Press Release
September 9, 2005
"eBay: The Missing Manual": Discover eBay Success--Find, Buy, and Sell More
Sebastopol, CA--The concept behind eBay is simple--it's a global
marketplace where people can buy or sell practically anything, from prized
collectibles to faux designer handbags, a salvaged engine for a 1986 Honda
scooter, even a piece of toast emblazoned with the image of Elvis.
However, the vast reality of eBay--with some 135 million active eBayers
and $32 billion worth of merchandise bought and sold annually--can be
daunting for beginner and "professional" alike.
As author Nancy Conner puts it, "What began as a small site for
individuals to trade collectibles has exploded into an international
marketplace where everyone, from the lady down the street to large
corporations, sells millions of items in thousands of categories." In
fact, increasing numbers of eBayers are supplementing their incomes--or
starting new careers--buying and selling on eBay. Connor gathers the tips
and tricks she's learned since becoming a member of the eBay community in
1998 into one must-have guide, eBay: The Missing Manual (O'Reilly, US
$24.95).
Like many other things in life, being a successful eBayer, whether buying
or selling, depends on learning and perfecting certain skills. With eBay:
The Missing Manual, new users can quickly get up to speed, while longtime
users will pick up pointers to sharpen their skills. Designed to show
readers "how to find bargains, make money, avoid scams and have fun," the
book shares eBayers' experiences and stories of what they love about eBay
and what drives them crazy.
More than "the most popular shopping destination on the Internet," eBay is
a community with its own culture. When you read eBay: The Missing
Manual, you'll feel like a savvy member of that community. Buyers and
collectors learn how to find the things they want at prices that will
thrill them. Sellers can use tips from others to make their own auctions
more successful, by attracting more shoppers, getting more bids, and
pricing things right. As with any community, problems and disputes arise,
but readers will learn from the anecdotes and advice of eBayers themselves
how to resolve such troubles or work around them.
eBay: The Missing Manual is free of jargon or nerd terminology and
packed with insider info, such as:
Why experienced eBayers rarely work with someone whose positive feedback score ranks below 98 percent
How to use sellers' spelling mistakes to find great bargains
How to recognize and avoid common scams directed at buyers and sellers
Marketing strategies to get your listings noticed and garner more bids
Tools to save you time by automating searching, bidding, listing, market analysis, email and feedback
How you can check up on another eBayer's negative and neutral--as well as positive--feedback
A terrific addition to O'Reilly's Missing Manual series, eBay: The
Missing Manual ends with a trio of appendixes that provide additional
resources for more information, the basics of HTML for eBayers, and other
Internet auction sites.
So, if you want to find it, buy it or sell it, you've got to get "eBay:
The Missing Manual." It's your ticket to "the biggest and most
entertaining marketplace the world has ever seen."
Additional Resources:
eBay: The Missing Manual
Nancy Conner
ISBN: 0-596-006446, 463 pages, $24.95 US, $34.95 CAN
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000
Return to: O'Reilly Missing Manuals Press Room
