Running a business on eBay can be quite time consuming. Understanding what you can do yourself, and what you need to get others to do for you can make a big difference. The less time you have to contribute, the more you will need to spend. Discover some of the automation and customisation features you can set up in your eBay store to save you time and reduce stress.

1. HOW TO MAKE YOUR eBAY
STORE RUN EFFICIENTLY
May 2013
TIM DAVIES

2. TRADING ON eBAY
Successful trading is much more than making sales and collecting payments.
Sustainability is achieved through profitability and efficiency.

3. HOW TO MAKE YOUR eBAY STORE RUN EFFICIENTLY 3
CREATING A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
$
T
Products Postage Profit
Operational costs
Unfortunately you don’t get to keep all the money you receive! Profit is calculated by deducting all costs
first. Identify costs that you can and can’t reduce. Then decide how to trade-off time and money for
operational contributors (tools, staff, premises, training, equipment, outsourcing, marketing). The less time
or expertise you have, the more you money may need to invest and vice versa.
Alternate suppliers
Price negotiation
Quantity discounts
Couriers v Post
Price negotiation
Quantity discounts

4. HOW TO MAKE YOUR eBAY STORE RUN EFFICIENTLY 4
ACHIEVING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
Time Effort Knowledge Tools
Operational efficiency is driven by these 4 factors. The less you have of one, the more you will need of the
others. Sustainable business requires continuous improvement. That means evaluating and re-evalulating
your capabilities and deficiencies, and adjusting you resources to stay competitive and sustainable. The
great thing is that there are plenty of providers who can contribute what you can’t yourself.

5. HOW TO MAKE YOUR eBAY STORE RUN EFFICIENTLY 5
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
• Create listings
• Update listings
• Accept orders
• Leave feedback
• Pack & label orders
• Book & dispatch deliveries
• Respond to customer inquiries
• Manage disputes & claims
• Issue invoices
• Process returns
• Manage inventory
• Maintain records for tax
• Produce reports
A typical day in the life of an eBay seller…

6. EFFICIENCY OPTIONS
With a little up-front effort, you can optimise your eBay operation, reduce time spent, lower
costs and improve efficiency.

7. Available timePlenty None
SOME eBAY BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
HOW TO MAKE YOUR eBAY STORE RUN EFFICIENTLY 7
Number
of
listings
5000
2000
500
100
0
Selling Manager Pro
Considerations:
• Structured data
• Templates
• Sales records
• Listing changes
• Invoicing
• Cost v time
• Expandability
• Ongoing support
MIP
There are plenty of great solutions around for running an eBay business. The ones shown here are just a
sample. The less time you have available, the more robust and comprehensive solution you will likely need.

8. AUTOMATION &
CUSTOMISATION
Some tasks for your eBay business can be automated and customised, to save you time,
reduce stress and improve efficiency.

9. AUTOMATIC FEEDBACK
9HOW TO MAKE YOUR eBAY STORE RUN EFFICIENTLY
My eBay > Automation Preferences
Automation Preferences
Save time by letting Selling
Manager Pro automatically
leave positive feedback for
each customer

10. CUSTOMISING AUTOMATED BUYER EMAILS
10HOW TO MAKE YOUR eBAY STORE RUN EFFICIENTLY
Manage communications with buyers
My eBay > Account tab > Manage communication with buyers > FAQ
Send the right message to
your customers at every
stage of the transaction

11. SMART FAQ
11HOW TO MAKE YOUR eBAY STORE RUN EFFICIENTLY
My eBay > Account tab > Manage communication with buyers > FAQ
Manage communications with buyers
Reduce the time you need
to spend answering
common questions.

12. UNPAID ITEM ASSISTANT
12HOW TO MAKE YOUR eBAY STORE RUN EFFICIENTLY
My eBay > Site Preferences > Unpaid Item Assistant
Site Preferences
Save time by automating
unpaid item disputes so you
can either get paid, or get
your eBay fees back.

13. REQUIRE BUYER PHONE NUMBER
13HOW TO MAKE YOUR eBAY STORE RUN EFFICIENTLY
My eBay > Site Preferences > Postage Preferences
Site Preferences
Make your requirements
clear to customers right
from the start

14. Your one-stop resource for selling on eBay:
sellercentre.ebay.com.au