Getting friendly with your browser
If the whole idea of technology gives you the willies, don't back out now. I feel your pain. Every tech-oriented bit of knowledge that's entered my pea-sized brain has penetrated only after a great deal of mental whining. I suffered the pain so that you wouldn't have to.
Better yet, you don't need to know much technology (in the true sense of the word) to run a successful online business. Most online sellers have no more knowledge than you will after you read this chapter.
Starting with the Right Computer
You don't have to know a lot of fancy computer mumbo-jumbo to do well on eBay, but you must have a computer. If you're in the market for a computer, you can buy or lease a new, used, or refurbished system, depending on your computing needs.
The absolute necessities
Although the following list is geared mainly toward the purchase of new PCs, which you can get for considerably under a thousand bucks, you should read this info even if you're thinking of buying a used computer:
* Look for a computer with a good memory. Remember that 1950s horror movie, The Blob? The more time you spend using your computer, the more stuff you want to save on your hard drive. The more stuffed your hard drive, the more Blob-like it becomes. A hard drive with at least 40 gigabytes (GB) of storage space should keep your computer happy, but you can get hard drives as big as 200GB. I recommend you buy the biggest hard drive you can afford because no matter how large your hard drive is, you'll find a way to fill it up.
* Make sure you have a top-quality modem if you have a dial-up connection. Your modem connects your computer to the Internet using your telephone line. Even if you have a broadband connection (see later in this chapter), you should have a modem that can connect you on the off-chance that your high-speed service is down. (A modem transfers data over phone lines at a rate called kilobytes per second, or just plain K). A 56K modem is standard equipment these days, especially if you plan on using a lot of digital images (photographs) to help sell your items.
* Get a big screen. A monitor that has at least a 15-inch screen can make a huge difference after several hours of rabid bidding or proofreading your auction item descriptions. Anything smaller and you'll have a hard time actually seeing the auctions and images. Also, opt for an LCD monitor if your budget can stand it. They take up tons less room on your desk and make you feel kinda space age.
* Make sure the computer's central processing unit (CPU) is fast. A CPU is your computer's brain. It should be the fastest you can afford. You can always opt for the top-of-the-line, but even a slower 900 MHz (megahertz) processor could suffice. One of my computers is an antique slowpoke, but it's still fast enough that it won't choke when I ask it to do some minor multitasking. If you want lightning-fast speed (imagine a Daytona 500 race car with jet assist), you have to move up to the 3 GHz (gigahertz) hyperthreading Pentium 4.
* Get a CD-R drive. A CD burner is standard equipment. You use the CD drive to load new software programs into your computer from compact discs. You can also use the CDs for your system backups. Top-end models even play DVD movies on your computer, but I think you'll be so entertained by eBay that you can skip the frills and save the bucks.
* You must have a keyboard. No keyboard, no typing. The basic keyboard is fine. They do make funky ergonomic models that are split in the middle. But if the good old standard keyboard feels comfortable to you, stick with it.
* You need a pointing device, usually a mouse. Some laptops come with touchpads or trackballs designed to do the same thing - give you a quick way to move the pointer around the screen so that you can select options by clicking.
Buying a used computer
If you don't have a computer yet and don't have much money to spend, you might want to investigate the used market. Thousands of perfectly good used machines are floating around looking for a caring home. You can pick up a Pentium III for a few hundred dollars, and it will serve your budding eBay needs just fine. The same holds true for used Macs. Make sure a monitor is included in the purchase price.
Buying a refurbished computer
If you don't feel comfortable buying a used machine, you may want to consider a factory-refurbished model. These are new machines that were returned to the manufacturer for one reason or another. The factory fixes them so they're nice and spiffy, and then sweetens the deal with a terrific warranty. Some companies even offer optional, extended, on-site repairs. What you're getting is a new computer at a deep discount because the machine can't be resold legally as new.
TIP
For the most part, refurbished computers are defined as returns, units with blemishes (scratches, dents, and so on), or evaluation units. The factories rebuild them to the original working condition, using new parts (or sometimes used parts that meet or exceed performance specs for new parts). They come with 60- to 90-day warranties that cover repairs and returns. Warranty information is available on the manufacturers' Web sites. Be sure to read it before you purchase a refurbished computer.
Major computer manufacturers such as Dell, IBM, Sony, Hewlett-Packard, and Apple provide refurbished computers. Check whether their Web site has an outlet store. (Their outlet stores may reside in eBay Stores.) I visit shopping.hp.com and check the HP/Compaq outlet for closeouts and refurbished goods all the time - and I've never been burned!
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Because the inventory of refurbished computers changes daily (as do the prices), there's no way of telling exactly how much money you can save by buying refurbished instead of new. I suggest that you find a new computer system you like (and can afford) in a store or a catalog, and then compare it with refurbished systems. If you're thinking about buying from the Web or a catalog, don't forget to include the cost of shipping in the total price. Even with shipping costs, however, a refurbished computer may save you between 30% and 60%, depending on the deal you find.
Upgrading your system with the help of eBay
TIP
You may think I'm putting the cart before the horse with this suggestion, but you can get a new or used computer system at a great price by signing on to eBay before you buy your computer. You can get online at a local library or ask to borrow a friend's computer. I've seen eBay listings for Pentium 3 machines, fully outfitted, for $400. Often such systems also come fully loaded with software. And when you have your new system in shape, why not auction off your old system on eBay?
You can also find on eBay all the bits and pieces you need to upgrade your computer. The items you may find most useful include
* Digital cameras and scanners
* Disk drives, including CD-ROM drives and memory cards
* Modems
* Monitors
* Printers
If you have a good used computer without a modem, you can upgrade to a pretty fast 56K model for about $20 by watching eBay auctions carefully. If you plan on using a lot of digital images (photographs) to help sell your items, you're going to need that 56K modem. Considering the reasonable price, it certainly makes sense to buy the fastest modem you can afford. (Of course, then you'd have to have a modem so you could connect and buy another modem....)
You may have to keep checking in and monitoring the different auctions that eBay has going on; listings change daily. Go put in your best bid, and check back later to see whether you've won! (If you want to find out about the fine art of sniping - bidding at the last minute - skip to Chapter 6. I won't be insulted if you leave me for awhile now. Honest.)
Connecting to eBay without a Computer
Yes, sometimes life is a Catch-22 situation. Say your goal is to make some money on eBay so that you can afford to buy a computer. Because you can't log on to eBay without a computer, you can't make money, right? Well, not exactly. Here's how you can start selling and bringing in some cold hard cash for that shiny new (or not-so-shiny used) hardware.
Libraries: From Dewey Decimal to eBay
If you haven't been to your local library lately, you may be surprised that most libraries are fully wired with computers that connect to the Internet. The card catalog has been replaced by computers that keep the Dewey Decimal System (DDS) alive and connected to libraries all over the world. For example, you'll find this book classified in 381.17, with the subject heading "Auctions - computer network resources." Some libraries don't even require you to have a library card if you want to use a computer. Others limit the amount of time you can spend online and the sites you can log on to (often only adult sites are blocked). eBay is considered fair game, and exploring it is even considered research.
REMEMBER
The upside of using the library's computer is that it's free. The downside is that you may have to wait for some kid to finish doing research for a term paper on the ceremonial use of yak milk.
Commercial cyber-outlets
If you strike out at the public library (or you're tired of the librarian shushing you as you cheer your winning bids), your friend throws you out of the house, and your boss watches you like a hawk, you can use a commercial outlet to kick off your eBay career. National chains such as FedEx Kinko's or your favorite local cybercaf offer computer usage at an hourly rate. FedEx Kinko's offers computers (both PCs and Macs loaded with all the software you need) that can get you online for around $12 per hour or $.20 per minute. No restrictions apply: You get full access to the Internet and can enjoy all the elements of eBay. You can conduct your auctions by posting them and checking back regularly. You can also watch for great computer deals that you may want to bid on.
Cybercafs can be another way to go. If you live near a college, you'll probably find some. Hourly rates are much cheaper because you end up ordering a cup of joe or a soda. I once checked on my auctions from a cybercaf in Peru; they charged only $1.50 an hour - what a deal!
Hooking up from work
If you get a long lunch at work or have to kill time waiting for clients to call back, you may want to get started on eBay from your work computer. But give it a lot of thought before you do. Pink slips can come unbidden to those who run auctions on company time.
Choosing an ISP
Okay, so you bought (or found a way to access) a computer, and you're ready to surf eBay. Hold on a minute - before you start surfing, you need access to the Internet. (Details, details....) The way to access the Internet is through an ISP, or Internet service provider, such as America Online (AOL), Earthlink, MSN (Microsoft Network), or RoadRunner. If you don't already belong to one of these, don't worry; joining is easy.
TIP
To join a telephone dial-up ISP, just load the freebie registration disc that comes with a computer (or free at the computer store) into your CD-ROM drive and follow the registration steps that appear on your computer screen. Have your credit card and lots of patience handy. With a little luck and no computer glitches, you'll have an active account and instant access to e-mail and the Internet in less than an hour.
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When you go to a computer store or buy a computer, you're hit with all kinds of free trial offers that beg you to "Sign up now, get 30 hours free!" You can find free introductory CDs everywhere! I have a friend who painted all her free CD-ROMs and hung them on her Christmas tree. Another sawed them in half and made a very unattractive cyberbelt. If you're new to the Internet and not sure which ISP to go with, your best bet may be to start with America Online. AOL is the largest ISP around, and it's easy to find and easy to use. If you're not happy with AOL down the road, you can easily cancel your membership and sign up with a different company.
If you have a need for speed, and your time is worth a bit more than an increase in ISP cost, you may want to look into getting a broadband connection. The quality of the different types of broadband (DSL and cable) can vary greatly from area to area and even from street to street.
Before you decide what kind of broadband connection you want, go to the following:
www.broadbandreports.com
Type your zip code, and read the reports for other users in your area (see Figure 1-1). You can e-mail, post questions, and get all the information you need to decide what kind of high-speed connection will work best for you.
Broadband, or high-speed, connections can be a boon to your eBay business. Here's the skinny on the different types:
* DSL: Short for Digital Subscriber Line. For as little as $39.95 a month, you can get rid of your pokey, analog dial-up connection and always be connected to the Internet. A DSL line can move data as fast as 6MB per second - that's six million bits per second, or 140 times as fast as a 56K modem. At that speed, a DSL connection can greatly enhance your eBay and Internet experiences. For more information about what DSL is and how to get it, visit www.dsllife.com.
* Cable: An Internet cable connection is a reliable method for Internet access if you have cable TV. Your Internet connection runs through your television cable and is regulated by your cable TV provider. With the advent of digital cable, this reliable and speedy Internet connection is an excellent alternative. (See my speed report in Figure 1-2.) Most cable accounts include several e-mail addresses and space to store your images.
Accessing E-Mail
After you have access to the Internet, you need access to e-mail. If you have your own computer and an ISP, you probably have e-mail access automatically. But if you're logging on to the Internet away from home, you might want to look into setting up a free e-mail provider.
Most ISPs will allow you to check your e-mail from their Web sites, but commonly, you'll be using Microsoft's Outlook Express to check your mail on your home computer.
Yahoo! and Hotmail are two of the most popular e-mail providers. Both are free and secure, and signing up is a snap. I like them both because they have a Mail Alert feature, which allows you to instruct Yahoo! or MSN Mobile to contact you through your pager (or Web-enabled cell phone) when you have new e-mail. You can join Yahoo! e-mail at www.yahoo.com. You can join Hotmail by going to www.hotmail.com.
Some commonsense rules can help you protect your account:
* Select a password that's difficult to guess. Use letter-and-number combinations or nonsensical words that nobody else knows. Don't use common names or words relating to you (such as the name of your street).
* Keep passwords secret. If someone asks for your password online, you can bet it's a scam. Never give out your password.
* Don't open an e-mail with an attachment from an unknown person. The attachment (another file attached to your e-mail message) could contain a virus.
* Don't respond to spam e-mail. Spam is online slang for harassing, offensive, or useless-but-widely-distributed messages or advertisements. If you ignore such junk, the sender will probably just give up and go away.
Browsing for a Browser
When you get a computer, you get an Internet browser for free. A browser is the software program that lets your computer talk to the Internet. It's like having your own private cyberchauffeur. Type the address (also known as the URL, for Uniform Resource Locator) of the Web site you want to visit, and boom, you're there. For example, to get to eBay's home page, type www. ebay.com and press Enter. (It's sort of a low-tech version of "Beam me up, Scotty!" - and almost as fast.)
The two most popular browsers are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. (They are what Coca-Cola and Pepsi are to the cola wars.) Both programs are powerful and user-friendly. Figures 1-3 and 1-4 show you these browsers. (Sit, browser! Now shake! Good browser!)
(Continues...)
Excerpted from eBay Business All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummiesby Marsha Collier Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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