Why You Should Be Seriously Considering Un-branded Products To Sell On eBay Right Now

I thought I'd give you a little taster as to what you can expect in my new eBay home study course 'The Ultimate eBay Success System', so this post is based on an extract from just one small part of my new course....enjoy!

eBay Myth: Pick a branded product that you can find cheap (any designer product will do), chuck up a one paragraph eBay listing description as you wait for the kettle to boil and then sit back and watch it sell for a profit whilst you relax with a nice cup of tea.

eBay Truth: The very essence of successful eBay selling is researching and selecting the correct products to sell, listing those products in a way that makes people desperate to buy them and ensuring that your listing descriptions consistently receive as much traffic as possible and so increasing views and sales.

Unfortunately, this is the formula that many people don’t understand and is often why they fall at the first hurdle.

I am happy to tell you though, that this need not be the case as long as you firstly get a complete grip on something very important. This involves moving your mindset away from the belief that most eBay buyers are looking for bargain ‘branded or designer’ goods and consequently the belief that you can source and sell anything on eBay for a profit, and you start thinking about the realms of ‘un-branded’ goods instead.

This has always been my strategy right from the start - oh apart from one small blip about 3 months into my eBay selling career when I made totally the wrong decision over some designer handbags, it all went pear-shaped and I’ve never touched designer or branded goods again. Un-branded goods are far less likely to give you a headache and so all my successful eBay selling techniques are based around un-branded goods. It’s always worked well for me and so that’s why I like to recommend this route to others.

But hang-on, what’s wrong with selling ‘branded’ goods I can hear you wondering! Don’t worry because I am going to explain.

Why Should You Not Sell ‘Branded or Designer Goods?

Firstly there are far more advantages to selling un-branded products (which I will explain in just a moment) than there are if you go down the ‘branded’ route. Of course if you really want to sell ‘branded or designer’ then please do feel free, but I always concentrate on un-branded products for eBay selling and my home study courses deal mostly with un-branded products with a little tiny bit of branded thrown in!

Now, please don’t be confused between ‘branded’ and ‘designer’. By ‘branded’ I don’t just mean those popular designer items often found listed on eBay such as Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Mulberry, Ugg and so on. ‘Branded’ covers any product with a well known or not so well known name. So, for example, Sony, Medela, Per Una, Nike, Topshop, Next, Hitachi, Philips, Panasonic, Apple, Clarks – I could go on! All of these are brands.

So, if you decide you want to sell ‘branded’ goods because you think that there are higher profits available there, then please just think it through first. Here’s why:

Do you have the genuine article? If you source from China then the chances are then no, you are very likely to be the proud owner of a replica or counterfeit item, albeit a very good one! It’s not worth your eBay reputation to be selling fakes of anything.

Are you allowed to sell the ‘brand’ on eBay? If you do find a reliable source for the genuine article you may then find that the brand in question may not want their products sold on eBay at all. If you then list the item on eBay you could find your listings removed under the eBay VERO (Verified Rights Owner) programme or risk a possible suspension. Ask yourself, is it worth the risk?

Is there huge competition for your product? Almost always ‘Yes’ and it will probably be fierce! Branded products are easy for prospective buyers to compare seller to seller, like for like. You will need a phenomenal listing, lots of traffic and a price set to barely make a profit to compete with all the other similar listings.

Do you have multiple quantities of the branded product? If yes and you have got a pallet load of stuff, then be careful. eBay will only allow you to list most new designer or branded goods a certain number of times (the number of times varies – eBay’s decision!) before they stop you listing, usually for 30 days. This is to ensure you are not listing counterfeit goods and you are a genuine seller. The problem arises because if you are limited on listings you cannot build your eBay empire and you will be going nowhere fast.

As an eBay seller who has been there and briefly tried that as I mentioned earlier with the handbag debacle, I would truly recommend that you try and steer clear of branded products if you can. It is an eBay minefield that is best avoided and anyway, done correctly you will have much more success with un-branded products of your choosing.

So the message is that in my opinion you will be much less restricted if you choose to sell un-branded products. Fewer restrictions mean more potential to grow your eBay business, which ultimately means more profit for you! Un-branded products are all I EVER sell now, and believe me – it does work consistently and well.

So now that I have got the ‘branded’ products out of the way which was all a bit doom and gloom, I want to tell you exactly what I mean by ‘un-branded’ products and how concentrating on this selection can help you.

Why Should You Sell ‘Un-Branded’ Goods?

Good question. Does it really matter what you are selling on eBay as long as you are making money? Well, yes it does matter because there’s making money and there’s…making money! If you really want to make a proper income using eBay then you need to find some hot products that you can source easily and at the best price and list correctly that will then give you an income almost on auto-pilot with no hassle and this is where selling un-branded products comes in to it’s own.

‘Un-branded’ products are generic items that you can source and sell that come with no brand name or at the most just a number, so your un-branded product might have packaging that says: Digital Photo Frame HS-2087 - just what it is and then a kind of product reference number.

If you are feeling adventurous you can brand these kinds of products with your OWN invented brand name. This wipes out all competition immediately because no-one else can ever sell your brand apart from you, unless YOU let them of course! (This is such a powerful strategy that I have also dedicated a whole section plus a CD tutorial to this technique in my new eBay home study course – 'The Ultimate eBay Success System’).

So, to start with, all manner of un-branded products can be sourced from almost anywhere in the world at extremely competitive prices. I’m talking about MP3 Players to Digital Cameras, Beauty Products to Car Accessories, Baby Clothes to Pet Products. Anything goes and you should be considering China and the USA particularly as suppliers of these items. Unlike when you are sourcing branded or designer goods from China, you will find that you will get excellent prices, quality products and obviously you have not got the worry about counterfeit goods.

The great thing about un-branded products is that buyers cannot easily compare like for like and this is a huge advantage for you as it means you remain competitive at all times with whatever product you are selling.

Here’s an example. Let’s say you are selling a Dog Training Collar. It is un-branded but looks extremely similar to the top selling branded product, it’s just a different shape that’s all. It does exactly the same job as the branded product. Now, imagine that you can source these dog training collars for £2.50 each and you know that the same branded product is selling on eBay for £14.99. So, you list your dog training product at £12.99, making you a profit of £10.49 less your selling fees of course. Your listing description will state that your product does exactly the same as the branded product (it’s just a different shape) which means that potential buyers will very often go for the option of saving £2.00 on the cost of the product and buy yours rather than the branded product. The trick is to convince potential buyers that they will only be paying extra for the ‘brand’ with the more expensive item. Do you see what I mean?

Contrary to popular belief, not all eBay buyers are looking on the site for designer or branded bargains. Yes, of course many people do visit eBay to specifically search for that must have Tommy Hilfiger jacket or the latest Apple iPod or whatever, but many more just want to find the item they want at a good price and that’s where un-branded products do well.

Think about it. If you are looking to purchase an item like my dog training collar for example, do you really mind whether it’s a well known brand, a designer item or a make that you have never heard of? Will your pooch care? No, I don’t think so! You just need it to do what it was designed for.

So, it is easy to totally trounce the competition in your chosen niche because there is no set or recommended price that your un-branded product must be sold at. It’s up to you and as long as you are making a decent profit then the decision is yours.

You will also discover that there are no listing restrictions on un-branded products either. You can list as many un-branded items as you like in as many different niches as you like, another immediate advantage for you!

I mentioned the possibility of VERO restrictions earlier when I talked about branded goods and by this stage it will probably come as no surprise to you to find that there are no VERO restrictions on un-branded items. There may be the very, very rare occurrence where a seller has secured the sole rights to sell the product on eBay (it is usually an eBay seller who also has their own website) but I have known this to happen only once in the last 5 years so it is extremely unlikely to happen.

And that about wraps it up. I hope you can see why it’s a good idea to shift your mindset and consider taking the un-branded products route to a truly successful eBay business.

So just to summarise; if you choose the un-branded products route:

• You will have a wider product choice
• You will find better wholesale pricing
• You will encounter a larger number of suppliers
• You will have less competition on eBay
• You will not encounter any selling restrictions
• You will not have to deal with VERO restrictions
• You will always know that you have the genuine article

Like I have said, I have absolutely nothing against selling branded or designer goods on eBay and if you choose to do so that is your decision, but un-branded is my chosen route and it continues to consistently bring in the profits and so that is why I believe that it is a sure-fire way to success.

The Ultimate eBay Success System - Just Launched!

I’m absolutely thrilled to announce the official launch of my brand new Ultimate eBay Success System! You’re one of the first to see this as this is the first time I've given any details on my blog!

So, let me explain what it’s all about and why this is so exciting.

This is a simple step-by-step plan you can use to make £5,000 - £12,000 a month on eBay!

Using my 5 years of eBay selling experience, I’ve developed a system that you can easily copy to create your very own successful eBay business. And don’t worry if you’re new to eBay or even new to using a computer. I’ve written everything in plain English in a jargon-free, easy to understand way.

By following my course, you’ll discover:

• How to quickly uncover the hottest products to sell on eBay.
• Exactly where to find reliable wholesalers and drop shippers.
• How to write powerful eBay listing descriptions that will have buyers queuing up to buy your products.
• Tricks to help you get your items to the top of the eBay searches.
• Little known strategies even some of the top Powersellers haven’t cottoned on to that will drive traffic to your eBay listings through the roof!
• How to source products that will virtually guarantee you have no competition.
• Details of over 55 genuine wholesale supplier sources.
• Plus loads more information that I have never revealed before.

I’ve even personally recorded 8 CD tutorials showing you live examples of exactly what you need to do. I talk you through the whole process with simple step-by-step instructions. I’ll also be there to offer my personal support should you have any questions.

Copy my simple plan and I’m certain you’ll be up and running and making money within days. But don’t take my word for it...I’m 100% confident this will work for you, but I want you to be completely happy. That’s why you can try the course for a full 30 days risk-free.

Follow these easy steps and see how much you make. And if, for any reason, you feel it’s not right for you, I’ll give you a full refund.

So now there really is nothing to stop you from giving this a go.

I can't wait to hear your eBay success story. I've no doubt that if you manage to get a copy you’ll agree that this is the ‘big one’. The eBay success system that you’ve been waiting for – one that you can operate either in your spare time or full time – you choose - and delivers consistent profits day after day.

From the pre-launch feedback and number of emails filling up my inbox daily, I'm very conscious that copies of this are going to go very quickly.

All the details you need are here: Ultimate eBay Success System

More eBay Sellers Can Become Powersellers From April

Great news hot off the press from eBay today! They have confirmed that from April 2010 the sales requirements to become a Powerseller will be lowered. However, performance standards will also become a factor in obtaining Powerseller status too.

What this means is that if you are currently an eBay seller who always offers fantastic customer service and has consistently high DSR's, but you don't make a huge volume of sales, the playing field has been levelled somewhat. This is because from April, to become a Powerseller, the minimum transactions required will be 100 per year instead of 100 per month - that's quite a reduction - plus a minimum sales volume of £2000 per year (that's only just over £166 per month!), an average DSR score of 4.6 or above and a low number of 1 or 2 star ratings - only 1 or 2% in each of the five DSR score areas.

Other requirements remain the same such as being a business seller with no less than 98% positive feedback score etc.

Now, there are definitely some benefits to these changes. For a start, gaining Powerseller status means that you will be able to take advantage of Featured Listings and gain better visibility for your products and secondly you will get the chance to qualify for Top Seller Status too which again gives you greater visibility not to mention gains your buyers trust and confidence.

You need to keep an eye on your Seller Dashboard from now to see which areas you might need to make improvements in order to meet the criteria. But you've got at least 2 months to make any changes and get your sales and DSR's up and in my view those 2 months would be well spent doing just that!

Coming soon...The Ultimate eBay Success System

I’ve got some really exciting news...

Drop whatever you're doing and read this right now. It is very, very important.

I’ve been dying to tell you about this for AGES but because I was still making the final tweaks I was sworn to absolute secrecy!

And I know you are getting impatient now because over the past few weeks I have received dozens of emails from people desperate to get their hands on my new eBay Success home study course. Now finally, I can reveal all...

Over the past few months I’ve been burning the candle at both ends working on a complete system that really is an ‘eBay business in a box’. I am delighted to tell you that it will be released very shortly.

But first, a little background . . .

You will remember that a while back, I did a survey to find out exactly what it is that you need, to enable you to take the plunge and start your own eBay business. I wanted to know what you found difficult, what would really help you to get started and the biggest challenges you faced and needed to overcome.

And wow, what a response I got!

I was inundated with replies. But what became clear to me very quickly was that so many people are facing exactly the same challenges.

This is what I discovered YOU need to know

• The sort of products you should be selling on eBay
• How to find reliable drop shippers and wholesalers of those products
• Where to get your products from at a price that you can actually make a profit from
• How to write a really good eBay listing description
• How to get people to click through to your listings in the first place
• How to get to the top of the eBay search results
• How to get thousands of people to find your products and importantly buy them
  

But most importantly, how to combine all these things into a really successful eBay business that will allow you to earn as much income as you require.

I am totally with you on this one. In a nutshell, these really are some of the most important aspects of a truly successful eBay business. And this is where I got really excited because I knew instantly that I could help you with every one of these things and a whole lot more besides.
But, I didn’t want to just write about all this stuff. I decided to go one step further and not only answer these questions for you but put together a complete eBay success system – your business in a box.

My Ultimate eBay Success System is your blueprint for your own home based business using eBay as your platform. What I will be showing you is how to set up and run a professional business which brings in a consistent income.

But there’s more…

I was on a bit of a roll and I wanted to ensure that you have in your possession absolutely every tiny little piece of information you could possibly need to make your eBay business a success.
So, not only have I put everything down in writing in a simple to follow course, I have also personally recorded over 9 hours of video tutorials taking you step by step through the whole process of setting up your eBay business and way beyond. It will be just like having me right there in the room with you!

Yes, this is the big one. The one you've been waiting for!

If you are selling on eBay right now then take note because I will reveal the secrets and tricks of the trade that you need to know to get your business to where you want it to be this year.

I have included everything that I only wish I had known when I first started my own eBay business 5 years ago. So this is guaranteed to give you the biggest head-start ever in setting up and expanding your own eBay business.

Yes, very, very soon you can at last gain possession of absolutely everything you need to know (and a whole lot more that you probably thought you didn’t need to know) all in one package, to ensure that your eBay business is a huge success.

As I mentioned earlier, I have literally been inundated with emails about this over the past few weeks since I first started talking about it and so now it’s up to you. You can be the one heading to eBay success, or the one watching others heading to eBay success. Which one do you want to be?

If you would like to receive early-bird details you can always subscribe to my free newsletter You'll get a free eBay Selling Secrets report when you sign up and details of my Ultimate eBay Success System in your weekly emails.

Selling On eBay In 2010

Happy New Year! Thank you to all my blog readers and newsletter subscribers who have supported me throughout 2009.

I am looking forward to providing you with even more eBay strategies, tips, techniques and secrets during 2010, starting with something very special which will be coming very soon - this month in fact, because I'm celebrating the 5th anniversary of the day I made the decision which changed everything for me.

Keep an eye on my blog, follow me on Twitter and subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter to ensure that you don't miss out on updates and new information. Remember, these are all free so you have absolutely nothing to lose.

If you haven't started selling on eBay yet or if you already have an eBay account and want to literally explode your eBay sales during 2010, then you will be crazy to miss what I've got in store for you.

Make 2010 the year that you make the decision to start living the comfortable life you deserve. You can do it with my help but only you can take that first step. Good luck for 2010.

eBay Secrets - Don't Miss This!

I must first apologise for neglecting my blog of late. But, I do have a very good excuse because I have been extremely busy completing my brand new eBay home study course for 2010.

If you would like to know what I've got in store for you next year then sign up to my free weekly newsletter today at Powerseller Pod because this Friday's newsletter will include a preview of something that you would be crazy to miss out on!

Subscribe here - it's free! Powerseller Pod

Top 10 eBay Selling Tips

There are plenty of quick and easy methods to use to maximise your earning potential via selling on eBay. If you’ve always fancied making a bit of extra cash on the side through the world’s premier internet auction website then have a look at the top 10 eBay selling tips to help you to succeed:

1. Discover your niche. Consider what you are interested in and what you would like to sell. Selling items that you are knowledgeable about will help you to create repeat custom and detailed descriptions.

2. Take full advantage of eBay’s search functionality. Not only does it provide you with the ability to discover current items selling within your niche, it also lets you look at completed listings.

3. Explore eBay Pulse. It will show you exactly what is selling in the category that you are planning on selling into. Remember that what sells best is likely to have the most competition.

4. When you get to the stage of creating your auctions take the time to generate a really good title. You need to include keywords that people will search for to find your item. Consider what you would enter into the search bar to find your item and use this to help you craft the perfect title.

5. Don’t ever feel rushed to complete a listing. Spending time to make an accurate and informative description and to load a photo to the site will make up for the time spent in the long run.

6. Sell products around your house or cheap items initially to get used to the website and to build a great feedback score. Without it you will always struggle to sell any expensive items.

7. When you’re shopping around for items to sell it is important to remember the principle of buy low, sell high. This will take some time and practice for you to perfect but before long you will find yourself able to spot a bargain in shops, car boot sales or even on eBay itself. If you can buy at a low price you are likely to make more of a profit.

8. Minimise your expenses by lowering the cost of your packaging. Don’t spend a lot of money purchasing boxes for example when a bit of bubble wrap would suffice. However, ensure that everything that you send is safely packaged to save your feedback score.

9. Take care of your customers. Respond quickly to their queries and always dispatch items quickly and correctly packaged. Your customer care will help you to get new buyers and retain existing ones. Of all of the eBay selling tips around this is probably the most important.

10. Concentrate on repeat business. It’ll save you time in the long run in attempting to find new buyers. Great customer care and informative descriptions will help you to achieve this.

Stick to these 10 eBay selling tips and in no time at all you will find yourself making more sales and increasing your revenue. Good luck!