eBay Product Listings

     The majority of my internship this summer has been spent at the TLC Surplus Store selling products on eBay. As new shipments are purchased and brought to the warehouse, it is my job to organize, inventory, and clean the products before I photograph and list them each on eBay. Listings, though they follow a strict template, allow for product titles, photographs, detailed descriptions, pricing, shipping details, and seller information. Here are a few examples of products that I have posted this summer:

Example 1: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140513598498

Example 2: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130533199574

Example 3: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140576446521

     Listings are first divided into subcategories based on the product type. This allows the search engine to narrow down products for the defined audience. eBay then allows for two lines of text, the title and subtitle, that will serve as the key words and header for your listing. It is important to remain brief and to present only the necessary information with the limited characters alotted. This section is where we can work to establish pathos. In order to draw in our audience's attention, we try to use different wording than our competitors, incorporate the product model or serial number, and use exclamation points to show emphasis. Another way we try to set our product apart is through our pictures. While most competitors simply photograph their product once and list it, our products are thoroughly cleaned and photographed from multiple angles. This process allows us to show our product in its best condition and to give the buyer a more accurate idea of what is actually being purchased. After this, in order to establish logos, we give our product description. Although they give you an unlimited space to write up descriptions for products, we have found it to be most efficient and straighforward to keep our writing brief and to the point. Through this, we can list numerous items quickly, while still conveynig ample amount of information about the product. Our logos is established at the bottom of this box as well. Along with our username and rating that is shown at the top of each product page, we provide our company logo and information about our surplus store in every post. This helps to show our credibility and to further promote our company's name. In this section we provide our company name and logo, our buying and returning policies, and a link to our online stores.
     Although limited by the template structure given, it is important to use all available space customizing your listing, therefore setting yourself apart from other sellers. While we are not an extremely large company, we have great product turnover and have continued to build upon our success. Because the writing style is more informative, it works to quickly and efficiently get the point across to our target buyers.