Selling Tactics

Jason Lewis asked:


Here’s a real life tale of how one of my friends recently made a nice profit after ‘buying’ something on eBay and selling it offline…and he didn’t even win the auction he bid on…

Could you copy this technique for a handsome profit in your own local area?

One of my best friends Barry recently stumbled on a good way to make money. He’s the sort of guy that’s not too bothered about money, so his recent tale was even more interesting to me.

When they try to make money on eBay, most people try to figure out what they can buy offline, and then sell it on eBay for a profit. However, as this case proved, there are fantastic opportunities to buy items on eBay and then sell them for a profit in the offline market.

Barry is a newbie golfer. Like most newbie golfers he started off by getting himself a cheap set of second hand golf clubs. After playing a few rounds he thought he’d invest in a new set of clubs.

As he already had an adequate set of clubs, he wasn’t in any particular hurry to rush and pay top dollar for a new set. He was happy to wait for a bargain. That was the key to this opportunity being discovered…

After spending a little while surfing eBay, Barry decided to place a speculative bid of £50 on a set of new ‘unbranded’ clubs. This included woods, putter, full set of clubs and a bag. He didn’t expect to win the auction but he thought he would ‘chance his arm’ to see what happens.

The auction ended with the winning bidder buying a set of golf clubs at a ‘very good value’ price of £110.

A few days later…

The seller contacted Barry to explain that although he didn’t win the auction, there was still a few more sets of clubs available and he could get a set for the £50 that he had originally bid.

This way of contacting failed bidders is a common tactic that a lot of eBay Powersellers use to make additional sales.

Barry’s not a natural entrepreneur, so his next move was quite remarkable for him and demonstrated some quick thinking on his part…

He got straight back to the seller and said ‘yes’, he would like to buy the golf clubs, and also asked (rather cheekily) if he could get another 4 sets at the same price, as he had a few friends and relatives that would also like some clubs at that price. If you don’t ask, you don’t get, right?

The seller obviously bought the clubs at a very good price, because he didn’t hesitate to agree to the deal. 5 sets of golf clubs, including bag, woods, putter all delivered in 3 days, with each item individually wrapped ‘as new’, at a cost of £250 + £35 (£7 each set).

He kept one set for himself, and sold one to a friend for £80 for a small profit of £23. He then advertised one set of clubs in the free classifieds in his local paper for £120.

When he got in from work on the day the ad came out, he had one call from an interested buyer. He came round that night and was very happy with the deal and offered £110, which Barry accepted.

He then revealed that he had another set of the same new clubs, and would do a deal of £200 if he wanted to buy two sets there and then. The cash was immediately handed over, and both parties were equally happy.

No sooner had the first customer left, another one was at the doorstep and this time paid the full asking price with no haggling. Great!

So for the initial outlay of £285, Barry had made a profit of £115 and gotten a new set of clubs for himself ‘free of charge!’ Not bad for about half an hour of work talking to a couple of people on the phone and in person when they came round to buy the clubs.

The next couple of nights he got 4 more calls from people after the clubs, but he had to turn them down. Had he bought more sets of clubs he was confident that he could have sold at least another one or two sets from that one single ad.

Now, as I said, Barry is not really the entrepreneurial type so this simple technique could be done by just about anyone. It doesn’t cost anything to bid on stuff on eBay. If you keep placing speculative bids early in the auction, at a price you know is an extremely good deal, you might just get yourself a few bargains that you then sell offline for a nice bit of ‘cash in the hand’ profit.

Could you make a regular income doing this?

Very likely, is my opinion?

Personally, over the next few weeks I will be placing a few speculative bids myself, as well as approaching a few sellers after the auction has ended. Not all eBay sellers will bother to contact failed bidders, so it will probably pay you to contact them yourself. Sure, some of them will probably ignore your request, or turn you down flat. It’s just a numbers game. The more speculative bids you place, the more sellers you contact, the bigger the chance of you picking up some real bargains.

What should you bid on?

It’s probably not a good idea to bid on items that a relatively inexpensive to buy. You want items that can provide you with a decent amount of profit per sale. They should also be items that people are already selling in the classified ads in your local newspapers. What I particularly like about golf clubs is that ‘what you see is what you get’. A buyer is not going to bring them back and say that they don’t work, which they may do with an electrical item.

With Christmas around the corner, this could also be a good time of year to start an enterprise like this. My advice would be to just buy one or two items first off. Place an ad in your local paper and see how things go. You can then reinvest your profits and build your stock up gradually.

This could potentially be quite lucrative low risk venture, which requires very little money to get started.



ALBERT

Tracey asked:


When “practicing their religion” means allowing their young daughters to be ***** by older men, do you agree? Do you think that the government is engaging in “Big Brother” tactics when it prevents you from selling your daughter into sexual slavery?
Blah, in Sweden, that’s “consent.” This is **** we’re talking about.

BARTON

Robert S. Kheir asked:


“There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don’t know.”

-Donald Rumsfeld, Nov. 2006 -

Back on January 18th 2007, my daughter was born and the acronym A-B-C-P was a ‘known known.’ For our growing family, the acronym stood for “ABCs of Parenting.” It was an informative brochure provided to us by the hospital upon discharge after which it was unceremoniously filed away given that she was our second. We knew what we were doing; at least we hoped we did.

Funny how your paradigm shifts so quickly. By late August of last year, a mere 7 months later, A-B-C-P stood for “Asset Backed Commercial Paper,” a “known unknown.” In fact, as the acronym started making its way into the everyday vernacular of media and bankers, many still did not have the foggiest clue what was in store.

Risk is most threatening when it seems least obvious and least threatening when it seems most obvious.

Now, if a business owner initiated the process of selling his or her business during the same time as my daughter’s birth and eventually divesting within 7 months, the exit would have been painless. Conversely, if the process dragged beyond the 7th month, one of two things would have happened; the buyer would have gotten cold feet and walked or they would have re-negotiated, perhaps for a lower valuation. As the full magnitude of ABCP and their corresponding risks became evident, the once voracious appetite for acquisitions began to experience indigestion during the fourth quarter of 2007.

The French have a saying: “things that drag get dirty.” It is no different when selling a business; the quicker, the better. The longer the process drags, the more exposed the business becomes to the vagaries of the market.

How long should it take to sell a business? On average, the entire process should take no more than 7 months. Here is a brief 3 step strategy that gets a business sold effectively and quickly:

(1) Mobilize: Individuals do not sell businesses - teams do. Taking a page from the sailing handbook, ‘all hands on deck’ should be the attitude of any team tackling the divestiture process. No more than one (1) month is required to analyze and showcase the business via an offering memorandum.

(2) Maximize: An outreach marketing campaign that maximizes the number of touch points between strategic buyers and financial buyers is ideal, despite much written to the contrary. With today’s market indigestion, buyers once deemed ideal may no longer have an appetite, while others previously overlooked should now garner serious consideration. The emphasis is to have more than one offer. Securing multiple offers keeps a buyer committed and provides additional leverage during negotiations. This outreach and ultimate courting process with potential buyers should take no more than three (3) months.

(3) Monetize: It is not enough to have a value on the business. You need to place an implicit value on everything from chemistry, probability of close, and the treatment of employees post acquisition. Doing so, will help you dovetail toward a quicker decision. Business owners need to enter the due diligence process with their eyes wide open, it is akin to walking down the aisle at the chapel for your wedding. You need to be committed before the vows get exchanged.

This due diligence process should take no more than two (2) months. While some buyers attempt to extend this process even longer, this often is a stall tactic. Finally, the concluding negotiations outlining the purchase and sale agreement, equivalent to the wedding vows, should take no more than one (1) month. Do not let any lawyer tell you otherwise. Many of the terms and conditions of the purchase and sale agreement could be negotiated concurrently with due diligence.

Today, almost a year to the day the lid blew off the ABCP market, the general public appears well-versed on these synthetic derivatives. At least they should, since it has been headline news for the past year. Nevertheless, the risk to the market appears less threatening as their impact has become more transparent. As a result, the appetite for acquisitions has recovered. It is a more favourable economic environment for selling a business – if you get it done in 7 months.



MERLIN

KH asked:


They have stopped me while I was walking into Kohls and Walmart with my baby. They have a big sign that says “free fingerprinting” but then they try to sell you stuff with a fear tactic. I have not bought anything from them but I get a bad feeling from them and was wondering if anyone knows anything about this company. I couldn’t find anything on-line.

TIMMY

James Dylan asked:


Over the past 20 years global property, stocks and shares have enjoyed a secular bull market. The easy monetary policy of Greenspan’s Fed, off-shoring of the western world’s inflation to emerging nations, the advent of the internet and online trading, mandatory 401k contributions, and the often-mentioned baby boomer generation has fuelled one of the largest boom cycles in recorded history.

But what goes up comes down- history has proved this to us time and again since the days of Adam Smith, but our collective memories are short. With the typical cycle lasting 30 to 40 years it is no wonder we forget past lessons. I certainly do not remember the hard-learned lessons of the years following 1929.

Most leading economists now agree that we are entering, or have entered, the bear market phase of the economic cycle. Whether this started in 2001 with the internet bubble, the turn in property prices in 2005, or through the continuing effects of the credit credit crunch will only be determined with the clarity of hindsight. Any estimates to how long the decline side will take to turn up again are really just best guesses.

So, prognostications and economic theory aside, what does this mean for your average homeowner or property investor?

The answer is “it depends”.

For those who are conservatively leveraged, able to comfortably meet their mortgage payments or with positively geared investments, they simply do nothing. Their net paper worth may change, but in 2, 5 or 10 years they will be wondering what the fuss was about as prices rebound through today’s depressed levels.

Unfortunately, many of us do not have this luxury. We may have increasing mortgage payments, increasing interest rates on credit card debt and car loans, while at the same time our disposable income is being reduced by the skyrocketing price of everything from fuel to beer.

Inevitably, this forces many of us to sell property into a declining market. Selling in a declining market is far different than selling in a boom market and it is important we are aware of, and prepared for, the fundamental differences in sales approach.

Firstly, in a declining property market it is imperative that we price accurately. Mis-pricing in a rising market may lose us a quick sale but at some stage the market should catch up with our asking price. This is not the case in a declining market. An overpriced property will likely sit in the market bypassed by the few buyers looking for property. The longer a mis-priced property remains unsold, the more over priced it becomes. In a declining market price accurately, sell quickly.

Secondly, fear marketing and the use of phrases such as “better be quick” and “don’t miss out” are more likely to have the opposite effect in a declining market. Is a buyer going to “miss out” today when they might pay less tomorrow? No, in fact the buyer’s fear has changed to one of buying too high, rather than missing out. When marketing talk up the features and benefits of a property and avoid hard-sell tactics.

And thirdly, in a depressed market we need to find buyers. They are out there, but there are many properties for sale to distract them from finding yours. Word of mouth is a great tool- don’t be ashamed to spread the word. Post signs, flyers, and place ads in newspapers. Employ good real estate agents who will actively market your property with you- remember they also have mortgages and mouths to feed. The more people know your property is for sale, the more likely you will find a buyer.

And the internet, use the internet. Not only can you access your local market, but with the internet you can market your property to the world. There are many great websites out there offering a range of services, and many even offer free basic listings. In this case you have nothing to lose but more exposure and more chance to sell your property.

At ExpatFlats Limited we do offer free basic listings but we also offer something no other website does… direct exposure to foreign investors. Hong Kong’s Expatriates come from all 4 corners of the world and are very active property investors in their home countries. For the first time ever, real estate agents and private owners can reach these people directly by a listing in our new Investment Property section. www.ExpatFlats.com invites you to be one of the first to take advantage of this brand new marketing tool.



JACQUES

Sprigbit asked:


Their agenda seems to be to sell us products using tactics to make us feel a certain way if we do not have that product. Most of us strive to be “normal”, and it seems that we tend to allow them to dictate what is “normal” (through the media, celebrities, icons, etc.). It’s just disturbing that people feel bad about themselves if they do not meet these so called “norms”. I just think that it is unfair that there is a majority of people that can never achieve these norms and it seems that it contributes to a negative viewpoint of themselves. It appears that the norm is not what we see on TV, movies, etc, but why do we think that way? We focus too much on material things, and not the things that really matter. If we keep this up, it looks like we’re headed for self destruction.

CHADWICK

Thomas Pretty asked:


Putting a property up for sale is an emotive issue for all homeowners. Naturally an attachment to a property is usually formed, especially true if this has been a family home or a home with particular fond memories. Once you have decided to put it up for sale however there is a distinct process that should be followed that should help to a achieve a good price and a speedy sale. Hopefully the following information will help homeowners understand the selling process more succinctly and assist them in preparing their property fro viewings and eventually a sale.

The reasons behind selling are diverse, a family may have outgrown their surroundings or a homeowner may need a financial injection. Whatever the reasons for putting a property up for sale however it is important to recognise the elements in the process and the ways in which a greater price and quicker deal can be secured. If an injection of funds is needed it is certainly understandable that homeowners want to pursue a quick deal, fast cash for many is the primary objective of selling.

First of all there are certain questions that the homeowner must ask themselves. These are how to go about selling a house, how will the process be undertaken, whether enough profit will be secured when attempting a quick sale and how long it will take to sell? These are understandable questions and with the help of an estate agent the answers should be forthcoming. The market however is fickle and can rapidly change, while holding out for a resurgent market may be advisable, it is not always a possibility.

When you are deciding on a sale price of the property it is advisable to take into account as many different valuations as possible. This means getting the agents in and utilising their knowledge as well as using the online valuing websites to achieve a reasonable figure. Ultimately while you do not want to lose money but you must make the house an attractive proposition for potential buyers. If you price too high it is likely the property will sit on the market for an elongated period of time. Too cheap and the risk is losing thousands in the eventual sale price. Fundamentally a balance between profitability and attractiveness must be found.

When selling it is always advisable to complete any running repairs before viewings start. This is vital if a good price is to be gained. Buyers see repairs as an added expense and subsequently this will be reflected in the eventual price. As a result it is important to complete all repair and construction work so the house is the complete and finished article.

As well as the repairs it is advisable to prepare the house thoroughly for viewings. Make sure it is presentable and cleaned from top to bottom. This may take a little effort but will be ultimately worthwhile. A well presented house will always achieve more money; buyers like to see cleanliness and space. This can mean putting items of furniture into storage and organising all the rooms in a way that makes best use of the space. Additionally you should attempt to de-personalise the home, this means removing family pictures and in some cases redecorating so the rooms are more neutral.

Hopefully this information has gone some of the way to improving the knowledge base of those selling property. It is not however an all encompassing list, there are a variety of tactics to employ to achieve a quick sale at the right price. Generally though, if you prepare the property for sale extensively by decorating, cleaning and completing repairs you stand a good chance of success.



MATHEW

SLOTH asked:


I keep hearing over and over again that millionaires usually got that way through real estate investing and they also became millionaires quicker than anyone else. I’m looking for a study that describes how most of them invested and their common tactics and strategy. I’m not looking for an article that will try to sell me a course or product.
Thanks

SAMMIE

Juan Munoz asked:


List building is fast becoming money making tool for online business and marketing. It’s is one of the modern innovative methods and tools used to ensure a steady source of income and develop a base of dedicated and resourceful clients.

However, the key to being successful in this field is to be able to know and use the various tools available for effective list building. Tools such as Email list building, Squeeze page, pop ups etc if cleverly used can draw the attention of your visitors and get them to subscribe. In other works improve your list building tactics.

Email List building – Most of the online marketing businesses today owe their success to Email list building. It increases your profitability level to a great extent. This requires an extensive marketing plan and should be cleverly used in your promotions. It’s critical to ensure that visitors have easy access to your Email list. Also your web page should be user friendly and clients should be attracted by offering them discount packages and gifts. A good practice is to maintain a quality list and review the same from time to time. It is also possible to enter in to a tie up with website owners to share their client list with out violating internet rules and protocols. A filtered client list increases the success rate of marketing your products and business.

Squeeze page – The first step to gather your customer’s valuable information is by directing them to your squeeze page. It’s always advisable to have internet traffic directed to your squeeze page before trying to sell your products. An important tip to succeed in online marketing is to provide as much value to your product as you can. Adding value makes your product different and interesting.

Pop up windows – If pop up windows appear immediately after a visitor logs in to your page, the immediate response is to close it. On the other hand your purpose is achieved to have the pop up window appear after the visitor has gone through your page and is in a more relaxed mood. In this way you are not forcing your message or product on your visitor and in turn allowing him to make a choice for himself.

Maintaining good relations with your subscribers is very important for the growth of your business. Even though it may not give you instant results in terms of selling your products but it does pay off in the long run. Another tactic is to keep in touch with your subscribers and keep sending them update information on your products and make them feel important.



BARRY

vanshika raja asked:


Your sales page is where you sell the premium resale rights package that you created. You could post on free classified sites, stick up your blog address on a sign in the back of your car, write a free report and sell it on eBay for a cent with full resale rights etc. Though you are justified to sell a resale rights package for a price higher than the value of the products, if you ask an outrageous amount you’ll have difficulty making sales.

For more details go to: www.guide-to-plr.com the resale rights owner is in the clear because if his customers aren’t trying to sell the product then he doesn’t have to deal with complaints. Sell your resale rights e-book or software at cooking parties.

Resale rights do not work on eBay because as soon as you sell an e-Book with these rights someone even dumber than you will undercut your price. You can then sell resale rights to it and generate instant backend cash. E-books without resale rights usually sell for a lot more than e-books with resale rights. The best approach is to sell your resale rights products to a maximum of 50 people, though a lower number would always prove better.

Even if you don’t have anything to sell now, you may well do in the future, either one that you have developed yourself or something that you have the resale rights to. This means that besides providing your hosting needs, they provide your own products to sell with free resale rights or their own proven product by becoming an affiliate, they teach you how to market them online or how to create your own unique products to sell, they get you updated on the latest marketing tactics in the forum, they give you tools to market, monitor your ads and everything else needed.

For can visit to: www.private-label-contents-riches.com Joe found a re-brand software site that will sell him resale rights with adjustments.

Please visit E-book website and browse the vast selection of e-books available to help. You succeed in Resale Rights or Online Auction sites today. If you don’t have a product of your own, you can use a product you have resale rights to. Selling your resale rights product when it is at the end of its market life would be tough.

If you don’t have a product to sell, go out there and search for products with master resale rights. But many internet marketers know they cannot force anyone to sell their resale rights product, for a set minimum amount. Try to sell “resale rights” e-Books. One reasonably well- known information marketer recently made a massive mistake by selling an e-Book with resale rights. Look for your resell rights in the package or the e-book.



LOREN