiting the social circles he seeks to chronicle and the evidence lies in the sheer number of candid interviews he managed to conduct in preparation for writing the book. The story unfolds largely through anecdote (often times to scathing and hilarious effect), and the method mainly succeeds here. The first half of the book sails along at a breathless pace as Mason recounts the arrangement and execution of illegal collusion by the two auction houses. Brooks and Davidge-the then-CEOs of Sotheby's and Christie's, respectively--are portrayed as power-hungry aristocratic wannabes with no concept of the ramifications their unlawful meetings could produce. God-on-high Tennant (Christie's then-chairman) is credited with masterminding the scheme, while Alfred Taubman (Sotheby's then-chairman) is portrayed as the hapless scapegoat who took the hardest fall.

Unfortunately, the amusement of reading bon mot upon bon mot eventually wears off and the later chapters become bogged down with gossipy or repetitive stories that often do nothing to further the narrative. Where the author's sympathies lie also becomes quite plain in the book's final third. Mason has clearly not taken a strictly journalistic approach to his writing and this shortcoming ultimately weakens the facts so painstakingly narrated in the book's first half.

Nonetheless, The Art of the Steal succeeds in much the same way a good soap opera does. Most of the characters depicted between its pages have more money than some of the planet's smaller nations, and everyone knows it's a guilty pleasure to witness the spectacular fall of the uber-rich. The Art of the Steal ultimately proves itself to be a must-read for both watchdogs of the glitterati and those addicted to society columns.

Copyright 2004

Vivid description of the eternal battle between old and new (money) and the rise and fall of some of the upstarts. A good example of what will happen if first generation money is allowed to take over a respectable business and to defile it with their greed and love of display. After all: it takes three generations to become a gentleman...
Special attention for the comments of Lord and Lady Hindlip.

After reading a review of this book on AuctionBytes I reviewed it in our library and just scanning the index I then decided to buy my own copy. Nancy L. Hix is an experienced instructional writer and it shows in her books. She obviously knows the Ebay business in and out and gives timeless advice of the like of which I have not seen in other even more current books. I researched her Ebay name and she is a powerseller ie knows the online auction business. In this book she actually gives examples of good and bad descriptions and gets you into the heads of your customers. She talks about where to get things to sell and how to make it look appealing You get an idea of what bidders want to see. Even though some of the "how to use the site" information is outdated the book is well worth it even if you pick up a used copy. Nancy L. Hix needs to update this book and keep on writing. I would like to see more textbook type books from her since her style is so easy to learn from.

This is the second book of Nancy's I've read, and her straightforward approach and common sense advice is great for those wanting to learn more about the online auction business. I highly recommend it.

Internet auctioning has changed tremendously over the last couple of years. To say this book is a DEFINITE *MUST HAVE* if you want to make a successful living selling using the online auction format - would be an understatement.

Details on every aspect of the process - featuring information on ALL the current auction formats are contained in this book. From perfecting online photos and digital images to customer service - this is definitely the insiders tool of the trade.

Ms. Hix has covered every little detail......I would equate this book as the "bible" for internet auctioning.

This book is the best guide for online auction sellers out there, and I've seen most of them. Many authors seem afraid to mention independent sites & services, but Nancy points out some terrific resources for sellers. Her screen shots of Web sites make it visually appealing. You can really tell this book was written by someone who sells herself, there are lots of "insiders" tips and tricks. My only complaint: that the publisher has not updated the book since it first came out - some of the services have closed up shop, and eBay Stores are not covered.

This book is so outdated, you're better off ignoring it. I'd guess that maybe 30% of the material pertains to eBay, even that's a stretch.

I found the author to ramble at times, stroking they're own ego. I also found the detail quite boorish, almost as if the author wanted to fill out the book's length. If you're a newbie to online auctions, avoid this book, and get the Dummy's book. If you're an experienced eBay seller (say, 50 feedback or so), you don't even need this book. Save your cash.

If you're interested in getting the maximum results in the minimum amount time - this book is for you! It definitely "cuts to the chase" you don't have to weed through a lot of extraneous information. I found the area on how to Post Auction Photos to be succinct & to the point...& the best is -- it worked! So, if you're looking to post pictures on eBay (particularly from AOL - that's what I used) then this is by far the best book on the subject.

I have purchased a couple of books to help me get started selling on ebay. This is the only one I will recommend to anyone!! It's simple step by step instructions are exactly what I was looking for. No mumbo-jumbo that I didn't need! If you want an easy to understand guide-THIS IS IT!!!!

This pamphlet (I wouldn't even call it a book) provides absolutely no useful information that you can't get from ebay itself. It might be helpful to 3rd graders, because it's written at their level, but for anyone else, don't waste your money. I decided to return it immediately upon seeing it and reading a couple of pages.

The only thing it's good for is scamming money from unsuspecting customers to profit the "authors" (and I use that term lightly).

I'd give it no stars if that was an option.

I enjoyed the book because it was straightforward. The authors did a good job condensing a lot of information from a variety of areas into easy reading. I was especially happy to find that the chapter on how to add photos to my descriptions was so easy to understand. I've been using one of the examples for completing the transaction and it has worked well for me. I have always wanted to start my own business selling antiques on Ebay and after reading this book, I have a clearer picture of what all is involved and how to get started.

This is a recitation of what you can find yourself on eBay, only this contains incorrect English. This booklet was published by the authors. The only helpful part was a several page discussion of what is selling well now in collectibles.

If a writer has a good story to tell why torture nearly every sentence with such verbal complexity when it could have been written intelligently with fewer words? I'm trying to get through this book, waiting for the "good part" to kick in. The main characters are overwrought with a thought life that is dull, uninteresting and totally self-involved. And while I know a good deal about art, it isn't enough to save this book from itself.

The kind of book you savor reading in the living room over the course of a week, rather than the kind you take on the subway or read at the beach -- the characters are at times fascinating, at times dreadful, at times pitiful, but always entertaining and contain difficult truths that we observe about others and often think to ourselves. The prose is multilayered, and rewarding, putting one in mind of the novels of Henry James and Anthony Trolloppe. Highly recommended (but not on the subway).

Hughes' elegant, Jamesian prose is perfect for the rarefied art world and deep introspection of his first novel. A Wall Street Journal reporter who covers the art auction market, Hughes centers his story around Claire, a 32-year-old 19th-century-art specialist at Sotheby's in New York. From Claire the third-person narrative shifts among several others: her ex-husband Peter; Toby, the man Peter left her for five years earlier, and Frank, Peter's edgy brother, a former priest.

All, except Frank, are involved in the commerce of art. Toby is a video curator; Peter an antique-furniture dealer. Claire is putting together a sale of 19th century paintings, which could make her career.

As the novel begins, she runs into Toby at a museum exhibit opening. Peter has left him for another man, a police detective, and Toby has sought her out for some kind of solace. "She waited for him to speak. She would not sympathize with his humiliation, having suffered her own, even if only indirectly through him way back when."

But over the years she has become friendly with Toby. "He'd sought her advice, he'd shown her kindness. The kindness of the vanquisher, but still."

Clearly, Claire still harbors little barbs of resentment, and unhappy Toby finally realizes she can, or will, be no comfort to him. But his distress has unsettled Claire, making her more aware of her own remoteness and social stagnation. She was often sought out as a confidante but "she was a confidante who had so little actual regard, she thought, for the essential humanness of those who chose her for verbal intimacies. She didn't know if her demeanor - a kind of hesitant acceptance of the suggestive other - led people to sense demureness that suggested depth of feeling."

In passages like these Claire seems almost ruthlessly self-aware, but Hughes does not let it sink into self-loathing. The shock of her husband's homosexuality had dealt a blow to self-confidence already undermined by an indifferent mother, but Claire loves her work and enjoys an innate confidence in her abilities. Still, she has had no romantic relationship since the break-up of her marriage.

Claire's contemplation of her social scars and reserve accompany her heartfelt work in putting together an important sale which will center around two James Tissot paintings, the best of which is called "A Widow." The painting, evocative of loss, love, memory and possibility, stirs both Claire and its elderly widowed owner deeply, forging a bond between them.

Meanwhile, Frank, now a gruff, demanding and unfulfilled professor, has come to New York, ostensibly to write a book, but essentially to seek out Claire. A serious, intense, attractive man, he frightens as much as fascinates her. Frank is not a casual man and she uses her upcoming sale to keep him at arm's length while she decides what to do.

Peter tries to connect with his difficult brother and build a relationship with his new lover. As the book progresses he sheds the flighty, possibly callous aura others have thrust on him. He's looking for family, completeness and, in his own more social fashion, is as serious as his brother.

It's poor Toby who becomes rather tiresome as the book progresses. The son of Hollywood parents, former drunks, now sober and enraptured with each other, Toby is fundamentally discontented and while Hughes does a good job of portraying this, it's not the most winning of character traits.

Hughes' book is at its best when appreciating the art. His descriptions of paintings - through Claire's eyes - are superbly visual and Claire's enjoyment is moving and infectious. There is no "rapture of the graduate student," but an interpretation of character and life and scene as well as symbol and context. Claire "sometimes found herself daydreaming the scenarios of a painting; all wrong, terribly unprofessional, a girlish preoccupation with story and escape."

The art world itself, the glitz and glamour and staid old money, comes to life as a place apart from the ordinary world. Rather, it's a place where egos clash and paintings worth "only" one or two hundred thousand accent foyers and hallways.

Hughes' contemplative story is well paced, with plenty of humor and grace and should be appreciated by anyone who enjoys being transported to a place of intellect, beauty and introspection.

--Portsmouth Herald

Just the kind of thing I like best -- interesting characters, with subtle analysis of their thoughts, motivations, development over time. It's set in the art world of New York City which makes an interesting backdrop. It would make for a great book-group discussion, so I'm going to suggest it to my book group.

Robert J. Hughes has written a beautifully layered novel that reminded me of Henry James. Set in modern-day New York, it follows the lives of four richly drawn characters and their entangled love lives. Hughes has created an empathetic protagonist in Claire and the men surrounding her are equally engaging and memorable. Best of all, Hughes casts New York as an important character as well, and illuminates the city's art and opera scene with an insider's knowledge. This is definitely for fans of Henry James and Edith Wharton -- set in modern times. A must read.

Great asset to our small e-bay business. We are new-guys at this adventure and "Griff" has helped us all along the way. Suggest that anyone who wants to get started on e-bay should purchase this book. Thank you, "Griff"! BH Buford, Georgia

I have been on eBay for 7 years selling and this book did not help me one bit. I wish they had a book that would help the experienced seller get more traffic to their store. Beginner sellers that NEVER have sold on eBay may learn something. I did return the book.

Ebay is an official book or how-to manual. I'll have to lend it to the people who call me up and want to learn the ins and outs of selling in 5 minutes.

Nothing new here you can't find on the Ebay help pages and seller's forums for tips, FREE. OK for total newbies.

I have been reading the E-Bay Bible and have found so much information to help me with my internet business. The book is very informative and has great tricks to help you and your research out. It will get you going in the direction you choose much faster. I have been an ebay seller and have an internet e-commerce store as well, for many years now. This books has given me ideas and info I have never thought of. Buy it!! It's great!!!

This is a really entertaining book!! Very, very funny and clever. Ms. Weldon is a exceptional writer. Her book, The Spa Decamaron- spelling- is also really good. Actually, it is better than this book.

I have been a fan of Ms. Weldon's writing for some time and was delighted to have this book read by my bookclub during the Christmas season. This was a fast reading. Funny. Critical of society as it should be expected from this writer. It also has that trace of sci-fi, or should I say, "an imaginative step into the future of scientific news" that's also very Weldon. Marvelous imagination. Wonderful fun. Not as well developed as most of her work.
It was inevitable that in our book club we discussed the sensitive issue of patronage. From a pope ordering the painting of the Sistine Chapel to portraits of lady this and that by English painters such as Gainsborough. And we also talked about patronage in books. In the end those in favor of private patronage won by one vote. We are 16. I believe artists, painters, writers and other talents should seek support from private sources. But that is controversial as we have all discovered.

Good light book. Quick reading. 4 stars.

This is typical of Weldon's less important books. It is a light, but biting comedy, with an insensitive husband, a scorned wife who ends up on top, and a little bit of magic. It is "current" with an older woman-younger man romance. I believe Weldon was too heavy handed with the husband's new wife even for this type of book. At the same time, Bulgari Connection is quite readable, and possibly cathartic for some readers. It captures the emotions and motivations of the husband very well. For a better, more complete novel, I would recommend Worst Fears by Weldon. If you are very interested in the husband's character , and have the time, you might consider Tom Wolfe's "A Man in Full".

Forget the controversy surrounding corporate sponsorship and how Fay Weldon might have surrendered her integrity when she allowed the world-renowned jeweller to grace the title of her latest fictional work. The truth is that Weldon didn't have to make any concessions, let alone pander to the demands of advertising for she had written a winner and nothing should detract from the fact that "The Bulgari Connection" stands head and shoulders above most other titles in the same genre. It is a contemporary, thought provoking and thoroughly entertaining book and one that I would recommend without hesitation to anyone.

Weldon knows how to tell a story. She understands humour and how to find that elusive funny bone in readers that shuns mediocrity and the common attempts by many inferior novelists to try and pass off vulgarity and cheap nasty jokes as humour. It is a rare craft that Weldon has mastered and one that she wields with confidence and authority, considering how the story of Grace and Barley and Doris and Walter might in lesser hands have degenerated into farce. She manages to avoid all the pitfalls by making her characters and their feelings real and recognisable. How many readers out there wouldn't identify with the spurned and outgrown older wife or the insecure businessman finding success late in life who think that a trophy wife is all he needs to enter the portals of the rich and successful? Even Doris Dubois, the modern career woman, a guttersnipe and a bitch without scruples or redeeming qualities is a misshapen product of our society. When we laugh and cry at the antics and manoeuvres of these four characters, we're not unaware or unconscious of Weldon's social commentary on life in our modern times.

Don't let anyone persuade you that "The Bulgari Connection" is frothy and lightweight. It isn't. It is funny, relevant and entertaining and frankly you can do a lot worse than that.

In spite of, or perhaps because of, the corporate sponsorship of this book it's one of her best. Tongue firmly in cheek, funny characters, ridiculous and hysterical plot lines; it's really great.

To people who criticize her taking money to write the book; how else do you expect her to pay the rent?! How nice it must be for the critics to be so "pure", but authors don't make a lot of money and however they scratch out a living is fine with me.

Fay is the best.

Having read other books in the "eBay the Smart Way" series, I knew that this would be an easy read.

I've sourced product for my eBay business several different ways, and Sinclair & Hanks lay the business out plain and simple in a very easy-to-understand manner.

As a businessman, I'm always on the lookout for new and viable product sources. But when you discover something new, you don't ever want to go in looking like the "new kid on the block." This book will give you the knowledge needed to help prevent that, and stave off the first time jitters so you can investigate new sources with confidence.

I expect this book will be one that I find myself referring to often.

This book is a decent overall, 1000 ft view of options for acquiring inventory to sell on eBay. It presents the 'you should consider' rather than the 'step one, step two', which is fair seeing that no one answer can fit all.

Granted, this wasn't intended to give you a list of manufacturers, wholesalers, or even a comprehensive list of online services; but just when you think something tangible (as opposed to purely conceptual) is about to appear on the next page, you get a 'not within the scope of this book' or 'buy our other book XYZ for that info' Also be warned of the DOBA ads threaded throughout this book (one of the authors is the CEO)

One 'tangible' piece of info I couldve used is in the area of importing. The book goes into the general process of working with manufacturers and wholesalers. You'd think getting the inventory is a considerable aspect of managing inventory, however the book simply recommends contacting a customs broker and stops. Then points to another one of their books for $24.95.

On top of it all, there had to have been at least 50 pages in this book created out of pure repetition. There were a number of places I thought I had reread, only to notice it had been covered multiple times. The unorthodox organization of the book helped lead to this, fat margins, etc, but I'm sure its no accident..a 250 pager sells more copies.

Decent book, but not well executed. I definitely will not consider any other publication in the series.

I found this book to be an extremely useful resource. It is an easy read and walks you through every aspect of finding the right supply for your business. I would recommend the book to every small business owner.

This book is amazing due to one reason and one reason alone...Simplicity...it doesn't attempt to overstate the obvious or reinvent the wheel...it teaches you in simple terms how to effectively sell online and make money...that's it...fast and simple.

All the sources show in this book are easily found in website and those sources are not really will help you maximize your profit because most of the sources you need to pay monthly fees. Better think twice when you purchase this book, I already waste my time and money to own this book. Good luck on you

I read this fairly quickly, and found that I already knew most of it. There were some good tips though. I had previously sold on ebay a few years ago, and had hoped that this would give me more actual examples of resources and ideas, but, not so much. However, if you are just getting into ebay selling, this is a good overview.

This is really a great little book. Most of the info is actually common sense, but it's all together in one book. It makes for an excellent reference as you get to know how things work on eBay. It may say it applies to Clothing, Shoes and Accessories, but the how-to-do-it applies equally well to almost any item you want to sell.
I know my sales on eBay have gone from zero (yes that's right) to probably around 80% of items I list now. Way cool!
I would strongly recommend this book to beginners, who shouldsit down with a highlighter pen, and read through it. For the professional seller - also a good read, as there will be things you have forgotten....

This was the first "How-to-sell-on-eBay" book that I have read and it was a great start. Davis writes in a clear and concise style how to do everything, from start to finish. She de-mystifies the online selling process, and spreads useful tips and hints throughout the book.

I am a "small-time" seller on ebay and I was looking to "up my game" with this book. For me, it was a complete waste of money.

The information in this book can be gleaned from just using ebay a few times. If you have never bought anything on ebay and can't navigate the ebay website or learn things there for yourself, this is the book for you. (However, if you know nothing about ebay, websites, help files or computers, maybe an ebay business selling clothing, shoes and accessories isn't a business you should be thinking about starting? Since there are a lot of people already way ahead of you?)

If it was called "Ebay for Dummies" or "An Absolute Beginners Guide To Ebay", then I think it would be more accurately sold and marketed, and an excellent guide.

90% of the information in the book pertains to ebay selling basics and only 10% is specific information that would help you sell clothing, shoes and accessories, if you had never done so before.

Example: you are told that,to start your ebay business, you will need a computer and a modem (and describes what a modem is), etc.

I think a lot of people would like to sell on ebay and don't know anything about it. They are more comfortable with a book format than a website for learning. This is a wonderful book for them. However, the book description should be more accurate for those of us who shop for books online and can't page through the book.

I had previously read Davis' book, Make Big Profits on eBay (co-written with Jacquelyn Lynn), and immensely enjoyed it while learning how to improve my eBay business. So when the new pocket guides came out, I grabbed them in great anticipation. This is the first book I have read in the series and I was not disappointed. I have learned where and how to find quality clothing and accessories (both new and used) in places that I never considered before. Plus I have learned different ways to take pictures to show my items off to their best advantage - a must for any eBay seller. I also like the interesting sellers that are introduced to readers because they are every day people like you and me who have managed to make a success of their eBay business in a short amount of time. After reading this book, I feel confident that I can succeed in the clothing, shoes and accessories category.

No one can know everything, but everyone knows something, and Mr. Swike knows a thing or two about selling on eBay. I've bought from him on eBay and know how good he is at listing, advertising, pricing, shipping and most importantly, communicating with his customers. If you don't read anything else about selling on eBay, at least read this one efficiently written book. It is rich with great know-how and the tips inside come straight from experience. That to me is worth its weight in gold. Happy eBaying!

I have been using Ebay for over a year and I am still learning new things. Sell It Now is great and fast to read. I do not want to spend time reading books to learn. This ref gives you the scoop fast and you can put it to use. Shipping and supplies is a great section and has already helped me find save on these cost. Just knowing how to ship saves you $$$$$$. Great stuff........

I have never sold on eBay!, but like most of us, I only tend to buy the things I want, rather than selling the things I don't! Although the book isn't a 1000 page novel, I think that it does highlight some useful points and gives guidance as to what might work and gives plenty of tips on how to improve sales. The best ways to market and advertise your items got me thinking. Now I find myself looking at the things I own and instead of wondering how I could sell a certain item, I know how to sell it. Many thanks for an informative starting point, which I hope will help me to sell the items I don't want or need anymore.

I've read other books that are supposed to be comprehensive guides. They may have more pages than this book, but so what? This book has the greatest proportion of good ideas per page than any book I have read so far. I sell a lot of stuff on ebay and have been for several years. With the ideas contained in this book I was able to open my ebay store with confidence, knowing the pitfalls to avoid and the best ways to market. Since opening my store on ebay, my sales have literally doubled. Anybody can open up an ebay store, but it is a whole different level from beign a seller of single items. If you don't get some help going in, you will meet with more frustration than success. This book helped tremendously.

I have been selling on Ebay for well over 10 years. However I was always unhappy with the end result. The fees, the amount of attention my auction received (it seemed like Ebay was the only one that made money from my auctions.) This book was extremely helpful in educating me of all the ins and outs of a successful auction. I am confident that the techniques in this book would be helpful to Experienced and inexperienced as well. The selling secrets I learned from this book will undoubtedly increase my financial success in Ebay and has brought the fun back to online auctioning!