| You've almost certainly read before about making | | | | categories, and more. Not only will you find some |
| money by spotting mistakes other sellers make on | | | | sellers a regular source of arbitrage opportunities, you'll |
| eBay which means their listings go largely unnoticed | | | | also find most give discount shipping on multiple |
| and their goods sell for a pittance to other eBay sellers | | | | products. |
| who buy cheap and relist those items without the | | | | * The best arbitrage opportunities exist with |
| earlier mistakes. The end result is money lost for | | | | unprofessional sellers, people who continuously use |
| original owners and sometimes fabulous profits for | | | | poor photographs or list in the wrong categories; sellers |
| subsequent sellers. | | | | who list only in their own country and never overseas |
| Spelling mistakes are the commonest form of | | | | on potentially a more effective eBay site; people using |
| arbitrage, so too is listing in the wrong category, or | | | | a template with a spelling mistake or template error |
| listing an item as commonplace when actually it is a | | | | that's existed from day one and was never corrected. |
| rare and highly prized collectible. | | | | Keep careful notes of these sellers' eBay IDs and |
| But there are other arbitrage opportunities to consider | | | | refer to them often. |
| as these tips show: | | | | * Look for auctions that end while most of the world |
| * The most reliable way to profit on a regular basis is | | | | sleeps when some amazing buys are possible. As for |
| to specialise in a niche you know well. By specialising | | | | other mistakes there are some sellers who constantly |
| you'll come to know which products are commonly | | | | end auctions when no-one is bidding purely because |
| misspelled, which are listed in incorrect categories, | | | | they are repeating a one-time mistake that has never |
| which are listed in one country and might actually fetch | | | | been corrected. This is an easy mistake to make and |
| higher prices elsewhere, and so on. You obviously look | | | | all but the most professional sellers may take weeks |
| to buy these items inexpensively on or outside of | | | | or months to spot their mistakes. For example, I once |
| eBay and sell them on eBay without mistakes! | | | | listed one hundred plus items on eBay, all on a Friday |
| * The most effective way to make non-spelling | | | | evening, all with intention to sell seven days later, also |
| mistake arbitrage work is to constantly check out last | | | | on a Friday evening. Friday evening is the end of many |
| minute auctions with few or no potential bidders and | | | | people's working week and the time many people |
| determine how much more profit is waiting on the | | | | relax by bidding on eBay. I was listing many same |
| table due to sellers' mistakes or oversights. It's a long | | | | theme items that evening and I know it's a good idea |
| job but the rewards can be spectacular. | | | | to leave a short time between listings to give multiple |
| * Once you find a listing with little time to run and no | | | | buyers time to move between auctions to check their |
| bidders it's time to do an Advanced Search on eBay | | | | bids. Five minutes is long enough between listings to |
| to determine what profit potential might exist should | | | | make sure people can easily bid on subsequent items, |
| you buy the item to relist it on eBay. | | | | so I timed my listings to end at five minute intervals. |
| Do this by clicking on 'Advanced Search' top of any | | | | Starting 8pm, I listed 100 items plus, at five minute |
| eBay page, key words to describe your product in the | | | | intervals, which means my last fifty or so ended long |
| search box, tick 'Completed Auctions Only'. Then | | | | after midnight! Not a good idea! |
| search. Right of any page you can choose to search | | | | But this is a mistake you want others to make for you |
| items according to highest prices achieved which is | | | | to capitalise upon. Again, it's all down to physically |
| usually the best place to determine potential for a | | | | checking auction ending times for products you might |
| current similar product listing. | | | | resell and be sure to add all items within a specific time |
| * When you find arbitrage opportunities, look at other | | | | frame to your 'Items Item Watching' category. |
| items from the same seller. Many will make mistakes | | | | Thankfully, you don't need to wait up all night to bid on |
| throughout all their listings, such as repeating their | | | | your chosen items, you can use sniping software to |
| spelling mistakes, using poor photographs and incorrect | | | | bid in your absence. |