FAQFrequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “On eBay?”
It’s a web based application that enables an individual, group, business, organization, or operators of a web site to easily hand select items from eBay, automatically attaching their affiliate code, gather the items on a list called “On eBay”, present that list of items to their group of buyers, users, or viewers via the web and receive commissions on sales, clicks, and bids.
Affiliate marketing 101
This is not MLM (Multi Level Marketing). Affiliate marketing is one of the very successful income creating tools of the web. Very simply: Almost all small and obscure and large and well known web sites including eBay but also Staples, Amazon, Zappo’s, and everyone else offers very generous “affiliate” or “associate” commissions to you if your company suggests an item they sell or sends a person to their web sites. Go to the link pages of every web retailer’s nav bar and there you will find all and more you ever wanted to know about affiliate marketing. Or read up at Wikpedia.
What items would we “hand select?”
Whatever it is your users are interested in. Boating, guitars, Barbie, office equipment: it is all “On eBay.”
How is “On eBay” different from using the item search available on every page at eBay?
Our application was created to address a major problem with eBay. There are simply too many items in any search list. Often; hundreds and thousands of items are included. A person could spend hours searching through the long lists. Many of the items are of no real interest to most people. The power of “On eBay” is that the items are hand selected, gathered together, and of high value to your visitors.
What web site should “On eBay” be on?
Any web site will do. Busier web sites will do better. If you have an on-line community, or you are a web based retailer, publish print magazines or a webzine, or you have a dedicated group whether they be Barbie enthusiasts or fishing equipment collectors. If so you can easily get signed up with “On eBay”and help your users find just what they’re looking for “On eBay” and be nicely compensated for your efforts.
Why is this a good thing?
It’s money for nothing. Not quite, but almost. Think of it as starting a store but instead of buying everything in the store you stock the store with all the stuff that is already On eBay. If someone sells or buys or bids: you get a commission. Take a look: http://affiliates.ebay.com/odcs/custom.htm?template=Payout
Your costs are low because you do not have to stock or ship or collect for stock or pay overhead or do the actual selling. If you wanted to have a guitar store “On eBay”: you could stock it with 500 guitars in a few hours. If you wanted to sell Harley Davidson parts “On eBay” you could be fully stocked in a few hours. If you wanted to be the Barbie queen of sales site you could fill your lists before Ken was back from bowling with Skipper.
More importantly: no matter what your business sells, what community you host, what magazine you publish: your visitors do use eBay and they will thank you for finding and hand choosing items for them.
How does “On eBay” work?
Will this work for my web site?
If you have a specific group of interested users: For example: Barbie Collectors, Chamber of Commerce, WW2 battle memorabilia, motorcycle parts, ephemera, etc. then “On eBay” is for you. The more users and views you have, the more commissions you’ll receive.
How much can our web site make from “On eBay?”
This is directly in relationship to the amount of traffic and visitors you have. If you have a lot of traffic the potential is great. Even the smallest and quietest sites will generate a surprising income. eBay will pay you 75% if you can generate three million in eBay fees for them. That is they will pay you 2,250,000.00 of the 3,000,000.00 they are paid in fees. Message? They want to encourage you as an affiliate to facilitate sales.
How much does it cost us to add “On eBay” to our web site?
There is little or no charge to sign up. We will set you up with no up front costs. “On eBay” is still in active development. We are looking for early partners and we’ll be happy to talk with you about how we can make “On eBay” work for you by sharing commission income.
I want to sign up for “On eBay”. What do I do?
Send us an email info@pilut.com or call 800-545-8956
We are too busy for this. But we want it on our site. What do you suggest?
We will host it for you, manage it for you, maintain it for you, and keep it full of exactly the great stuff that speaks directly to your visitors. You get a check. It is as easy as that.
How complicated is this?
We are a hosted solution. We make it easy.
What if we don’t have a web site?
You need at the least a simple home page or a place to host “On eBay”. But you don’t need an established site to start promoting and marketing. You can also join “On eBay” and decide to specialize in a specific list: motorcycles, binoculars, telephones, etc. Start a boutique or store and fill it from things that are “On eBay”.
Here is an example
At www.bigscreenbiz.com they hand select items of interest to people who own or run or supply movie theatres which we find “On eBay” and put them on a list http://www.bigscreenbiz.com/ebay for people to look at, do research, and to sell or buy. Or look at www.woodenboat.com/ebay where wooden boat enthusiasts are buying “On eBay.”
Does it cost buyers or sellers?
No. There are no costs to the buyer or seller other than the normal listing fees with eBay when they list an item with eBay. It does not cost the seller one penny more to be listed in “On eBay.” eBay pays commissions to affiliates from the charges they collect for operating auctions. They do not charge any more if an affiliate helps them in the sale.
What does PILUT mean?
Good question. It’s tulip spelled backwards. It’s pilot spelled with a u. It’s easy to remember.
What about “featured” ads?
There is room for advertising as well as featuring auctions at the top of the list. You can designate some ads as featured ads when you add the listing using the Administration Suite and when you do mark a sale as “featured” you can charge extra for that service. It is your choice how much to charge.
How does someone find and choose the items to list?
Every group is different. Knowing your industry is how to make this work best. You may already know many of the sellers; you may have worked with eBay for a long time. You will quickly learn how to search and seek and what to sort through. Even so; many items are strewn about and lost in obscure corners of eBay and you’ll go deep into the miasma and dredge up jewels! It’s dark and dirty work but someone has to do it. Searching and listing and learning what your customers want is what “On eBay” was built to do best.
We don’t want to be the ones choosing and finding and listing!
Then as part of our full hosted application service we’ll quickly learn your business and the interests and things that your clients, users, customers, visitors, and members and we’ll do the finding for you.
I want to talk about this more.
Call 800-545-8956 or write us at info@pilut.com
Someone knows of something for sale On eBay they think should be on our list. How do they get it listed?
You will count on your users to tell you about something good. Send us an e mail with a link to the item. youremail@yoursite.com
Someone has something they want to put “On eBay”. Can we help sell it?
Yes. You can put it on the list. For free. You can also promote an auction in advance for a small fee so people know something good is coming. You can send out an email alert to the thousands of subscribers for a small fee. This is your choice how much to charge.
Wedon’t have an eBay account will we need one?
Yes. Sign up. It’s easy.
Is eBay for real?
31,000,000 auction close On eBay each day. That’s about as real as it gets.
I don’t have an eBay account. Can you sell something for me?
Yes. Many people and companies feel they do not have the expertise or time to handle their own auctions at eBay. We will enter an auction agreement with you, promote your auctions, and sell your stuff.
I don’t have the time or expertise. Can you help?
Yes. Many people and companies feel they do not have the expertise or time to handle their own auctions at eBay. We will enter an auction agreement with you, promote your auctions, and sell your stuff. You will, or at least should, need to send us digital photographs of the items you want to sell. And you’ll have to be able to ship the items we sell for you. Other than that we take care of promoting, listing, selling, collecting payment, and paying you. Send us an e-mail or call at 800-545-8956. Read our auction agreement and auction FAQ.
When should I tell you it’s going on sale?
Before you put it On eBay if not sooner. Anyway: As soon as possible. The longer we know about it the longer our visitors will see it and the longer they’ll have to buy it.
Does this work?
eBay closes thirty one million auctions every day. It works.
Can you get ripped off ?
Caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware. And sellers should also beware. There are crooks out there and no question about it. But 99.999% of eBay sellers and buyers are legitimate. Know your buyer and seller. Do not send money or shipment until you are completely satisfied. Check out their profile and reviews. Phone or email them until satisfied. Many familiar and nationally recognized dealers and distributors sell On eBay so you’ll see familiar faces also. All transactions are between the buyer, the seller and eBay.
Yes. But what if I get ripped off?
Who they gonna call? eBay. They are good at this and will assist. The transaction is between the buyer and seller facilitated by eBay. There are well established methods for resolving problems. Pilut.com or your web site makes no warranty or guarantee or accepts any liability.
What can On EBay bring to our site's pages that our ads, classifieds, or classifieds searches, do not?
Do I have to use PayPal?
Over 90% of eBay sales are completed with PayPal. It is fast and cheap and easy. But credit cards and checks work well also. Use what you feel comfortable with.
Where can I learn more about how to use eBay?
Try www.ebay.com and you cannot go wrong. Follow the links and information and you’ll find more than you can digest in a year. Over 1.3 million people make their entire income from eBay. There are also books and training available.
How do I find out what something sold for?
We archive past auctions. Do a little research in our closed and past auctions to see what items have sold for. Whether you are selling or buying it is good to know the territory.
I saw something in the “On eBay” site and it did not get any bids. Why?
Not everything will sell every time. The best way to list and be certain of selling at the best possible price is to have us promote your auction in advance so that people know and can plan.
I sold something and there were only 3 bids and the price the item sold for was very low. I’m crying.
Keep in mind: when you list something for sale “On eBay” you can set the lowest price you will accept. If you don’t want to sell it low then do not set the price low. Many people set high prices because they want the interest, exposure, and to attract buyers to their web site or other auctions. The best way to get a lot of bids is to promote it in advance. We can help do that.
My company is a traditional supplier and distributor to our industry. How can “On eBay” help my business?
Simple. Get rid of excess inventory. Sell something as a loss leader and bring in new customers. Make sure you link back to your company web site. Use the sales as a marketing device to introduce new products to our industry and millions of daily viewers. Don’t forget: many of your competitors are marketing with eBay. Do you have an “eBay Store”? It’s easy and inexpensive. And you can put things “On eBay” that are not in your normal inventory by listing items that are up for auction.
How much does it cost to set up “On eBay” on our site?
If you have traffic: Little or nothing. We will work with you and create a commission sharing agreement so there are no up front costs.
I’m interested. I think this would be interesting for our web site.
Call 800-545-8956 or info@pilut.com